Sweet Peas – Matucana – West Coast Seeds

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  Columbine – McKana’s Giant Mix – West Coast Seeds

  $4.49

  Aquilegia x hybrida. All America Selections Winner. Tall, graceful and intricate, long spurred blossoms are perfect for cutting. Nodding and dainty, the huge 8cm wide blooms are held high above delicate foliage. This mix is marvelous in woodland plantings or any shady location. McKana’s Giant Mix Columbine seeds bloom mid-spring to early summer. White, cream, yellow, and red. Deadhead the seed pods before they open to control self-sowing. Or better yet, watch for them to open on the plants after they begin to dry out, and collect the seeds from the ornamental seed pods for planting around the garden or sharing with friends. Plant height 75cm.  Perennial.

  How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow in autumn or mid-winter. Seeds can be started indoors, but it’s more complicated: Sow seeds in flats of moistened, sterilized seed starting mix, and place these inside plastic bags in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks. Then sink the flats outdoors in the ground in a shady spot, and cover with glass. As seedlings appear, transplant them or pot them on. Germination takes 30-90 days.

  How To Grow, Starting:  Sow on the soil surface and transplant or thin seedlings to 30-50cm apart.

  How To Grow, Growing:  Seedlings are easy to move, but delicate. Keep them out of strong sunlight, and water frequently, but gently. Deadhead regularly to prolong the blooming period. Columbine’s flowers are followed by distinctive seed pods that open on their own when the seeds are ripe. These can be removed to prevent self sowing, or for very easy harvest of the seeds. We like to harvest Columbine seeds mid-summer and spread them in any shady spot that could use some colour. Grow Columbine in humus-rich, moist, but well-drained soil.

  Approx: 240 Seeds.

  
  

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  Sunflowers – Cherry Rose – West Coast Seeds

  $5.69

  Enjoy early blooms with unique colour, as early as 40 days after planting! Cherry Rose’s 7.5-10cm pollenless flowers are cherry red with light yellow tips and a dark center. Well-branching, 150cm tall plants produce an abundance of blooms.  Annual.

  How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow repeatedly after the last frost date. Starting indoors is possible, but does not gain much time. If sunflowers are allowed to get root-bound, they will lack stability at transplant time, and will require staking. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 21-30°C. Seeds should sprout in 10-14 days.

  How To Grow, Starting:  Sow seeds 5mm-1cm deep. Space dwarf varieties 15cm apart, but give the giants lots of room at 1m between plants.

  How To Grow, Growing:  To grow really big plants with really big flowers, enrich the soil with organic matter and incorporate 2 cups of balanced organic fertilizer per 3m of row, and irrigate regularly. When the plants are 30cm tall, dissolve 5ml of borax (for boron) in 350 ml of water and spread the solution over 5m of row. Be careful not to over-apply this solution. This application of boron will produce bigger seeds and flower heads. Do not apply boron to other garden plants. When the back of the flower head turns yellow, it is ready to be cut from the plant.

  Approx: 25 Seeds.

   

  
  

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  Nasturtiums – Empress of India – West Coast Seeds

  $4.49

  This old heirloom variety has stunning crimson flowers that rise above cascading, deep green leaves for hanging baskets or planters. Empress of India nasturtium seeds produce flowers that make a striking contrast that never fails to attract attention. This variety matures to heights of 30cm. Nasturtiums are fairly tough plants and quite drought tolerant, so they make a good candidate for xeriscaping. The edible flowers produced by this nasturtium are so intensely bright red that they look amazing in salads. Save some of the fresh seeds produced by your nasturtiums for pickling. They make excellent capers. Try planting some seeds as microgreens for their powerful, peppery kick.  Annual.

  How To Grow, Timing:  Sow indoors in peat or coir pots 2-4 weeks before the last frost date. Better yet, direct sow from 1 week after last frost and repeat at 2 week intervals into early summer. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 12-18°C. Seeds will sprout in 7-12 days, perhaps longer outdoors.

  How To Grow, Starting:  Sow seeds 5mm – 1cm deep. If starting indoors, provide darkness during germination, followed by bright light. Space smaller varieties 15-30cm apart, and the big ones like Tall Single 60-90cm apart.

  How To Grow, Growing:  Nasturtiums thrive in poor to average, slightly acidic, well-drained soil. Keep watered during dry weather, and do not fertilize.

  Approx: 35 Seeds.

  
  

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  Alyssum – Snow Cloth – West Coast Seeds

  $4.69

  Low growing annual mounds of white flowers give off a rich honey perfume. Snow Cloth is great as living mulch and attractor of beneficial insects in the veggie garden. Ideal for edging, baskets, or pots. Shear plants after first flowering for a second bloom, as late as early October. Sow Snow Cloth Alyssum seeds in groups of 8 to 10 seeds for stronger effect. Do not cover. Plants grow to 15cm tall, but they tend to spread, so keep compact by growing in full sun.

  Alyssum makes an excellent cover for weed suppression and for attracting beneficial insects. Tiny predatory wasp species are attracted by the small flowers, and will feed on caterpillars, aphids, and other pests.  Sow in all unused areas or between rows.

  How To Grow, Timing:  Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. Transplant out after all danger of frost has passed. Or, direct sow while some danger of light frost still exists. It’s very easy, either way.

  How To Grow, Starting:  Sow seeds on the surface of the soil. If starting indoors, use a sterilized seed starting mix and maintain a soil temperature of 12-21°F under bright lights. The seeds require light to germinate, so do not cover them. They should sprout in 5-14 days.

  How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-7.0.  Transplant 20-30cm apart once all risk of frost has passed. Alyssum prefers freely draining, loamy soil. It is tolerant of dry soil and hot weather, and can be used for xeriscaping. If watering is abundant, Alyssum responds by growing rapidly. If growth slows in mid-summer due to heat, shear plants back by half to encourage compact growth and a second bloom. This annual may self sow.

   

  
  

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