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Cucumber – Manny Organic – West Coast Seeds
$5.99Manny is a refined Beit Alpha type that can be grown in a greenhouse or out in the field and garden. Expect heavy yields of high quality, 13-18cm, smooth-skinned cucumbers on hardy parthenocarpic plants that do not require pollination. Fruit have excellent flavour and texture. Intermediate resistance to Cucumber vein yelling virus and Powdery mildew.
45 Days.
Approx: 10 Seeds.
Non GMO
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.
How To Grow, Companion Planting: lant cucumbers beside asparagus, beans, Brassicas, celery, corn, dill, kohlrabi, lettuce, onion, peas, radish, and tomatoes. Avoid planting near potatoes and sage. Both corn and sunflowers can act as a trellis for cucumbers to good effect. Dill will help cucumbers by attracting predatory insects, and nasturtiums is said to improve the flavour and growth of cucumbers.
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Pumpkin – Lemon Cake – West Coast Seeds
$5.99Create delightful displays with these bright yellow stacking pumpkins. Expect large yields of 15-20cm fruit weighing 1.5-2.25kg (3-5lbs) on vining plants. Stack Lemon Cake alone, with Moon Cake, or with our other stacking varieties. Early maturity makes them very adaptable.
80 Days.
Approx: 5 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 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.
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Eggplant – Patio Baby – West Coast Seeds
$6.49Patio Baby’s compact plants are perfect for growing in containers on a sunny patio or balcony. These spineless little plants have bright purple flowers that continuously set an abundance of 7cm (3”) long oval fruit. A true mini eggplant. AAS Winner.
50 Dyas.
Approx: 10 Seeds.
Non GMO
How To Grow, Timing: Sow indoors four weeks before your expected last frost date. Use bottom heat, and keep seedlings warm. Optimal soil temperature: 24-32°C. Seeds should sprout in 7-12 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 5mm-1cm deep. Use individual peat or coir pots to reduce root disturbance when transplanting. Transplant after night time temperatures are steadily 10°C or warmer. Space with 45-60cm between plants. Medium size (3-5 gallon) containers for individual plants also work well.
How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 5.5-6.0. Soil should have abundant phosphorus and calcium, so add lime and compost to the soil three weeks prior to transplanting. Mix ¼-½ cup of complete organic fertilizer into the soil beneath each transplant. Using a clear plastic cloche or floating row cover helps growth by increasing heat. Cool temperatures increase leafy growth, but delay fruit set. Once most eggplants get going in the summer, they are highly productive right up until the first frosts.
How To Grow, Harvest: Pinch off blossoms 2 to 4 weeks before first any expected frost so that plants focus on ripening any existing fruit, not producing new ones. Harvest the fruit anytime after the fruit reaches half of their size. Harvesting early prevents fruit from becoming too seedy, and will encourage more production from the plants.
Do not pull the fruit off the plant, but cut it with scissors or secateurs, being careful to avoid any sharp spurs at the stem end.
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Broccoli – Purple Magic – West Coast Seeds
$5.49A 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.
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Bean Pole – Red Noodle – West Coast Seeds
$5.99Unique 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.
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Corn – Solstice – West Coast Seeds
$5.49Very 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.
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Bean Pole – Golden Gate Organic – West Coast Seeds
$5.99Incredibly tender and beautiful Romano-type beans with flattened yellow pods. Golden Gate is equally tasty harvested young at 12cm (5”) or at its full mature size of 25cm (10”) long and 2.5cm (1”) wide. Exceptional flavour compared to standard pole varieties. Enjoy an abundant harvest of these fancy beans. Colour is just as nice cooked as it is fresh.
68 Days.
Approx 40 Seeds.
NonGMO
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.
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Bean Pole – Carminat – West Coast Seeds
$5.99A refined purple pole bean that produces slender, 20-22cm pods. These high-quality beans are tender and sweet raw or cooked. Carminat’s stunning dark purple colour turns green when beans are cooked. A sturdy trellis is required for these tall climbers.
62 Days.
Approx: 55 Seeds.
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.
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Peas Snap – Little Snappea Crunch – West Coast Seeds
$4.49A dwarf snap pea perfect for container growing. Little Snappea Crunch’s compact 60-75cm plants are loaded with juicy 3.75-7.5cm pods that have a fantastic crunch. Enjoy a sweet snack right on the balcony or patio.
58 Days.
Approx: 55 Seeds.
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.
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Pumpkin – Baby Bumps – West Coast Seeds
$5.49A 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.
