Vegetable Seeds

C. 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.

This 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

Deep 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

Seaside 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.

Sweet, stringless pods are borne on 80cm semi-leafless vines that do not require support. The pods are about 9cm long and average 2 pods per node. Sow Sugar Lace II seeds for giant harvests of very sweet snap peas. This variety is resistant to powdery mildew and pea enation mosaic virus, so it handles the cool weather at the end of the season better than others. Try planting as late as early August for harvests into October. It’s also a nice one for early spring planting – you can direct sow as early as mid-February on the coast.

How To Grow, Timing:  Peas prefer cool weather. Plant as early in spring as the soil can be worked. If planting on the west coast after April 1, sow varieties that are listed as being enation resistant if you live in an area where aphids carry the enation virus. Sow again through the summer for a fall crop. The success of a fall crop will depend on the weather. Optimal soil temperature: 10-20°C. Seeds should sprout in 7-14 days.

How To Grow, Starting:  Soaking seeds is not advised for damp soils. Sow seed 2cm deep. After April 15th, sow seed 5cm deep. Space seeds 2-7cm apart in the row. Do not thin. If the seeds fail to sprout, try to dig some up and check for rot or insect damage. The challenge with untreated pea seeds is to give them an early start but to avoid rot.

How To Grow, Growing:  Use well-drained soil amended with finished compost. Add 2 cups of rock phosphate or bonemeal for 3m of row. Plant most varieties along a trellis or fence for support as they climb. Dwarf varieties do not need a trellis, but may benefit from the support of some twigs poked into the soil in the row.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Pick when pods at the desired stage. In theory, all peas can be harvested before the seeds mature, as snow peas, and then as tender snap peas, and finally as shelling peas. Most varieties have an intended maturity for picking. Make multiple sowings or grow several varieties to extend the harvest season.

How To Blanch Peas:  Peas of all kinds freeze particularly well for use in the fall and winter. Prior to freezing, it’s important to briefly submerge peas in boiling water — this kills the natural enzymes that exist in peas that would otherwise reduce the nutrients and cause the peas to break down over time. We recommend using a large pot of water at a rolling boil, and a colander or sieve for dipping. Timing is everything. For snap and snow peas, dip the whole pods into boiling water for exactly two minutes, and then transfer the pods to a bowl of ice water. For shelled peas, ninety seconds is perfect. Use a timer. After ninety seconds, transfer the peas to a bowl of ice water. All peas (and pods) should then be dried thoroughly on kitchen towels before being stored in zip-top or vacuum bags, with as little air as possible in each bag.

Matures in 68 days.

Approx: 80 Seeds.

Ya Ya Organic carrot seeds are CERTIFIED ORGANIC! Ya Ya is a smooth skinned, uniform carrot that performs all season long. Incredible flavour in summer that gets even sweeter after frost. These are especially well adapted to the coastal BC climate and will perform throughout the Pacific Northwest. Ya Ya’s strong tops are good for bunching. This variety is a customer favourite, and many home gardeners that grow it depend on it year after year. Be sure to thin your carrots as early as possible to 4-10cm apart in the row so the roots can grow nice and straight.

These seeds are coated with an inert, organically certified layer which helps to minimize clumping in storage and seed sowing machines. The coating is approved by organic certifiers in Canada, the US, EU, and Japan.

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 65-70 days.

Approx: 180 Seeds

This virtual rainbow of colorful and tasty radishes includes purple, pink, red, white and gold radishes, all with crunchy white flesh. They are fast growing and ready to enjoy in well under a month from sowing. Add them for flavor and color to any green salad, enjoy for crispy snacks, or slice up for eye-catching appetizers with creamy dips. Tuck seeds into the garden in both early spring and fall, wherever you have room for a quick crop. Seed Count: Approx. 425.

START SEEDS OUTDOORS
In early spring as soon as ground can be worked, sow radish seeds in well-worked, fertile soil in full sun. Space seeds 1 inch apart in wide rows 6 inches apart. Keep soil evenly moist and well weeded. If first sowing comes up unevenly, replant right away. Sow in late summer for a fall crop.

GROWING NOTES
Sow this quick cool season crop wherever you intend to plant heat lovers later. Radishes thrive with crisp flesh and mild flavor when given consistent moisture. Sow small amounts a week apart to mature in warm but not hot weather. Thin quick-growing seedlings early to 2 inches apart so roots have room to size up. Protect radishes with floating row covers if marauding birds or flea beetles that chew holes in the leaves are a problem.

HARVEST AND USE
Pull radishes when young round roots have reached the size of large marbles. If weather turns hot, harvest, cut off tops and store in fridge. Radish flavor is mildest in cool weather, spicier in hot conditions. Picked young and tender, this appealing five color mix makes crispy snacks, attractive appetizers, and adds flavor and crunchy texture to salads. Especially delicious sliced and tossed with a sesame or miso flavored dressing.

