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Melothria scabra. Also known as the Mexican Sour Gherkin, cucamelon seeds produce vines that could be mistaken for regular cucumber plants. The plants are not quite as productive as cucumbers, but the fruits are amazingly cute and novel. They look like tiny watermelons, but have a very appealing cucumber flavour with slight citrus notes. Eat them fresh or pickle them for a crunchy treat. Harvest them at the 2cm size, before the seeds develop. This is a heat loving tropical plant that is most productive in hot weather or a greenhouse setting. Start the seeds indoors and treat as you would a conventional cucumber seedling.

How To Grow, Timing:  Cucumbers need very warm soil to germinate. If direct sowing, wait until mid-June. If weather turns cool and wet after that, just re-sow. Or start transplants indoors in individual peat or coir pots 3-4 weeks before transplanting out into warm soil. If starting indoors, use bottom heat. Transplant when the plants develop their third true leaf. If the plants are too big, they may experience transplant shock. Optimal soil temperature for germination (and transplanting): 15-30°C.

How To Grow, Starting:  Sow 3-4 seeds 2cm deep in each spot you want a plant to grow. Thin to the strongest seedling. Space plants 23cm apart in rows 90cm apart.

How To Grow, Growing:   Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8.  Choose a warm, well-drained soil. Raised beds work well. Add diolomite lime and compost or well-rotted manure to the bed and ½-1 cup of complete organic fertilizer mixed into the soil beneath each transplant. Cucumbers are vigorous and need lots of nutrition and water. Use plastic mulch, plant under floating row cover or cloches – anything to warm things up. Once the weather warms up, keep soil evenly moist. When plants begin to flower, remove covers so bees can access the flowers to pollinate. Fruit that is not fully pollinated will be very small and shriveled, and should be removed from the plant. Most varieties should produce fruits until the weather begins to cool down. Keep plants well picked for better production. Try to water the soil only, keeping the leaves as dry as possible.

Almost all cucumbers benefit from being trained onto a trellis of some kind. Some vines can reach 7 or 8 feet in length, so growing them upward onto a trellis makes good use of garden space. Fruits that grow hanging into space tend to be straighter than those that form on the ground.

How To Grow, Harvest:  For a continuous harvest, make successive plantings every 2 to 3 weeks until about 3 months before first fall frost date. Keep picking the cucumbers regularly, because if they get too big, the plant will stop producing. About one month before first frost, start pinching off new flowers so plants channel energy into ripening existing fruit.

Matures in 67 days.

Approx: 30 Seeds

Enjoy the diversity that carrots can bring to the garden. Plant Rainbow Blend carrot seeds to grow purple, white, red, and nice big orange carrots all in the same row. Get the most out of this collection by sowing as evenly as possible to reduce thinning and waste. Repeat sowings will provide a polychromatic carrot bounty from late spring to winter. Kids will love the variety of colours – and flavours.

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 75-110 days.

This early maturing purple cauliflower is so fast to produce its violet crowns that you may miss them if you don’t keep an eye out! Purple Moon is widely adaptable to many growing regions yielding a concentrated harvest a full two weeks before Graffiti. Make succession plantings spring through mid-summer to extend the harvest.

How To Grow, Timing:  Start indoors four weeks before the last frost to late spring. Transplant in 5-6 weeks. Direct seed when temperatures are reliably above 10°C. Overwintering types are started in July where winters are mild, and transplanted by mid-August. 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 want a plant to grow. Thin to the strongest plant. Space transplants 45-60cm apart in rows 60-90cm apart.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8.  Humus-rich soil amended with composted manure is best. Mix ½ cup of complete organic fertilizer into the soil beneath each transplant. From seedling to harvest, cauliflower must grow steadily to make a large plant and curd. If growth slows, scratch additional fertilizer into the surface of the soil around each plant. Maintain even soil moisture with regular watering. Shade the developing curds from sun by tying up leaves or using newspaper. This is known as “blanching,” and will keep them white. Add 20-25 days to the maturity dates if direct sowing.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Once curd forms, check every day and cut when the florets are just beginning to separate. At this point the flavour is at peak quality and the size is maximum.

