Vegetable Seeds
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Carrot- Nantes Starica Organic- Renee’s Seeds
$6.89Easy to grow, crunchy-sweet Dutch carrots with fine textured, sweet tasting orange flesh. Perfect all round carrot for snacks, salads, juice or sautés.
70 days
Approx: 990 Seeds.
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 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 cover or burlap 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
Let young carrots size up and color fully to orange before harvesting for best flavor. Sauté or steam just until tender crisp and serve with a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice, sweet butter and fresh dill; or try buttered and glazed with a little maple syrup or honey.
More Info1550 Seeds
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Nasturtium – Tall Single Mix – West Coast Seeds
$3.99Tropaeolum majus. This prolific, trailing plant will travel great lengths. Train vertically by tying it to something. Use it in a hanging planter for dramatic effect, wrap it around a fence or archway, or let it tumble over a retaining wall. Tall Single Mix nasturtium seeds provides a wondrous assortment of lively classic nasturtium colours. Plant in full sun or partial shade – in shade it will produce even longer vines and larger leaves. This variety is excellent for filling in empty spots in the garden. The flowers are edible and the plants are drought tolerant so they’re suitable for xeriscaping. Vines will grow as much as 3m. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Sow indoors in peat or coir pots 2-4 weeks before the last frost date. Better yet, direct sow from 1 week after last frost and repeat at 2 week intervals into early summer. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 12-18°C. Seeds will sprout in 7-12 days, perhaps longer outdoors.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 5mm – 1cm deep. If starting indoors, provide darkness during germination, followed by bright light. Space smaller varieties 15-30cm apart, and the big ones like Tall Single 60-90cm apart.
How To Grow, Growing: Nasturtiums thrive in poor to average, slightly acidic, well-drained soil. Keep watered during dry weather, and do not fertilize.
Approx: 30 Seeds.
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Nasturtium – Black Velvet – West Coast Seeds
$4.49Tropaeolum minus. The flat-faced flowers of Black Velvet Nasturtium face upwards, and are held above the pale green foliage. The flowers themselves are such a rich, dark shade of mahogany, they appear almost black from any distance. This compact Nasturtium is perfect for container growing, and it blooms continuously throughout the summer. The edible flowers look sensational as garnishes, and bring a peppery kick to salad mixes. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Sow indoors in peat or coir pots 2-4 weeks before the last frost date. Better yet, direct sow from 1 week after last frost and repeat at 2 week intervals into early summer. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 12-18°C. Seeds will sprout in 7-12 days, perhaps longer outdoors.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 5mm – 1cm deep. If starting indoors, provide darkness during germination, followed by bright light. Space smaller varieties 15-30cm apart, and the big ones like Tall Single 60-90cm apart.
How To Grow, Growing: Nasturtiums thrive in poor to average, slightly acidic, well-drained soil. Keep watered during dry weather, and do not fertilize.
Approx: 20 Seeds.
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Leeks – Varna Organic – West Coast Seeds
$4.49Varna Organic leek seeds produce what may be the ultimate summer leek. It grows so quickly that it can be harvested at scallion size for gourmet baby leeks when planted close together. Otherwise, grow this Bulgarian type to full size at 45cm tall. The highly uniform, flavourful leeks are very cylindrical and slender. The medium green leaves are upright and rigid, with good tolerance to leaf diseases.
How To Grow, Timing: Start summer/fall harvest leeks 6-8 weeks before the last frost date, in flats indoors. Start winter harvest leeks indoors from March to mid-June. In mild winter areas, start them in a humus-rich nursery bed outside, and then transplant. Optimal soil temperature: 10-25°C. Seeds should sprout in 10-16 days.
How To Grow, Starting: In flats: Sow seeds 5mm deep, about 1cm apart. Transplant when 20cm tall. Space 20cm apart in rows 45cm apart. Rows can be as narrow as 20cm (8″) if planting in raised beds or other situation where weeding will be simple.
How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 5.-6.5. Leeks have short roots, so the benefit from fertile soil with lots of compost and ½ cup balanced organic fertilizer worked in beneath each 2m of row. Traditional garden wisdom recommends using a dibber to make holes 15cm (6″) deep. Transplants are then set at the bottom of the hole and the hole is left unfilled – rain will fill it in as the leek grows. To blanch further up the stem, hill soil up around the stem as the leek grows, or mulch with straw.
However, the wise and much loved garden writer Linda Gilkeson asserts that there is no need to plant leeks into holes or trenches. She recommends transplanting the seedlings only at the depth of the soil plug they grow in. They will still produce nice, tall, blanched shanks, with no soil grains between the leaves.
In late fall, mulch around leeks as high up the stems as possible. If the forecast is for weather below -10°‚ cover them with a blanket or tarp.
How To Grow, Harvest: Dig at any size, as needed. If winter harvest leeks freeze solid, wait until they thaw out during a warm spell to harvest.
70 Days.
Approx: 155 Seeds.
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Cucumber – Lebanese Beit Alpha – West Coast Seeds
$3.99Easy to grow, smooth skin type with sweet flavour and nice crunch. Lebanese cucumbers are spineless and burpless with skin so tender it doesn’t need to be peeled. Parthenocarpic plants can be grown indoors and out. Best harvested at 10-13cm.
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.
55 Days
Approx: 25 Seeds
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Spinach – Seaside – West Coast Seeds
$6.49Seaside spinach seeds produce very uniform, dark green baby leaf spinach for fast harvests and high volume production. The leaves are thick and succulent, with well developed flavour. The upright plants grow at a moderate rate, and work well in winter high tunnels. It is the best choice we have seen for baby leaf growers, and has good resistance to downy mildew. With the correct timing, a small farming operation can produce a constant supply of baby leaf spinach nearly all year, which can be a lucrative option for your restaurant and CSA clients.
How To Grow, Timing: Spinach does best in cool weather. Direct sow in the period four weeks before, and three weeks after the last frost date. Spinach will bolt once days get long and hot. Some varieties grow enough to harvest before they bolt. For continuous supply, plant every 3 weeks.
Sow again in the middle two weeks of August for a fall crop that, if cut at the soil level, will come back early the following spring where winters are mild. Shade summer-sown seed beds, keep very well watered, and sow more seeds than you need, as warm soil will reduce germination rates marginally. Thin seedlings, and use cloche protection as cold weather approaches. Late sowings like this can be harvested into December – in mild winters if cloche protection is provided.
Optimal soil temperature: 5-20°C. Seeds should sprout in 7-14 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 1cm deep, 10 seeds per 30cm, in rows 30-45cm apart. Thin to at least 5-8cm between plants, or further if you want larger leaves.
How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5. This heavy feeder requires rich soil. Dig in ¼-½ cup balanced organic fertilizer beneath every 1m of row. Overwintering spinach requires well drained soil.
