Vegetable Seeds

Little Hero is perfect for growing in containers and small spaces with crunchy-sweet leaves that are easy to harvest at baby size for scrumptious fresh spinach salads. The crisp, but tender-textured smooth leaves have a mild, nutty flavor with no metallic overtones. Plan on going right into the garden with your salad bowl to pick the deep green oval leaves at their fresh flavor peak. This vigorous and fast-growing spinach is highly ornamental in containers.

Approx: 400 Seeds.

Non GMO

CONTAINER PLANTING

Plant in early spring when danger of hard frost is over. Use a pot at least 15-18 in. in diameter and 12 in. deep, and start with fresh potting mix. Sow seeds 2 in. apart or simply broadcast seeds thinly, aiming for 2 in. spacing. Cover with 1/2 inch of potting mix and firm soil well over seeds. If first sowing germinates unevenly, plant more seed as seedlings will catch up fast.

GROWING NOTES

Birds love tender young seedlings, so protect as necessary with netting or floating row cover. Sow again in late summer for a fall crop. Keep spinach well watered and weeded and fertilize every few weeks and especially after harvesting.

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. Little Hero’s tender, baby leaves are delicious in fresh salads with additions like thinly sliced sweet onions, sliced radishes, thin wedges of apple or orange, toasted nuts, chopped scallions, crispy bacon bits, hard-cooked egg quarters and grated cheese. Or stirfry, braise or sauté very quickly for healthy, tasty greens.

These heavy, thick-walled, cone-shaped little peppers have a crunchy texture and sweet flavor with an occasional bit of mild spice to savor. Try the crisp, juicy, 3 1/2 inch peppers sliced up to top pizza, added to fresh salads, grilled to succulence on the BBQ or just eat them out of hand like an apple — they are that good! Pizza My Heart pepper plants are compact and produce early, prolific harvests — perfect for containers or in garden beds.

Approx: 20 Seeds.

STARTING SEEDLINGS

Start indoors 8 weeks before outdoor night temperatures reach 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°C. Provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant outside. When seedlings are 2-3 inches tall, transplant into 4 inch pots. Keep at 18-21°C. Feed with half-strength liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks.

When night temperatures reach 13°C, acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions. If planting in garden beds, space 2 to 2 1/2 feet apart in rich soil in full sun.

CONTAINER GROWING

Transplant each plant into a pot at least 15 inches tall and deep. Using fresh potting mix prevents soil borne diseases. Fertilize twice per month for best plants and yields.

GROWING NOTES

Peppers need full sun at least 6 hours per day. Mulch well to maintain even moisture. Provide short stakes or cages to support heavy sets of ripening fruit. Check containers often and water regularly; when plants begin setting fruit they may require daily watering.

HARVEST AND USE

Harvest when peppers have ripened to red. Cut rather than pull peppers from plants. Enjoy them sliced up raw, sautéed, stir-fried, grilled or piled on pizza. Discard all pith and seeds to avoid even a hint of heat.

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.

An early maturing red onion with good storage potential of 4-6 months. Cabernet produces medium-large, globe shaped onions that have nice internal colour and mostly single centers. A great choice for regions with a short growing season.

100 Days.

Approx: 50 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.

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.

San Juan is an early maturing Ananas type melon with a good set of 2-2.5kg fruit. Pale creamy yellow flesh is aromatic and very sweet. The netted exterior turns golden yellow at maturity when fruit slips from the vine. Intermediate Resistance to Powdery Mildew and Fusarium Wilt.

75 Days.

Approx: 5 Seeds.

Non GMO

How To Grow, Timing:  It is essential to start seeds indoors or in a greenhouse 4-6 weeks after the last frost date. Transplant when the plants are 5 weeks old. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 20-25°C. Seeds should sprout in 5-10 days.