Matures in 62 days

Approx: 10 Seeds

A uniform, golden yellow beet with glossy, emerald green leaves. Golden Boy’s stems are more upright than other yellow varieties so tops stay cleaner and can be easier to manage in the garden. Yellow beets have a milder, sweeter flavour than most red varieties and hold their beautiful colour when cooked. Try steaming or baking with some red beets for a dish that looks like a sunset.

How To Grow, Timing: Direct sow 4 weeks after last frost to mid-summer. Beets will not produce roots if planted when the soil is too cold. Seeds will germinate in 5-12 days, depending on soil temperature. Optimal soil temperature: 10-26°C.

How To Grow, Seeding: Sow 1cm deep, 5-10cm apart in rows 30-45cm apart.

How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8.  For uniformly sized beets, thin carefully to 7-15cm  apart when seedlings are 5cm tall. Eat any thinned plants, roots and all. Root size is controlled by spacing and variety.

Approx: 345 seeds.

55 Days

This delicious broccolini resembles a broccoli raab, but with an asparagus-like stem. Aspabroc Broccolini has a sweet, delicate flavour with a subtle, peppery taste. The flavour is milder and sweeter when cooked. When eaten raw, the vegetable has a tender yet crunchy texture. Aspabroc is a nutritional powerhouse, full of vitamins and minerals the body needs to stay fit and healthy. Aspabroc broccolini seeds are a natural hybrid of broccoli and gai lan, and are not genetically engineered. Follow spring planting for summer harvest instructions for this unique variety. This is the same broccolini that has been available in grocery stores for the last few years. Now you can grow it at home!

How To Grow, Timing: 

Start indoors right around the last frost date or later in spring for summer harvest in 2 to 3 months. Seeds will germinate in 7-10 days. Optimal temperature for germination: 10-30°C.

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.

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. Set transplants out by the time they have 6-8 true leaves. Mix ¼-½ cup complete organic fertilizer into the soil under each transplant. 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.

Matures in 50 days.

Approx: 25 Seeds

This AAS award winning compact bush bean is great choice for the new gardener. The bushes are low-growing, self-supporting and shallow-rooted, making it suitable for container gardening. The plant is generally trouble-free and produces tasty long, round green pods. Like other bush beans, Derby produces a one-time crop but the beans have a good holding ability so growers can enjoy an extended harvest. The above average yields are also easy to pick. Lengthen the growing season with succession planting until mid-summer. Derby is resistant to Common Bean Mosaic Virus.

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.

55 Days.

Approx: 40 Seeds.

This wonderful new premier Dutch variety was bred for especially sweet flavor and a long harvest period in the garden. It stands up well to early summer heat with bright green leaves that have a succulent, crunchy texture and extraordinarily clean, sweet flavor you’ll love. The upright leaves are easy to harvest and perfect steamed, sautéed or in fresh spinach salad. Plant again for ample fall harvests as Summer Perfection withstands autumn frosts for great cool weather greens.

40 Days.
Seed Count: Approx. 485

TO START OUTDOORS

In early spring when danger of hard frost is over, sow seeds in well-worked fertile soil in full sun. Sow seeds 1 inch apart and 1/2 inch deep in rows 10 inches apart, or broadcast thinly for bed planting. Be sure to firm soil well over seeds to ensure good germination. If first sowing germinates unevenly, plant more seeds as they will catch up fast.

GROWING NOTES

Spinach is most productive grown in cool spring conditions and sown again in late summer for a fall crop. After seedlings reach 2 to 3 inches tall, thin out every other plant (and enjoy in early salads) and keep thinning in this fashion until plants are spaced 5 or 6 inches apart. Keep the shallow rooted plants well weeded and watered. Spinach is a heavy feeder so fertilize several times with fish emulsion solution for best harvests.

HARVEST AND USE

There are two methods for harvesting spinach: either cut the entire plant 1 inch or so above the base once plants are 4 or 5 inches tall, or wait until plants are well established and harvest just the outer leaves, leaving at least 4 center leaves so plant will continue to grow. Water and fertilize after cutting and plants will provide 2 or 3 pickings before weather gets too warm and spinach begins to go to seed.

