Vegetable Seeds

Black Cherry tomato seeds produce hardy, vigorous vines loaded with gorgeous purple to mahogany brown cherry tomatoes 2.5 cm round. Enjoy prolific yields all season long! Rich, juicy cherry tomatoes with wonderfully complex, sweet flavour and firm texture. The little fruits of this variety look exotic and taste irresistibly delicious. A great snacking tomato, excellent in bruschetta.

Plants typically grow at least 150 cm and require caging or staking for support. For best results, allow these cherry tomatoes to ripen on the vine, and harvest regularly. Fruits are ripe when they turn dark red/brown in colour and they pop readily off the stem with a roll of the fingers.

Indeterminate (vine)

65 Days.

Approx: 25 Seeds.

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.

How To Grow, Disease & Pests:  Blossom End Rot is an environmental disorder caused by a calcium deficiency. As the name of the disorder indicates it occurs at the blossom end of the fruit. It appears as a brownish dry and firm sunken area. Sometimes a secondary infection can occur at the damaged area, which turns it mushy and wet. Internal blackening can occur without the characteristic end rot. Calcium deficiency can happen when there is uneven watering. When the plants are too dry for a period followed by over watering, this encourages fast growth. The tomato plant can’t take up enough calcium resulting in an unbalanced potassium-to-calcium ratio. Early fruit show the affects sooner than later fruit. Digging in bonemeal, dolomite lime and a balanced organic fertilizer such as Gaia All Purpose Blend 4-4-4 will help prevent this disease as will an even and regular watering schedule.

An airborne fungal disease causes Late Blight. It begins as leaf spots before spreading to stems and fruit. Water soaked areas appear on the leaves. These are greenish black and irregular in shape. Brown cankers develop on the stems and fruit. Blight infected tomatoes can have a fishy smell. Often the fruit manages to almost reach maturity before the cankers take over. Sometimes a bluish grey mould grows on the underside of infected leaves and on the fruit cankers.

Prevention is key as there is no cure for the disease. Keep moisture off the plants. Use drip tape for watering and avoid splashing the leaves. Our cloche system is excellent for keeping rain and moisture off the plants. In a greenhouse or under a cloche, humidity can build up so high that the fungus will destroy plants in 24 hours. You must ventilate well.

Bordo Copper Spray applied regularly in late summer prevents the fungus that causes Late Blight to germinate. If applied with the OMRI listed Superflow Natural Surfactant the copper spray will stay on longer and there will be less need to apply other than after each rainfall or heavy dew.

Phytopthera infestans is the fungus that infects tomatoes and potatoes, and is dreadful on the Coast. Greyish black areas appear first on stems and leaves, moving rapidly to kill the plant. The critical factor is moisture. Blight infects tomato plants with leaves and stems that are moist for over 48 hours. Moisture can be from rain, heavy dew, high humidity in a greenhouse or cover, condensation, or irrigation water. Once you know this, you can plan a shelter under an overhanging eve, on a porch or under a structure that you create. The protection must have excellent ventilation and must give you access to pick and prune your tomatoes. Consider growing your tomatoes in containers that can be moved to sheltered spots out of the rain.

Late blight overwinters in tomato and potato debris. Do not plant in a bed used to grow tomatoes or potatoes last year, and dispose of diseased plants in the garbage not the compost. Copper spray can prevent the fungus from infecting the plant. Plants must be sprayed every 7-10 days before any symptoms appear. Blight strikes in the rains of late summer, so choose at least one variety that will ripen before the deluge. The best advice we can offer to avoid blight is to grow early ripening bush varieties and to protect your vines carefully.

Flea Beetles make many tiny holes in the tomato leaves. They can cause problems for small tender transplants but a healthy plant can usually outgrow the damage. Use our Floating Row Cover for early season protection from Flea Beetles when transplanting your tomatoes.