How To Grow, Starting:  Sow seeds 1cm deep. Set transplants 60-90cm apart in rows 1.5-2m apart.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8. Choose a warm, well-drained soil. Add dolomite lime and compost or well-rotted manure to the bed and ½-1 cup of balanced organic fertilizer beneath each transplant. Melons need warm growing conditions. Use black plastic mulch, cloches, or floating row covers. Success may improve in raised beds. Melons plants require 8-10 weeks of good, hot growing weather from the middle of June to the end of August. During that time, a melon vine must grow 5-9 leaves before starting to flower, then set 4 or more male flowers before making its first female flower, and then ripen its fruit before cool, damp weather sets in. Melons do not ripen off the vine. During the entire growing season, make sure to provide ample water.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Fruit will ripen in late August to early September. Ripe cantaloupe will easily detach from the vine when light finger pressure is applied to the stem. Watermelon is ripe when the tendril nearest to the fruit withers and dries up.

How To Grow, Companion Planting:  Melons are great companions for corn, marigolds, nasturtiums, pumpkin, radish, squash, and sunflowers. Avoid planting near potatoes. Melon leaves are full of calcium, so they’re good for the compost heap.

Frizzy Joe is an extra fancy mustard with its unique combination of heavily frilled and serrated leaves that curl for added dimension. Bright green leaves pack a spicy punch that intensifies as leaves mature. Baby leaves are milder and less frilled. Grow with its purple sister Frizzy Lizzy.

40 Days.

Approx: 250 Seeds.

Non GMO

How To Grow, Timing:  Mustards are cool season plants that grow quickly and then bolt. Direct sow with frost protection as early as late winter or without protection from early to late spring. Sowing short rows every 3 weeks allows for a continuous harvest of both baby leaves and full sized plants. Sow again in late summer for late fall and winter harvests. Optimal soil temperature: 21°C (70°F). Seeds should sprout in 5-10 days.

How To Grow, Starting:  If growing to full size, sow 3-4 seeds in each spot you want a plant to grow. Sow 5mm-1cm (¼-½”) deep and thin to the strongest plant, spaced 10-15cm (4-6″) in the row. All mustards can be grown in containers for baby salad greens. Sow these as you would mesclun mixes, with seeds spaced as near as possible to 1cm (½”) apart.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5.  One cup of complete organic fertilizer will provide nutrition for 3m (10′) of row. Water regularly. Expect mustards to bolt in hot weather. Provide protection in winter by using a cloche or heavy row cover. At all other times, plan on growing fast and harvesting fast, like spinach. Planting short rows every two weeks works best for the home garden for a constant harvest.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Cut individual leaves, or the whole plant at whatever stage of maturity you desire. Young leaves tend to be more tender and less powerfully flavoured as mature leaves. Some varieties will develop a slight bitterness in fully mature leaves. The leaves can be blanched (or run through a food processor) and then frozen, or even dried and flaked for soup mixes. But the plants are so cold hardy, fresh leaves should be available to the determined gardener 12 months of the year. Whole plants can also be pickled for long term storage.

How To Grow, Tips:  Slugs and woodlice (sow bugs) may nibble young seedlings, but overall, these plants are trouble free. Keep the garden free from debris and excess water, where both of these pests like to go during the day. If leaves show lots of tiny holes, flea beetles are the problem. Prevent early spring infestations by using lightweight row cover.

Frizzy Lizzy’s attractive heavily frilled and serrated leaves become more voluminous at full bunch size. Dark purple colour overlays a green background with contrasting bright green stems. Spicy flavour intensifies as leaves mature. Grow with her green brother Frizzy Joe.

40 Days.

Approx: 240 Seeds.

Non GMO

How To Grow, Timing:  Mustards are cool season plants that grow quickly and then bolt. Direct sow with frost protection as early as late winter or without protection from early to late spring. Sowing short rows every 3 weeks allows for a continuous harvest of both baby leaves and full sized plants. Sow again in late summer for late fall and winter harvests. Optimal soil temperature: 21°C. Seeds should sprout in 5-10 days.

