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Zinnia Cutting- Hot Crayon Colours – Renee’s Garden
$4.19Right out of the crayon box of intense colors, this blend of hot shades combines scarlet red, citrus orange and golden yellow varieties for bright summer borders and sizzling bouquets of gorgeous florist quality zinnias. These award winners offer you densely petaled, fully double flowers with outstanding garden performance. The well-branched 3 to 3 1/2 foot tall plants stand up well to both summer rain and heat, yielding armfuls of flowers for eye-catching, long-lasting arrangements.
Approx: 95 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Summer/fall bloom
Frost tenderTO START DIRECTLY IN THE GARDEN
Sow seeds in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun when danger of frost is past and weather is warm and above 50°F (10°C) both day and night. Space seeds 3 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, cover 1/2 inch deep and gently firm soil. Keep soil evenly moist while awaiting germination.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
One month before last frost, sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 3 inches apart in seed starting mix. Keep warm and moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant outside when temps rise above 50°F (10°C) day and night.
THIN OR TRANSPLANT
Space seedlings 8-12 inches apart when large enough to handle to give plants room to mature and provide good air circulation.
GROWING NOTES
To ensure sufficient air circulation and abundant blossoms, thin before seedlings get crowded; adequate spacing and regular, even watering helps keep zinnias productive and discourages mildew. Pick when flower blossoms first open and petals are tight for longest vase life. Cut long stems well back into the plant to keep plants branching low and producing best blooms for summer long bouquets.
Zinnia Elegans
95-100 Seeds
Zinnia Elegans 95-100 SeedsAdd to cart -
Arugula – Runway Serrated – Renee’s Seeds
$4.19This outstanding arugula selection if distinguished by very attractive, deeply lobbed, oakleaf-shaped leaves. In our garden trials, Runway tastes deliciously tangy byt is slightly less pungent than regular arugula. Peppery, sharp-flavored arugula (a.k.a. rocket or roquette), provides a wonderful punch of piquant flavor to any green salad or a scrumptious contrast tossed with fresh sliced fruit or served under meat, chicken or fish just hot off the barbecue.
Approx: 1400 Seeds.
ANNUAL
Spring/summer/fall harvest
Frost hardyEASIEST TO START OUTDOORS
In early spring, sow arugula seeds directly into well-worked garden soil, cover ¼ inch deep and firm soil over seeds. Keep seed bed evenly moist until seedlings emerge. Make new sowings every 2 weeks until early summer to have a constant supply of fresh leaves. Begin harvesting young leaves in 3 to 4 weeks.
In hot summer areas, wait to sow again in late summer for fall use, as extreme heat makes leaves very pungent.
THIN OR TRANSPLANT
Arugula grows so quickly we recommend sowing in place rather than transplanting. Thin seedlings 2 to 3 inches apart when plants are large enough to handle.
GROWING NOTES
Begin harvesting by thinning little seedlings to use in salads when they are several inches tall. Then, either pick individual leaves when 3-4 inches long, or snip leaves about 1 inch above the crown and let plants regrow for more harvests.
1400 Seeds
1400 SeedsAdd to cart -
Lettuce – Flashy Trout Black – Renee’s Seeds
$6.89Leaves of this great tasting, handsome heirloom are lavishly splashed with wine-red against a bright green background and their pretty speckled appearance begins right at the seedling stage.
50 Days.
Approx: 960 Seeds.
START SEEDS OUTDOORS
In cool early spring weather, start seeds in finely worked soil in full sun. Sow 1/4 inch deep and 2 inches apart in rows 6 to 8 inches apart and cover lightly. Tend carefully and keep evenly moist. Gradually thin out extra seedlings, leaving remaining plants standing 10 to 12 inches apart so lettuces have room to size up and fully mature into leafy butterhead rosettes. For a constant supply, make several sowings a few weeks apart until summer weather turns hot. Plant again in late summer for fall harvest.
GROWING NOTES
Lettuce thrives in cool conditions with consistent moisture. Weed, water and be sure to thin carefully to proper spacing so plants have room to mature. If birds are attracted to young seedlings, cover with floating row covers or netting. Make a shade structure in hotter climates to extend the growing season.
HARVEST AND USE
Savor young thinnings in your first spring salads. Then harvest plants by cutting mature heads when they feel firm and well-filled out. Be sure to thin properly and keep evenly moist for sweet tasting, full heads. Pull and discard or compost over-mature plants if they begin to elongate (“bolt”) in hot weather as leaves turn bitter at this stage.
Add to cart960 Seeds
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Spinach – Regiment Organic – Renee’s Seeds
$6.89High-yielding plants with early harvests of tender, deep green leaves whose sweet, nutty flavor is perfect for scrumptious salads or quick cooking. Plants produce well throughout the season.
40 Days.
Approx: 380 Seeds.
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. 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.
Add to cart500 Seeds
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Railing Planter Black
$39.99Self watering planter that sits on top of a 2×4 or 2×6 railing. No hardware required
27″
27"Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Insect Spray Schultz
$16.99General Purpose insect spray, excellent for all indoor plants.
700 ml
More Info700 ml
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Root Hormone – Wilson
$7.99- Stimulates rapid roots growth on softwood and hardwood cuttings.
- Easy to use liquid root stimulator
- 50ml
Wilson
WilsonMore Info -
Bordo copper spray
$19.99Controls leaf spots, blights, anthracnose, downy and powdery mildew, black spot, and molds
Broad spectrum fungicide
Use it on fruit trees, ornamentals, vegetables, flowers
200 G
200 GMore Info -
Diatomaceous Earth – Knock down
$19.99Food grade Diatomaceous earth, which is effective against any crawling insects. Approved for Organic use.
More Info300 G
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Garden Sulpher Powder
$7.99Controls powdery mildew, Rust, Black spot, scab some mites and black knot.
300 G
More Info300 G
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Slug and Bug Insect Killer
$11.99Diatomaceous earth. Controls many household and garden pests such as slugs, ants, bedbugs, caterpillars, cockroaches, crickets, earwigs, fleas, potato beetles, silverfish and sowbugs
200 G
200 GMore Info -
Sunflower Pollinator – Lemon Queen – Renee’s Garden
$4.79Heirloom Lemon Queen is particularly attractive to pollinating bees and is often planted by researchers tracking honeybee populations. These free flowering sunflowers have branching clusters of 4-6 inch flowers with pure lemon-yellow pointed petals and chocolate centers. Plants grow 5-9 feet tall and mature early.
Pollinators of all sorts are drawn to Lemon Queen’s nectar and pollen, the blossoms make a lovely cut flower for bouquets, and birds love the ripened seeds in fall.
Seed Count: Approx. 33-37
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Summer/fall bloom
Frost tenderEASIEST TO DIRECTLY PLANT OUTDOORS
Plant in full sun in good garden soil only when weather is warm and settled, all danger of frost is past and both days and nights are evenly in the 10°C range. Poke individual seeds into well-worked soil about 1/2 in. deep, 4 to 5 in. apart. Press the soil firmly over the seeds and keep the seedbed evenly moist until seedlings emerge in 8 to 10 days.
Important: when the seedlings are well-established, carefully thin them to a final spacing of 1 foot apart; this way they will have enough room to develop sturdy stalks that won’t blow over and big clusters of flowers. Any extra seedlings you remove can be transplanted elsewhere in the garden or potted up and given to friends.