How to Grow, Companion Planting:  Another sensitive plant when it comes to companions, tomatoes benefit from asparagus, basil, beans, borage, carrots, celery, chives, collards, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, parsley, and peppers. Avoid planting alongside Brassicas and dill. Corn will attract tomato pests, and kohlrabi will stunt tomatoes’ growth. Potatoes may spread blight to tomatoes, so keep them apart. Do no plant tomatoes near walnut trees.

A long-time favorite of Italian cooks for its flavor and substance, this fine variety has wide, crisp, silvery-white midribs and crinkled, shiny green leaves. The large-framed, handsome plants grow easily and vigorously from spring through late fall. Heirloom Silver Rib produces an abundance of big succulent leaves with sweet crunchy stalks to enjoy as mild, mellow-tasting greens. You’ll find it consistently delicious simply steamed with fresh lemon, sautéed with aromatics or added to stir-fries, soups, and casseroles.

Approx: 155 Seeds.

Non GMO

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, or broadcast very thinly for bed planting. 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 so chard plants have room to mature.

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 as chard grows into large vase-shaped plants 2 feet tall.

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.

Our crispy, nutty-flavored Baby Leaf chard is the fastest growing and best tasting, whether you use it in salads or steam, stirfry or braise its handsome green leaves. Easily grown by the “cut and come again” method, seeds are sown thickly, then cut as needed at 4-5 inches tall, leaving crowns to regrow for multiple additional harvests. With its tender texture and milder flavor, baby leaf chard makes wonderful garden- fresh salads.

Approx: 738 Seeds.

Non GMO

BEST TO START DIRECTLY OUTDOORS

Beginning in early spring, sow seeds in finely worked soil in full sun. Shake seeds loosely from your hand, broadcasting about 1 inch apart over the entire seedbed or in wide rows, and cover lightly and evenly with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of fine soil. Firm soil gently and water in with a fine spray, then keep seedbed evenly moist. For a constant supply, makes successive sowings every three weeks until summer weather turns really hot. Plant again in late summer for fall harvesting.

GROWING NOTES

For best flavor, baby leaf chard needs consistent moisture and mild weather. Birds love tender young seedlings,so protect them as necessary with netting or floating row covers. This attractive edible will also grow well in pots at least 18 to 20 in. across to snip as needed for salads or stirfry.

HARVEST AND USE

To harvest by the “cut and come again” method: when plants are 4 to 5 in. tall, cut as much as you need, by using scissors to shear off leaves 1 to 2 in. above the soil level. Water well and fertilize lightly and plants will regrow for several more cuttings. These tender, crisp and juicy baby leaves are delicious in fresh salads. Or stirfry, braise or sauté very quickly for healthy, tasty greens.

This special mix of three premium French Batavian lettuces combines sweet taste with tender but crispy texture and great garden performance in both hot and cold weather. The colorful trio contains intensely red “Chrystal,” bright green, wavy-leaved “Soprane” and softly red-tinged “Rossia.” Bred especially for the fresh market, these heavy, beautiful rosettes of delicious leaves are perfect for luscious, satisfying salads, in sandwiches or wherever you want big crunchy leaves full of flavor.

Equal parts: Rossia, Chrystal & Soprane

Approx: 650 Seeds.

Non GMO

START SEEDS OUTDOORS

In cool, early spring weather, start seeds in finely worked soil in full sun. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in rows 6 to 8 inches apart or broadcast thinly in beds and cover lightly. Tend carefully and keep evenly moist. Gradually thin seedlings to stand 10 to 12 inches apart to allow heads room to mature. Make several sowings a few weeks apart until summer weather turns hot for a constantly maturing supply. Plant again in late summer for fall harvesting.

GROWING NOTES

Lettuce thrives best in cool conditions with consistent moisture. Weed, water and thin carefully for best quality heads. If birds are attracted to young seedlings, cover them with floating row covers or netting.