How To Grow, Starting:  If growing to full size, sow 3-4 seeds in each spot you want a plant to grow. Sow 5mm-1cm deep and thin to the strongest plant, spaced 10-15cm in the row. All mustards can be grown in containers for baby salad greens. Sow these as you would mesclun mixes, with seeds spaced as near as possible to 1cm apart.

How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5.  One cup of complete organic fertilizer will provide nutrition for 3m of row. Water regularly. Expect mustards to bolt in hot weather. Provide protection in winter by using a cloche or heavy row cover. At all other times, plan on growing fast and harvesting fast, like spinach. Planting short rows every two weeks works best for the home garden for a constant harvest.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Cut individual leaves, or the whole plant at whatever stage of maturity you desire. Young leaves tend to be more tender and less powerfully flavoured as mature leaves. Some varieties will develop a slight bitterness in fully mature leaves. The leaves can be blanched (or run through a food processor) and then frozen, or even dried and flaked for soup mixes. But the plants are so cold hardy, fresh leaves should be available to the determined gardener 12 months of the year. Whole plants can also be pickled for long term storage.

How To Grow, Tips:  Slugs and woodlice (sow bugs) may nibble young seedlings, but overall, these plants are trouble free. Keep the garden free from debris and excess water, where both of these pests like to go during the day. If leaves show lots of tiny holes, flea beetles are the problem. Prevent early spring infestations by using lightweight row cover.

A true purple heading broccoli with a dense, high crown of purple beads and a stunning bright purple stem. A reliable performer in cool weather growing conditions. Purple Magic is both aesthetically attractive and easy to grow heavy heads, making it a good choice for both home gardeners and commercial growers. A breeding innovation and 2024 AAS winner.

62 Days.

Approx: 25 Seeds.

Non GMO

How To Grow, Timing:  Start indoors right around the last frost date or later in spring for summer harvest in 2 to 3 months. For fall harvest, start indoors late spring and transplant in July, harvesting just before the first frost date. For overwintering sprouting broccoli in mild winter areas, start indoors late March to mid-April, and harvest the following February to May. Seeds will germinate in 7-10 days. Optimal temperature for germination: 10-30°C.

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

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

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

Unique yard-long beans with gorgeous dark burgundy pods that grow up to 55cm in length. Red Noodle’s slender, stringless beans grow abundantly in clusters on tall vines, even in hot weather. Red Noodle has a long maturity, so make sure to plant seeds as early as the soil warms to 16C. Colour fades when cooked.

85 Days.

Approx: 55 Seeds.

Non GMO

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow from late spring to early summer. Try to plant during a warm, dry spell. Soil must be warm – if it is not warm enough, seeds may rot, especially our untreated seeds. Optimal soil temperature: 21-32°C.

How To Grow, Starting:  Seeds can be started indoors, or sowed directly. Set seeds 7-10cm apart and 3.5cm deep at the base of a support. Plants will climb by twining around almost anything. Try rough poles, lumber, re-bar, or build a strong trellis 2-2.5m tall. Seeds will sprout in 8-16 days, depending on soil conditions.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5. Well drained, warm soil in full sun is best. Use 1 cup of balanced organic fertilizer for every 3m of row. Too much nitrogen in fertilizer or manure is often the cause of poor pod set and delayed maturity. If beans flower but do not set pods, the cause can be zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with kelp based fertilizer. Wet leaves on crowded plants are subject to diseases. Thin plants to increase air circulation and avoid touching the leaves while they are wet.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Because pole beans are always climbing, there are always beans at different stages of maturity. It is important to keep picking regularly so the plant does not fully mature seeds and stop producing new pods. If pods get fat with seed, the plant will stop flowering. The smaller the bean, the more tender they are.

Very early maturing, bicolour Supersweet (SH2) corn with strong seedling vigour and excellent eating quality in this maturity slot. Solstice’s yellow and creamy white kernels are deliciously sweet and tender, holding their quality in the field and after harvest much longer than other types. A fantastic choice for commercial growers and home gardeners. Intermediate resistance to Northern Corn Leaf Blight.