GROWING NOTES
Growing these colorful sunflowers for pollinators and bouquets is both easy and rewarding. Make several sowings several weeks apart and you’ll have a succession of flowers in full bloom. Keep soil moist and well weeded and protect very young seedlings from birds with bird netting held tautly above the seedbed with supports, or use plastic berry baskets, removing baskets before plants get crowded.
Helianthus Annuus
Pack of 15 seeds
Helianthus Annuus Pack of 15 seedsAdd to cart -
Tomato Beefsteak – Pork Chop Organic – West Coast Seeds
$4.49This stunning beefsteak tomato is sure to impress! Yellow with shining gold stripes at maturity, Pork Chop’s large, slightly flattened, 225-340g (8-12oz) globes are full of flavour that is sweet with just a hint of citrus. Indeterminate plants.
75 Days.
Approx: 10 Seeds.
How To Grow, Timing: Start indoors in early spring over bottom heat. When seedlings germinate, remove from the heat and grow under bright lights. Grow seedlings on for 6-8 weeks at around 10°C. Early season tomatoes can be planted out once night time temperatures are reliably above 7°C – or later. Other types should be transplanted out when night time lows are 10°C or warmer – or later. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 25-35°C. With bottom heat seeds should germinate in 7-14 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 5mm-1cm deep. Keep seedlings under very bright light to prevent legginess. You may have to pot on seedlings more than once before they go out to allow for root growth. Space bush (determinate) transplants 45-60cm apart and vine (indeterminate) types 50-75cm apart in rows 1m apart.
How to Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8. Tomatoes like fertile, well drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Dig in finished compost and manure, and add 1 cup balanced organic fertilizer beneath each transplant. The nutrition from heavy clay soils is excellent for tomatoes, but they are slow to warm, so transplanting should be done later. By the same token, lighter soils warm more quickly, so transplants can go out sooner. Adding glacial rock dust will supply all the calcium they will need. Regular watering is vital, but don’t let the plants sit in water. Tomatoes are tropical plants so they require full sun and lots of heat. Vine varieties will require some kind of support such as a wire to grow up, or a trellis to be tied to as the plant grows. Bush types benefit from the support of a tomato cage in order to prevent sprawling. At the time of final transplant, plants can be buried up to their first pair of true leaves. This will encourage greater root growth, helping with both nutrient uptake and the plants’ ability to stand up to dry conditions.
Stop watering around the end of July to encourage the fruit to ripen. If tomato plants are grown under cover, you can encourage pollination and fruit set by tapping the stem from time to time. Tomatoes do not rely on insects for pollination. Vibrating the plant shakes pollen loose within the flowers, which then self-pollinate.Indeterminate tomatoes continue to grow and produce fruit until they are killed by frost. Remove any suckers (stems growing from the crotch of leaves) to keep the foliage under control, and they will set a later crop of larger fruit. Determinate varieties normally set fruit in a concentrated time period. Their suckers are not normally removed, though some trimming helps with ventilation.
How to Grow, Harvest: Harvest when the fruit is the desired colour. Green tomatoes can be ripened indoors at a cool temperature when they are blemish free. Very dark green tomatoes are unlikely to ripen fully.
How To Grow, Disease & Pests: Blossom End Rot is an environmental disorder caused by a calcium deficiency. As the name of the disorder indicates it occurs at the blossom end of the fruit. It appears as a brownish dry and firm sunken area. Sometimes a secondary infection can occur at the damaged area, which turns it mushy and wet. Internal blackening can occur without the characteristic end rot. Calcium deficiency can happen when there is uneven watering. When the plants are too dry for a period followed by over watering, this encourages fast growth. The tomato plant can’t take up enough calcium resulting in an unbalanced potassium-to-calcium ratio. Early fruit show the affects sooner than later fruit. Digging in bonemeal, dolomite lime and a balanced organic fertilizer such as Gaia All Purpose Blend 4-4-4 will help prevent this disease as will an even and regular watering schedule.
An airborne fungal disease causes Late Blight. It begins as leaf spots before spreading to stems and fruit. Water soaked areas appear on the leaves. These are greenish black and irregular in shape. Brown cankers develop on the stems and fruit. Blight infected tomatoes can have a fishy smell. Often the fruit manages to almost reach maturity before the cankers take over. Sometimes a bluish grey mould grows on the underside of infected leaves and on the fruit cankers.
Prevention is key as there is no cure for the disease. Keep moisture off the plants. Use drip tape for watering and avoid splashing the leaves. Our cloche system is excellent for keeping rain and moisture off the plants. In a greenhouse or under a cloche, humidity can build up so high that the fungus will destroy plants in 24 hours. You must ventilate well.
Bordo Copper Spray applied regularly in late summer prevents the fungus that causes Late Blight to germinate. If applied with the OMRI listed Superflow Natural Surfactant the copper spray will stay on longer and there will be less need to apply other than after each rainfall or heavy dew.
Phytopthera infestans is the fungus that infects tomatoes and potatoes, and is dreadful on the Coast. Greyish black areas appear first on stems and leaves, moving rapidly to kill the plant. The critical factor is moisture. Blight infects tomato plants with leaves and stems that are moist for over 48 hours. Moisture can be from rain, heavy dew, high humidity in a greenhouse or cover, condensation, or irrigation water. Once you know this, you can plan a shelter under an overhanging eve, on a porch or under a structure that you create. The protection must have excellent ventilation and must give you access to pick and prune your tomatoes. Consider growing your tomatoes in containers that can be moved to sheltered spots out of the rain.
Late blight overwinters in tomato and potato debris. Do not plant in a bed used to grow tomatoes or potatoes last year, and dispose of diseased plants in the garbage not the compost. Copper spray can prevent the fungus from infecting the plant. Plants must be sprayed every 7-10 days before any symptoms appear. Blight strikes in the rains of late summer, so choose at least one variety that will ripen before the deluge. The best advice we can offer to avoid blight is to grow early ripening bush varieties and to protect your vines carefully.
Flea Beetles make many tiny holes in the tomato leaves. They can cause problems for small tender transplants but a healthy plant can usually outgrow the damage. Use our Floating Row Cover for early season protection from Flea Beetles when transplanting your tomatoes.
How to Grow, Companion Planting: Another sensitive plant when it comes to companions, tomatoes benefit from asparagus, basil, beans, borage, carrots, celery, chives, collards, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, parsley, and peppers. Avoid planting alongside Brassicas and dill. Corn will attract tomato pests, and kohlrabi will stunt tomatoes’ growth. Potatoes may spread blight to tomatoes, so keep them apart. Do no plant tomatoes near walnut trees.
Add to cart -
Tomato Slicer – Get Stuffed Organic – West Coast Seeds
$4.49CERTIFIED ORGANIC! Large, substantial fruits grow in clusters of three to four on sturdy, relatively short vines. Get Stuffed Organic features blocky, striped fruits that are almost the shape of a bell pepper. They can be hollowed and stuffed for cooking, or used raw as a delicious, edible serving vessel. They were a big hit in our tomato trials and are worth growing for their beautiful appearance alone.
Indeterminate (vine)
75 Days.
Approx: 30 Seeds.
How To Grow, Timing: Start indoors in early spring over bottom heat. When seedlings germinate, remove from the heat and grow under bright lights. Grow seedlings on for 6-8 weeks at around 10°C. Early season tomatoes can be planted out once night time temperatures are reliably above 7°C – or later. Other types should be transplanted out when night time lows are 10°C or warmer – or later. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 25-35°C. With bottom heat seeds should germinate in 7-14 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 5mm-1cm deep. Keep seedlings under very bright light to prevent legginess. You may have to pot on seedlings more than once before they go out to allow for root growth. Space bush (determinate) transplants 45-60cm apart and vine (indeterminate) types 50-75cm apart in rows 1m apart.