HARVEST AND USE

Savor earliest thinnings in spring salads. Then harvest by cutting entire mature heads or picking outside leaves after plants are well established. To extend planting into hotter weather, sow new seeds in containers in light shade. Transplant seedlings into the garden, shading for a few days and harvest heads while still young. Tasty French Batavian lettuces form heavy rosettes of big crunchy leaves that tolerate both hot and cold weather well. Enjoy them with any kind of dressing from a simple vinaigrette to a rich, creamy Gorgonzola. Their crispy texture is also perfect in sandwiches or tacos.

Our blend of new lettuces is selected for exceptional heat tolerance, striking ornamental beauty and wonderful flavor. Dutch Redina has loose-leaf rosettes with ruffled ruby leaves tapering to speckled green centers. Batavian Nevada’s broad heads of shiny rich green leaves are known for their sweet taste and juicy texture. Stunning French Cardinale has large vase shaped heads of crispy-sweet leaves with gorgeous burgundy edges and green hearts. Plant this summer bouquet to please your eye and palate.

Equal parts: Redina, Nevada, Cardinale

Approx: 600 Seeds.

Non GMO

START SEEDS OUTDOORS

In cool early spring weather, start seeds in finely worked soil in full sun. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in rows 6 to 8 inches apart or broadcast thinly in beds and cover lightly. Tend carefully and keep evenly moist. Gradually thin seedlings to stand 10 to 12 inches apart to allow heads room to mature. Make several sowings a few weeks apart until summer weather turns hot for a constantly maturing supply. Plant again in late summer for fall harvesting.

GROWING NOTES

Lettuce thrives in cool conditions with consistent moisture. Weed, water and thin carefully for best quality heads. If birds are attracted to young seedlings, cover them with floating row covers or netting.

HARVEST AND USE

Savor early young thinnings in your first spring salads. Then harvest plants either by picking outside leaves after plants are well established or by cutting mature heads. To extend the lettuce season into hotter weather, sow seeds indoors with a strong light source, or outside in containers in light shade. Transplant young seedlings into the garden, shading for a few days. Harvest while still young for best flavor. Pull and discard or compost over-mature plants if they begin to elongate (“bolt”) and get bitter in hot weather.

This delicious and beautiful Asian green grows quickly and easily in both spring and fall. Rosette Tatsoi speedily forms round flat rosettes of rich green, teardrop shaped leaves. At maturity, the big heads measure a foot in diameter. Tatsoi’s tender, succulent leaves have a wonderful mild flavor, sweeter than most other Asian greens. Tatsoi adds both color and flavor to fresh green salads or enjoy it in stir-fries. This vitamin and anti-oxidant rich powerhouse is a great ornamental edible.

Approx: 1250 Seeds.

Non GMO

TO START OUTDOORS

In very early spring, plant in well-drained, fertile soil in full sun. Sow seeds 2 to 3 inches apart in rows spaced 8 to 12 inches apart. Cover 1⁄4 inch deep and keep evenly moist to ensure good germination. When well established, thin seedlings 6 to 8 inches apart, so they have room to mature into large rosettes.

TO START INDOORS

Several weeks before last frost, sow seeds in a container of seed starting mix 2 inches apart and cover 1⁄4 inch deep. Keep moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are about 3 inches tall. Transplant outdoors 6 to 8 inches apart, as plants mature into large rosettes.

GROWING NOTES

Tatsoi thrives in rich soil and cool growing conditions. Space seedlings properly and keep well weeded and watered for best tasting, full heads. Feed several times during the quick growing season with fish emulsion or another high nitrogen fertilizer for best growth. Sow again in late summer for a fast growing fall crop.

HARVEST AND USE

Use early thinnings for salads. Cut whole mature rosettes of leaves when plump and well filled out – they reach a foot or more across! Use the pretty, dark green, teardrop shaped leaves for fresh, tasty salads, quick stir-fries, or braised until tender-crisp. Tatsoi is both mild and sweet tasting and absolutely chock full of vitamins and antioxidants.