70 Days.

Approx: 50 Seeds.

Non GMO

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow in late spring. If the soil is not warm enough, seeds often rot before sprouting – especially when not treated with fungicide. Untreated corn seeds should be planted only when the soil has warmed up above 18°C – warmer for super-sweet (sh2) types, and even warmer for a good stand. Use a soil thermometer. If spring weather is cold, consider planting in flats or individual pots, indoors with bottom heat, for transplanting. Seeds should germinate in 7-10 days. If it rains after planting and corn does not emerge, just re-plant the area.

How To Grow, Starting:  Do not soak corn seeds prior to planting. Plant 2-5cm deep (shallower for sh2 seed or in cool soil). Sow seeds around 7.5cm apart, in rows 60-90cm apart. Because corn is wind pollinated, plant in a dense block of at least 4 rows, rather than in single rows. This increases the chance of corn pollen, which emerges from male flowers at the growing tip, to fall down onto the receptive female silks that extend from each corn cob.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 5.8-6.8. Corn is a heavy feeder, so add manure or compost, and use 500g of complete organic fertilizer per 6m of row, mixing it thoroughly into the soil beneath each seed furrow. Thin to at least 20-25cm apart in the row. Large eared and double-eared varieties need to be 30cm apart. Keep free of weeds until knee-high, and then leave it alone.
Use the days to maturity listed for comparative purposes among the varieties only – every garden may be different.

How To Grow, Harvest:  When the silks at the end of an ear are a dry brown, the cob seems to start to droop, and the kernels release milky juice when cut.

How To Grow, Harvesting Popcorn:  Leave the ears of popcorn varieties on the plants to dry as long as possible into late summer and early fall. The husks should turn yellow/brown as they dry and the kernels should harden. Once the plants appear to be completely dry, or if wet weather is in the forecast, harvest the ears and bring them indoors. Remove the husks. Store the ears in mesh bags in a warm, dry, airy location. The ideal humidity level for curing popcorn is 13 to 14%. Curing is the process after drying that allows for long term storage of popcorn kernels. Once a week, remove a few kernels and try popping them. Popcorn that is chewy or kernels that have jagged edges after popping both mean that the kernels are not dry enough. Continue curing and test-popping until the desired texture is reached. Then remove the kernels and store them in an air-tight container.

A fantastically warty little pumpkin with dark green and orange warts on an orange background. Baby Bumps’ high-yielding, semi-vine plants produce uniform 1.5-2.25kg fruit. Hard warts hold up well when handled. Sure to be a favourite of kids and adults.

Approx: 5 Seeds.

95 Days.

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 you want a plant to grow and thin to the strongest plant. Space plants at a minimum of 90-120cm 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 complete 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.

Kentucky Wonder Brown is an heirloom developed in Kentucky before 1864. This is the brown-seeded strain of a very popular pole bean that is well-loved for its vigour and fine flavour. Expect large clusters of long, oval, 18-22cm silvery-green pods. These are virtually stringless with a distinctive flavour. The vines are particularly tall, so provide adequate support for climbing. Kentucky Wonder Brown germinates well in cool soils, so they can be planted a little earlier than other pole bean seeds. These beans are well loved for fresh eating, but also because they freeze nicely for storage and winter use.

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow from late spring to early summer. Try to plant during a warm, dry spell. Soil must be warm – if it is not warm enough, seeds may rot, especially our untreated seeds. Optimal soil temperature: 21-32°C.