How to Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8. Tomatoes like fertile, well drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Dig in finished compost and manure, and add 1 cup balanced organic fertilizer beneath each transplant. The nutrition from heavy clay soils is excellent for tomatoes, but they are slow to warm, so transplanting should be done later. By the same token, lighter soils warm more quickly, so transplants can go out sooner. Adding glacial rock dust will supply all the calcium they will need. Regular watering is vital, but don’t let the plants sit in water. Tomatoes are tropical plants so they require full sun and lots of heat. Vine varieties will require some kind of support such as a wire to grow up, or a trellis to be tied to as the plant grows. Bush types benefit from the support of a tomato cage in order to prevent sprawling. At the time of final transplant, plants can be buried up to their first pair of true leaves. This will encourage greater root growth, helping with both nutrient uptake and the plants’ ability to stand up to dry conditions.
Stop watering around the end of July to encourage the fruit to ripen. If tomato plants are grown under cover, you can encourage pollination and fruit set by tapping the stem from time to time. Tomatoes do not rely on insects for pollination. Vibrating the plant shakes pollen loose within the flowers, which then self-pollinate.Indeterminate tomatoes continue to grow and produce fruit until they are killed by frost. Remove any suckers (stems growing from the crotch of leaves) to keep the foliage under control, and they will set a later crop of larger fruit. Determinate varieties normally set fruit in a concentrated time period. Their suckers are not normally removed, though some trimming helps with ventilation.
How to Grow, Harvest: Harvest when the fruit is the desired colour. Green tomatoes can be ripened indoors at a cool temperature when they are blemish free. Very dark green tomatoes are unlikely to ripen fully.
How To Grow, Disease & Pests: Blossom End Rot is an environmental disorder caused by a calcium deficiency. As the name of the disorder indicates it occurs at the blossom end of the fruit. It appears as a brownish dry and firm sunken area. Sometimes a secondary infection can occur at the damaged area, which turns it mushy and wet. Internal blackening can occur without the characteristic end rot. Calcium deficiency can happen when there is uneven watering. When the plants are too dry for a period followed by over watering, this encourages fast growth. The tomato plant can’t take up enough calcium resulting in an unbalanced potassium-to-calcium ratio. Early fruit show the affects sooner than later fruit. Digging in bonemeal, dolomite lime and a balanced organic fertilizer such as Gaia All Purpose Blend 4-4-4 will help prevent this disease as will an even and regular watering schedule.
An airborne fungal disease causes Late Blight. It begins as leaf spots before spreading to stems and fruit. Water soaked areas appear on the leaves. These are greenish black and irregular in shape. Brown cankers develop on the stems and fruit. Blight infected tomatoes can have a fishy smell. Often the fruit manages to almost reach maturity before the cankers take over. Sometimes a bluish grey mould grows on the underside of infected leaves and on the fruit cankers.
Prevention is key as there is no cure for the disease. Keep moisture off the plants. Use drip tape for watering and avoid splashing the leaves. Our cloche system is excellent for keeping rain and moisture off the plants. In a greenhouse or under a cloche, humidity can build up so high that the fungus will destroy plants in 24 hours. You must ventilate well.
Bordo Copper Spray applied regularly in late summer prevents the fungus that causes Late Blight to germinate. If applied with the OMRI listed Superflow Natural Surfactant the copper spray will stay on longer and there will be less need to apply other than after each rainfall or heavy dew.
Phytopthera infestans is the fungus that infects tomatoes and potatoes, and is dreadful on the Coast. Greyish black areas appear first on stems and leaves, moving rapidly to kill the plant. The critical factor is moisture. Blight infects tomato plants with leaves and stems that are moist for over 48 hours. Moisture can be from rain, heavy dew, high humidity in a greenhouse or cover, condensation, or irrigation water. Once you know this, you can plan a shelter under an overhanging eve, on a porch or under a structure that you create. The protection must have excellent ventilation and must give you access to pick and prune your tomatoes. Consider growing your tomatoes in containers that can be moved to sheltered spots out of the rain.
Late blight overwinters in tomato and potato debris. Do not plant in a bed used to grow tomatoes or potatoes last year, and dispose of diseased plants in the garbage not the compost. Copper spray can prevent the fungus from infecting the plant. Plants must be sprayed every 7-10 days before any symptoms appear. Blight strikes in the rains of late summer, so choose at least one variety that will ripen before the deluge. The best advice we can offer to avoid blight is to grow early ripening bush varieties and to protect your vines carefully.
Flea Beetles make many tiny holes in the tomato leaves. They can cause problems for small tender transplants but a healthy plant can usually outgrow the damage. Use our Floating Row Cover for early season protection from Flea Beetles when transplanting your tomatoes.
How to Grow, Companion Planting: Another sensitive plant when it comes to companions, tomatoes benefit from asparagus, basil, beans, borage, carrots, celery, chives, collards, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, parsley, and peppers. Avoid planting alongside Brassicas and dill. Corn will attract tomato pests, and kohlrabi will stunt tomatoes’ growth. Potatoes may spread blight to tomatoes, so keep them apart. Do no plant tomatoes near walnut trees.
Add to cart -
Tomato Cherry – Black Cherry – West Coast Seeds
$4.69Black Cherry tomato seeds produce hardy, vigorous vines loaded with gorgeous purple to mahogany brown cherry tomatoes 2.5 cm round. Enjoy prolific yields all season long! Rich, juicy cherry tomatoes with wonderfully complex, sweet flavour and firm texture. The little fruits of this variety look exotic and taste irresistibly delicious. A great snacking tomato, excellent in bruschetta.
Plants typically grow at least 150 cm and require caging or staking for support. For best results, allow these cherry tomatoes to ripen on the vine, and harvest regularly. Fruits are ripe when they turn dark red/brown in colour and they pop readily off the stem with a roll of the fingers.
Indeterminate (vine)
65 Days.
Approx: 25 Seeds.
How To Grow, Timing: Start indoors in early spring over bottom heat. When seedlings germinate, remove from the heat and grow under bright lights. Grow seedlings on for 6-8 weeks at around 10°C. Early season tomatoes can be planted out once night time temperatures are reliably above 7°C – or later. Other types should be transplanted out when night time lows are 10°C or warmer – or later. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 25-35°C. With bottom heat seeds should germinate in 7-14 days.
How To Grow, Starting: Sow seeds 5mm-1cm deep. Keep seedlings under very bright light to prevent legginess. You may have to pot on seedlings more than once before they go out to allow for root growth. Space bush (determinate) transplants 45-60cm apart and vine (indeterminate) types 50-75cm apart in rows 1m apart.
How to Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8. Tomatoes like fertile, well drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Dig in finished compost and manure, and add 1 cup balanced organic fertilizer beneath each transplant. The nutrition from heavy clay soils is excellent for tomatoes, but they are slow to warm, so transplanting should be done later. By the same token, lighter soils warm more quickly, so transplants can go out sooner. Adding glacial rock dust will supply all the calcium they will need. Regular watering is vital, but don’t let the plants sit in water. Tomatoes are tropical plants so they require full sun and lots of heat. Vine varieties will require some kind of support such as a wire to grow up, or a trellis to be tied to as the plant grows. Bush types benefit from the support of a tomato cage in order to prevent sprawling. At the time of final transplant, plants can be buried up to their first pair of true leaves. This will encourage greater root growth, helping with both nutrient uptake and the plants’ ability to stand up to dry conditions.