How To Grow, Harvest: For baby greens, pick when the leaves are 7-10cm long. Individual leaves can be picked at anytime, until the plant has started to bolt. Cut the whole spinach plant just above soil level.
Baby greens in 25 days.
Approx: 400 Seeds.
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Pepper – Chocolate Beauty – West Coast Seeds
$3.99Chocolate Beauty produces medium large, mostly 4-lobed bell peppers that turn from shiny green to rich chocolate brown if left to mature. As green bell peppers, they have somewhat average flavour, but as they fully ripen to dark brown, the sweetness increases and they become positively delectable. Chocolate Beauty peppers are visually stunning when mixed with yellow bell peppers in a salad. The unusual colour brings eye catching visual allure to any pepper dish. Try these peppers in containers – one plant per 3–5-gallon pot.
How To Grow, Timing: Peppers need plenty of time to mature before they will bloom and set fruit. Start indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost date, and grow under bright lights. Transplant only when weather has really warmed up. Night time low temperatures should be consistently above 12°C before hardening off pepper plants and transplanting outdoors. Soil temperature for germination: 25-29°C. Seeds should sprout in 10 – 21 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow indoors 5mm-1cm deep. Keep soil as warm as possible. Seedling heating mats speed germination. Try to keep seedlings at 18-24°C in the day, and 16-18°C at night. Before they become root-bound, transplant them into 8cm pots. For greatest possible flower set, try to keep them for 4 weeks at night, about 12°C. Then transplant them into 15cm pots, bringing them into a warm room at night, about 21°C.
How To Grow, Growing: Soil should have abundant phosphorus and calcium, so add lime and compost to the bed at least three weeks prior to transplanting. Mix ½ cup of balanced organic fertilizer beneath each plant. Though peppers will tolerate dry soil, they will only put on good growth if kept moist. Harden off before planting out 30-60cm apart. Five gallon containers also work well, but require good drainage and regular irrigation. Using plastic mulch with a cloche can increase the temperature by a few degrees. Pinch back growing tips to encourage leaf production. This helps shade the developing fruits and prevents sun-scald in hot summers.
How To Grow, Harvest: When the fruit is large and firm it is ready to pick. Or wait for the fruit to ripen further turning red, yellow, brown, or purple. The sweetness and vitamin C content go up dramatically as the fruit changes colour. If you pick green, the total numbers of peppers harvested will increase. Fruit that sets after late August will not usually develop or ripen. Pull out the entire bush just before the first frost and hang it upside down in a warm, dry place to ripen hot peppers.
Matures in 75 days.
Approx: 30 Seeds.
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Arugula – Rustic Style Organic – Renee’s Seeds
$6.89Italian heirloom forms rosettes of deeply indented leaves with a piquant, tangy flavor. Great in salads, pizza or pasta. Lasts longer than common arugula. Pretty edible yellow blossoms.
Seed Count: Approx. 1600EASIEST TO START OUTDOORS
Plant seeds in early spring or in late summer for a fall crop. Sow seed as thinly as possible, cover 1/4 inch deep and firm soil gently over seeds. Keep seed-bed evenly moist until seedlings emerge in 1 to 2 weeks.
THIN OR TRANSPLANT
Thin seedlings 5 to 6 inches apart when plants are large enough to handle.
GROWING NOTES
Long lasting rustic arugula stays leafy so you can harvest all season long from the same plants. Harvest individual leaves at 4 to 5 inches long, or cut bunches of young tender leaves as needed. Keep the little yellow blossoms pruned back for best leaf production or use for tangy edible flowers. Rustic will winter over in mild climates but make a fresh sowing each spring for best quality.
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Radish Daikon – Mini Purple – Renee’s Seeds
$6.59These lovely, plump, mini daikons have deep violet colored exteriors and crunchy flesh flushed with a center sunburst of violet. Their flavor is unique with a mild, subtly sweet but peppery flavor that becomes milder when cooked. Mini Purple daikon are round to oblong with blunt tips and grow about 3 to 5 inches long, depending on weather and conditions. Perfect for home gardeners, colorful Mini Purple daikons are more uniform and versatile than traditional bigger daikon varieties.
55 Days.
Seed Count: 90-95
START SEEDS OUTDOORS
In early spring as soon as ground can be worked, sow daikon radish seeds in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Space seeds 2-3 inches apart in rows 6 inches apart. Cover 1/2 inch deep. Keep soil evenly moist and well weeded. If first sowing comes up unevenly, replant right away. Sow again in mid summer for a fall crop.
GROWING NOTES
For crispy flesh and mild flavor, give daikon radishes consistent moisture. When they are several inches tall, carefully thin seedlings to 3-4 inches apart, so the roots have room to size up and mature. Enjoy early thinnings in salads. Protect radishes with floating row covers if marauding birds or flea beetles that chew holes in the leaves are a problem.
HARVEST AND USE
If weather turns unexpectedly hot, pull, cut off tops and store the roots in the refrigerator where they keep very well. Daikon radish flavor is spicier in hot weather and milder in cool conditions. Slice and eat fresh, add to salads, shred for coleslaw or enjoy in stirfries, soups, and stews. Flavor is milder when cooked. Mini Purple daikon are delicious pickled in rice vinegar and will make a crunchy, colorful kimchee!
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Lettuce Mesclun – Wine Country – Renee’s Seeds
$4.79Our signature salad blend is straight from California’s Napa valley, where the best produce is a crucial part of every restaurant’s success. Easy to grow Wine Country Mesclun combines eight different sweet red and green lettuces with just the right amount of tangy greens in a perfect balance of crispy and buttery leaf textures. Simply cut as needed, then toss with extra virgin olive oil and mild vinegar or lemon juice for a perfectly balanced salad.
A blend of: Arugula, Spinach, 8 Lettuces, 3 Asian Greens, 2 Chards
40 Days.
Seed Count: Approx. 1300START SEEDS OUTDOORS
In early spring, sow seeds in finely worked soil in full sun. Shake seeds from the palm of your hand, broadcasting them about a half inch apart over the entire seedbed or in wide rows, and cover lightly and evenly with 1/4 inch of fine soil. Firm soil gently and water in with a fine spray. Keep seed bed evenly moist. Make small successive sowings until summer weather turns hot for a constant supply. Plant again in late summer for ample fall harvesting.
GROWING NOTES
This mesclun mix thrives in mild weather with consistent moisture. To extend the sowing season into hot weather, sow in light shade or erect a canopy of loosely woven shade cloth over the seedbed. Birds are often attracted to tender young seedlings so protect them if necessary.
HARVEST AND USE
To harvest by the “cut and come again” method, wait until plants are 4 or 5 inches tall. Cut as much as you need, using scissors to shear off a patch of leaves 1 to 2 inches above the soil level. Water well and fertilize lightly and plants will regrow for several more cuttings. Dress with a simple vinaigrette to set off the wonderful colors, diverse fresh flavors and delicate textures of this delicious salad mix.
