Seeds + Starting Material

Melothria scabra. Also known as the Mexican Sour Gherkin, cucamelon seeds produce vines that could be mistaken for regular cucumber plants. The plants are not quite as productive as cucumbers, but the fruits are amazingly cute and novel. They look like tiny watermelons, but have a very appealing cucumber flavour with slight citrus notes. Eat them fresh or pickle them for a crunchy treat. Harvest them at the 2cm size, before the seeds develop. This is a heat loving tropical plant that is most productive in hot weather or a greenhouse setting. Start the seeds indoors and treat as you would a conventional cucumber seedling.

How To Grow, Timing:  Cucumbers need very warm soil to germinate. If direct sowing, wait until mid-June. If weather turns cool and wet after that, just re-sow. Or start transplants indoors in individual peat or coir pots 3-4 weeks before transplanting out into warm soil. If starting indoors, use bottom heat. Transplant when the plants develop their third true leaf. If the plants are too big, they may experience transplant shock. Optimal soil temperature for germination (and transplanting): 15-30°C.

How To Grow, Starting:  Sow 3-4 seeds 2cm deep in each spot you want a plant to grow. Thin to the strongest seedling. Space plants 23cm apart in rows 90cm apart.

How To Grow, Growing:   Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8.  Choose a warm, well-drained soil. Raised beds work well. Add diolomite lime and compost or well-rotted manure to the bed and ½-1 cup of complete organic fertilizer mixed into the soil beneath each transplant. Cucumbers are vigorous and need lots of nutrition and water. Use plastic mulch, plant under floating row cover or cloches – anything to warm things up. Once the weather warms up, keep soil evenly moist. When plants begin to flower, remove covers so bees can access the flowers to pollinate. Fruit that is not fully pollinated will be very small and shriveled, and should be removed from the plant. Most varieties should produce fruits until the weather begins to cool down. Keep plants well picked for better production. Try to water the soil only, keeping the leaves as dry as possible.

Almost all cucumbers benefit from being trained onto a trellis of some kind. Some vines can reach 7 or 8 feet in length, so growing them upward onto a trellis makes good use of garden space. Fruits that grow hanging into space tend to be straighter than those that form on the ground.

How To Grow, Harvest:  For a continuous harvest, make successive plantings every 2 to 3 weeks until about 3 months before first fall frost date. Keep picking the cucumbers regularly, because if they get too big, the plant will stop producing. About one month before first frost, start pinching off new flowers so plants channel energy into ripening existing fruit.

Matures in 67 days.

Approx: 30 Seeds

Enjoy the diversity that carrots can bring to the garden. Plant Rainbow Blend carrot seeds to grow purple, white, red, and nice big orange carrots all in the same row. Get the most out of this collection by sowing as evenly as possible to reduce thinning and waste. Repeat sowings will provide a polychromatic carrot bounty from late spring to winter. Kids will love the variety of colours – and flavours.

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow from just after the last frost date to late summer for harvests from summer through early winter. Sow at 3 week intervals for a continuous harvest. Direct sow winter-harvest carrots (where winters are mild) in the first two weeks of August. Optimal soil temperature: 7-30°C. Seeds may take as long as 14-21 days to germinate.

How To Grow, Starting:  Because carrot seeds are tiny, they need to be sown shallowly. The trick is to keep the top-most layer of soil damp during the relatively long germination period. Water deeply prior to planting. Direct sow the tiny seeds 5mm deep, 4 seeds per 2cm, and firm soil lightly after seeding. Make sure the seeds are only just buried. Water the area with the gentlest stream possible, and keep it constantly moist until the seeds sprout.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8.  The softer and more humus-based the soil, the better. When soil is dry enough in spring, work it to a fine texture. Broadcast and dig in ½ cup complete organic fertilizer for every 3m of row. Avoid fresh manure. Carrots will become misshapen, but still edible if they hit anything hard as they grow down into the soil. Keep weeded and watered.