How To Grow, Starting:  Seeds can be started indoors, or sowed directly. Set seeds 7-10cm apart and 3.5cm deep at the base of a support. Plants will climb by twining around almost anything. Try rough poles, lumber, re-bar, or build a strong trellis 2-2.5m tall. Seeds will sprout in 8-16 days, depending on soil conditions.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5  Well drained, warm soil in full sun is best. Use 1 cup of balanced organic fertilizer for every 3m (10′) of row. Too much nitrogen in fertilizer or manure is often the cause of poor pod set and delayed maturity. If beans flower but do not set pods, the cause can be zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with kelp based fertilizer.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Because pole beans are always climbing, there are always beans at different stages of maturity. It is important to keep picking regularly so the plant does not fully mature seeds and stop producing new pods. If pods get fat with seed, the plant will stop flowering. The smaller the bean, the more tender they are.

70 Days.

Approx: 55 Seeds.

These tender gourmet beans are refined and straight, with rich flavour. The medium dark green, round pods grow 13-18cm long. They have a longer set period with consistent quality, producing later into the season than other varieties. Jade has resistance to Bean Common Mosaic Virus, Rust, and Curly Top Virus. The pods are held off the ground by stout branches. Jade needs warmer soil to germinate, so delay planting until well after the last frost date.

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

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

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

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

60 Days.

Approx: 90 Seeds.

Straight yellow beans hang in clusters on bush plants. Gold Rush is easy to pick with a flavour and texture that hold well for extended harvests. Tender, stringless, 10-15cm pods. Yellow colour develops at maturity. Glorious flavour and crisp texture make Gold Rush bush bean seeds a great choice for pickling and freezing. The medium sized bush plants have great disease resistance.

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

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

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

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

58 Days.

Approx: 75 Seeds.

Parsley Pea seeds produce tendrils that are unique and delicious. Technically a snap pea, this curious pea is more often grown for its edible tendrils, leaflets, and flowers. Harvest whole plants when they are 15-20cm tall or cut above the first node and get a second flush of growth. Plants will produce snap peas at about 60 days on 1m tall vines if not harvested for greens. Try growing Parsley Peas in a 5-gallon patio container or in flower boxes, and harvest the fresh tendrils as needed. They make a fresh and crunchy addition to salads and sandwiches.

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.

C. pepo. Eight Ball is a novel, round zucchini with dark green skin and some yellow speckling, borne on an easy-to-pick, bushy plant that only grows to about 1m wide. An All-America Selections Winner with great productivity, uniformity, and flavour. Harvest only a day or so after pollination for tender, spherical zucchinis with just the right tender texture and mild taste. Eight Ball is a good candidate for large containers or raised beds and will produce lots of fruits over several weeks if plants are regularly picked.

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.

40 days.

Approx: 16 Seeds.

This oblong, football shaped Treviso type has dark red oval leaves with thick white ribs and veins. TVG1 performs well in both early spring and summer plantings for fall harvest, with good tolerance to bolting.

18-22cm heads weigh in at about 400g, with the same gorgeous color as Perseo Chioggia but a bit milder flavour. TVG1 adds crunch, colour, and an appealing bitterness to salads which is balanced nicely with balsamic vinegar or citrus. Also tastes fantastic grilled.

How To Grow, Timing:  Sow after the last frost date and again in mid-summer to take advantage of the fall growing season. Optimal soil temperature: 10-22°C. Seeds sprout in 2-15 days, depending on conditions. In hot weather plants may go to seed quickly, so have new plantings ready to go.

How To Grow, Starting:  Either direct seed or start indoors and transplant. Sow seeds 5mm deep, and thin or transplant to allow 30-45cm between plants in rows 30-45cm apart.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5. Enrich soil with compost and add ¼ cup balanced organic fertilizer into the soil beneath each transplant. Rapid, continuous growth is essential for good yields and high quality. Regular watering is essential. Fall plantings can be protected from rain by putting a cloche over them. Endive heads can be blanched to reduce bitterness by placing a cardboard or plastic disc on top. Radicchio requires a good supply of phosphorus and potassium, but will not head and may bolt if there is too much nitrogen available. Days to maturity shown are from date of direct sowing. If transplanting, subtract 10-15 days.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Use as a cut and come again crop or let the heads develop and cut at ground level. Many will grow back.

75 Days.

Approx: 50 Seeds.