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Sunflower Edible – Snack Seed – Renee’s Garden
$6.59Our Snack Seed sunflower was developed by expert sunflower breeder Dr. Tom Heaton for bountiful harvests of delicious, plump seed kernels that make tasty and nutritious eating. These beautiful, classic garden sunflowers have tall, strong stalks of big flower faces with golden petals surrounding green center disks. They mature into heavy heads of large seeds with especially sweet nutty flavor. Easy to dry yourself and enjoy as tasty, fiber-rich snacks, or use them to feed delighted birds.
Approx: 19 seeds
Non GMOEASIEST TO START DIRECTLY IN THE GARDEN
Plant in full sun when weather is above 50°F (10°C) both day and night and all danger of frost is past. Poke seeds into well worked, fertile soil 1 inch deep and 4 inches apart. Press soil over seeds and keep moist as seedlings emerge. When seedlings are 3 inches tall, thin them 12 to 18 inches apart with 3 feet between rows so plants have room to mature.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
Several weeks before last frost date, sow seeds 1 inch deep in individual pots of well-drained seed starting mix. Keep moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant outside. Transplant seedlings carefully 12 to 18 inches apart with 3 feet between rows.
GROWING & HARVEST
Cover seeds at planting time with netting or green plastic berry baskets to keep birds from plucking seeds and seedlings from the ground (remove before plants get crowded). Towards midsummer, after sunflowers grow tall and bloom, the flower heads’ outer petals will shrivel and seeds begin to form. Wait until center florets have dried up, indicating pollination is complete, before covering the ripening heads with paper grocery bags to keep birds from picking out the immature seeds. When seeds are dry, plump and fully formed, harvest heads and rub seeds out with thumbs. Store in a cool, dry place in a sealed container to keep out insects.
Helianthus Annuus
Approx: 19 Seeds.
Helianthus Annuus Approx: 19 Seeds.Add to cart -
Nasturtium – Creamsicle – Renee’s Garden
$5.59Creamsicle’s beautiful flowers remind me of the soft swirled colors of orange sherbet and French vanilla ice cream, with throats etched in deep crimson. The free-flowering, top-setting blossoms float in abundance above softly mounding, blue-green, lily pad-shaped foliage. These uniquely colored flowers create a lovely effect, different than the deep, bright colors of most other nasturtiums. Alluring Creamsicle is a fine choice for garden beds and borders and is also a perfect choice for container plantings.
Approx: 30 seeds
Non GMOANNUAL
Spring/summer/fall bloom
Frost tenderEASY TO START OUTDOORS
Sow seeds in spring once all danger of frost is over in full sun or part shade in hot climates. Nasturtiums will grow and flower readily with no added fertilizer in most soils. Poke seeds into well-worked soil about 1 inch deep and 3 to 4 inches apart. Press soil firmly over the seeds and keep moist. When seedlings are large enough to handle, thin to 10-12 inches apart so plants will have ample room to grow.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
Sow 2 seeds each in individual 4 inch pots of well-drained seed starting mix 3 weeks before last expected frost date. Cover 1 inch deep. Provide a strong light source. When seedlings have several sets of leaves pinch out the weaker seedling, leaving 1 per pot. When night temps are above 50°F (10°C) gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions. Transplant seedlings into the garden 10 inches apart in full sun.
GROWING NOTES
These mounding nasturtiums are reliable and easy to tuck into any well-drained spot. They are a perfect disguise to cover fading bulb foliage in late spring. Their softly draping leaves and wonderfully colored flowers will quickly fill and gladden garden beds or containers. Both leaves and flowers are tasty, spicy-sweet additions to salads and sandwiches.
Tropaeolum Majus
Tropaeolum MajusAdd to cart -
Broccoli – All Season Blend – Renee’s Seeds
$5.59We’ve mixed equal amounts of seed for these great tasting, high-yielding hybrid varieties with early, mid and late season maturities for the longest possible harvests. Plant and grow them together and you’ll be enjoying their sweet blue-green spears for weeks as they ripen in succession. We’ve chosen cultivars for flavorful, extra fancy, tightly beaded main heads and abundant side shoots. All three have excellent disease resistance and weather tolerance.
60 Days.
Approx: 117 Seeds.
BEST TO START INDOORS
Start seeds 4 or 5 weeks before last expected spring frost and again in midsummer for a fall crop. Sow seeds 1 inch apart in a container of seed starting mix, cover ½ inch deep and keep evenly moist. Provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant out. When seedlings are 3 to 4 inches tall, transplant 12 to 18 inches apart into rich, well-drained soil in full sun, after gradually acclimating to outdoor conditions.
TO START OUTDOORS
Sow seeds in well-worked, fertile soil in full sun. Plant groups of 2-3 seeds 1/2 inch deep and 12 inches apart. Space rows 18 inches apart. Thin to 1 strong seedling per group so plants have room to mature and yield.
GROWING NOTES
Broccoli needs rich soil and cool growing weather to produce big heads. Prepare soil well and do not let seedlings get too crowded before transplanting or you will stunt heads. Keep well watered and weeded and feed monthly with all purpose fertilizer. Use nontoxic B.T. (Bacillus thuringiensis) products to repel caterpillar pests as necessary.
HARVEST AND USE
Harvest the main head before florets open by cutting about halfway down the stalk. This will encourage smaller side shoots to form for extended picking from each plant.
125 Seeds
125 SeedsAdd to cart -
Kale – Mars Landing – Renee’s Seeds
$5.19Mars Landing kale has a truly “out of this world” appearance! The tender leaves are a wonderful bronzy purple/maroon color with light green underneath and notched and scalloped edges. Besides its sensational appearance, this tender, mild and very tasty variety holds well in the garden without getting tough or stringy or losing quality. Enjoy nutrition-packed, richly colored Mars Landing kale for months in delicious salads, or steam, braise or add to soups and stews.
50 Days.
Approx: 270 Seeds.
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 3 seeds each 10-12 inches apart and 1/2 inch deep, in rows 12-18 inches apart. Keep soil evenly moist. When seedlings are 3 inches tall, thin to just 1 seedling per group. Sow again in late summer for another cold-hardy crop.
TO START INDOORS
Sow seeds in a container of seed starting mix 2 inches apart and cover 1/2 inch deep. Keep moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are 3 to 4 inches tall then plant outdoors.
THIN OR TRANSPLANT
Space 10 to 12 inches apart so plants have room to mature.
GROWING NOTES
Kale tastes best in cool weather so sow spring crops early. A 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 outer leaves when plants have 6 to 8 leaves. Vitamin-rich kale is delicious in hearty winter soups, stews and sautés; or braise the beautiful leaves with garlic and olive oil in traditional Mediterranean style. Pull and discard once plants begin to bloom since the leaves of flowering stalks get tough and bitter.