How To Grow, Thinning:  This is the process of removing some seedlings, if necessary, so each has enough space to grow in the row. It is very important to thin carrots so they don’t compete for available nutrients, moisture, and light. Thin to 4-10cm apart when the young plants are 2cm tall. Use wider spacing to get larger roots. As they grow, carrots may push up, out of the soil, so hill soil up to prevent getting a green shoulder.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Carrots can be harvested at any size, but flavour is best when the carrot has turned bright orange (or its other mature colour). After harvest, store at cold temperatures just above 0ºC. Store in sand or sawdust, or simply leave carrots under heaped soil in the garden during the winter, and pull as needed.

Matures in 75-110 days.

This early maturing purple cauliflower is so fast to produce its violet crowns that you may miss them if you don’t keep an eye out! Purple Moon is widely adaptable to many growing regions yielding a concentrated harvest a full two weeks before Graffiti. Make succession plantings spring through mid-summer to extend the harvest.

How To Grow, Timing:  Start indoors four weeks before the last frost to late spring. Transplant in 5-6 weeks. Direct seed when temperatures are reliably above 10°C. Overwintering types are started in July where winters are mild, and transplanted by mid-August. Optimal soil temperature: 10-30°C. Seeds should germinate in 7-10 days.

How To Grow, Starting:  Sow 3-4 seeds 5mm deep in each spot you want a plant to grow. Thin to the strongest plant. Space transplants 45-60cm apart in rows 60-90cm apart.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8.  Humus-rich soil amended with composted manure is best. Mix ½ cup of complete organic fertilizer into the soil beneath each transplant. From seedling to harvest, cauliflower must grow steadily to make a large plant and curd. If growth slows, scratch additional fertilizer into the surface of the soil around each plant. Maintain even soil moisture with regular watering. Shade the developing curds from sun by tying up leaves or using newspaper. This is known as “blanching,” and will keep them white. Add 20-25 days to the maturity dates if direct sowing.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Once curd forms, check every day and cut when the florets are just beginning to separate. At this point the flavour is at peak quality and the size is maximum.

Matures in 62 days

Approx: 10 Seeds

Early Wonder Tall Top beet seeds beets adapt to all seasons but are especially good in early spring with quick growth in chilly soils. They produce tall, tasty green leaves with red stems and slightly flattened roots with wonderfully sweet flavour. Early Wonder Tall Top beets makes a good variety for general table use. Grow as micro-greens or baby leaf greens for salad mixes, or enjoy the sweet round roots at full size. Be sure to thin the planted row to allow each root the room it needs to grow to full size.

How to Grow, Timing: Direct sow 4 weeks after last frost to mid-summer. Beets will not produce roots if planted when the soil is too cold. Seeds will germinate in 5-12 days, depending on soil temperature. Optimal soil temperature: 10-26°C.

How To Grow Seeding: Sow 1cm deep, 5-10cm  apart in rows 30-45cm apart.

How To Grow Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8.  For uniformly sized beets, thin carefully to 7-15cm apart when seedlings are 5cm tall. Eat any thinned plants, roots and all. Root size is controlled by spacing and variety.

Matures in 60 days.

Approx: 310 seeds

Broccoli raab is sometimes called rapini. Like broccoli, it is grown for its unopened flower buds. The flavour is very similar to broccoli, with a touch of bitterness that is surprisingly appealing. Broccoli raab is actually more closely related to turnips than broccoli, but is not grown as a root crop. Sorrento broccoli raab seeds produce uniform dark green florets approximately 5cm in diameter. Sorrento is the fastest rapini to mature. Gather the tender stems with a few leaves and the unopened flower buds for a reliable and nutritious addition to the kitchen or market garden. Plant in mid to late summer for a cool weather harvest well into winter. Expect plants to grow to 78cm tall.

How To Grow, Timing:  Start indoors right around the last frost date or later in spring for summer harvest in 2 to 3 months. Seeds will germinate in 7-10 days. Optimal temperature for germination: 10-30°C.

For fall harvest: Start indoors late spring and transplant in July, harvesting just before the first frost date.

For overwintering sprouting broccoli (in mild winter areas): Start indoors late March to mid-April, and harvest the following February to May.