These fragrant, fiery, flavorful 4 inch chiles are the most widely grown variety in Tibet, where they are made into a spicy sauce or a tongue-tingling paste used in many dishes or served as a condiment that adds heat and savor to everyday meals. Plants bear heavy sets of multiple straight pods that quickly mature from green to rich deep red early in the season, and keep producing for long extended harvesting. We are pleased to introduce this unique variety to U.S. gardeners.

Approx: 21 Seeds.

Non GMO

STARTING SEEDLINGS

In early spring, start indoors about 2 months before night temperatures stay reliably 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 27-30°C. Provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant outside. When seedlings are 2 inches tall, transplant into deeper individual containers. Maintain at 21-24°C. Feed with half strength fertilizer every week until weather is warm enough to gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions. Transplant 2 feet apart into rich soil in full sun.

GROWING NOTES

Chiles need warm conditions; don’t transplant outdoors until night temperatures stay securely above 13°C. Prepare soil well with aged manure or compost. Plant only robust seedlings with well-developed roots. Mulch plants to maintain even soil moisture. Keep well weeded, watered and fertilized.

HARVEST AND USE

Harvest when chiles have a high gloss and are ripened to rich deep red. Use these great tasting, fiery hot chiles fresh for chile sauce or paste, making fresh salsas, in stirfries, marinades or dry and chop for spicy chile flakes. To dry for year-round use, either use a dehydrator, or harvest individually and string from the stem end to hang in a warm, airy location.

Our mixed seed packet offers an easy way to grow 3 different colored, extra-fancy zucchinis. Plump pastel green Salman is creamy and tender stuffed or baked; glossy dark green Twilight is sweet and succulent steamed or sautéed, and the buttercup yellow fruits of Golden Delight are delicate and nutty.

Seeds are color coded with USDA food grade stain to distinguish varieties. Be sure to plant some of each for show stopping harvests.

Pink seed = Salman F-1
Undyed seed = Golden Delight F-1
Green seed = Twilight F-1

Approx: 15 Seeds.

Non GMO

START SEEDS OUTDOORS

Zucchinis need full sun, rich fertile soil and warm temperatures. Plant only when spring weather is warm and night temperatures stay above 10°C. Sow 2 to 3 seeds, 1 inch deep, every 2 feet, in rows 3 feet apart. Thin to leave only 1 seedling every 2 feet. Or, plant in slightly mounded hills, 2 feet in diameter, sowing 5 or 6 seeds in each hill. Thin hill-planted seedlings to 2 or 3 strongest plants.

GROWING NOTES

Amend soil well before sowing with lots of aged manure or compost. Protect young seedlings from marauding birds by covering with plastic berry baskets at planting time, removing when plants get crowded. Be sure to thin properly — you will have more productive, disease-free plants if seedlings have enough room to mature.

HARVEST AND USE

Harvest zucchini when no more than 5 to 6 inches long for best flavor and tenderness. Frequent harvesting keeps plants producing tasty new fruits instead of maturing fat, tough, huge ones. Steam, stirfry or grill sliced zucchinis and sprinkle with fresh parsley, dill, basil or thyme. Try the tasty blossoms sautéed or stuffed and baked. Heap a platter with spears of all 3 colored zucchinis picked at baby size and serve with your favorite dip for nutty tasting, crunchy appetizers or snacks.

ur mixed seed packet offers you an easy way to grow three different colored sweet bell peppers. Cougar Red ripens up deep crimson-red, Tabby turns glossy golden yellow and Oreny matures glowing orange. These plump vigorous varieties combine mouth-watering rich flavor and juicy texture with high yields and excellent disease resistance.

Seeds are color coded with USDA food grade stain to distinguish varieties; make sure to plant some of each.

Undyed seed = Tabby F1 Golden Bell (TMV & PVY resistant, Stip tolerant)
Green seed = Cougar Red F1 Red Bell (TMV & TEV resistant)
Pink seed = Oreny Orange F1 Bell (TMV resistant, Stip tolerant)

Approx: 17 Seeds.

