My participation in the ADAPT Seeds program for 2025 is complete. During spring and into summer, I participated in the winter squash and common bean trial. The ADAPT program is a citizen scientist program where Seed Savers Exchange send heirloom seeds to gardeners’ home from around the country and gardeners grow and taste these vegetables. This year’s program is held in conjunction with the USDA and also includes flowers. Scientists will review gardeners’ results on seed germination, diseases, and ease of growing in your growing zone.

I was sent three varieties of the winter squash: Plovidvska 48/4, No. 10427, and No. 9682. I soaked my seeds in April, and started them in pots the next day. I put them outside and watered and checked them everyday for seed germination. A seed germinated 10 days later in one of each variety and subsequent pots germinated a few days later. Neither variety germinated faster than the others.

While I was sent 7 seeds for each variety, I decided to focus my efforts on 4 seeds per variety due to my lack of space in the garden and to have the potential to save a few seeds for future plantings should I desire one. The minimum requirement was to have 3 plants per variety grown side by side. I sighed with relief when I had at least 3 plants germinated for each variety. This was a very good germination result and I was quite pleased with this result.

As more of the plants grew their first leaves and were starting to get large, I saw the opportunity to plant them a few days right before a rise in our temperature. Our summer was quite mild at this point. Unbeknowingst to me, the heat lead to a heat wave and 102 degree heat in early May. I gave the plants extra water to cope with the heat. That became a common pattern throughout the summer, alternating between cool periods and intense heat and humidity.

When you receive the common beans, they could be pole or bush. I planted the beans in the ground in May, along with the winter squash. Unfortunately, only one variety of beans germinated–the West Virginia Specials. The CU-M88 and the Smelly Stone beans did not (not even one) germinate so the test ended for these two varieties rather quickly. All nine of the West Virginia Specials sprouted so I was looking forward to a fun crop of beans.

Unfortunately, I had to be out of town for a few days and that coincided with a heat wave and that was the beginning of the rest of the beans dying off and the squash plants looking sad. I was able to revive the squash plants with more water and liquid fertilizer but with the temperatures alternating between cooler weather and heat waves, the plants had a lot of adapting to do and the plants suffered.

After our long summer, I managed to get two fruits from the Plovidvska 48/4 squash and one from the No. 9682. I picked them and waited two weeks and cooked them and tasted them. The Plovidvska was absolutely delicious and reminded me of a lovely acorn squash without the intense sweetness of the newer varieties. The No. 10427 tasted as bland as it looked but it did have a sort of light zucchini flavor to it.

Participants then log information into the Seedlinked app so that the scientists can review the results of these grow outs from the seeds. Pictures can be downloaded and each they should be taken with a color and size card that was sent. The scientists will provide results once the program is over for everyone which is by the end of the year. In the meantime, you can follow along and view others’ results through the app and see if anyone else has had better or worst results than you with the same varieties.

With the recent cuts in the federal government, this USDA affliated program is being threatened. Participants received a survey to determine how the program can possibly continue in the future including paying for participation. Hopefully this program can continue as I enjoy the process and even the surprises with these seeds. I learn a lot about my ability to grow and even just the attention I give these seeds provide me with knowledge on making gardening improvements. I feel like I am a part of community and ultimately, a part of the community where heirloom seeds exist.