How To Grow, Starting:  Sow indoors, 3 or 4 seeds per pot, 5mm deep, under very bright light. Thin to the strongest plant. Space transplants 45-60cm apart in rows 75-90cm apart.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8  Broccoli is a moderate to heavy feeder that does best in humus-rich soil amended with composted manure. Set transplants out by the time they have 6-8 true leaves. Mix ¼-½ cup complete organic fertilizer into the soil under each transplant. When plants are 20-25cm tall, push soil around the stems up to the first big leaf to encourage side shoots. Broccoli does best in cool weather.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Cut the crown portion of the broccoli with 5 to 6 inches of stem, after it’s fully developed, but before it begins to loosen and separate and the individual flowers start to develop into bright yellow blooms. Removing the central head stimulates regrowth to develop for later pickings. Cutting the head lower on the stem will encourage fewer, but larger side-shoots. The regrowth portion grows from the base of the lower leaves. You can usually continue to harvest broccoli for several weeks.

Matures in 40-45 days.

Approx: 270 Seeds

This delicious broccolini resembles a broccoli raab, but with an asparagus-like stem. Aspabroc Broccolini has a sweet, delicate flavour with a subtle, peppery taste. The flavour is milder and sweeter when cooked. When eaten raw, the vegetable has a tender yet crunchy texture. Aspabroc is a nutritional powerhouse, full of vitamins and minerals the body needs to stay fit and healthy. Aspabroc broccolini seeds are a natural hybrid of broccoli and gai lan, and are not genetically engineered. Follow spring planting for summer harvest instructions for this unique variety. This is the same broccolini that has been available in grocery stores for the last few years. Now you can grow it at home!

How To Grow, Timing: 

Start indoors right around the last frost date or later in spring for summer harvest in 2 to 3 months. Seeds will germinate in 7-10 days. Optimal temperature for germination: 10-30°C.

For fall harvest: Start indoors late spring and transplant in July, harvesting just before the first frost date.

For overwintering sprouting broccoli (in mild winter areas): Start indoors late March to mid-April, and harvest the following February to May.

How To Grow, Starting:  Sow indoors, 3 or 4 seeds per pot, 5mm deep, under very bright light. Thin to the strongest plant. Space transplants 45-60cm apart in rows 75-90cm apart.

How To Grow, Growing:   Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8  Broccoli is a moderate to heavy feeder that does best in humus-rich soil amended with composted manure. Set transplants out by the time they have 6-8 true leaves. Mix ¼-½ cup complete organic fertilizer into the soil under each transplant. When plants are 20-25cm tall, push soil around the stems up to the first big leaf to encourage side shoots. Broccoli does best in cool weather.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Cut the crown portion of the broccoli with 5 to 6 inches of stem, after it’s fully developed, but before it begins to loosen and separate and the individual flowers start to develop into bright yellow blooms. Removing the central head stimulates regrowth to develop for later pickings. Cutting the head lower on the stem will encourage fewer, but larger side-shoots. The regrowth portion grows from the base of the lower leaves. You can usually continue to harvest broccoli for several weeks.

Matures in 50 days.

Approx: 25 Seeds

This AAS award winning compact bush bean is great choice for the new gardener. The bushes are low-growing, self-supporting and shallow-rooted, making it suitable for container gardening. The plant is generally trouble-free and produces tasty long, round green pods. Like other bush beans, Derby produces a one-time crop but the beans have a good holding ability so growers can enjoy an extended harvest. The above average yields are also easy to pick. Lengthen the growing season with succession planting until mid-summer. Derby is resistant to Common Bean Mosaic Virus.

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow mid-to late spring. Try to plant during a warm, dry spell. Soil must be warm—if it is not warm enough, seeds may rot, especially since our seeds are not treated with fungicide. Sow drying beans as early as possible, so they can mature before rainy/cold weather sets in. Optimal soil temperature: 21-2°C. Seeds will sprout in 8-16 days, depending on conditions.