360 Seeds
360 SeedsAdd to cart -
Sunflower Giant – Titan – Renee’s Garden
$4.79This choice strain of traditional mammoth sunflower has been reselected and saved by generations of seed savers for handsome, strong plants that reach up 12 to 14 feet tall to follow the sun. Each stalk is topped with a beautiful golden flower face with a dark center disk. When petals drop and the seeds mature, harvest the heads of plump kernels for a bountiful crop of sunflower seeds for fiber-rich, tasty snacks or as a welcome feast for songbirds.
Approx: 30 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Summer/fall bloom
Frost tenderEASIEST TO START DIRECTLY IN THE GARDEN
Plant in full sun in good garden soil when weather is warm and settled both day and night and all danger of frost is past. Poke seeds into well-worked soil about 1 inch deep and 6 inches apart. Press soil firmly over seeds and keep moist as seedlings emerge.
THIN OR TRANSPLANT
When seedlings are about 3 inches tall, be sure to space them 12 to18 inches apart with 3 feet between rows. This spacing allows plants room to grow, establish strong roots and sturdy stalks.
GROWING NOTES
Keep soil moist and well weeded. Protect seedlings from birds at planting time with netting or plastic berry baskets, removing before plants get crowded. For large heads, space seedlings properly so plants will have room to grow to full size.
HARVEST AND USE
As petals drop, bees pollinate the florets in each head and seeds begin to mature. When center disk florets have dried up, cover the ripening seed heads loosely with paper bags to foil pilfering birds. When ripened kernels are plump and hard-shelled, cut entire heads, dry fully, then remove the seeds by hand, rubbing them out with your thumbs. Store in closed containers to eat for snacks or feed to the birds over the winter.
Helianthus Annuus
30-35 Seeds
Helianthus Annuus 30-35 SeedsAdd to cart -
Lettuce – Corn Salad Mache Gala – Renee’s Seeds
$5.19Mild, nutty-flavored mâche (a.k.a. lamb’s lettuce or corn salad) is a delicious traditional salad with oval leaves that form pretty, fist-sized green rosettes with a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Cold-hardy mâche is sown in summer for fall harvest or early spring for the first salads of the season. Gala is vigorous, cold-tolerant and mildew-resistant with a delicate texture and buttery flavor. This succulent gourmet salad treat needs only the simplest of dressings.
90 Days.
Approx: 217 Seeds.
ANNUAL
Spring harvest
Frost hardyEASIEST TO START OUTDOORS
Mâche grows best sown in cooler weather to provide late fall and/or early spring salads. It tolerates light frosts well. In Cold Winter Areas, plant in mid-August for a fall crop or as early in spring as ground can be worked. In Mild Winter Areas, late summer/early fall planted mache will overwinter to fill the first spring salad bowls.
Sow seed 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in rows 6 to 8 inches apart or broadcast thinly for bed planting. Seeds germinate slowly and unevenly over 14 to 28 days. Keep seed bed evenly moist during germination. Thin seedlings 3 inches apart when plants are large enough to handle. Keep well weeded and protect from slugs and snails.
GROWING NOTES
Mâche grows more slowly than lettuce, taking up to 3 months to fully mature. It needs a good supply of moisture, regular weeding, and does best in cool weather. When ready for harvest, each mature plant forms a rosette of leaves that measures three to five inches across. Harvest by cutting entire leafy rosettes. Leave some plants to go to seed as they will self-sow readily. Enjoy its delicate texture and nutty flavor with a simple vinaigrette dressing made with walnut oil or good olive oil.
700 Seeds
700 SeedsAdd to cart -
Chard – Scarlet Charlotte – Renee’s Seeds
$4.19Our brand new variety of this American classic will delight both your eye and appetite. The wide crunchy stalks and leaf veins are a gorgeous magenta red that contrasts perfectly with the deep green savoyed leaves. This highly ornamental and weather tolerant chard’s vibrant color lights up the garden and will be equally at home in both your vegetable and flower beds. In the kitchen, the pretty leaves and stalks are versatile, succulent and good tasting.
50Days.
Approx: 160 Seeds.
START SEEDS OUTDOORS
In early spring when danger of hard frost is over, sow seeds in well-worked, fertile soil in full sun. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 2 inches apart in rows 10 inches apart. Firm soil well over these irregularly shaped seeds to ensure good germination. If first sowing germinates unevenly, plant more seed in the rows as seedlings catch up quickly. Thin when seedlings are large enough to handle, using thinnings as early greens. Final spacing should be 12 to 18 inches apart.
GROWING NOTES
Chard grows well in a wide range of conditions and can take some frost. In mild winter areas, it can be grown year-round. Thin seedlings well so the large 2 foot tall, vase-shaped plants have room to mature.
HARVEST AND USE
Begin harvesting when plants are well established and have 6 to 8 stalks. Both the crunchy succulent stalks and leaves make great eating. Chop and sauté chard with garlic and olive oil or pair with sautéed mushrooms and onions. Try steamed and topped with a sprinkle of vinegar or fresh lemon juice. Use like spinach in lasagna or minestrone soup.
100 Seeds
100 SeedsAdd to cart -
Tomato – Little Red Pear Organic – Renee’s Seeds.
$6.89Classic heirloom specialty. Vigorous vines load up with clusters of petite pear-shaped ruby-red “minis.” Pleasant mild flavor and real eye appeal. A favorite snack for kids of all ages.
Harvest in 75 days.Approx: 70 Seeds.
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 compost and fertilizer. Plant tomatoes several inches deeper than they were growing in containers. Provide strong stakes or tall wire cages at planting time as these plants grow tall with heavy fruit loads. Mulch to provide the even moisture tomato plants need to prevent cracking. Don’t overwater once fruit begins to ripen.
HARVEST AND USE
Pick the pear-shaped fruits when fully colored for best flavor. Enjoy for sweet snacks any time. Sprinkle liberally in salads where their pretty shape and bright color add wonderful eye and taste appeal.
Add to cart45 Seeds
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Nasturtium Hanging Basket – Little Firebirds – Renee’s Garden
$5.19This beautiful new trailing nasturtium offers a stunning cascade of color perfect for hanging baskets, window boxes or containers of any size. Firebird’s deep burgundy, warm pumpkin and rich coral colored blossoms float in striking contrast over lovely variegated lily pad shaped leaves. Use these stunning nasturtiums to ignite your patio or walkway with color all summer long. Firebird’s edible blossoms taste like watercress with a hint of honey and make tasty and colorful additions to salads and seafood.
Approx: 25 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Spring/summer/fall bloom
Frost tenderEASY TO START OUTDOORS
In spring once all danger of frost is over, sow seeds in full sun (or part shade in hot climates). Nasturtiums need no added fertilizer. Poke seeds into well worked garden soil 1 in. deep and 3 to 4 in. apart. Press soil firmly over seeds and keep moist. When seedlings are several inches tall, thin to 6 in. apart, so plants can spread.