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Sunflower – Short Blend – West Coast Seeds
$4.49Helianthus annuus. This selection of our loveliest short-growing sunflower seeds brings a mix of variety and spontaneity to the sunflower patch. Ideal for small city gardeners, they can also be grown in containers. The Short Blend Sunflowers contain a variety of field grown sunflowers ranging from 60-120cm tall. Plant and enjoy all these lovely, height-challenged sunflowers. Even when they’re small, sunflowers are extremely attractive to pollinators, so they are perfect for the edge of the organic vegetable garden, and will bring in scores of honeybees and other beneficial insects. Though their tiny seeds are, in theory, edible, they make better food for the wild birds that will frequent the garden in late summer. 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 (1 tsp) 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.
1 gram of seed.
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Sunflower – Sunrich Blend – West Coast Seeds
$6.49The Sunrich series of hybrid sunflowers was bred with the florist trade in mind. These are highly uniform annuals that mature in 60 to 70 days from direct sowing, producing a single, upright stem, about 1.2-1.5m tall. The flowers are very round with dense numbers of petals, but the flowers produce no pollen, so they won’t make a mess when they’re cut and brought indoors. They make really excellent, long-lasting cut flowers, with blooms 10-15cm across.
Sunrich Blend combines all four exciting colours: Orange, Gold, Lemon, and Lime, in equal quantity. It makes for a stunning display in the summer, and has huge potential for the cut flower market. Become a flower farmer and start with the Sunrich Blend. 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 (1 tsp) 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: 20 Seeds.
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Sweet Peas – Royal Family Rose pink – West Coast Seeds
$4.99Rose-Pink sweet peas are a lovely shade of bubble-gum pink with highlights of white. Exceptionally fragrant blossoms from the popular Royal Family series. We are excited to offer this series as individual colours so you can plant your favorites. Large 2″ flowers bloom over a long period. Provide a trellis for the 152-182cm vining plants. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before the last average frost date for your area. Or direct sow outdoors in early spring, while the soil is still cool and light frost is still possible. Plants are strongest from an early, indoor sowing. Sweet peas can also be direct sown in the fall where winters are mild.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 1cm deep. If starting indoors, chip seeds or soak them in warm water for 24 hours. Use a seed inoculant for the best results. Maintain a soil temperature of 12-18°C. Seeds should germinate in 10-20 days.
How To Grow, Growing: For best results, prepare the sweet pea bed the previous fall. Cultivate the soil to 45cm deep, incorporating a generous amount of finished compost. Also dig in bone meal. At transplant time, dig ¼ cup balanced organic fertilizer into the soil beneath each plant. Space vines at 15cm and provide trellis support. Mulch around plants to keep the soil as cool as possible, and water during dry weather. Keep plants picked to prolong the blooming period.
Approx: 65 Seeds.
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Tithonia – Mexican Torch – West Coast Seeds
$3.99Tithonia rotundifolia. Mexican Torch seeds produce exceedingly bright orange flowers atop massive plants that grow to 1.8m in just a few months. Tithonia does not produce edible flowers, and is not a true sunflower. Grown in large containers (3-5 gallons minimum), plants will stay more compact, growing only to 60cm tall. Tithonia is highly attractive to pollinators, including hummingbirds, and looks great when planted in big clumps or rows. The seeds are easy to collect and dry for future planting, and the massive stalks from the plants can be used for trellising peas or pole beans the following year. Mexican Torch won an AAS Award in 1951. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, and transplant out once night time temperatures are reliably above 10°C. Seeds germinate in 5-14 days
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds on the surface of the soil under bright lights, and maintain a soil temperature of 21°C. Seeds can be direct sown outdoors in spring, but well after last frost, and only where winters are mild.
How To Grow, Growing: Stake plants, particularly in windy areas, and water only during prolonged dry weather. Plant in full sun, allowing 60cm between plants. Any light soil will work.
Approx: 90 Seeds.
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Wildflowers – Hummingbird Blend – West Coast Seeds
$4.69Attract hummingbirds to your growing area with these beautiful Hummingbird Blend wildflower seeds. The twelve species in this mix are some of the most attractive nectar-bearing flowers available, and have a long blooming period. This is a versatile blend that can be used in all kinds of applications. Try some in hanging baskets and window boxes. or scatter the seeds down the meridian on your street. The colour will lure the hummingbirds and the nectar will keep them coming back all season. Plus the flowers will return as early as March each year.
Recommended rate of application: 115g per 1,000 square feet.How To Grow, Timing: Try to direct sow wildflower seeds during the period two weeks before, and eight weeks after, your last average frost date. Sowing when there is some risk of minor frost may improve germination. Wildflower seeds can also be sown in the autumn, but a certain percentage of seeds to may be lost to water, birds, and animals. To make the most of the annual species, direct sow in early spring.
How To Grow, Starting:
Site Selection: If there are already no plants (including weeds) growing in the planting site, there may be a problem with the soil. Possible issues may be soil fertility, lack of drainage, or the need for soil amendments to improve texture. In such spots (eg, beneath a cedar tree), few plants will thrive, including wildflowers.