How To Grow, Starting:  Sow bush bean seeds 2-5cm deep, 5-8cm apart, in rows 45-60cm apart. Thin to at least 15cm apart in each row. If the weather is too wet, beans can also be started in pots indoors and set out carefully a few weeks later. For a longer harvest, plant at 3 week intervals.

How To Grow, Growing:   Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5  Well drained, warm soil in full sun is best. Use 1 cup of complete organic fertilizer for every 3m of row. Raised beds help with both drainage and warmth. Too much nitrogen fertilizer is often the cause of poor pod set and delayed maturity. If the plants flower but do not set pods, the cause may be zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with kelp-based fertilizer.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Pick beans regularly to keep the plant producing (if pods get fat with seed, the plant will stop flowering). The smaller the bean, the more tender they are.

55 Days.

Approx: 40 Seeds.

This wonderful new premier Dutch variety was bred for especially sweet flavor and a long harvest period in the garden. It stands up well to early summer heat with bright green leaves that have a succulent, crunchy texture and extraordinarily clean, sweet flavor you’ll love. The upright leaves are easy to harvest and perfect steamed, sautéed or in fresh spinach salad. Plant again for ample fall harvests as Summer Perfection withstands autumn frosts for great cool weather greens.

40 Days.
Seed Count: Approx. 485

TO START OUTDOORS

In early spring when danger of hard frost is over, sow seeds in well-worked fertile soil in full sun. Sow seeds 1 inch apart and 1/2 inch deep in rows 10 inches apart, or broadcast thinly for bed planting. Be sure to firm soil well over seeds to ensure good germination. If first sowing germinates unevenly, plant more seeds as they will catch up fast.

GROWING NOTES

Spinach is most productive grown in cool spring conditions and sown again in late summer for a fall crop. After seedlings reach 2 to 3 inches tall, thin out every other plant (and enjoy in early salads) and keep thinning in this fashion until plants are spaced 5 or 6 inches apart. Keep the shallow rooted plants well weeded and watered. Spinach is a heavy feeder so fertilize several times with fish emulsion solution for best harvests.

HARVEST AND USE

There are two methods for harvesting spinach: either cut the entire plant 1 inch or so above the base once plants are 4 or 5 inches tall, or wait until plants are well established and harvest just the outer leaves, leaving at least 4 center leaves so plant will continue to grow. Water and fertilize after cutting and plants will provide 2 or 3 pickings before weather gets too warm and spinach begins to go to seed.

Our favorite authentic New Mexico style chile with long, straight, 6-7 inch meaty pods, a medium heat level and rich, full flavor. Early-producing plants have heavy, consistent yields, and dense foliage that protects pods from sunburn. Harvest thick-walled, juicy pods at either the green or red stage. Perfect for memorable green or red chile, wonderful salsas, or for grilling, sautéing or adding gentle heat to any dish. A perfect choice for chile aficionados who love to cook!

75 Days.
Seed Count: Approx. 40

START SEEDS INDOORS

In early spring, start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before night temps reach 55°F (13°C) range. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in seed starting mix. Keep moist but not soggy and very warm, 80-85°F (27-29°C). Provide a strong light source until ready to plant outside. When seedlings are 2 inches tall, transplant into individual 4 inch pots. Maintain at 70-75°F (21-24°C). Feed with half-strength fertilizer every 2 weeks until weather is warm enough to gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions. Transplant 2-2½ feet apart into rich soil in full sun.

GROWING NOTES

Do not transplant chiles outdoors until night temperatures stay securely above 55° (13°C). Prepare soil well with aged manure or compost. Plant only robust seedlings with well developed roots. Mulch well to maintain even soil moisture. Stake or cage chile plants to support their heavy fruit sets. Keep weeded, watered and feed monthly throughout the growing season.

HARVEST AND USE

Harvest when chiles have a high gloss by cutting, not pulling, them from the plant. Color develops as chiles mature; pick green or allow to color up to rich red. Enjoy in all kinds of delicious salsas, fajitas, chile rellenos, rich sauces, rubs, soups or stews. Use fresh, or roast and remove skins. Freeze roasted chilies for future use.