Container planting: use pots or baskets a minimum of 8-10 in. deep and 12 to 15 in. across, filled with fresh potting mix. Poke seeds in 1 in. deep and 1 1/2 in. apart. When seedlings are established, thin to 3 in. apart, so plants can spread.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
Three weeks before last expected frost date, poke 2 seeds one inch deep into individual 4 in. pots of seed starting mix. Provide a strong light source. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, pinch out the weaker seedling, leaving 1 per pot. When weather reaches 50°F (10°C). both night and day, acclimate to outdoor conditions. Transplant seedlings 6 in. apart in full sun. See Container Planting for suggested pot sizes.
GROWING NOTES
These lovely nasturtiums with handsome variegated leaves are easy to grow in any well-drained soil. They will quickly fill garden beds, planters or hanging baskets.
Tropaeolum Majus
Approx: 25 Seeds
Tropaeolum Majus Approx: 25 SeedsAdd to cart -
Nasturtium Climbing – Spitfire – Renee’s Garden
$4.79Spitfire’s brilliant, scarlet-red blossoms shine out amongst trailing lily pad shaped green foliage and their nectar is adored by hovering hummingbirds. Train them up short trellises or tripods for a cascade of bright blossoms or use the abundant, fiery-colored spurred flowers and their handsome leaves as a perfect way to disguise neglected areas, soften fences or walls, or tumble from big containers. Both flowers and leaves are edible with a flavor reminiscent of watercress with a pinch of honey.
Approx: 35 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL VINE
Spring/summer/fall bloom
Frost tenderEASY TO START OUTDOORS
Sow seeds in spring once all danger of frost is over in full sun (or part shade in hot climates). Nasturtiums need no added fertilizer in most soils. Poke seeds into well-worked soil about 1 inch deep and 3 to 4 inches apart. Press soil firmly over the seeds and keep moist. When seedlings are large enough to handle, thin 10 to 12 inches apart so plants will have ample room to grow.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
Sow 2 seeds each in individual 4-inch pots of well-drained seed starting mix 3 weeks before last expected frost date. Cover 1 inch deep. Provide a strong light source. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, pinch out the weaker seedling leaving 1 seedling per pot. When weather is evenly in the 50°F (10°C) range, gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions. Transplant 10 to 12 inches apart in full sun.
GROWING NOTES
Climbing nasturtiums are easy to grow in any well-drained soil. You’ll need to train young plants onto their supports with loose ties, then they’ll climb easily and bloom non-stop. Do not let plants dry out during blooming season. Spitfire’s glowing blossoms are summer beacons for hungry hummingbirds.
Tropaeolum Majus
Approx: 35 Seeds.
Tropaeolum Majus Approx: 35 Seeds.More Info -
Cucumber Persian Baby – Green Fingers – Renee’s Garden
$6.99Appetizing little Green Fingers are cute mini cucumbers that are smooth, thin-skinned, crispy, and ready to pick when just 3 to 5 inches long. The vigorous, powdery mildew tolerant vines are self-pollinating, early-bearing, and set fruits reliably even in difficult conditions. Enjoy these quality baby cucumbers all season long. It took us a long time to find a good seed source for these exceptional little baby cucumbers usually found only in Middle Eastern markets. Parthenocarpic.
Approx: 13 Seeds.
Non GMO
START SEEDS OUTDOORS
Plant heat-loving cucumbers in full sun only when weather is warm and settled and night temps stay above 50°F (10°C), first amending soil well with aged manure or compost. Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds, 1 inch deep and 18 inches apart. When the baby seedlings are 2 inches tall, thin out extras, leaving one strong seedling per group. After thinning, provide a 3 to 5 foot strong vertical support or tomato cage around each seedling and train the vines up the supports as they grow. Growing vigorous, heavy-bearing cucumber vines up supports makes it easier to harvest the cucumbers, saves garden space, and helps prevent disease.
GROWING NOTES
Protect seedlings from marauding birds with plastic berry baskets, removing before plants get crowded. Shallow-rooted cucumbers need adequate and consistent moisture to produce sweet tasting, nicely formed cucumbers. Avoid overly wet or dry periods for good quality fruits.
HARVEST AND USE
Our baby cucumbers begin bearing fruit early. For best quality, cut rather than pull cucumbers from the vine when 3 to 5 inches long. They need no peeling, just slice and enjoy their crisp texture and flavor. Enjoy in a Mediterranean salad of sliced Green Fingers combined with very fresh plain whole yogurt, a little good olive oil, finely minced garlic and freshly chopped dill.
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Lettuce Gourmet Bibb Organic -Matilda – Renee’s Garden
$6.89Heat tolerant, premium Dutch Bibb lettuce that reliably forms beautiful, softly folded heads of sweet and buttery tasting leaves with a delicate and really delicious texture.
Approx: 400 Seeds.
Non GMO
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 lightly. Tend carefully and keep evenly moist. Gradually thin out extra seedlings, leaving remaining plants standing 10 to 12 inches apart so they have room to size up and mature into full heads. For a constant supply, make several sowings 10 days apart before summer heat comes on. Plant again in late summer for fall harvest.
GROWING NOTES
Lettuce thrives in cool conditions with consistent moisture. Weed, water and be sure to thin carefully to proper spacing so seedlings have room to grow into full size heads. If birds are attracted to young seedlings, cover with floating row covers or netting. Make a shade structure in hotter climates to extend the growing season.
HARVEST AND USE
Keep growing plants evenly moist for sweet tasting, full heads. Savor young lettuce thinnings in your first spring salads. Harvest mature heads of these sweet crunchy leaves when they feel firm and 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.
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Onion Scallion – Fukagawa – West Coast Seeds
$3.99A vigorous Japanese scallion with attractive blue-green colour. Fukagawa has fantastic uniformity and boasts excellent performance in hot weather. It can be direct sown spring through mid-summer for a continuous supply of fresh, green onions.
65 Days.
Approx: 450 Seeds.
Non GMO
How To Grow, Timing: Start shallots and storage onions indoors in late winter and early spring, and transplant 2-4 weeks after the last frost date. Overwintering onions need to be started in early summer, and transplanted by the middle of August. Scallions can be direct sown every 3 weeks from two weeks after the last frost date to late summer. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 21-25°C. Seeds will emerge in 6-12 days, depending on conditions.
How To Grow, Starting: Transplants are preferred for home gardeners. Sow 3 seeds 5mm-1cm deep in each cell of a 72-cell tray. Transplant as a clump, spacing each 15cm apart in rows 45-75cm apart. Scallions can be spaced at 2-5cm apart in rows 15cm apart.