Stop watering around the end of July to encourage the fruit to ripen. If tomato plants are grown under cover, you can encourage pollination and fruit set by tapping the stem from time to time. Tomatoes do not rely on insects for pollination. Vibrating the plant shakes pollen loose within the flowers, which then self-pollinate.Indeterminate tomatoes continue to grow and produce fruit until they are killed by frost. Remove any suckers (stems growing from the crotch of leaves) to keep the foliage under control, and they will set a later crop of larger fruit. Determinate varieties normally set fruit in a concentrated time period. Their suckers are not normally removed, though some trimming helps with ventilation.
How to Grow, Harvest: Harvest when the fruit is the desired colour. Green tomatoes can be ripened indoors at a cool temperature when they are blemish free. Very dark green tomatoes are unlikely to ripen fully.
How To Grow, Disease & Pests: Blossom End Rot is an environmental disorder caused by a calcium deficiency. As the name of the disorder indicates it occurs at the blossom end of the fruit. It appears as a brownish dry and firm sunken area. Sometimes a secondary infection can occur at the damaged area, which turns it mushy and wet. Internal blackening can occur without the characteristic end rot. Calcium deficiency can happen when there is uneven watering. When the plants are too dry for a period followed by over watering, this encourages fast growth. The tomato plant can’t take up enough calcium resulting in an unbalanced potassium-to-calcium ratio. Early fruit show the affects sooner than later fruit. Digging in bonemeal, dolomite lime and a balanced organic fertilizer such as Gaia All Purpose Blend 4-4-4 will help prevent this disease as will an even and regular watering schedule.
An airborne fungal disease causes Late Blight. It begins as leaf spots before spreading to stems and fruit. Water soaked areas appear on the leaves. These are greenish black and irregular in shape. Brown cankers develop on the stems and fruit. Blight infected tomatoes can have a fishy smell. Often the fruit manages to almost reach maturity before the cankers take over. Sometimes a bluish grey mould grows on the underside of infected leaves and on the fruit cankers.
Prevention is key as there is no cure for the disease. Keep moisture off the plants. Use drip tape for watering and avoid splashing the leaves. Our cloche system is excellent for keeping rain and moisture off the plants. In a greenhouse or under a cloche, humidity can build up so high that the fungus will destroy plants in 24 hours. You must ventilate well.
Bordo Copper Spray applied regularly in late summer prevents the fungus that causes Late Blight to germinate. If applied with the OMRI listed Superflow Natural Surfactant the copper spray will stay on longer and there will be less need to apply other than after each rainfall or heavy dew.
Phytopthera infestans is the fungus that infects tomatoes and potatoes, and is dreadful on the Coast. Greyish black areas appear first on stems and leaves, moving rapidly to kill the plant. The critical factor is moisture. Blight infects tomato plants with leaves and stems that are moist for over 48 hours. Moisture can be from rain, heavy dew, high humidity in a greenhouse or cover, condensation, or irrigation water. Once you know this, you can plan a shelter under an overhanging eve, on a porch or under a structure that you create. The protection must have excellent ventilation and must give you access to pick and prune your tomatoes. Consider growing your tomatoes in containers that can be moved to sheltered spots out of the rain.
Late blight overwinters in tomato and potato debris. Do not plant in a bed used to grow tomatoes or potatoes last year, and dispose of diseased plants in the garbage not the compost. Copper spray can prevent the fungus from infecting the plant. Plants must be sprayed every 7-10 days before any symptoms appear. Blight strikes in the rains of late summer, so choose at least one variety that will ripen before the deluge. The best advice we can offer to avoid blight is to grow early ripening bush varieties and to protect your vines carefully.
Flea Beetles make many tiny holes in the tomato leaves. They can cause problems for small tender transplants but a healthy plant can usually outgrow the damage. Use our Floating Row Cover for early season protection from Flea Beetles when transplanting your tomatoes.
How to Grow, Companion Planting: Another sensitive plant when it comes to companions, tomatoes benefit from asparagus, basil, beans, borage, carrots, celery, chives, collards, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, parsley, and peppers. Avoid planting alongside Brassicas and dill. Corn will attract tomato pests, and kohlrabi will stunt tomatoes’ growth. Potatoes may spread blight to tomatoes, so keep them apart. Do no plant tomatoes near walnut trees.
Add to cart -
Sunflower – An Heirloom Sunflower Forest Mix – Renee’s Garden
$12.59Our own blend of tall, large flowering single sunflowers that grow like sunny beacons, mixed with slightly shorter, branching sunflowers that offer clusters of bright flower faces in many color combinations. The effect is literally like a forest with flower faces of all heights, shapes and colors.
These flowers will brighten your garden and heart all summer long and provide a sustaining feast for many types of pollinators. After the flowers are spent, seed heads form to sustain the birds.
Approx: 755 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Spring/summer bloom
Frost tenderEASIEST TO PLANT OUTDOORS
Plant in full sun in good garden soil only when weather is warm and settled, all danger of frost is past and both days and nights are evenly in the 50°F (10°C) range. Poke individual seeds into well-worked soil about 1/2 in. deep, 4 to 5 in. apart. Press the soil firmly over the seeds and keep the seedbed evenly moist until seedlings emerge in 8 to 10 days.
Important: when the seedlings are well-established, carefully thin them to a final spacing of 1 foot apart; this way they will have enough room to develop sturdy stalks that won’t blow over and big clusters of flowers. Any extra seedlings you need to remove can be transplanted elsewhere in the garden or potted up and given to friends.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
Several weeks before last frost date, sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in individual pots of well-drained seed starting mix. Keep moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are well established and ready to plant outside. Transplant carefully, disturbing the roots as little as possible. Space seedlings 1 foot apart so plants will have room to grow and mature.
GROWING NOTES
Growing these colorful sunflowers for pollinators and bouquets is both easy and rewarding. Make several sowings several weeks apart and you’ll have a succession of flowers in full bloom. Keep soil moist and well weeded. Protect very young seedlings from bird predation by covering the bed with bird netting held tautly well above seedlings by supports. Or use plastic berry baskets, removing before plants get crowded.
Helianthus Annuus
Helianthus AnnuusAdd to cart -
Wildflowers – Early Blooming Beekeepers Mix – Renee’s Garden
$13.99Your garden will be abuzz with many species of bees, butterflies and other pollinators as this pretty flower mix produces an irresistible and sustained supply of nectar and pollen for feed and forage all season long. You can also cut the abundant flowers often for lovely bouquets. Made up of 21 varieties, this easy to grow blend will please both beginning and seasoned gardeners. Fun to grow with kids.
Contains: Ammi majus, Calendula officinalis, Centaurea Collinsia, Coreopsis tinctoria dwarf, Cosmos bipinnatus dwarf, Dimorphotheca aurantiaca, Dracocephalum moldavica, Eschscholzia californica, Gilia capitata, Godetia grandiflora, Gypsophila elegans, Iberis umbellatum, Layia platyglossa, Linum rubrum, Malcolmia maritima, Nemophila insignis, Papaver rhoeas, Rudbeckia hirta, Salvia horminum, Saponaria vaccaria rosea and Silene armeria.
Approx: 10,244 Seeds.