Non GMO

STARTING SEEDLINGS

In early spring, start indoors about 2 months before outdoor night temps are reliably in the 10-13°C range. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in a container of starting mix. Keep moist but not soggy, and very warm, 27- 29°C. Provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant outside.

When seedlings are 2 inches tall, transplant 2 inches apart into deeper containers or individual pots. Maintain at 21-24°C. Feed with half-strength fertilizer every 2 weeks until weather is warm enough to gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions. Plant out 2 1/2 feet apart into rich soil in full sun.

GROWING NOTES

Don’t plant peppers outdoors until night temperatures are above 13°C. Prepare soil with aged manure or compost. Plant only robust seedlings with well-developed roots. Mulch plants to maintain even soil moisture. Stake or cage your plants to help support their heavy fruit set.

HARVEST AND USE

Ready to pick in late summer, pepper fruits start out green and ripen up to rich red, orange or golden yellow, depending upon variety. Edible at any stage, glossy, fully colored fruits have the best flavor and are high in vitamins A and C. Carefully cut rather than pull peppers from plants. Enjoy these pretty peppers sliced up raw, sautéed, stir fried or grilled.

We import these brilliantly colored, authentic Thai chiles direct from the source! Vigorous Full Moon ripens bright orange with delicious medium hot/sweet pungency, perfect minced in sauces and salads. Red Vesuvius’ fiery little fruits point up like flames, with that nutty, incendiary pungency just right for stir-fries. Use fresh or air dry for tantalizing Asians style dishes.

Seeds are color-coded with food grade stain to distinguish varieties; be sure to plant some of each.

Red seed = Red Vesuvius
Undyed seed = Orange Full Moon

Approx: 40 Seeds.

Non GMO

STARTING SEEDLINGS

In early spring, start indoors about 2 months before night temperatures stay reliably 10- 13°C. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1inch apart in a container of seed starting mix. Keep moist but not soggy, and very warm 27-30°C. Provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant outside. When seedlings are 2 inches tall, transplant into deeper individual containers. Maintain at 21-24°C. Feed with half strength fertilizer every week until weather is warm enough to gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions. Transplant 2 feet apart into rich soil in full sun.

GROWING NOTES

Chiles need warm conditions. Don’t transplant outdoors until night temperatures stay securely above 13°C. Prepare soil well with aged manure or compost. Plant only robust seedlings with well-developed roots. Mulch plants to maintain even soil moisture. Keep well weeded, watered and fertilized.

HARVEST AND USE

Harvest when chiles have a high gloss and are fully ripened to orange for the medium-hot Full Moon and red for Vesuvius. To dry for year-round use, cut whole branches of chiles or harvest individually and string from the stem end. Hang in a warm, airy location. Use in all Thai and Asian stir-fries, sauces, salsas and marinades or dry and chop for spicy chile flakes to sprinkle on pizza.

Black Bellota is a large acorn producing high yields of 1kg deeply ribbed fruit on semi-bush plants. Uniform, dark green, almost black squash have high quality, orange flesh with a mildly sweet, nutty flavour. Intermediate resistance to powdery mildew.

82 Days.

Approx: 10 Seeds.

Non GMO

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.

How To Grow, Pests and Diseases:  Bacterial wilt (Erwinia tracheiphila) – Remove and destroy infested plants. If striped or spotted cucumber beetles appear, control as early as possible. Powdery mildew – avoid wetting foliage if possible. Water early in the day so that above ground parts of the plants dry as quickly as possible. Avoid crowding plants and eliminate weeds around plants and garden area to improve air circulation. Viral disease – remove and destroy entire infested plant along with immediately surrounding soil and soil clinging to roots.

How To Grow, Companion Planting:  Companions: corn, lettuce, melons, peas, and radish. Avoid planting squash near Brassicas or potatoes. Borage is said to improve the growth and flavour of squash. Marigolds and nasturtium repel numerous squash pest insects.