How To Grow, Growing:Remove as much existing vegetation as possible through pulling or tilling under in order to minimize competition. Loosen the soil by scraping, raking, or tilling. Wildflower blends will not usually take if planted into existing lawn because the thatch prevents their contact with soil.
Blend Ingredients: Keep the seeded area as evenly moist as possible to help the seeds germinate and the young seedlings become established. Weeds need to be kept under control. Once they are growing, most mixes will not require additional water except in long periods of hot, dry weather. All of our mixes should re-grow for several years, but will eventually benefit from re-seeding. In late summer, many of the components will produce seed heads that can be harvested and replanted the following spring.
5 grams of seed.
Columbine, Giant Aquilegia caerulea Dwarf Spurred Snapdragon linaria maroccana Four O’Clocks Mirabilis jalapa Gayfeather Liatris spicata Standing Cypress Ipomopsis rubra Lemon Bergamot Monarda citriodora Lupine ‘Pink Fairy’ Lupinus elegans Perennial Lupin Lupinus perennis Phlox Phlox drummondii Rocket Larkspur Delphinium consolida Rocky Mountain Penstemon Penstemon strictus Scarlet Sage Salvia coccinea Sweet William Pinks Dianthus barbatus Tussock Bellflower Campanula carpatica Wild Petunia Petunia vulgare Add to cart -
Wildflowers – Perennial Blend – West Coast Seeds
$4.99All perennials in this blend! These species will provide many colours for years of enjoyment. When fall planted, the flowers will blossom the following spring. When spring planted, if the conditions are right, there will be some flowering, but most will not flower until the following spring. The advantage of spring or summer planting is that the plants have a well-established root system for the following spring. Perennial Mix wildflower seeds will grow to an approximate height of 90-110cm under normal conditions. This mix blends nicely with our other wildflowers to provide a good perennial base.
Recommended rate of application: 141g per 1,000 square feet.How To Grow, Timing: Try to direct sow wildflower seeds during the period two weeks before, and eight weeks after, your last average frost date. Sowing when there is some risk of minor frost may improve germination. Wildflower seeds can also be sown in the autumn, but a certain percentage of seeds to may be lost to water, birds, and animals. To make the most of the annual species, direct sow in early spring.
How To Grow, Starting:
Site Selection: If there are already no plants (including weeds) growing in the planting site, there may be a problem with the soil. Possible issues may be soil fertility, lack of drainage, or the need for soil amendments to improve texture. In such spots (eg, beneath a cedar tree), few plants will thrive, including wildflowers.
Site Preparation: Remove as much existing vegetation as possible through pulling or tilling under in order to minimize competition. Loosen the soil by scraping, raking, or tilling. Wildflower blends will not usually take if planted into existing lawn because the thatch prevents their contact with soil.
Seed Application: In small areas, seeds can be scattered by hand. In larger areas, you may want to employ a lawn spreader or some other mechanical means. We recommend adding 1-2 parts clean, dry sand to 1 part wildflower seeds which will help the seeds spread evenly. Do not use beach sand, as it usually contains salt. It may be wise to spread most of the seed, but to save some for filling in bald spots at a later date. Seeds must come into contact with the soil in order to germinate. Do not bury seeds more than 2-3 times their thickness.
Planting rates: Aim for a planting density of 70 seeds per square foot. 90g of seeds will cover 1,000 ft². Use 4kg per acre. 500g covers about 5,500 ft². If seeding an area where site preparation and weeding are not possible, double this rate.
How To Grow, Growing: Keep the seeded area as evenly moist as possible to help the seeds germinate and the young seedlings become established. Weeds need to be kept under control. Once they are growing, most mixes will not require additional water except in long periods of hot, dry weather. All of our mixes should re-grow for several years, but will eventually benefit from re-seeding. In late summer, many of the components will produce seed heads that can be harvested and replanted the following spring.
5 Grams of seed.
Blend Ingredients:
Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Blanket Flower Gaillardia aristata Butterfly Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Dwarf Evening Primrose Oenothera missouriensis Eastern Columbine Aquilegia canadensis Gayfeather Liatris spicatus Lance Leaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata Lewis Flax Linum lewisii New England Aster Aster novae-angliae Ohio Spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis Ox-Eye Sunflower Heliopsis Helianthoides Prairie Coneflower Ratibida columnifera Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Rocky Mountain Penstemon Penstemon strictus White Upland Aster Aster ptarmicoides Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa Add to cart -
Wildflowers – Deer Resistant Blend – West Coast Seeds
$4.99A blend of wildflowers that are not preferred food sources for deer or are resilient to being foraged. In times of weak grazing, deer may still nibble on these plants, but the contents of Deer Resistant wildflower seeds were chosen for their resilience to deer. Great for planting on the Gulf Islands and BC Interior, where deer can be a real nuisance. The mix will also work in any other North American setting, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies, but foiling marauding deer. Recommended rate of application: 115g per 1,000 square feet.