Non GMO
Approx: 10, 244 Seeds.
Approx: 10, 244 Seeds.Add to cart -
Wildflowers – Butterfly Garden – Renee’s Garden
$12.59Attract and enjoy enchanting garden butterflies, “the flowers of the air”. Our large Bonus Pack contains three different inner packets of easy to grow butterfly flowers whose ample nectar will bring butterflies to the garden all summer long. Includes carefully written, complete planting and growing instructions and butterfly garden design suggestions.
These flowers offer an ideal combination of different blossoms and vegetation at varying height levels, providing your intended visitors with a choice of where to feed, rest and roost. By providing flower food, warmth, shelter and water, your butterfly garden enables you to enjoy butterflies wing patterns up close and play a role in the conservation of these precious species.
Includes one pack of each: Zinnia ‘Persian Carpet;’ Cosmos ‘Purity;’ Sunflower ‘Chocolate Cherry’
Non GMO
TWO DESIGN IDEAS
Plant your butterfly garden in a rectangular bed or border with tall, medium and low flowers from back to front, OR in a circle with tall flowers in the center, surrounded by the middle and then lower growing varieties.
For the back of the border in dramatic rows, OR planted in a circle garden as a central spiral, tall, branching Crimson Queen sunflowers offer both a convenient meal and a windscreen for your winged visitors.
At mid-level, Purity Cosmos’ abundant snow-satiny white flowers with sunny centers dance and sway all summer, a magnet for air-waltzing butterflies.
At front of the border OR around the outer edge of the circle, low-growing Persian Carpet zinnias offer a beautiful tapestry of warm shades and provide nectar for many species.
CREATING BUTTERFLY HABITAT
Butterflies are attracted to blossom shapes and colors, so it’s important to plant in mass blocks instead of a few isolated plants here and there. Planting these flowers behind each other produces an ideal combination of different flowers at varying heights, offering your visitors a choice of where to feed and rest.
These flowers provide flower nectar for nourishment and fuel butterflies need for flying. Flowers unique personal attributes of color, scent and shape lure butterflies and ensure pollination. With each sip from the heart of a blossom, tiny grains of pollen gather on the butterfly’s body and then it helps to pollinate the garden as it flutters among flowers.
Sunny days in the garden are synonymous with a busy freeway of flying butterflies. The sun warms their wing muscles, enabling them to dart, soar and fly seeking nectar and pollinating your sun loving flowers. On gusty summer days, the taller cosmos and sunflowers offer comfortable protection from the wind. Offer butterflies a convenient drinking spot with a shallow bird bath or decorative stone water container.
Add to cart -
Sunflower Ornamental – Royal Flush – Renee’s Garden
$6.19Our vibrant color combination includes bicolored sunflowers with mahogany petals that taper to golden tips and others with sunny yellow faces and gorgeous deep, dark-red flower faces. Carefree Royal Flush produces showy sunflowers early on strong branching stalks. Perfect for a dancing garden show and abundant summer bouquets. This beautiful blend comes from our favorite California sunflower breeder who specializes in varieties that both shine as cut flowers and offer great garden performance.
Approx: 28 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Summer/fall bloom
Frost tenderEASIEST TO PLANT OUTDOORS
Plant in full sun in good garden soil when weather is warm and settled, all danger of frost is past and both days and nights are evenly in the 50°F (10°C) range. Poke seeds into well-worked soil about 1/2 inch deep, 4 to 5 inches apart. Press soil firmly over seeds and keep moist until seedlings emerge in 8 to 10 days. When seedlings are large enough to handle, thin seedlings to final spacing of 1 foot apart so these tall plants will have ample room to grow. Extra thinned seedlings can be transplanted easily.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
Several weeks before last frost date, sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in individual pots of well-drained seed starting mix. Keep moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are well established and ready to plant outside. Transplant carefully, disturbing the roots as little as possible. Space seedlings 1 foot apart so plants will have room to mature.
GROWING NOTES
These handsome branching flowers are easy and rewarding to grow. Make several sowings a few weeks apart to have a succession of flowers in full bloom. Keep soil moist and well-weeded. Protect very young seedlings from birds with netting or plastic berry baskets, removing before plants get crowded.
Helianthus Annuus
Approx: 28 Seeds.
Helianthus Annuus Approx: 28 Seeds.Add to cart -
Wildflowers Pollinators – Early Blooming Beekeeper’s Mix – Renee’s Garden
$5.59This fast-growing, early blooming annual flower mix blooms in succession throughout late spring and summer. Your garden will be abuzz with many species of bees and other pollinators as the flowers produce an irresistible and sustained supply of nectar and pollen for feed and forage all season long. You can also cut the abundant flowers often for lovely bouquets. Made up of 21 varieties, this easy to grow blend will please both beginning and seasoned gardeners. Fun to grow with kids.
Contains: Ammi majus, Calendula officinalis, Centaurea Collinsia, Coreopsis tinctoria dwarf, Cosmos bipinnatus dwarf, Dimorphotheca aurantiaca, Dracocephalum moldavica, Eschscholzia californica, Gilia capitata, Godetia grandiflora, Gypsophila elegans, Iberis umbellatum, Layia platyglossa, Linum rubrum, Malcolmia maritima, Nemophila insignis, Papaver rhoeas, Rudbeckia hirta, Salvia horminum, Saponaria vaccaria rosea and Silene armeria.
Approx: 1925 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Spring/summer bloom
Frost tenderBEST TO START DIRECTLY OUTDOORS
In early spring, after all danger of frost is past, plant in a well-prepared garden bed in full sun. Shake packet to mix. Scatter the seed thinly and evenly over finely worked soil, aiming to have the seeds about an inch or so apart. Cover lightly, about 1/4 inch deep, and gently firm the soil over the seeds—a rake is handy for this step. Water thoroughly and evenly with a very gentle spray. Keep the seedbed moist while awaiting germination and while flowers are actively growing for the most blossoms.
GROWING NOTES
This fast-growing, early flowering annual mix blooms in succession and provides a sustained feast for bees and other pollinators. The many flower colors and shapes blend beautifully for bouquets.
Approx: 1925 Seeds.
Approx: 1925 Seeds.Add to cart -
Sunflower Ornamental – Sun Samba – Renee’s Garden
$5.59We’ve carefully formulated this scintillating color blend as a dancing celebration of all the forms and joyous colors sunflowers offer. You’ll have strong branching stalks with free flowering big blooms in a full array, including ringed and bicolored faces and fully double flowers. Shades include sunny yellow, deep gold, lemon, mahogany, bronze and golden-orange with many variations. Sun Samba provides endless, strikingly beautiful bouquets and a glorious summer display that turns heads in the garden.
Approx: 50 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Summer/fall bloom
Frost tenderEASIEST TO PLANT OUTDOORS
Plant in full sun in good garden soil when weather is warm and settled both day and night and all danger of frost is past. Poke seeds into well-worked soil about 1/2 inch deep, 4 to 5 inches apart. Press soil firmly over seeds and keep moist until seedlings emerge in 8 to 10 days.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
Several weeks before last frost date, sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in individual pots of well-drained seed starting mix. Keep moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant outside. Transplant carefully, disturbing the roots as little as possible.
THIN OR TRANSPLANT
Space seedlings 12 to 15 inches apart when seedlings are large enough to handle so plants will have ample room to grow.