How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 5.5-6.5 (6.0-6.8 for scallions). Fertile and well-drained soil in full sun is essential. Add well-rotted compost and dig ½-1 cup balanced organic fertilizer into the soil beneath each 3m of row. Keep moisture high in the top 20-30cm of soil. Most of the bulb should form on the surface of the soil, so don’t transplant too deeply. Bulb size is dependent on the size of the tops: the bigger the tops, the bigger the bulb. Provide August-planted scallions with the frost protection of a cloche or heavy row cover as the first frost date approaches.
How To Grow, Harvest: Stop watering in the beginning of August to mature the bulbs in dry soil. After half the tops have fallen, push over the remainder, wait a week and lift the bulbs. Curing is essential for long storage: Spread bulbs out in a single layer in an airy spot out of direct sunlight. Once no more green is visible on any of the leaves, and they are dry and crisp, the onion is cured. If weather is poor, cure indoors. Storage: Keep onions in mesh sacks or hang in braids so they get good ventilation, and hang sacks where air is dry and very cool, but not freezing. Check them regularly and remove any sprouting or rotting onions. Well-cured storage onions should keep until late spring.
How To Grow, Pests and Diseases: Botrytis blast and downy mildew are common leaf diseases. One starts with white spots and streaks, the other with purple-grey areas on leaves. Leaves wither from the top down and plants die prematurely. Separate the overwintered and spring crops because disease starts in older plants and moves to younger. Avoid overhead watering and plant in open sunny locations. Use lots of compost and practice strict sanitation and crop rotation.
How To Grow, Companion Planting: The pungent odour of onions repels many pests and also protects nearby garden vegetables. Plant chamomile and summer savory near onions to improve their flavour. Onions also work well alongside beets, Brassicas, carrots, dill, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, strawberries and tomatoes. Don’t plant onions near asparagus, or peas of any kind.
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Nasturtium – Salad Blend – West Coast Seeds
$4.69Tropaeolum majus. Salad Blend nasturtium seeds bring brilliant colour to summer salads. Salad Blend nasturtiums feature spurless, half-double flowers in tangerine, soft salmon, deep gold, deep mahogany, bright scarlet, cream and cherry-rose. Pick and wash a handful of these bright summer flowers and just tear them into pieces over a summer salad. The result transforms a simple salad into a work of art. Nasturtiums are very easy to grow, and quite drought tolerant, so they are a fine choice for xeriscaping. In the right environment nasturtiums will self sow and come back year after year. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Sow indoors in peat or coir pots 2-4 weeks before the last frost date. Better yet, direct sow from 1 week after last frost and repeat at 2 week intervals into early summer. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 12-18°C. Seeds will sprout in 7-12 days, perhaps longer outdoors.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 5mm – 1cm deep. If starting indoors, provide darkness during germination, followed by bright light. Space smaller varieties 15-30cm apart, and the big ones like Tall Single 60-90cm apart.
How To Grow, Growing: Nasturtiums thrive in poor to average, slightly acidic, well-drained soil. Keep watered during dry weather, and do not fertilize.
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Spinach – Space Organic – West Coast Seeds
$4.49Tried and true all-season spinach for babyleaf and bunching. Organic Space is a growers’ favourite with its fast growth and good tolerance to both warm and cold temperatures. Thick, medium-dark green leaves are smooth to slightly savoyed with a nice gloss. Vigorous plants hold well without bolting and have an upright habit for easy harvest.
How To Grow, Timing: Spinach does best in cool weather. Direct sow in the period four weeks before, and three weeks after the last frost date. Spinach will bolt once days get long and hot. Some varieties grow enough to harvest before they bolt. For continuous supply, plant every 3 weeks.
Sow again in the middle two weeks of August for a fall crop that, if cut at the soil level, will come back early the following spring where winters are mild. Shade summer-sown seed beds, keep very well watered, and sow more seeds than you need, as warm soil will reduce germination rates marginally. Thin seedlings, and use cloche protection as cold weather approaches. Late sowings like this can be harvested into December – in mild winters if cloche protection is provided.
Optimal soil temperature: 5-20°C. Seeds should sprout in 7-14 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 1cm deep, 10 seeds per 30cm, in rows 30-45cm apart. Thin to at least 5-8cm between plants, or further if you want larger leaves.
How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5. This heavy feeder requires rich soil. Dig in ¼-½ cup balanced organic fertilizer beneath every 1m of row. Overwintering spinach requires well drained soil.
How To Grow, Harvest: For baby greens, pick when the leaves are 7-10cm long. Individual leaves can be picked at anytime, until the plant has started to bolt. Cut the whole spinach plant just above soil level.
42 Days.
Approx: 250 Seeds.
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Radish – Rido Red – West Coast Seeds
$4.49These fast growing, uniform watermelon radishes have a lovely cream exterior over a bright fuchsia centre. The core starts as a simple dot of colour, but expands toward the outside as the root develops. The resulting visual appeal makes them extremely eye catching for the market table – or the dinner table. Rido Red radish can be grown at nearly any time of year, but the faster they grow the better the flavour. We were impressed in our summer seed trials by the overall flavour and character of this radish. It mingles sweet and savoury with a touch of mustard-like heat.
How To Grow, Timing: Radishes can be grown all season but they’re easiest when sown just after the last frost date and again at the end of summer and into the fall. Optimal soil temperature: 18-24°C. Seeds should sprout in 5-7 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 5mm deep, 25 seeds per 30cm in rows spaced 30-45cm apart, and thin to 6-12 plants per 30cm.
How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8. Radishes are moderate to heavy feeders. Best in rich, loamy soil amended with composted manure. Add 1 cup of complete organic fertilizer for every 3m of row for background fertility. Lime beds the previous fall. The real secret to growing this little vegetable is speed. Sow a short row frequently, thin them quickly, keep them watered, eat them quickly, and sow some more.
How To Grow, Harvest: Harvest promptly when radishes are the size of large marbles. The leaves and developing seedpods are also tasty.
60 days.
Approx: 100 Seeds
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Squash Zucchini – Jackpot – West Coast Seeds
$4.99C. pepo. When Jackpot zucchini starts producing, you’ll think you hit the jackpot! Bushy plants have few spines, very high yield, and continuous production. Very similar to Ambassador in terms of its upright growth along one single stem, but even earlier to mature. Jackpot zucchini squash seeds fruits are cylindrical, and perfect to pick at 17cm long, not long after the flowers are pollinated. Jackpot zucchini squash seeds make an excellent replacement for Ambassador zucchini seeds. Its upright growth makes Jackpot a good candidate for raised garden beds, or any place where space is limited.
How To Grow, Timing: Direct sow or transplant in late May or early June when soil is warm. For transplants, start seeds indoors in late April or early May. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 25-35°C. Seeds should sprout in 7-14 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 2cm deep. Sow 3 seeds in each spot you want a plant to grow and thin to the strongest one. Aim to space zucchinis no less than 45-60cm apart in rows 90-120cm apart.