How To Grow, Timing: Try to direct sow wildflower seeds during the period two weeks before, and eight weeks after, your last average frost date. Sowing when there is some risk of minor frost may improve germination. Wildflower seeds can also be sown in the autumn, but a certain percentage of seeds to may be lost to water, birds, and animals. To make the most of the annual species, direct sow in early spring.
How To Grow, Starting:
Site Selection: If there are already no plants (including weeds) growing in the planting site, there may be a problem with the soil. Possible issues may be soil fertility, lack of drainage, or the need for soil amendments to improve texture. In such spots (eg, beneath a cedar tree), few plants will thrive, including wildflowers.
Site Preparation: Remove as much existing vegetation as possible through pulling or tilling under in order to minimize competition. Loosen the soil by scraping, raking, or tilling. Wildflower blends will not usually take if planted into existing lawn because the thatch prevents their contact with soil.
Seed Application: In small areas, seeds can be scattered by hand. In larger areas, you may want to employ a lawn spreader or some other mechanical means. We recommend adding 1-2 parts clean, dry sand to 1 part wildflower seeds which will help the seeds spread evenly. Do not use beach sand, as it usually contains salt. It may be wise to spread most of the seed, but to save some for filling in bald spots at a later date. Seeds must come into contact with the soil in order to germinate. Do not bury seeds more than 2-3 times their thickness.
Planting rates: Aim for a planting density of 70 seeds per square foot. 90g of seeds will cover 1,000 ft². Use 4kg per acre. 500g covers about 5,500 ft². If seeding an area where site preparation and weeding are not possible, double this rate.
How To Grow, Growing: Keep the seeded area as evenly moist as possible to help the seeds germinate and the young seedlings become established. Weeds need to be kept under control. Once they are growing, most mixes will not require additional water except in long periods of hot, dry weather. All of our mixes should re-grow for several years, but will eventually benefit from re-seeding. In late summer, many of the components will produce seed heads that can be harvested and replanted the following spring.
5 grams of seed.
Blend Ingredients:
Blue Sage Salvia farinacea California Poppy Eschscholzia californica Corn Poppy Papaver rhoeas Four O’Clock Mirabilis jalapa French Marigold Tagetes patula Giant Purple Hyssop Agastache rugosa Gold Yarrow Achillea filipendulina Lemon Bergamot Monarda citriodora Perennial Lupin Lupinus perennis Rocket Larkspur Delphinium consolida Sweet Alyssum Lobularia maritima Sweet William Pinks Dianthus barbatus Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa Add to cart -
Wildflowers – Great Lakes Blend – West Coast Seeds
$6.49The Great Lakes region is vast and diverse, but it is united by hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Many native North American wildflower species can be found throughout the whole region, but we have selected these species for their ease, suitability, and charm. This collection includes annuals, biennials, and perennials that are both cold hardy and drought tolerant. They should return for years to come once established. The range of colours is huge, as are the number of native insects that will come to feed on them. Any area with limited biodiversity will be improved by the Great Lakes Wildflower Blend.
How To Grow, Timing: Try to direct sow wildflower seeds during the period two weeks before, and eight weeks after, your last average frost date. Sowing when there is some risk of minor frost may improve germination. Wildflower seeds can also be sown in the autumn, but a certain percentage of seeds to may be lost to water, birds, and animals. To make the most of the annual species, direct sow in early spring.
How To Grow, Starting:
Site Selection: If there are already no plants (including weeds) growing in the planting site, there may be a problem with the soil. Possible issues may be soil fertility, lack of drainage, or the need for soil amendments to improve texture. In such spots (eg, beneath a cedar tree), few plants will thrive, including wildflowers.
Site Preparation: Remove as much existing vegetation as possible through pulling or tilling under in order to minimize competition. Loosen the soil by scraping, raking, or tilling. Wildflower blends will not usually take if planted into existing lawn because the thatch prevents their contact with soil.
Seed Application: In small areas, seeds can be scattered by hand. In larger areas, you may want to employ a lawn spreader or some other mechanical means. We recommend adding 1-2 parts clean, dry sand to 1 part wildflower seeds which will help the seeds spread evenly. Do not use beach sand, as it usually contains salt. It may be wise to spread most of the seed, but to save some for filling in bald spots at a later date. Seeds must come into contact with the soil in order to germinate. Do not bury seeds more than 2-3 times their thickness.
Planting rates: Aim for a planting density of 70 seeds per square foot. 90g of seeds will cover 1,000 ft². Use 4kg per acre. 500g covers about 5,500 ft². If seeding an area where site preparation and weeding are not possible, double this rate.