GROWING NOTES
Growing these colorful flowers is easy and rewarding. Make several sowings 3 weeks apart to have a succession of flowers in full bloom. Keep soil moist and well weeded and protect seedlings from birds with netting or plastic berry baskets, removing before plants get crowded. Be sure to thin properly when seedlings are about 3 inches tall.
Helianthus Annuus
Approx: 50 Seeds.
Helianthus Annuus Approx: 50 Seeds.Add to cart -
Sunflower Ornamental – Cinnamon Sun – Renee’s Garden
$5.59This gorgeous variety has 5 to 6 inch flower faces with brightly glowing cinnamon-bronze petals and chocolate centers. Cinnamon Sun’s vibrant color accents all other garden flowers. You’ll find the sturdy stalks topped by clusters of big blooms make a wonderful garden screen or backdrop. These rich-colored beauties make handsome bouquets. Then, after bloom is finished, the seed heads offer tasty, nutritious snacks for fall songbirds.
Approx: 20 Seeds
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Summer/fall bloom
Frost tenderEASIEST TO PLANT OUTDOORS
Plant in full sun in good garden soil when weather is warm and settled both day and night and all danger of frost is past. Poke seeds into well-worked soil about 1/2 inch deep, 4 to 5 inches apart. Press soil firmly over seeds and keep moist until seedlings emerge in 8 to 10 days.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
Several weeks before last frost date, sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in individual pots of well-drained seed starting mix. Keep moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant outside. Transplant carefully, disturbing the roots as little as possible.
THIN OR TRANSPLANT
Space seedlings 12 to 15 inches apart when seedlings are large enough to handle so plants will have ample room to grow.
GROWING NOTES
Growing these colorful flowers is easy and rewarding. Make several sowings 3 weeks apart to have a succession of flowers in full bloom. Keep soil moist and well weeded and protect seedlings from birds with netting or plastic berry baskets, removing before plants get crowded. Be sure to thin properly when seedlings are about 3 inches tall.
Helianthus Annuus
Approx: 20 Seeds.
Helianthus Annuus Approx: 20 Seeds.Add to cart -
Zinnia Butterfly – Mighty Lion – Renee’s Garden
$4.19For wonderful bright color in the garden, Mighty Lion offers intense orange-red, fully double, 4 to 5 inch blossoms with multiple layers of petals that remind us of a lion’s mane. These easy to grow, sun loving plants are literally covered with big glowing blossoms that attract butterflies and other pollinators and make a lively statement in the garden. The sturdy branching plants are exceptionally long blooming and their vibrant flowers make striking indoor bouquets.
Approx: 65 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Summer/fall bloom
Frost tenderTO START DIRECTLY IN THE GARDEN
Sow seeds in well-worked soil in full sun when danger of frost is past and weather is warm and above 50°F (10°C) both day and night. Space seeds 2 to 3 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, cover about 1/2 inch deep and gently firm soil. Keep soil evenly moist while awaiting germination.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
Four weeks before last frost date, sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 3 inches apart in a container of seed starting mix. Keep warm and moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant outside when temperatures rise above 50°F (10°C) day and night.
THIN OR TRANSPLANT
Space seedlings 8 to 12 inches apart when large enough to handle to give plants room to mature and provide good air circulation.
GROWING NOTES
Zinnias prefer well amended soil in full sun. For large and abundant flowers, thin before seedlings get crowded; adequate spacing and regular, even watering helps keep zinnias productive and discourages mildew. Pick when flower blossoms first open and petals are tight for longest vase life. Cut long stems well back into the plant to keep plants branching low and producing best blooms for summer long bouquets.
Zinnia Elegans
Non GMO
Zinnia Elegans Non GMOAdd to cart -
Zinnia Butterfly – State Fair Gold Medal – Renee’s Garden
$4.19Our improved heirloom selection offers fully double, big blossoms on long-stemmed plants. State Fair Gold Medal zinnias are both free flowering and long-blooming in coordinating shades that add glowing color and beauty to summer beds and borders. You can cut armfuls of these pretty flowers for bouquets all season long; the more you pick, the more flowers will develop. Butterflies and many other pollinators flock to zinnias all summer long.
Approx: 90 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Summer/Fall bloom
Frost tenderTO START DIRECTLY IN THE GARDEN
Sow seeds in well-worked soil in full sun after frost danger is over and temperatures are above 50°F (10°C) both day and night. Space seeds 2 to 3 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, cover 1/2 inch deep and gently firm soil. Keep soil evenly moist while awaiting germination.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
Four weeks before last frost date, sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 3 inches apart in seed starting mix. Keep warm and moist. Provide a strong light source. Wait until temperatures are above 50°F (10°C) day and night before planting in full sun.
THIN OR TRANSPLANT
When 2-3 inches tall, thin or transplant 12 inches apart, giving these large framed plants good air circulation and room to mature.
GROWING NOTES
Zinnias are easy to grow, but for abundant, healthy flowers, thin before seedlings get crowded; adequate spacing and consistent watering keeps zinnias stress-free and productive and discourages mildew. For long-lived bouquets, cut flowers in the morning when blossoms first open and petals are tight. Cut long stems well back into the plant to keep plants branching low and producing abundant blooms to attract butterflies/pollinators.
Zinnia Elegans
Approx: 90 Seeds.
Zinnia Elegans Approx: 90 Seeds.Add to cart -
Zinnia Cactus – Raggedy Anne – Renee’s Garden
$4.19These giant flowering cactus zinnias have jolly 4-5 inch flower faces with curved and twisted narrow petals like quilled chrysanthemums. Raggedy Anne’s branching plants grow 3-4 feet tall and bloom merrily, lighting up the garden for weeks on end. We’ve custom mixed and coordinated the radiant shades of canary and golden yellow, orange, crimson, scarlet, coral, carmine rose, lilac rose, pink and white – you will have dozens of glowing bouquets of these exuberant old fashioned flowers.
Approx: 60 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Summer/fall bloom
Frost tenderTO START DIRECTLY IN THE GARDEN
Sow seeds in a well-worked seedbed in full sun when danger of frost is past and weather is warm and settled. Space seeds 2 to 3 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, cover about 1/2 inch deep and gently firm soil. Keep soil evenly moist while awaiting germination.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
One month before last frost date, sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 3 inches apart in a container of seed starting mix. Keep moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant out. Gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions before transplanting.
THIN OR TRANSPLANT
Space seedlings 10 to 12 inches apart to give plants room to mature.
GROWING NOTES
Zinnias grow effortlessly in ordinary garden soil in full sun. For large and abundant flowers, thin before seedlings get crowded; adequate spacing and regular even watering will ensure free flowering and discourage mildew. Pick flowers often by cutting long stems well back into the plant to keep them branching from below and producing best blooms for bright summer-long bouquets.
Zinnia Elegans
Approx: 60 Seeds.
Zinnia Elegans Approx: 60 Seeds.Add to cart -
Zinnia Butterfly – Persian Carpet – Renee’s Garden
$4.19This carefree bedding and border zinnia weaves an intricate garden tapestry in sparkling south of the border color combinations of cream, gold, chestnut, orange, burgundy and pale yellow with petal tips and circled centers in contrasting shades. A bed of the rounded starry blooms in their cheerful mosaic patterns brightens up any leafy corner, and bouquets of the fiesta colored blossoms are charming on a patio supper table. Butterflies delight in Persian Carpet’s nectar and summer-long display.
Approx: 155 Seeds.
Non GMO
Zinnia Haageana
Approx: 155 Seeds.
