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Interested in participating in future ADAPT trials? The 2027 ADAPT trial form is open! Sign up here, and we will be in touch in early January 2027 with more information on what trials we’re offering and how to participate.
Recommendations from the 2025 ADAPT Trials
Recommendations from ADAPT Gardeners
When it comes to choosing the right seeds for your garden, the sheer number of varieties can be overwhelming. In fact, Seed Savers Exchange currently offers more than 600 unique varieties of open-pollinated, non-GMO, non-hybrid seeds in its commercial catalog! While you can’t go wrong with any of these, there are certainly some varieties that stand out more than others.
Seed Savers Exchange has a vast network of home gardeners, many of whom participate in our ADAPT community science program. Participants in ADAPT grow varieties selected from the seed bank in their own gardens and send SSE feedback on yield, disease resistance, physical characteristics, flavor, etc. This information helps us better understand the performance of these varieties across different regions and climates and helps guide SSE’s regeneration efforts, distribution priorities, and future catalog offerings.
ADAPT gardeners certainly know plenty about what makes a variety great, and we’ve compiled data from some of their top picks from SSE’s catalog. Participants trialed these varieties as part of the 2025 ADAPT program. Keep reading to learn more!
All 2025 ADAPT Trial Results
‘Red Burgundy’ Okra
‘Red Burgundy’ okra is an heirloom variety bred by Leon Robbins at Clemson University and introduced in 1983. Named an All America Selections winner in 1988, it is an open-pollinated, dual-purpose cultivar, valued for both its ornamental and culinary qualities.
The plant features burgundy accents and produces tender burgundy pods. This variety is most productive in the South but can generate at least a few pods even in less-favorable climates.
ADAPT participants grew ‘Red Burgundy’ as part of the 2025 Red Okra Trial.
Strengths
- High lodging resistance and strong stems
- Easy to harvest
- Attractive appearance and crunchy, bold flavor
- Resistant to disease
- Vigorous plants, high yields
Scores (Out of 5)
- Yield – 4.4
- Flavor – 4.9
- Appearance – 4.9
- General Disease Resistance – 4.4
- Germination – 4.4
- Ease of Harvest – 4.4
Overall: 4.5
92% of trial participants say they would grow ‘Red Burgundy’ again.
“Strong stem. No concerns about it bending, etc.” – Zone 8b
“Doing very well despite recent heavy rains.” – Zone 8a
“Impressive height and branching.” – Zone 5b
“Best overall red okra this season.” – Zone 5a
Rated 5 stars on shop.seedsavers.org
Shop ‘Red Burgundy’ Okra Seeds
‘Red Russian’ Kale
‘Red Russian’ kale is an open-pollinated, organic variety known for both baby leaf and bunching production. It features purple stems and flat, toothed, dark-green leaves with purple veins. Maturing to a medium-tall height, its leaves are tender, making it suitable for salads and light cooking. It is also known as ‘Ragged Jack.’
ADAPT participants grew ‘Red Russian’ as part of the 2025 Siberian Kale Trial.
Strengths
- Vigorous growth, high yields
- Tender leaves and mild, delicate flavor
- Well-adapted for fall, winter, and spring harvests
- Cold hardy to 10 degrees F
- Excellent insect resistance
Scores (Out of 5)
- Yield – 4.4
- Flavor – 4.7
- Appearance – 4.7
- General Disease Resistance – 5
- Germination – 4.3
Overall: 4.4
89% of trial participants say they would grow ‘Red Russian’ again.
“Least affected by the aphids. Also recovered after cool weather killed insects.” – Zone 8a
“Huge leaves that developed early in the season, so this was my highest yielding variety.” – Zone 4b
“Plants did well all season despite hot and dry weather.” – Zone 6a
“Good flavor, no strong kale taste.” – Zone 6a
Rated 5 stars on shop.seedsavers.org
‘Green Beauty’ Pea
‘Green Beauty’ is an heirloom snow pea variety with vigorous vines that can grow 6-8′ tall, producing abundant 7-8″ pods. It features purple flowers and light-green pods, with some exhibiting a pink blush.
ADAPT participants grew ‘Green Beauty’ as part of the 2025 Snow Pea Trial.