How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8. These big, fast-growing plants need plenty of moisture and lots of food. Grow them in rich, well-drained soil in full sun. Dig finished compost or well-rotted manure into the beds, and dig in 1 cup of complete organic fertilizer beneath each transplant. Water the soil around them when you irrigate, and always avoid overhead watering, as wet leaves will attract diseases like mildew. Keep weeded. Misshapen or withered fruits can result from incomplete pollination. Make sure to remove these from the plants as you see them, before they begin to rot, and put them in the compost. In the home garden it can be tempting to over-plant zucchinis. One well-grown plant will provide enough fruits for the average family. Instead of planting several zucchinis, use that space for other vegetables.
How To Grow, Harvest: Pick regularly to encourage the plant to keep on fruiting. Zucchini leaves are often very prickly, so pull delicate skinned fruit out carefully. Fully mature zucchini have a hard skin.
50 days.
Approx: 13 Seeds.
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Carrot – Nantes Coreless – West Coast Seeds
$3.29This delicious carrot shrugs aside heavy soil and forms beautiful 15-20cm long, fine-grained roots that are bright orange throughout and as coreless as the name suggests. Nantes Coreless develop cylindrical and sweet roots, with relatively small tops.
They have excellent flavour and are very tender. Sow these lovely carrots in raised beds or in deeply cultivated soil and be sure to thin the seedlings to 4-10cm apart in the row so that each has room to develop on its own.
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.
75 Days
Approx: 700 Seeds
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Carrot – Purple Haze – West Coast Seeds
$5.49Deep purple on the outside and bright orange inside, this 2006 AAS Winner has a lovely, sweet taste, especially when raw. Lightly stir-fry to retain a deeper purple colour. The roots are 25-30cm (10-12″) long and slender with a graceful taper.
Imperator type. This is our top pick for a purple carrot—enjoy the great flavour and stunning cross-section. We recommend planting Purple Haze for a fall harvest, so it does not bolt. Children love the idea of purple carrots and appreciate the sweet flavour of Purple Haze.
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.
75 Days
Approx: 215 Seeds
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Eggplant – Snowy Organic- West Coast Seeds
$3.99This Italian-type eggplant produces 18cm long fruits with glossy, snowy white skins that resists yellowing. The sweet, mild flesh is meaty and firm, holding up well in cooking. The sturdy plants are vigorous, and well adapted to a wide variety of conditions, including containers. This fast grower is a great choice for growers in short season areas.
How To Grow, Timing: Sow indoors in the four weeks following the last frost date. Use bottom heat, and keep seedlings warm. Optimal soil temperature: 24-32°C. Seeds should sprout in 7-12 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 5mm-1cm deep. Use individual peat or coir pots to reduce root disturbance when transplanting. Transplant after night time temperatures are steadily 10°C or warmer. Space with 45-60cm between plants. Medium size (3-5 gallon) containers for individual plants also work well.
How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 5.5-6.0. Soil should have abundant phosphorus and calcium, so add lime and compost to the soil three weeks prior to transplanting. Mix ¼-½ cup of complete organic fertilizer into the soil beneath each transplant. Using a clear plastic cloche or floating row cover helps growth by increasing heat. Cool temperatures increase leafy growth, but delay fruit set. Once most eggplants get going in the summer, they are highly productive right up until the first frosts.
How To Grow, Harvest: Pinch off blossoms 2 to 4 weeks before first expected frost so that plants focus on ripening any existing fruit, not producing new ones. Harvest the fruit anytime after the fruit reaches half of their size. Harvesting early prevents fruit from becoming too seedy, and will encourage more production from the plants.
Do not pull the fruit off the plant, but cut it with scissors or secateurs, being careful to avoid any sharp spurs at the stem end.
60-70 Days
Approx: 20 Seeds
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Fennel – Preludio Organic – West Coast Seeds
$4.99Like many crops, when fennel bulbs are ready they need to be harvested — if they’re not picked right away, they tend to bolt. When fennel plants bolt, the growth is very fast, almost sudden. The quest for bolt-resistant bulbing fennel has led to the new hybrid, Preludio Organic. Its bulbs are heavy and substantial, shiny smooth on the outside, and packed with flavour. They are dense and uniform, with firm, crisp texture, and the tops are verdant and upright, so they look fabulous on the market table. This is the best variety for late summer and early fall harvests in most areas.
How To Grow, Timing: Start indoors 4 weeks before the last frost date in individual peat or coir pots. Fennel dislikes root disturbance. Transplant (or direct sow rows) 4 weeks after last frost in succession to mid-summer. Ideal temperature for germination: 15-21°C (60-70°F). Seeds should sprout in 10-14 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 1cm deep, a few seeds where each plant is to grow. Thin or space to 20-30cm in rows 45cm apart.
How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 5.5-7.0. Rich, well-drained soil produces the best bulbs. Transplant when seedlings are 5cm tall. If raising transplants, do not disturb the roots, as this may cause plants to bolt. Keep well watered to ensure succulent bulbs and prevent bolting.
How To Grow, Harvest: Use a knife to slice the bulb from the root when it has thickened to 5cm or more across. If this is done carefully, smaller bulbs will sprout from the root later.
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Kale – Summer Blend – West Coast Seeds
$3.99A selection of kale varieties that thrive in the warmth of summer. Summer Kale Blend is a diverse mix of leaf shapes and contrasting colours in greens and purples. Sow short rows at three-week intervals and harvest regularly for a continuous supply of baby greens, Grow in full sun to partial shade, in garden beds or patio containers. Enjoy tender baby leaf kale in salads and wraps or chop into soups for added nutrition.
How To Grow, Timing: Direct sow in early spring to mid-summer for summer to winter harvests. Or start indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost, and transplant out as soon as the soil warms up. 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 where a plant is to grow. Thin to the strongest plant. Space 45-60cm apart in rows 75-90cm apart.
How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8. Add lime to the bed 3 weeks prior to sowing. Kale likes well-drained, fertile soil high in organic matter. This plant prefers plentiful, consistent moisture. Drought is tolerable, but quality and flavor of leaves can suffer. Mix ¼ cup of complete organic fertilizer into the soil beneath each transplant, or use 1 cup beneath every 3m of seed furrow.
How To Grow, Harvest: Kale and collards can both be grown as a cut and come again crop for salad mixes by direct-seeding and cutting when plants are 5-8cm tall. They will re-grow. Or pick leaves from the bottom up on mature plants as you need them. In spring, the surviving plants start to flower, so eat the delicious flowering steps and buds.