Zinnia Haageana Approx: 155 Seeds.Add to cart -
Nasturtium Mounding – Buttercream – Renee’s Garden
$5.19The lovely semi-double blossoms of this tropical-looking pastel variety seem to float over the pretty rounded green leaves that remind us of water lilies. Buttercream nasturtiums grow into a softly mounding form that drapes gracefully to fill in garden beds and borders. They are especially lush looking in window boxes and containers. The abundant creamy blossoms and deep green leaves make tasty edible garnishes. A customer favorite for many decades.
Approx: 30 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Spring/summer/fall bloom
Frost tenderEASY TO START OUTDOORS
Sow seeds in spring once all danger of frost is over in full sun (or part shade in hot climates). Nasturtiums need no added fertilizer in most soils. Poke seeds into well-worked soil about 1 inch deep and 3 to 4 inches apart. Press soil firmly over the seeds and keep moist. When seedlings are large enough to handle, thin to 10 inches apart as mounding plants need ample room to grow.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
Sow 2 seeds each in individual 4-inch pots of well-drained seed starting mix 3 weeks before last expected frost date. Cover 1 inch deep. Provide a strong light source. When seedlings have several sets of leaves pinch out the weaker seedling, leaving 1 per pot. When weather is evenly in the 50°F (10°C) range, gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions. Transplant seedlings into the garden 10 inches apart in full sun.
GROWING NOTES
These mounding nasturtiums are reliable and easy to tuck into any well-drained spot. They are a perfect disguise to cover fading bulb foliage in late spring. Their softly draping leaves and creamy flowers will quickly fill garden beds or containers. In mild winter climates, sow seeds again by mid-June for late summer blooms. Leaves and flowers are tasty additions to salads and sandwiches.
Tropaeolum Majus
Approx: 30 Seeds.
Tropaeolum Majus Approx: 30 Seeds.Add to cart -
Nasturtium Mounding – Copper Sunset – Renee’s Garden
$5.59These free flowering mounding plants adorn themselves with spurless semi-double blooms in warm vibrant shades of coppery-red, like the glowing embers of a vivid summer sunset. Shining above deep green, lily pad-like leaves, Copper Sunset blossoms act as welcoming beacons for hungry hummingbirds and are perfect for filling garden beds or baskets. Use their edible leaves and flowers in the kitchen as spicy-tasting garnishes for sandwiches, salads and seafood.
Approx: 23 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Spring/summer/fall bloom
Frost tenderEASY TO START OUTDOORS
Sow seeds in spring once all danger of frost is over in full sun (or part shade in hot climates). Nasturtiums need no added fertilizer in most soils. Poke seeds into well-worked soil about 1 inch deep and 3 to 4 inches apart. Press soil firmly over the seeds and keep moist. When seedlings are large enough to handle, thin to 10 inches apart as mounding plants need ample room.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
Sow 2 seeds each in individual 4 inch pots of well-drained seed starting mix 3 weeks before last expected frost date. Cover 1 inch deep. Provide a strong light source. When seedlings have several sets of leaves pinch out the weaker seedling, leaving one per pot. When night temperatures are above 50°F (10°C), gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions. Transplant seedlings into the garden 10 inches apart in full sun.
GROWING NOTES
These brilliantly colored mounding nasturtiums are reliable and easy to tuck into any well-drained spot. Except in very poor soil, nasturtiums will grow and bloom readily with no added fertilizer. Carefully thinned to proper spacing, they are a perfect disguise to cover fading bulb foliage in late spring and their softly draping leaves and vivid flowers will quickly fill garden beds or containers.
Tropaeolum Majus
Approx: 23 Seeds.
Tropaeolum Majus Approx: 23 Seeds.Add to cart -
Nasturtium Climbing – Spitfire – Renee’s Garden
$4.79Spitfire’s brilliant, scarlet-red blossoms shine out amongst trailing lily pad shaped green foliage and their nectar is adored by hovering hummingbirds. Train them up short trellises or tripods for a cascade of bright blossoms or use the abundant, fiery-colored spurred flowers and their handsome leaves as a perfect way to disguise neglected areas, soften fences or walls, or tumble from big containers. Both flowers and leaves are edible with a flavor reminiscent of watercress with a pinch of honey.
Approx: 35 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL VINE
Spring/summer/fall bloom
Frost tenderEASY TO START OUTDOORS
Sow seeds in spring once all danger of frost is over in full sun (or part shade in hot climates). Nasturtiums need no added fertilizer in most soils. Poke seeds into well-worked soil about 1 inch deep and 3 to 4 inches apart. Press soil firmly over the seeds and keep moist. When seedlings are large enough to handle, thin 10 to 12 inches apart so plants will have ample room to grow.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
Sow 2 seeds each in individual 4-inch pots of well-drained seed starting mix 3 weeks before last expected frost date. Cover 1 inch deep. Provide a strong light source. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, pinch out the weaker seedling leaving 1 seedling per pot. When weather is evenly in the 50°F (10°C) range, gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions. Transplant 10 to 12 inches apart in full sun.
GROWING NOTES
Climbing nasturtiums are easy to grow in any well-drained soil. You’ll need to train young plants onto their supports with loose ties, then they’ll climb easily and bloom non-stop. Do not let plants dry out during blooming season. Spitfire’s glowing blossoms are summer beacons for hungry hummingbirds.
Tropaeolum Majus
Approx: 35 Seeds.
Tropaeolum Majus Approx: 35 Seeds.Add to cart -
Poppy California Native Orange – Eschscholzia Californica – Renee’s Garden
$4.19California poppies’ fluted form and exuberant golden-orange color truly celebrate spring. A perfect choice for hot and dry areas, they’ll grow easily without fuss all over the country. The silky, vivid flowers shine above mounds of feathery gray-green foliage for weeks, covering the ground with a cloak of bright flowers. Carefree and cheerful, these native orange poppies are perfect to cover a neglected area or hard to cultivate slope or plant in the garden for a memorable display of glowing color.
Approx: 1275 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Hardy to USDA zone 8.
BEST TO START DIRECTLY IN THE GARDEN
Sow seeds directly into a finely textured, well drained garden bed in full sun as early in spring as the ground can be worked. Plant as early as possible in spring, as poppies can handle light frost and bloom best and longest when plants get a good start in cool weather. In mild winter climates, Poppies can also be sown in late fall to overwinter for spring bloom.
Except in very poor soil, these California poppies will grow and flower readily with no added fertilizer. Space seeds several inches apart, cover ¼ inch deep, and firm soil gently. Keep soil moist as seedlings emerge. If seedlings come up very thickly, thin poppies early but delay final thinning until seedlings are well established in spring. Space plants 3-4 inches apart to allow plants room to grow and bloom.
GROWING NOTES
When mature, poppy plants can handle dry conditions, but they will always bloom longer if regularly watered. Poppies are pretty cut flowers if brought indoors just as buds begin to open. At season’s end, allow spent flowers to form pods and drop seed if you want poppies to self-sow for next years flowers.
Approx: 1275 Seeds.
Approx: 1275 Seeds.Add to cart -
Poppy Shirley Angels’ Choir – Papaver Rhoeas – Renee’s Garden
$5.59This award-winning combination of silken-petaled, double poppies features shimmering watercolor shades including cream, apricot, peach, coral, lavender, pink and bicolors and picotees. It took breeders years to develop these lustrous colors. Exquisite in the garden as the blossoms sway gracefully on nodding 3 foot tall stems above frothy gray-green foliage. These easy-to-grow and irresistible flowers are the perfect way to welcome the joys of spring and other words to fill.