Strengths:
- High vigor across various hardiness zones
- High yields
- Attractive appearance with purple flowers and large pods
- Good uniformity
Scores (Out of 5)
- Yield – 4.5
- Flavor – 4.5
- Appearance – 4.9
- General Disease Resistance – 4.5
- Earliness – 4.4
- Germination – 4.6
Overall: 4.3
73% of trial participants say they would grow ‘Green Beauty’ again.
“Stunning plants with large mottled leaves and pink and purple flowers.” – Zone 5b
“Best pea grown for germination, beauty, vigor; high yield for fresh snow peas as well as shelling and seed.” – Zone 5b
“Highly vigorous and prolific. Very healthy plants.” – Zone 5b
Rated 5 stars on shop.seedsavers.org
‘Diamond’ Eggplant
‘Diamond’ eggplant is an heirloom variety originating from Ukraine, known for its excellent texture and flavor. It produces dark-purple fruits with green-tinted flesh. The variety is recognized for setting fruits in clusters on relatively short plants, making it a great choice for space-constrained gardens.
ADAPT participants grew ‘Diamond’ as part of the 2025 Eggplant Trial.
Strengths
- High vigor, strong yields, and overall quality
- Adaptable to colder climates
- Plants are very healthy, disease-resistant
- Some resistance to pests
- Easy to harvest with minimal spines
- Excellent appearance and flavor. Creamy texture when cooked and no bitterness.
Scores (Out of 5)
- Yield – 3.9
- Flavor – 4.3
- Appearance – 4.5
- General Disease Resistance – 4.6
- Earliness – 3.6
- Germination – 4.8
- Ease of Harvest – 4.6
Overall Score: 4.3
93% of trial participants say they would grow ‘Diamond’ again.
“Star of the year. Hardy.” – Zone 6b
“No insect problems.” – Zone 4b
“It had no diseases that I noted.” – Zone 7b
“How many eggplants can a family eat, give away, and freeze!” – Zone 8a
Rated 5 stars on shop.seedsavers.org
‘Brandywine’ Tomato
‘Brandywine’ tomato, a red beefsteak heirloom variety known for its exceptional flavor, originated from Chester County, Pennsylvania, and was introduced in 1889. It features productive, indeterminate plants yielding 8-12 ounce fruits, making it a popular choice for organic management.
ADAPT participants grew ‘Brandywine’ as part of the 2025 Beefsteak Tomato Trial.
Strengths
- Complex, rich flavor and meaty, juicy texture
- Good cracking resistance
- Vigorous growth
- Moderate blight resistance
- Indeterminate, best staked or caged
Scores (Out of 5)
- Yield – 3.5
- Flavor – 3.6
- Appearance – 3.5
- General Disease Resistance – 3.5
- Earliness – 3.6
- Germination – 4.6
Overall: 4.1
76% of trial participants say they would grow ‘Brandywine’ again.
“Beefsteak with excellent flavor, including the counter-ripened green ones brought in before frost” – Zone 5b
“Moderate blight resistance; no blossom end rot.” – Zone 7a
“Nice robust smoky tomato.” – Zone 6a
“Wonderful tomato! Would definitely grow this one again.” – Zone 7a
Shop ‘Brandywine’ Tomato Seeds
‘Stowell’s Evergreen’ Corn
‘Stowell’s Evergreen’ is an heirloom white sweet corn variety introduced in the mid-1800s. It’s long been a leading choice for both home and market gardeners due to its drought tolerance. The ears grow to be 8-9″ long, with 1-2 ears per stalk.
ADAPT participants grew ‘Stowell’s Evergreen’ as part of the 2025 Sweet Corn Trial.
Strengths
- Good lodging resistance
- Good uniformity
- Tall, vigorous plants
- Good corn flavor, can be starchy
Scores (Out of 5)
- Yield – 3.6
- Flavor – 3.8
- Appearance – 4.5
- Earliness – 3.4
- Germination – 4.3
Overall: 3.9
67% of trial participants say they would grow ‘Stowell’s Evergreen’ again.
“Great taste and production. Two ears per stalk.” – Zone 6b
“Good corn flavor, doesn’t hold.” – Zone 5b
“Very tall! One probably close to 10 ft.” – Zone 6b
Rated 4.5 stars on shop.seedsavers.org