If your family likes really crispy lettuce, new Queen of Crunch is for you! These crunchy, juicy green leaves really shine in mixed and chopped salads, stand up in tacos, add something special to sandwiches, and are perfect wrappers for meat and cheese. Queen of Crunch is a heat tolerant, sturdy lettuce that grows quickly and matures into attractive heavy rosettes that keep well. Pick the whole head, or harvest the outside leaves over a long period. Seed Count: Approx. 835.

START SEEDS OUTDOORS
In cool early spring weather, start seeds in finely worked soil in full sun. Sow 1/4 inch deep and 2 inches apart in rows 6 to 8 inches apart and cover seeds lightly. Tend carefully and keep evenly moist. Gradually thin out extra seedlings, leaving remaining plants standing 12 inches apart so lettuces have room to size up and fully mature into tight, crunchy rosettes. For a constant supply, make several sowings a few weeks apart until summer weather turns hot. Plant again in late summer for fall harvest.

GROWING NOTES
Lettuce thrives in cool conditions with consistent moisture. Weed, water and thin carefully to proper spacing for best quality heavy heads. If birds are attracted to the young seedlings, cover planting beds with floating row covers or netting. Make a shade structure in hotter climates to extend the growing season.

HARVEST AND USE
Savor young thinnings in your first spring salads. Be sure to thin properly and keep evenly moist for sweet tasting leaves. Harvest by cutting mature heads when they are well filled out. Pull and discard or compost over-mature plants if they begin to elongate (“bolt”) in hot weather as leaves turn bitter at this stage.

Strike it rich with these long, handsome, sweet carrots. Our favorite in the Imperator hybrid class, King Midas offers large size and rich, fully developed carrot flavor. The vigorous roots grow steadily into smooth, nearly coreless 8 to 9 inch beauties, slightly tapered with pointed tips. The well-filled carrots have the deep orange flesh that indicates an especially high level of health enhancing beta-carotene. Slice them into abundant crunchy carrot stick snacks or fat carrot “coins” to lightly steam, sauté or stirfry.
Seed Count: Approx. 500

START SEEDS OUTDOORS
In spring once danger of hard frost is past, sow seeds in full sun in finely worked, fertile soil. Sow 1/4 inch deep and 1/2 inch apart in rows 8 inches apart, or broadcast thinly in beds and cover lightly. Keep seed bed evenly moist as carrots can be slow to germinate, emerging over 10 to 21 days. If first sowing comes up unevenly, replant right away as seedlings catch up quickly. Thin young carrots several times so seedlings are 2 to 3 inches apart and have room to size up.

GROWING NOTES
Carrots like well-worked soil and need consistent moisture to grow well. If your soil tends to dry out, cover seedbed with floating row covers to help retain moisture during the germination period. Keep carrots well weeded throughout the growing season. Plant again 3 months before first expected fall frost for a late crop.

HARVEST AND USE
Let carrots size up to at least 6 to 8 inches long before pulling for best sweet flavor. Eat them raw, sliced up as tasty fresh snacks, sautéed, steamed or braised. Set off their flavor with fresh lemon or orange juice and a sprinkling of minced herbs like fresh mint or thyme or glaze with a little honey, ginger or cinnamon. Wonderful in colorful stir-fries all season long.

Our trio of colored carrots are creamy white, bright orange and a deep, dark purple with orange centers. All three are crisp, smooth and evenly cylindrical, growing to 8 inches long for a colorful harvest of festive roots. Their flavor is reliably sweet with a nice crunchy texture and you’ll enjoy this mix over a long season. Cut all three into carrot sticks or slice/shred into salads for a good tasting party of colors.

Equal parts:
White Satin F1, Mokum F1, Purple Rain F1

50 Days
Seed Count: Approx. 500 – 600

START SEEDS OUTDOORS

In spring once danger of hard frost is past, sow seeds in full sun in finely worked, fertile soil. Sow 1/4 inch deep and 1/2 inch apart in rows 8 inches apart, or broadcast thinly in beds and cover lightly. Keep seedbed evenly moist as carrots can be slow to germinate, emerging over 10 to 20 days.