How To Grow, Growing: Keep the seeded area as evenly moist as possible to help the seeds germinate and the young seedlings become established. Weeds need to be kept under control. Once they are growing, most mixes will not require additional water except in long periods of hot, dry weather. All of our mixes should re-grow for several years, but will eventually benefit from re-seeding. In late summer, many of the components will produce seed heads that can be harvested and replanted the following spring.
5 grams of Seeds.
Blend Ingredients:
Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Butterfly Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Clasping Coneflower Rudbeckia amplexicaulis Dwarf Evening Primrose Oenothera missouriensis Grey-Headed Coneflower Ratibida pinnata Indian Blanket Gaillardia pulchella Lance-Leaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata New England Aster Aster novae-angliae Ohio Spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis Ox-Eye Sunflower Heliopsis helianthoides Pale Purple Coneflower Echinacea pallida Plains Coreopsis Coreopsis tinctoria Prairie Coneflower Ratibida columnifera Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea Smooth Penstomen Penstomen digitalis White Upland Aster Aster ptarmicoides Add to cart -
Zinnia – Polar Bear – West Coast Seeds
$4.49Polar Bear Zinnias bear gorgeous, creamy white flowers atop straight, upright stems that grow 75-100cm tall. The 10cm wide flowers appear from summer to fall, attracting butterflies, bumblebees, and other pollinators. Polar Bear Zinnias make exceptionally nice cut flowers, and that adds value to any farm stand or CSA program. Zinnias are a great addition for market growers, and can bring in premium prices as farm stand bouquets. The plants are resilient, and will keep producing new stems and blossoms over several weeks.
Plant this striking flower in mass plantings, or use them in larger containers that will balance the tall stems. Keep cutting zinnia stems, and more flowers keep coming. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Direct sow after last frost. Zinnias don’t transplant well, but can be started indoors, if necessary, in peat or coir pots, 6-8 weeks before planting out. Maintain a soil temperature of 21-26°C. Seeds should germinate in 5-24 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Just cover Zinnia seeds, and aim for a final spacing of 25-30cm between plants.
How To Grow, Growing: Depending on the variety, it takes about two months after sowing for the first flowers to appear. Take regular cuttings of Zinnia stems to enjoy indoors, starting mid-summer right into the fall. Cutting encourages the production of new flowers and seems to stimulate the plants for greater vigour. Watch for signs of powdery mildew on the leaves, usually in late summer. Try to avoid overhead watering to prevent mildew.
Approx: 145 Seeds.
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Zinnia – Oklahoma Salmon – West Coast Seeds
$3.99Zinnia elegans. Fluffy, medium-sized flowerheads with long but strong stems growing up to between 30–40″ tall. The petals of Oklahoma Salmon blends warm pinks and corals to create unique blooms that pair well with a variety of other colours. The Oklahoma series is prolific and consistently produces double and semi-double blooms with a long vase life, which is why they are a favourite of professional flower farmers. They thrive in hot weather and also has high resistance to powdery mildew. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Direct sow after last frost. Zinnias don’t transplant well, but can be started indoors, if necessary, in peat or coir pots, 6-8 weeks before planting out. Maintain a soil temperature of 21-26°C. Seeds should germinate in 5-24 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Just cover Zinnia seeds, and aim for a final spacing of 25-30cm between plants.
How To Grow, Growing: Depending on the variety, it takes about two months after sowing for the first flowers to appear. Take regular cuttings of Zinnia stems to enjoy indoors, starting mid-summer right into the fall. Cutting encourages the production of new flowers and seems to stimulate the plants for greater vigour. Watch for signs of powdery mildew on the leaves, usually in late summer. Try to avoid overhead watering to prevent mildew.
Approx: 145 Seeds
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Zinnia – Quenny Lime With Blotch – West Coast Seeds
$5.99The Queeny Series offers a step above the standards with their elegant colour combinations. Queeny Lime with Blotch has pale yellow to chartreuse petals with a pop of pink in the center. Mostly double and semi-double blooms with a small percentage of singles, yielding multiple cuts throughout the season. Plants are 75-100cm tall. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Direct sow after last frost. Zinnias don’t transplant well, but can be started indoors, if necessary, in peat or coir pots, 6-8 weeks before planting out. Maintain a soil temperature of 21-26°C. Seeds should germinate in 5-24 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Just cover Zinnia seeds, and aim for a final spacing of 25-30cm between plants.
How To Grow, Growing: Depending on the variety, it takes about two months after sowing for the first flowers to appear. Take regular cuttings of Zinnia stems to enjoy indoors, starting mid-summer right into the fall. Cutting encourages the production of new flowers and seems to stimulate the plants for greater vigour. Watch for signs of powdery mildew on the leaves, usually in late summer. Try to avoid overhead watering to prevent mildew.