Match is an all-season corn salad that can be grown throughout the year if soil temperature is below 22°C. It’s upright habit means an easy harvest of the whole, petite plants for fresh salads. Slower growing than Frost during the winter.

40 Days.

Approx: 460 Seeds.

Non GMO

How To Grow, Timing:  Sow corn salad in early spring and again in September for fall and winter harvests. Ideal temperature: 5-18°C. Seeds sprout best in cool, moist soil. Seeds germinate in 7-21 days.

How To Grow, Starting:  Sow 3 seeds per inch 1cm deep in rows 30cm apart. Thin to 5cm apart.

How To Grow, Growing:  Grow in light, fertile soil with a pH range of 6.5-7.0. Corn salad grows best on fertilizer remaining in the bed after summer crops have been harvested, so it’s perfect for following any crop that ends in September, like bush beans or lettuce. Try filling a raised bed with corn salad for fall & winter harvests: Fifty feet of planted row will provide a big bowl of tender leaves harvested once a week.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Delicately bunch small groups of leaves together and cut with a sharp knife 2-5cm above the soil, so the plants can grow back. Or sow very densely, and gradually thin the plants throughout winter, cutting them at the soil line. Corn salad leaves frequently come in contact with soil, so rinse them thoroughly.

A sweet, crisp iceberg lettuce that is widely adaptable and easy to grow, Calmar’s medium-sized, tightly packed heads have a beautiful pale green interior. Heads form easily and reliably with a refreshing cruncy texture, perfect for a summer wedge salad.

60 Days.

Approx: 530 Seeds.

Non GMO

How To Grow, Timing:  Lettuce grows best in cool weather in the spring and fall, but it can be grown in the summer, and all winter long in milder regions. Sow short rows every 2-3 weeks following the last average frost date for a continual harvest. Using a cloche, cold frame, or greenhouse over mid-late summer plantings can extend the harvest period right into winter. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 10-22°C. Seeds should sprout in 7-15 days, depending on conditions. Lettuce seeds don’t sprout easily when the soil temperature is over 22°C  in summer. Get around this by sprouting them indoors in a cool area, or pre-sprout by sprinkling seeds on a damp paper towel and placing it in a plastic bag in the fridge for a few days. In hot weather most lettuce goes to seed rapidly, so have new plantings ready to go, and watch for “good resistance to bolting” in the product description.

How To Grow, Starting:  Direct sow or start indoors and transplant. Sow seeds 5mm deep, or on the surface of the soil where the soil can be kept evenly moist.. Space or thin heading lettuce to 30cm apart. Space or thin looseleaf varieties to 20-25cm apart. Space rows for all types 45-90cm apart. Babyleaf lettuce can be planted quite densely, as it is harvested at an immature size. Sowing babyleaf lettuce seeds closely together in narrow rows makes harvesting simpler.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5. Aim for a soil with ample drainage and lots of organic matter. Add compost and lime at least 3 weeks prior to planting. One cup of balanced organic fertilizer per 3m of row will give adequate nutrition. Seedlings should be hardened off by reducing water and putting the plants outdoors 2 or 3 days before transplanting. This will help to prevent transplant shock and premature bolting. Regular watering is essential to prevent leaves from developing a bitter taste.

How To Grow, Pelleted Seeds:  A number of our lettuce seeds are pelleted for machine planting. The white clay ball that covers each seed makes them easier to handle and easier to see when planted. While most lettuce seeds need to be barely covered (or sown on the surface of the soil), pelleted seeds need to be buried by about 1cm. Please keep your newly sown pelleted seeds evenly moist – use more water than with conventional seeds. If the soil is allowed to dry out, the clay pelleting material can wick water away from the seed, causing uneven or lower germination.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Pick individual leaves or wait and harvest full heads. Mature summer lettuce stays in prime eating condition only a short time, so harvest promptly and keep planting. In fall and winter the plants stay in good harvest condition longer.