40-60 Days
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Wild Lowbush Blueberry – Northern Wildflowers
$4.00Perennial
1-2 feet tall
Full Sun to Part Shade
Zones 2-6
Blooms June to August
Medium to Moist Site
Approx. 200 seeds per packWild Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) has edible berries that burst with their signature sweet flavour and ripen from June to August depending on your region. Packed with antioxidants and vitamins, these berries are definitely a must-have for your garden (or forest garden) if your conditions are right. Blueberries do best in acidic soils with the optimum soil pH being 4.5 to 5.0, but plants usually do fine a little above or below this range. If pH is above 5.5, leaves become chlorotic and plants lose vigor. Very acidic soils (pH < 4.0) can also reduce growth, particularly those with significant amounts of clay. These plants will benefit from the addition of compost, leaf litter, and pine needles. Note that it may take 3 years for the plants to produce fruit.
Growing Instructions:
Wet and cold stratification required. Mix seeds with moist substrate (vermiculite, perlite or moss) and place in a plastic bag and refrigerate for 6-8 weeks. Sow seed at soil surface. Do not let seedling dry out while it is establishing.
OR
Sow directly outdoors in late fall to overwinter.Add to cart -
Tomato – Sweet Gold – West Coast Seeds
$4.99Indeterminate yellow cherry tomato that is easy to grow and early to mature. Sweet Gold produces heavy yields of small, 10-15g (.35-.5oz) fruit growing in single and double clusters. For optimal flavour, harvest when fruit is bright yellow. A good choice for gardens with a relatively short growing season.
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Tomato – Purple Bumble Bee Organic – West Coast Seeds
$4.99Super cute red cherry tomatoes with purple stripes. The sweet round fruits have excellent flavour and grow to a uniform 4cm across. They hang in long trusses from tall indeterminate vines. Try Purple Bumble Bee in a 5-gallon (or larger) container but be sure to provide the support of a trellis or string, as the vines are vigorous. Keep the plants picked and snip back any suckers so the fruit production is limited to one central vine.
How To Grow, Timing: Start indoors in early spring over bottom heat. When seedlings germinate, remove from the heat and grow under bright lights. Grow seedlings on for 6-8 weeks at around 10°C. Early season tomatoes can be planted out once night time temperatures are reliably above 7°C – or later. Other types should be transplanted out when night time lows are 10°C or warmer – or later. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 25-35°C. With bottom heat seeds should germinate in 7-14 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 5mm-1cm deep. Keep seedlings under very bright light to prevent legginess. You may have to pot on seedlings more than once before they go out to allow for root growth. Space bush (determinate) transplants 45-60cm apart and vine (indeterminate) types 50-75cm apart in rows 1m apart.
How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8. Tomatoes like fertile, well drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Dig in finished compost and manure, and add 1 cup balanced organic fertilizer beneath each transplant. The nutrition from heavy clay soils is excellent for tomatoes, but they are slow to warm, so transplanting should be done later. By the same token, lighter soils warm more quickly, so transplants can go out sooner. Adding glacial rock dust will supply all the calcium they will need. Regular watering is vital, but don’t let the plants sit in water. Tomatoes are tropical plants so they require full sun and lots of heat. Vine varieties will require some kind of support such as a wire to grow up, or a trellis to be tied to as the plant grows. Bush types benefit from the support of a tomato cage in order to prevent sprawling. At the time of final transplant, plants can be buried up to their first pair of true leaves. This will encourage greater root growth, helping with both nutrient uptake and the plants’ ability to stand up to dry conditions.
Stop watering around the end of July to encourage the fruit to ripen. If tomato plants are grown under cover, you can encourage pollination and fruit set by tapping the stem from time to time. Tomatoes do not rely on insects for pollination. Vibrating the plant shakes pollen loose within the flowers, which then self-pollinate.Indeterminate tomatoes continue to grow and produce fruit until they are killed by frost. Remove any suckers (stems growing from the crotch of leaves) to keep the foliage under control, and they will set a later crop of larger fruit. Determinate varieties normally set fruit in a concentrated time period. Their suckers are not normally removed, though some trimming helps with ventilation.
How To Grow, Harvest: Harvest when the fruit is the desired colour. Green tomatoes can be ripened indoors at a cool temperature when they are blemish free. Very dark green tomatoes are unlikely to ripen fully.
Indeterminate (vine) Matures in 70 days.
Approx:10 Seeds.
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Tomato – Black Krim Organic – West Coast Seeds
$4.49Gardener’s Delight cherry tomato has a wonderful, old-fashioned flavour and produces long trusses laden with clusters of 6-12 2.5cm, crack-resistant, bright-red morsels. A mid-maturity variety that can be grown in many regions without protection.
How To Grow, Timing: Start indoors in early spring over bottom heat. When seedlings germinate, remove from the heat and grow under bright lights. Grow seedlings on for 6-8 weeks at around 10°C. Early season tomatoes can be planted out once night time temperatures are reliably above 7°C – or later. Other types should be transplanted out when night time lows are 10°C or warmer – or later. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 25-35°C. With bottom heat seeds should germinate in 7-14 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 5mm-1cm deep. Keep seedlings under very bright light to prevent legginess. You may have to pot on seedlings more than once before they go out to allow for root growth. Space bush (determinate) transplants 45-60cm apart and vine (indeterminate) types 50-75cm apart in rows 1m apart.
How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8. Tomatoes like fertile, well drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Dig in finished compost and manure, and add 1 cup balanced organic fertilizer beneath each transplant. The nutrition from heavy clay soils is excellent for tomatoes, but they are slow to warm, so transplanting should be done later. By the same token, lighter soils warm more quickly, so transplants can go out sooner. Adding glacial rock dust will supply all the calcium they will need. Regular watering is vital, but don’t let the plants sit in water. Tomatoes are tropical plants so they require full sun and lots of heat. Vine varieties will require some kind of support such as a wire to grow up, or a trellis to be tied to as the plant grows. Bush types benefit from the support of a tomato cage in order to prevent sprawling. At the time of final transplant, plants can be buried up to their first pair of true leaves. This will encourage greater root growth, helping with both nutrient uptake and the plants’ ability to stand up to dry conditions.
Stop watering around the end of July to encourage the fruit to ripen. If tomato plants are grown under cover, you can encourage pollination and fruit set by tapping the stem from time to time. Tomatoes do not rely on insects for pollination. Vibrating the plant shakes pollen loose within the flowers, which then self-pollinate.Indeterminate tomatoes continue to grow and produce fruit until they are killed by frost. Remove any suckers (stems growing from the crotch of leaves) to keep the foliage under control, and they will set a later crop of larger fruit. Determinate varieties normally set fruit in a concentrated time period. Their suckers are not normally removed, though some trimming helps with ventilation.
How To Grow, Harvest: Harvest when the fruit is the desired colour. Green tomatoes can be ripened indoors at a cool temperature when they are blemish free. Very dark green tomatoes are unlikely to ripen fully.
Vine (indeterminate), Matures in 65 days.
Approx:40 Seeds.
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