Approx: 25 seeds.
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Zinnia – Benary’s Giant Mix – West Coast Seeds
$5.99A High yielding mix that produces large, densely petaled flowers for multiple cuts over the season. Benary’s Giant is the standard zinnia for cut flower growers for its vigorous growth and long-lasting blooms in multiple colours including red, coral, lime, wine, pink, white, purple, and yellow. Widely adapted. Grows to 100-125cm. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Direct sow after last frost. Zinnias don’t transplant well, but can be started indoors, if necessary, in peat or coir pots, 6-8 weeks before planting out. Maintain a soil temperature of 21-26°C. Seeds should germinate in 5-24 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Just cover Zinnia seeds, and aim for a final spacing of 25-30cm between plants.
How To Grow, Growing: Depending on the variety, it takes about two months after sowing for the first flowers to appear. Take regular cuttings of Zinnia stems to enjoy indoors, starting mid-summer right into the fall. Cutting encourages the production of new flowers and seems to stimulate the plants for greater vigour. Watch for signs of powdery mildew on the leaves, usually in late summer. Try to avoid overhead watering to prevent mildew.
Approx: 25 Seeds.
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Zinnia – Under The Sea Mix – West Coast Seeds
$3.49Under the Sea is beautiful blend of ivory, coral, magenta zinnias. All of them are varieties recommended for bouquets so they make excellent cut flowers. Strong sturdy stems, growing up to between 30–40″ tall. They are highly attractive to butterflies and other pollinators. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Direct sow after last frost. Zinnias don’t transplant well, but can be started indoors, if necessary, in peat or coir pots, 6-8 weeks before planting out. Maintain a soil temperature of 21-26°C. Seeds should germinate in 5-24 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Just cover Zinnia seeds, and aim for a final spacing of 25-30cm between plants.
How To Grow, Growing: Depending on the variety, it takes about two months after sowing for the first flowers to appear. Take regular cuttings of Zinnia stems to enjoy indoors, starting mid-summer right into the fall. Cutting encourages the production of new flowers and seems to stimulate the plants for greater vigour. Watch for signs of powdery mildew on the leaves, usually in late summer. Try to avoid overhead watering to prevent mildew.
Approx: 45 Seeds.
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Poppies California – Thai Silk Formula – West Coast Seeds
$4.49Eschscholzia californica. The Thai Silk Formula is a special blend of California Poppies featuring semi-double flowers with fluted petals and a very agreeable silken appearance. The petite plants only grow to 20cm tall, with their delicate looking flowers contrasting nicely against muted, grey-green foliage. The flowers themselves can be as wide as 8cm, and they work well in patio containers, rock gardens, and flower beds. California poppies are drought resistant, so they are suitable for xeriscaping, and they’re also deer resistant. These poppies are known to be toxic to deer, horses, cats, and dogs. annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Direct sow outdoors in spring after the local last frost date. Otherwise direct sow in autumn. It can be started indoors, but does not like being transplanted.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 5mm deep, spaced 20-25cm apart. Seeds should sprout in 14-21 days.
How To Grow, Growing: Grow in any average, well-drained soil. Deadhead regularly to prevent self sowing. California poppies are very likely to self sow when conditions are favourable.
Approx: 175 Seeds.
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Poppies California – Lady Marmalade – West Coast Seeds
$4.49Eschscholzia californica. Lady Marmalade is a new California Poppy that was originally selected from the Mission Bells mix. Try it rock gardens, patio containers, or mass landscape plantings, and enjoy the rose shaped, semi-double blooms that appear in golden yellow with bright orange centres. The flowers are drought tolerant, deer resistant, and will often naturalize in warm, dry garden settings. Lady Marmalade grows to 35cm tall on upright stems, and blooms July through September from a direct spring sowing. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Direct sow outdoors in spring after the local last frost date. Otherwise direct sow in autumn. It can be started indoors, but does not like being transplanted.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 5mm deep, spaced 20-25cm apart. Seeds should sprout in 14-21 days.
How To Grow, Growing: Grow in any average, well-drained soil. Deadhead regularly to prevent self sowing. California poppies are very likely to self sow when conditions are favourable.
Approx: 150 Seeds.
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Stock – Katz Cherry Blossom – West Coast Seeds
$5.99Katz is an early blooming one-cut stock series with good uniformity and long stem length, prized by professional growers. Blooms are 50-60% double flowers with selection possible for a higher percentage. The Katz series produces one flowering stem on each 60-76cm plant that should not be pinched. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, or direct sow outdoors after last frost. Seeds take 3-20 days to germinate at an ideal soil temperature of 12-18°C.
How To Grow, Starting: Stocks are highly susceptible to damping off. Sow on the surface of vermiculite under bright light, with some ventilation nearby. Water only from below. Pot on into sterilized potting soil once plants are large enough to handle, and space them in the garden at 15-23cm apart.