Sweetie Baby is a brand new baby romaine bred to be compact, juicy and delicious. The pretty green leaves grow in perfect 6 to 8 inch tall vase-shaped heads that are heavy for their size with a wonderful sweet flavor and crisp, crunchy texture. In the garden, Sweetie Baby lettuce is long-lasting, slow to bolt and heat tolerant. This handsome and appetizing little romaine is ideal for growing in containers or small space gardens. Perfect for individual salads or for sandwiches. Seed Count: Approx. 550.

START SEEDS OUTDOORS
In cool spring weather, start seeds in full sun. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in fertile, well-drained soil mix. After the seedlings germinate and begin to grow, it’s important to thin the young plants so they have room to mature into heads. Thin seedlings when a few inches tall to a final spacing of 5 inches apart so they have room to mature to full heads (extra seedlings will transplant easily to grow elsewhere). Plan on 7 to 10 full heads in a 16-18 inch pot or an 18-24 inch window box. Plan on 3 full heads in an 8 inch pot.

GROWING NOTES
Lettuce thrives in cool conditions. Be sure to thin properly and keep evenly moist for sweet tasting, full heads. For a constant supply, make several sowings a few weeks apart until summer weather turns hot.

Plant again in late summer for fall harvest. In hot weather, give lettuce some afternoon shade and check water daily. Feed with liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks.

Try setting seedlings around the edges of a big pot holding a young tomato or pepper plant. Harvest the lettuce as the bigger plant grows to need the space.

HARVEST AND USE
Savor young lettuce thinnings in your first spring salads. Then harvest plants by cutting mature heads when they feel firm and well-filled. Pull over-mature plants if they begin to elongate (“bolt”) in hot weather, as leaves turn bitter at this stage.

The triple curled, rich green leaves of this top-quality Dutch variety are mild, juicy-sweet and tender: a perfect choice for vitamin-rich, garden fresh kale salads, kale “chips” and a whole range of traditional cooked dishes. Darkibor grows effortlessly into 18 inch tall, dense leafy rosettes of frilled rich green leaves. This striking edible landscaping plant is at home in both vegetable and ornamental gardens. You’ll be enjoying this great tasting, weather tolerant variety for months. 60 seeds, Non GMO. Harvest in 50 says.

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 seeds 2 inches apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. Cover 1/2 inch deep and keep soil evenly moist to ensure good germination. 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. 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 crop sown in late summer 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.

These pretty little lettuces form dense leafy 7-8 inch rosettes that look like lettuce bouquets. Baby Oakleaf’s elongated, notched, bright green leaves are tender, sweet and succulent and hold salad dressing well because of their unique shape.

Each appetizing head is perfect for a personal size salad for 1-2 people. Heads are quick to mature and grow equally well in beds or containers. You’ll find this lovely little lettuce is both delicious and very ornamental. 1700 seeds, Harvest in 70 days. Non GMO

START SEEDS OUTDOORS
In cool spring weather, start seeds in full sun. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in fertile, well-drained soil. When seedlings are several inches tall, thin to a final spacing of 4-5 inches apart. Extra seedlings can easily be transplanted elsewhere.

Container Spacing: Grow 3 plants in an 8 inch pot, or 7 to 8 plants in a 12 to 15 inch diameter container.

GROWING NOTES
Lettuce thrives in cool conditions with consistent moisture. Be sure to thin properly and keep evenly moist for sweet tasting, full heads. For a constant supply, make several sowings a few weeks apart until summer weather turns hot. Plant again in late summer for fall harvest. In hot weather, give lettuce some afternoon shade to extend harvest season and check water daily. Keep soil evenly moist and feed with liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks.

Consider transplanting lettuce seedlings around the edges of a big pot containing a young tomato or pepper plant. The lettuces will be ready to eat just as the bigger plant grows larger and needs the space.

HARVEST AND USE
Savor young thinnings in your first spring salads. Then harvest plants by cutting mature heads when they feel firm and well-filled out. Pull over-mature plants if they begin to elongate (“bolt”) in hot weather, as leaves turn bitter at this stage.

Mild, 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 hardy

EASIEST 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.

Cornichons are tiny, European style “mini” pickles. Traditionally they are made into the tiny, tangy pickles often served with cocktails and pâtés. Our imported French Cornichons are both early and vigorous with vines that produce high yields of refined, firm-fleshed little pickles to harvest when well-filled and just a few inches long. They are super easy to make into delicious baby pickles or tiny, sweet, crunchy gherkins. Our disease-resistant, imported variety produces extra early. Parthenocarpic.

Approx: 21 Seeds.

Non GMO

START SEEDS OUTDOORS

Plant heat loving cucumbers only when weather is warm and settled and night temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C). Amend soil well with aged manure or compost. Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds 1 1/2 feet apart and 1 inch deep with 3 feet between rows.

Thin to 1 seedling per group. Or make slightly mounded hills 5 feet apart, sowing 5 or 6 seeds in each hill. Thin to the 3 strongest plants.

GROWING NOTES

Protect seedlings from marauding birds with plastic berry baskets, removing before plants get crowded. Shallow rooted cucumbers need ample and consistent moisture. Avoid overly wet or dry periods for good quality fruit. Growing cucumber vines up vertical supports saves garden space and makes it easy to find and harvest the cucumbers.