We’ve chosen top quality, sweet and mellow tasting Catalina because its nicely shaped, crunchy textured young leaves are just perfect to harvest at baby size for scrumptious fresh spinach salads. Fast growth and bolt-resistance are bred right into Catalina, and its smooth leaves have a mild, nutty flavor with no metallic overtones. The plants are vigorous, productive and long standing. Plan on going right into the garden with your salad bowl to pick the deep green oval leaves at their fresh flavor peak.

40 Days.
Seed Count: Approx. 550

TO START OUTDOORS

In early spring when danger of hard frost is over, sow seeds in well-worked fertile soil in full sun. Space seeds 1 inch apart in rows 8 to 10 inches apart, or broadcast thinly for bed planting. Firm soil well over seeds to ensure good germination. If first sowing germinates unevenly, plant more seed as seedlings will catch up fast. Sow again in late summer.

GROWING NOTES

Spinach is most productive in cool weather. Grow in cool spring conditions and sow again in late summer for a productive fall crop. After seedlings reach 2 to 3 inches tall, thin out every other plant (and enjoy in early salads) and keep thinning in this fashion until plants are spaced 5 or 6 inches apart.

HARVEST AND USE

Either harvest individual outside leaves from well-established plants and let regrow, or harvest entire plants. Keep spinach plants well watered and weeded and fertilize these heavy feeders several times as they leaf out and especially after harvesting outside leaves. Combine well-washed and dried leaves with your favorite garlicky salad dressing; spinach pairs well with hearty dressings like the traditional hot bacon dressing. Good spinach salad additions include thinly sliced sweet red onions, sliced radishes, thin wedges of red apple or orange segments, toasted nutmeats, chopped scallions, crispy bacon bits, hard-cooked egg quarters and finely grated hard cheese.

Strike it rich with these long, handsome, sweet carrots. Our favorite in the Imperator hybrid class, King Midas offers large size and rich, fully developed carrot flavor. The vigorous roots grow steadily into smooth, nearly coreless 8 to 9 inch beauties, slightly tapered with pointed tips. The well-filled carrots have the deep orange flesh that indicates an especially high level of health enhancing beta-carotene. Slice them into abundant crunchy carrot stick snacks or fat carrot “coins” to lightly steam, sauté or stirfry.
Seed Count: Approx. 500

START SEEDS OUTDOORS
In spring once danger of hard frost is past, sow seeds in full sun in finely worked, fertile soil. Sow 1/4 inch deep and 1/2 inch apart in rows 8 inches apart, or broadcast thinly in beds and cover lightly. Keep seed bed evenly moist as carrots can be slow to germinate, emerging over 10 to 21 days. If first sowing comes up unevenly, replant right away as seedlings catch up quickly. Thin young carrots several times so seedlings are 2 to 3 inches apart and have room to size up.

GROWING NOTES
Carrots like well-worked soil and need consistent moisture to grow well. If your soil tends to dry out, cover seedbed with floating row covers to help retain moisture during the germination period. Keep carrots well weeded throughout the growing season. Plant again 3 months before first expected fall frost for a late crop.

HARVEST AND USE
Let carrots size up to at least 6 to 8 inches long before pulling for best sweet flavor. Eat them raw, sliced up as tasty fresh snacks, sautéed, steamed or braised. Set off their flavor with fresh lemon or orange juice and a sprinkling of minced herbs like fresh mint or thyme or glaze with a little honey, ginger or cinnamon. Wonderful in colorful stir-fries all season long.

Our trio of colored carrots are creamy white, bright orange and a deep, dark purple with orange centers. All three are crisp, smooth and evenly cylindrical, growing to 8 inches long for a colorful harvest of festive roots. Their flavor is reliably sweet with a nice crunchy texture and you’ll enjoy this mix over a long season. Cut all three into carrot sticks or slice/shred into salads for a good tasting party of colors.

Equal parts:
White Satin F1, Mokum F1, Purple Rain F1

50 Days
Seed Count: Approx. 500 – 600

START SEEDS OUTDOORS

In spring once danger of hard frost is past, sow seeds in full sun in finely worked, fertile soil. Sow 1/4 inch deep and 1/2 inch apart in rows 8 inches apart, or broadcast thinly in beds and cover lightly. Keep seedbed evenly moist as carrots can be slow to germinate, emerging over 10 to 20 days.