If first sowing comes up unevenly, replant right away as seedlings catch up quickly. Be sure to thin young carrots several times so seedlings are about 2 inches apart and have the room they need to size up.

GROWING NOTES

Carrots like well-worked soil and need consistent moisture to grow well. If your soil tends to dry out, cover seedbed with floating row cover to help retain moisture during the germination period and water right through it. Keep carrots well-watered and thinned. For a late season crop, sow again 3 months before first expected frost.

HARVEST AND USE

For best sweet flavor, let these pretty, different colored carrots size up and fully mature before harvesting. Enjoy these extra healthy carrots raw as snacks or grated into salads for great eye appeal. Sauté or steam just until tender crisp and serve with a little sweet butter and your favorite fresh chopped herb. Carrots go well with dill, tarragon, chives, cilantro or mint.

Great for juicing/smoothies because of its tender texture & mild flavor. This delicious specialty kale comes directly from Portugal where it is a center stage vegetable, beloved for its taste and easy culture. Portuguese kale forms 12 to 18 inch tall heads of paddle-shaped, deep blue-green leaves. This vigorous variety offers long continuous harvests. We find it one of the best tasting, most nutritious greens to grow and enjoy throughout the season. 80 seeds, Non GMO. Harvest in 60 days.

TO START DIRECTLY IN THE GARDEN
As soon as ground can be worked in spring, prepare a well-drained, fertile garden bed in full sun. Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds, each group 12 to 18 inches apart. Cover 1/4 deep and keep soil evenly moist to ensure good germination. Thin to one seedling per group when several inches tall. Sow again in mid to late summer for another cold-hardy crop.

TO START INDOORS
Sow seeds in a container of seed starting mix 2 inches apart and cover 1/4 inch deep. Keep moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are 3 to 4 inches tall, then plant outdoors. Space 12 to 18 inches apart.

GROWING NOTES
Kale can be sown in spring as early as the ground can be worked. A second mid to late summer-sown crop will yield through fall and winter except in the coldest climates. Frost actually enhances kale leaves’ color, flavor and sweetness. Mulch to retain moisture in summer and before the ground freezes to protect the roots of fall crops.

HARVEST AND USE
Begin harvesting large individual outer leaves when plants have 6 to 8 big leaves. Enjoy sautéed, stirfried, braised or added to soups and stews. Portuguese kale pairs well with olive oil, garlic and lemon juice (reneesgarden.com/portuguese-kale-soup). Pull and discard once plants begin to bloom as the leaves of flowering stalks get tough and bitter.

If you yearn for old-fashioned beefsteak tomato taste, size, and quality, this All-America winner is our hands-down favorite, combining delicious full flavor, heavy yields, wide adaptability and truly superior disease resistance (V-1, F-1, F-2, ASC, St.N, ToMV). The huge globe-shaped fruits size up about 10-12 oz each, without the cracked tops or fibrous interiors of older beefsteak varieties. Best of all, these scrumptious giant slicers are heavy with sweet flesh and lots of juice — perfect for “BLT” sandwiches.

STARTING SEEDLINGS
In early spring, start indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before outdoor night temperatures are reliably in the 50-55°F (10-13°C). Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in a container of seed starting mix. Keep moist but not soggy, and very warm, 80°F (27°C). Provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant outside.

When seedlings are 2 inches tall, transplant into individual 4 inch pots. Maintain at 70°F (21°C). Feed with half-strength fertilizer every 2 weeks until ready to plant. When nights reach 55°F (13°C), gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions. Plant these vigorous indeterminate climbers 3 feet apart into rich soil in full sun.

GROWING NOTES
Prepare soil well with aged manure or compost. Plant several inches deeper than seedlings were growing in containers. Provide strong stakes or tall wire cages at planting time. Mulch to provide even moisture retention; don’t overwater once fruit begins to ripen.

HARVEST AND USE
For best flavor, pick these beauties fully red-ripe and don’t store them in the refrigerator. These big, juicy beefsteak tomatoes are memorable in sandwiches or simply slice and enjoy with a pinch of salt and drizzle of good olive oil.