How To Grow, Pests and Diseases:  Crop rotation is important for disease prevention. Tip burn (tips of leaves turning brown) is caused by a calcium deficiency. If you have limed, tip burn can be caused by nutrient imbalances or lack of moisture. Slugs are a problem in early and late plantings, so clean up their hiding places, and only water in the morning.

How To Grow, Companion Planting:  Lettuce plants make good companions for beets, Brassicas, carrot, celery, chervil, cucumbers, dill, garlic, onions, radish, spinach, squash, and strawberries.

Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry is an improved Candy Cane pepper that retains its stripes when mature. These tasty mini bells are truly unique with their fun stripes that change from light and medium green to red and chocolate. 9cm (3.5”) elongated fruit are tasty at every stage.

72 Days.

Approx: 10 Seeds.

Non GMO

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:  Fruit can be picked once it is firm and has reached desired size, however, sweetness can increase dramatically as the fruit ripens. If you pick the peppers when they are still young/green, the plant will keep producing more fruit. 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.

How To Grow, Disease and Pests:  To prevent rot and wilt, plant in well-drained soils and follow a strict 4-year crop rotation.  If cutworms are a problem, use paper collars at the plant base. Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV): young growth is malformed and leaves are mottled with yellow. To prevent it: wash hands after handling tobacco (including Nicotiana), before touching peppers. Control aphids, which spread the disease.

How To Grow, Companion Planting:  Pepper plants make good neighbours for asparagus, basil, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, oregano, parsley, rosemary, squash, Swiss chard, and tomatoes. Avoid planting them next to beans, Brassicas, or fennel.

A prolific producer of mildly spicy shishitos. Shishimai will bear an abundance of medium-green, 7-9cm (2.5-3.5”) thin-walled peppers that taste delicious sauteed or grilled with some coarse salt. Plants benefit from staking to support the heavy fruit load. Harvest pepper as soon as they size up, while still green, for continuous production through the season.

60 Days.

Approx: 10 Seeds.

Non GMO

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 (¼-½”) 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 oots. 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 (12-24″) 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:  Fruit can be picked once it is firm and has reached desired size, however, sweetness can increase dramatically as the fruit ripens. If you pick the peppers when they are still young/green, the plant will keep producing more fruit. 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.

How To Grow, Disease and Pests:  To prevent rot and wilt, plant in well-drained soils and follow a strict 4-year crop rotation.  If cutworms are a problem, use paper collars at the plant base. Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV): young growth is malformed and leaves are mottled with yellow. To prevent it: wash hands after handling tobacco (including Nicotiana), before touching peppers. Control aphids, which spread the disease.

How To Grow, Companion Planting:  Pepper plants make good neighbours for asparagus, basil, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, oregano, parsley, rosemary, squash, Swiss chard, and tomatoes. Avoid planting them next to beans, Brassicas, or fennel.

Red Tah Tsai’s dark purple, oval leaves are complimented by vivid green stems for an equally tasty and attractive addition to salads and braising mixes. Upright growth means the tender plants are easy to harvest as bunches or individual leaves for multiple cuttings.

40 Days.

Approx: 480 Seeds

Non GMO

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow as early as four weeks before the last frost date and continue sowing through early autumn.

How To Grow, Starting:  Sow seeds 5mm-1cm deep, 3-4 seeds per 2.5cm in rows 10cm apart.  For full, bunch size leaves, thin plant to 5cm apart.  Lettuce greens seeds do not require warm soil to germinate.  Keep moist until established.

How To Grow, Growing:  Nearly any relatively fertile soil in full sin (or even part shade) will suit the mustard family.  They tend to germinate well and grow very quickly.  6.0-6.5 is the ideal PH range.  Treat as cut-and-come again, or allow plants to mature to their full size.  Mustard is quite cold hardy and with frost protection, plants may produce until the following spring.

AKA: Tatsoi or Tat Soi