How To Grow, Growing: Moist, well-drained, fertile soil is best, with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Pinch out side shoots for taller plants. Crowding plants encourages earlier blooming. Water regularly and feed lightly every month.
Approx: 50 Seeds.
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Snapdragon – Madame Butterfly Mix – West Coast Seeds
$5.99Unique azalea type snapdragon with double-petaled blooms that are ruffled and full. Madame Butterfly Mix Includes white, magenta, pink, yellow, rose, red, and bronze flowers that create a lush bouquet when cut. 66-89cm plants can be grown in a greenhouse or in the open field and garden. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Start snapdragons indoors, 8-10 weeks before planting out. Transplant out after last frost. Direct sowing is less reliable. Provide bright light and a soil temperature of 12°C. Seeds should sprout in 10-21 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow on the surface of a sterilized seed starting mix. To avoid damping off (to which snapdragons are somewhat prone), increase ventilation, use a layer of vermiculite on top of the soil, and water only from below. Transplant out once daytime temperatures are consistently above 10°C and space 30cm apart.
How To Grow, Growing: Grow these easy sub-shrubs in rich, soil with a neutral pH. Pinch back young plants once 6 leaves have appeared for bushier mature plants. Feed lightly twice, before any flowers appear. Deadhead often. If flowering seems to subside, cut back dramatically, and then feed and water generously.
Approx: 50 Seeds.
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Sunflower – Tall Blend – West Coast Seeds
$4.69With so many to choose from and only so much space in the garden, Tall Blend sunflower seeds will allow you to enjoy a mixed planting. This package combines varieties of tall sunflowers to brighten up the back of the garden. Grow a forest of giants that attract pollinators to your garden and also feed the birds once the flowering show is over. All plants in this collection will grow to 2-4m. 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 (1 tsp) 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.
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Salvia – Big Blue – West Coast Seeds
$7.49Salvia longispicata x farinacea. This impressive Salvia was a show stopper in our field trials, with tall spikes of true blue flowers that attracted bumble bees and other bees from mid-summer to the first frost. It bloomed right into late October in our trials. The deep green foliage beneath the flowers is thick and lush and totally trouble free. Big Blue Salvia is an interspecific hybrid, and the first of its type to flower from seed in the first year. No deadheading or further care is needed. It performs best in full sun, but will tolerate dappled shade, and grows 60-90cm tall in beds or large containers. Space the burly, drought tolerant plants 40-45cm apart. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Start indoors late winter to early spring. Transplant out or direct sow starting two weeks after the last frost date. Starting indoors may be more reliable, particularly if using bottom heat and maintaining optimal soil temperature at 15-21°C. Seeds should sprout in 2 to 3 weeks.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 3mm deep, and keep soil just moist, not wet. Thin to 40-45cm apart.
How To Grow, Growing: Prior to transplanting, work the soil to a depth of 30cm to improve drainage. If transplanting to a container, add a quantity of grit or perlite to achieve the same end.
Approx: 5 Seeds.
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Sunflower – Lemon Queen – West Coast Seeds
$3.99Helianthus annuus. Lemon Queen is a wonderful, medium tall sunflower with brilliant light lemon yellow flowers that are typically 10-13cm wide. with chocolate brown centres. This sunflower develops numerous branches, and each bears multiple flowers. Grow some for cut flowers and enjoy the bright colour indoors. Lemon Queen grows to about 1.8-2m tall. Direct sow sunflower seeds in full sun in well drained soil once it warms up from April to June. Plant more seeds at three week intervals for a much longer bloom period. This sunflower begins flowering about 90 days after sowing. 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 (1 tsp) 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: 20 Seeds.
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Sunflower – Incredible – West Coast Seeds
$3.99Helianthus annuus. This dwarf sunflower grows to a height of 75-100cm , making them suitable for beds and borders in small gardens as well as patio containers in sunny spots. This compact, multi-branched sunflower has large leaves and the 22cm blooms have rich, honey centres that are framed by cheery, yellow petals. The flowers bloom over a long season, attracting a host of pollinators. Once the blooms fade, birds will flock to them to feed on their tasty seeds. They are excellent as cut flowers too as they last a long time in vases. 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 (1 tsp) 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: 12 Seeds.