HARVEST AND USE

IMPORTANT: Harvest by cutting when just 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. Harvest every few days to keep vines producing and the cornichons from getting too big! Put up pickles within a few days of harvest.

Pickle tiny cornichons in a simple vinegar solution with garlic, peppercorns and fresh tarragon or dill. Traditional with pâté and delicious as snacks or with cocktails.

These 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

C. pepo. Sow Sweet Dumpling squash seeds for fruits with delicious, light-golden flesh and fine, sweet texture when baked. The 8-10cm, squat fruits weigh about half a pound – just right for an individual serving… And that makes them positively ideal for stuffing and baking. Sweet Dumpling squash are very productive and good keepers. Shaped like small, flat topped acorn squash, but with the distinct markings of a delicata, Sweet Dumpling produces eight to ten little fruits per plant. This is one of our favourites, and has been performing well for years with great customer feedback.

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow or transplant in late spring once the soil is warm. For transplants, start seeds indoors during the first two weeks of May. Optimal soil temperature: 25-35°C. Seeds should germinate in 7-14 days.

How To Grow, Starting:  Sow seeds 2cm deep. Sow 3 seeds in each spot where you want a plant to grow, and thin to the strongest plant. Space summer squash 45-60cm apart in rows 90-120cm apart. Give winter squash and pumpkins even more room with a minimum of 90-120cm apart in rows 120-180cm apart.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8.  These big plants need lots of food. Use 1 cup of complete organic fertilizer worked into the soil beneath each plant. All squash grow male flowers first, at later female flowers. The female flowers have tiny fruits at the base of their petals and require pollination by bees mostly. Incomplete pollination often happens at the beginning of the season, and results in misshapen fruits that are withered at the blossom end. Just discard these damaged fruits before they begin to rot. Encourage bees to visit the garden by growing Phacelia, sunflowers, or buckwheat for improved pollination.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Summer Squash: Pick when small, if fruit gets big the plant stops producing. Check the plants regularly.

Winter Squash: Fruit is ripe if your thumbnail doesn’t mark the skin and the stem is dry and brown. Cut the stem about 4cm from the fruit. Squash survive a light frost, but store better if harvested before frost.

Storage: Field-cure for 10 days in the sun, or cure indoors in a warm room for 4 or 5 days. To prevent mould sponge the skins with a solution of 10 parts water to 1 part chlorine bleach. Store at 10-15ºC  with low humidity with good air circulation. Try on a shelf in the garage.

110 Days.

Approx: 15 Seeds.

Raphanus sativus. Daikon radishes are large and require deeply prepared soil, as they can grow to over 30cm long. One of the best daikon radishes for summer, Minowase Summer Cross have white roots that are 15-20 inches long and 2.5″ in diameter. The pure white flesh is excellent for salads, sandwiches, cooking, and pickling. Flavour is milder when grown to maturity in fall, in light soil, and with good irrigation.

Sow and grow as you would turnips, thinning them to 15-20cm apart. At each cultivation, push the soil over the top of the root.

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.

50 Days.

Approx: 40 Seeds.

These adorable mini, creamy-white pumpkin grows to around the size of a tennis ball. The vigorous, vining plant produces numerous fruits that are flattened and slightly ribbed. Fantastic for ornamental use and in floral derorations. Baby Boo is suitable for growing on trellises and fences. Fairly compact for a pumpkin, the trailing vines can spread to 80-140cm. Great fun for kids to grow.

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow or transplant in late spring when soil warms up. For transplants, start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks after the last frost date. Try to get the plants into the ground no later than the summer solstice. 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 plant. Space plants at a minimum of 90-120cm (36-48″) apart in rows 120-180cm apart. If starting transplants indoors, consider using the 12-cell plug inserts.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8.   These big plants need lots of food. Choose a sunny spot with fertile, well-draining soil. Dig in a generous quantity of finished compost and/or composted manure. Dig in 1 cup of a general well-balanced organic fertilizer under each plant. All pumpkins grow male flowers first, then the female flowers are produced. The female flowers have tiny fruits at the base of the petals and require pollination by bees, mostly. Incomplete pollination is common at the beginning of the season, and results in small fruits that are misshapen at the flower end. Discard these damaged fruits before they rot.

For the largest pumpkins, feed weekly throughout the growing season with fish or kelp based fertilizer. Keep the huge plants well watered, particularly in hot weather. Always water the soil, and avoid any form of overhead watering other than rain. Fruit will grow larger if you keep only one fruit per vine. As the fruit develops, try to gently encourage it to grow at a 90° angle to the vine itself. The largest pumpkin varieties will grow on their sides.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Like other winter squash, pumpkins are mature when they have coloured up well and their stems are crisp. For the best sugar content, cut the stem about 4cm or so from the body of the fruit. If the weather is dry, allow the pumpkins to cure in the field for 10 days, or in a warm room for 4-5 days. Bring pumpkins in under cover before rain.

100 Days.

Approx: 15 Seeds.

A 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

Indeterminate 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.