If first sowing comes up unevenly, replant right away as seedlings catch up quickly. Be sure to thin young carrots several times so seedlings are about 2 inches apart and have the room they need to size up.

GROWING NOTES

Carrots like well-worked soil and need consistent moisture to grow well. If your soil tends to dry out, cover seedbed with floating row cover to help retain moisture during the germination period and water right through it. Keep carrots well-watered and thinned. For a late season crop, sow again 3 months before first expected frost.

HARVEST AND USE

For best sweet flavor, let these pretty, different colored carrots size up and fully mature before harvesting. Enjoy these extra healthy carrots raw as snacks or grated into salads for great eye appeal. Sauté or steam just until tender crisp and serve with a little sweet butter and your favorite fresh chopped herb. Carrots go well with dill, tarragon, chives, cilantro or mint.

Our top-quality, totally gorgeous, deep purple-red Napa cabbage is imported from Korea. Because of its knockout deep purple color, Purple Express has an extremely high level of antioxidants, so enjoy its tangy-sweet, crunchy flesh knowing you are doing your body some real good! The heavy, dense heads are big, 10 to 12 inches tall, with excellent vigor and disease resistance, Enjoy in salads, with dips or in coleslaw. A color sensation for stirfry! Consider making your own kimchi!

75 Days.

Seed Count: Approx. 36

TO START INDOORS

Start seeds 4 to 5 weeks before last spring frost. Sow 1 inch apart in seed starting mix, cover 1/4 inch deep and keep evenly moist. Provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant out. When several inches tall, transplant seedlings 10 inches apart into rich soil in full sun, after gradually acclimating to outdoor conditions.

TO START DIRECTLY OUTDOORS

When all danger of frost is over, plant in well-worked, fertile soil in full sun. Sow clusters of 2 to 3 seeds 10 inches apart in rows spaced 1 foot apart. When seedlings are several inches tall, thin to 1 strong plant every 10 inches. In mild winter climates, sow seeds again at midsummer for a fall crop.

GROWING NOTES

Purple Express needs full sun and rich, well-drained soil to produce firm, sweet heads. To avoid stunting growth, don’t let seedlings get crowded before thinning or transplanting. Keep weeded and evenly watered. Feed monthly with fish emulsion or an all-purpose fertilizer. Use non-toxic B.T. (Bacillus thuringiensis) for caterpillar pests. Floating row covers provide a good barrier method to exclude pests. Remove covers when heads begin to form.

HARVESTING

Cut the whole cabbage at ground level only when these tall, vase-shaped heads are very solid and about 6-8 inches in diameter.

Easy to grow Green Flash forms dense, 18 inch tall rosettes of thick, tender, big paddle-shaped leaves. This top-notch variety offers uniformity, vigor, high yields and bolt resistance for rapid regrowth and longer, more dependable harvests. Cut the handsome leaves often to enjoy their flavorful, sweet taste as succulent cooked greens. Mild, nutty-tasting collards are one of the most fiber and vitamin-rich vegetables you can grow in your home garden.

55 days.

Seed Count: Approx. 138

TO START DIRECTLY IN THE GARDEN

As soon as ground can be worked in spring, prepare a well-drained, fertile garden bed in full sun. Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds, each group 12 to 18 inches apart. Cover 1/4 inch deep and keep soil evenly moist to ensure good germination. When several inches tall, thin to 1 seedling per group so plants have growing room. Mulch growing plants well to retain moisture. Keep well weeded and watered. Sow again in mid to late summer for another cold hardy crop.

TO START INDOORS

Sow seeds in a container of seed starting mix 2 inches apart and cover 1/4 inch deep. Keep moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are 3 to 4 inches tall then plant outdoors when danger of frost is over. Transplant seedlings into rich, fertile soil 12 to18 inches apart.

HARVEST AND USE

Begin harvesting large individual outer leaves when plants have 6 to 8 big leaves. Enjoy tasty and highly nutritious collards cooked up in traditional Southern style. Or, chop the leaves and wilt them briefly in hot olive oil with garlic, then add little stock and cook until just tender, sprinkling with fresh lemon juice before serving.