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Lavatera – Mont Blanc – West Coast Seeds
$3.99Lavatera trimestris. Stunning the garden, these snowy white mallows make excellent cut flowers. Gleaming white, massive 10cm wide flowers glow in the moonlight. Aptly named Mont Blanc for its profuse blooms on a compact plant growing up to 90cm tall earns this fast growing annual a place in the flower bed, front and centre. Mont Blanc Lavatera seeds are easy to grow, very hardy, and bloom from mid summer to frost. This fast growing plant works well in containers on their own, but even better in mass plantings. Try growing some at the end of your patio, where they can be enjoyed at night in the moonlight. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Start indoors in peat or coir pots 6-8 weeks before the last frost, or direct sow outdoors in early spring when light frost is still possible. If starting indoors, maintain a soil temperature of 21°C. Seeds will sprout in 15-20 days. Transplant after last frost, being careful not to disrupt the roots. If direct sowing, repeat every 2 weeks until the nights get warmer for a longer bloom time.
How To Grow, Starting: Barely cover the seeds. Transplant or thin to 30-45cm apart.
How To Grow, Growing: Lavatera dislikes transplanting, so do not try to move them from their permanent planting site. Grow in moist, average soil. Water well and deadhead regularly. Avoid feeding plants, as Lavatera grown in rich soil will have lush foliage and fewer flowers. It may self-sow.
Approx: 40 Seeds.
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Linum – Charmer Mix – West Coast Seeds
$5.49Linum grandiflorum. This annual flowering flax grows to only 50cm tall, with cup-shaped flowers appearing in red, white, salmon, and lilac throughout the season. The real trick with Linum is to direct sow the seeds multiple times for an extended bloom period. Sow Linum Charmer Mix at two week intervals from mid-March to the end of May for a full summer of brightly coloured flowers. This mix looks great in containers, but even better in mass plantings. Linum grandiflorum is native to Algeria and some other parts of north Africa, and is relatively drought resistant. Water regularly if growing in containers. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Direct sow after last frost date. Sow more seeds every two to three weeks for successive blooming. If starting seeds indoors is absolutely necessary, use peat pots and harden off seedlings carefully to avoid transplant shock.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds by barely covering them to a depth of 5mm. Seeds germinate in 20 to 25 days. Thin seedlings to 15cm apart.
How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 5.0-7.0. Cut back about half of the flowering stems in early summer to extend the blooming period. Grow in any well-drained soil and avoid fertilizer and manure. Rich soil reduces blooming. Linum dislikes root disturbance, so it is not suitable for transplanting – it’s better to simply sow more seeds.
Approx: 40 Seeds.
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Marigold – Sparky Mix – West Coast Seeds
$3.49Tagetes patula. Enjoy mounds of tawny oranges and yellows from mid-summer to first frost (and sometimes beyond). As a companion plant, Sparky Mix marigolds are the variety that will suppress ‘bad’ nematodes in your soil. Be sure to plant around the vegetable garden! They can also be used as a cover crop for weed suppression. Plant these marigold seeds in full sun, and deadhead (remove spent flowers) to prolong the bloom period. These marigolds work well in containers and they are surprisingly drought resistant, so can be incorporated in xeriscaping schemes. This little plant reaches a height of 30cm. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, or direct sow 2 weeks before last frost. If starting indoors, just cover the seeds with vermiculite and provide a soil temperature of 21-25°C. Seeds should sprout in 4-14 days at that temperature.
How To Grow, Starting: Marigolds are somewhat prone to damping off. As a precaution, just cover the small seeds with vermiculite, water from below, and provide ventilation in the room. Space plants in the garden 30-45cm apart. Dwarf varieties can be spaced 15cm apart.
How To Grow, Growing: Pinch the growing tips to encourage branching. This prevents tall, spindly plants. Dead head regularly throughout the growing season.
Approx: 150 Seeds.
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Stock – Night Scented Stock – West Coast Seeds
$3.99Matthiola longipetala. Spindly and insignificant by day, it is potently fragrant at dusk! Single, four-petalled flowers are a pale lilac. Best grown either in out-of-the-way spots or with Virginian Stock to combine their complimentary growing habits, colours, and fragrances. Shear back once for continuing scent from July until frost. Stocks prefer cool temperatures, but need full sun to perform well. Once the soil heats up in summer, plants tend to die back. Provide ample water, but very well drained soil. Sow Evening Scented stocks seeds on the surface of the soil. Many sources still use the previous Latin name for this plant, M. bicornis. If given some support, this branching plant will grow to 45cm tall. If grown in containers, it will probably not grow upright. Annual.
How To Grow, Timing: Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, or direct sow outdoors after last frost. Seeds take 3-20 days to germinate at an ideal soil temperature of 12-18°.
How To Grow, Starting: Stocks are highly susceptible to damping off. Sow on the surface of vermiculite under bright light, with some ventilation nearby. Water only from below. Pot on into sterilized potting soil once plants are large enough to handle, and space them in the garden at 15-23cm apart.
How To Grow, Growing: Moist, well-drained, fertile soil is best, with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Pinch out side shoots for taller plants. Crowding plants encourages earlier blooming. Water regularly and feed lightly every month.
Approx: 550 Seeds.
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