Seeds

The ultimate in a red-skinned storage onion. Sow Redwing storage onion seeds early to accommodate for its long days to maturity. The large, globe shaped bulbs are firm and uniform at 7-10cm (3-4″) across, with deep red, glossy skins and strong tops.

In late summer, when the onions have formed nice bulbs, harvest them as needed. At full maturity, the tops of the onions will fall over, signaling the end of growth and the time to harvest. If no rain or frost in forecast, knock each onion over the rest of the way. This will begin the drying process. Leave the onions like that for two or three days.

At the first sign of rain bring the whole onion plants indoors and lay them out in a dry area away from direct sunlight. Leave them to cure for two to four weeks until stems and necks have completely dried down. During this time, the papery skins covering each bulb will dry and contract. Use scissors to trim off the roots and cut at about 2cm (1″) up the stem for each bulb. Store them in a cool, dark place in mesh bags or trays with breathing holes. A well cured storage onion can retain its desirable flavour and aroma for as long as 12 months.

Eiffel produces an upright growing, white Lisbon type scallion with little or no bulbing at the root end, even in the heat of summer. This variety grows straight, with mild, appealing flavour and good uniformity. Its stiff upright leaves shed the rain, so it is less susceptible to the diseases that can occur in damp weather. Sow short rows of Eiffel scallion seeds every two weeks from April to the end of September, and you’ll have scallions all year long. Provide a cloche row cover over winter for the best results.

Matures in 65 days.

Long day pink onion from the producer of our favorites Redwing and Patterson. Blush’s jumbo size globes have excellent storage potential. Coppery pink skin surrounds a white interior with some light purple rings. A very attractive onion that is easy to grow.

Known in Italy as Catalogna frastagliata, Italian Dandelion Chicory Seeds produce not a dandelion, but a chicory, a kind of endive. Fast growing, upright, dark-green notched leaves stand in thick bunches. Cut the plant at any height and it will re-grow again. Steamed like spinach, they have a pleasant “wild” flavour. Raw, they add bite to salad. May bolt mid-summer from spring planting. Italian dandelion chicory is quite winter-hardy, and suitable for winter gardening. If allowed to bloom, it sends up tall stalks of attractive, edible blue flowers that produce seeds that are easy to harvest and save for next season.
Matures in 65 days.

Nasturtium officinale. True Watercress seeds produce a perennial cress that is rich in vitamins and has a delicious, distinctive taste for salads and vegetarian dishes. Little, dark-green leaves grow on crisp stems that come from thick, long roots. Direct-seed watercress about 5mm (1/4″) deep and 1cm (1/2″) apart, ideally in full sun near clear running water. Thin plants to 10cm (4″) and keep very well watered. Watercress does not thrive in acidic soil, so spread enough lime in the growing area to bring the pH as close to 7.0 as possible. Well finished compost is the other trick that will keep watercress growing rapidly. If you fail with watercress in your summer garden, try planting it beneath a cloche row cover for winter harvesting. The low light levels and cool temperatures seem to be ideal.

Matures in 60 days.

Lepidium sativum. Fast-growing, frilly leaves leap out of the ground. A little cress really spices up a salad or sandwich. Plant a small amount of Curly Cress Peppergrass seeds frequently or grow indoors as microgreens in nearly any size of container. Curly Cress is a good seed to use in classroom settings because of its super sonic growth rate. The taste is mildly spicy and not too dissimilar to black pepper. It is a relative of both Watercress and the mustard family, and boasts a similar flavour profile. Cress is an incredibly rich source of vitamin C and K.

Matures in 10 days.

Red Iceberg lettuce forms a rosette of tasty, nutritious, and richly red outer leaves as it grows. Eventually a tightly-packed, pale green iceberg head forms at its centre, gilded with red markings on the outside. The interior is sweet and mild, with a very pleasant, crisp texture. The head holds well against the heat of summer with a delayed seed set. This was a standout in our seed trials and drew a lot of attention.

Matures in 50 days.

Fragaria vesca. Yellow Wonder Alpine strawberry seeds are a bit easier to start than some others. Start the seeds indoors as early as December, and transplant outdoors one week after your last average frost date. That’s around the first or second week in April. With this kind of head start, the plants will produce fruit in the first year. Yellow Wonder has the lovely oblong shape of alpine types, but with yellow skin and flesh and incredible sweetness. The plants are low growing, but very productive, even in containers. The seeds can also be sown later in the year, but plan on harvesting berries from the second year of growth forward.

Matures in 150 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)