Approx: 200 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Spring/summer bloom
Frost hardyBEST TO START DIRECTLY IN THE GARDEN
Sow seeds directly into a finely textured garden bed in full sun as early in spring as ground can be worked. To help space the fine seeds, mix with dry sand before sowing. Cover very lightly with fine soil and keep seed bed moist as seedlings emerge over 7 to 21 days.
THIN OR TRANSPLANT
Poppies do not transplant well so we advise sowing the seeds directly in the garden. To get good garden performance, be sure to thin crowded seedlings early; final plant spacing should be 6 to 8 inches apart, so plants have room to grow, mature and bloom.
GROWING NOTES
Plant as early as possible in spring, as poppies can handle frost and bloom best and longest when plants get a good start in cool weather. In mild winter climates, sow seed in late fall to overwinter for spring bloom. Weed and water young seedlings carefully. Mature plants can handle dry conditions but appreciate regular water in hot summer locations. Poppies make good cut flowers if cut just as buds begin to open. Allow spent flowers to form pods and drop seed if you want flowers to self-sow for next season’s bloom.
Approx: 200 Seeds.
Approx: 200 Seeds.Add to cart -
Poppy French Flounce – Papaver Paeoniflorum & Laciniatum – Renee’s Garden
$4.79Poppy lovers will rejoice in this gorgeous mix of tall, antique, double-flowering varieties we import from a fine old French firm. The Carnation or Feather Poppy has deeply cut, fringed 4 inch blossoms. The Peony Flowering Poppy, like its namesake, opens into huge glamorous poufs of softly ruffled petals. The graceful stems with nodding buds unfurl and glow in shades of scarlet, pink, salmon, violet, purple, deep red and white. Grow these statuesque flowers for unparalleled late spring beauty.
Approx: 700 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL
Spring/summer bloom
Frost hardySTART SEEDS OUTDOORS
Plant poppies either in late fall or very early spring. (Fall-sown seeds will overwinter and germinate when soil warms in early spring.) If spring planting, sow in a fine-textured garden bed in full sun as early as ground can be worked. Sprinkle seeds as thinly as possible, or in rows 8 to 10 inches apart. Rake in gently or lightly cover seeds 1/8 inch deep. Keep seedbed moist. Seedlings emerge in 7 to 14 days. If seedlings come up very thickly, thin poppies early but delay final thinning until weather is settled in spring.
THIN OR TRANSPLANT
Poppies don’t transplant well, so sow directly in the garden. Thin early if crowded, then again to final spacing 8 to 10 inches apart.
GROWING NOTES
Sow seeds early if spring planting, as poppies can handle frosts and bloom best when plants get a good start in cool spring weather. To help space the tiny seeds, try mixing them with a little dry sand before sowing. Weed and water young seedlings and thin carefully to final spacing once they are well established as plants need proper room to grow and develop. Prolong bloom by removing spent flowers.
Approx: 700 Seeds.
Approx: 700 Seeds.Add to cart -
Morning Glory Early Call – Ipomoea Tricolor – Renee’s Garden
$4.19Early Call has huge showy blossoms a full 4 inches across. The luminous flowers unfurl anew each morning to greet you in a watercolor wash of pink, magenta, pearly white, chocolate, lavender and sky-blue, many encircled with a dainty white edging. They bloom continuously from midsummer atop strong climbing vines with captivating fleur-de-lis shaped leaves.
Approx: 25 Seeds.
Non GMO
ANNUAL VINE
Summer/fall bloom
Frost tenderTO START OUTDOORS
In late spring once weather is warm and settled and nights stay above 50°F (10°C) plant seeds in a sunny spot in ordinary garden soil 2 to 3 inches apart and 1/2 inch deep. Firm soil over seeds.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
Sow indoors 4 or 5 weeks before last expected frost in individual pots of seed starting mix. Cover 1⁄2 inch deep and keep warm and moist. Provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant outdoors. Transplant very carefully once nights stay above 50°F (10°C) and before seedlings get too crowded. Thin or transplant seedlings 6 to 8 inches apart. Avoid disturbing roots.
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Chard Heirloom – Italian Silver Rib – Renee’s Garden
$4.19A long-time favorite of Italian cooks for its flavor and substance, this fine variety has wide, crisp, silvery-white midribs and crinkled, shiny green leaves. The large-framed, handsome plants grow easily and vigorously from spring through late fall. Heirloom Silver Rib produces an abundance of big succulent leaves with sweet crunchy stalks to enjoy as mild, mellow-tasting greens. You’ll find it consistently delicious simply steamed with fresh lemon, sautéed with aromatics or added to stir-fries, soups, and casseroles.
Approx: 155 Seeds.
Non GMO
START SEEDS OUTDOORS
In early spring when danger of hard frost is over, sow seeds in well-worked, fertile soil in full sun. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 2 inches apart in rows 10 inches apart, or broadcast very thinly for bed planting. Firm soil well over these irregularly shaped seeds to ensure good germination. If first sowing germinates unevenly, plant more seed in the rows as seedlings catch up quickly. Thin when seedlings are large enough to handle, using thinnings as early greens. Final spacing should be 12 to 18 inches apart so chard plants have room to mature.
GROWING NOTES
Chard grows well in a wide range of conditions and can take some frost. In mild winter areas, it can be grown year round. Thin seedlings well as chard grows into large vase-shaped plants 2 feet tall.
HARVEST AND USE
Begin harvesting when plants are well established and have 6 to 8 stalks. Both the crunchy succulent stalks and leaves make great eating. Chop and sauté chard with garlic and olive oil or pair with sautéed mushrooms and onions. Try steamed and topped with a sprinkle of vinegar or fresh lemon juice. Use like spinach in lasagna or minestrone soup.
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Cucumber – Petite Pickles – French Cornichon – Renee’s Garden
$6.59Cornichons are tiny, European style “mini” pickles. Traditionally they are made into the tiny, tangy pickles often served with cocktails and pâtés. Our imported French Cornichons are both early and vigorous with vines that produce high yields of refined, firm-fleshed little pickles to harvest when well-filled and just a few inches long. They are super easy to make into delicious baby pickles or tiny, sweet, crunchy gherkins. Our disease-resistant, imported variety produces extra early. Parthenocarpic.
Approx: 21 Seeds.
Non GMO
START SEEDS OUTDOORS
Plant heat loving cucumbers only when weather is warm and settled and night temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C). Amend soil well with aged manure or compost. Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds 1 1/2 feet apart and 1 inch deep with 3 feet between rows.
Thin to 1 seedling per group. Or make slightly mounded hills 5 feet apart, sowing 5 or 6 seeds in each hill. Thin to the 3 strongest plants.
GROWING NOTES
Protect seedlings from marauding birds with plastic berry baskets, removing before plants get crowded. Shallow rooted cucumbers need ample and consistent moisture. Avoid overly wet or dry periods for good quality fruit. Growing cucumber vines up vertical supports saves garden space and makes it easy to find and harvest the cucumbers.
HARVEST AND USE
IMPORTANT: Harvest by cutting when just 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. Harvest every few days to keep vines producing and the cornichons from getting too big! Put up pickles within a few days of harvest.
Pickle tiny cornichons in a simple vinegar solution with garlic, peppercorns and fresh tarragon or dill. Traditional with pâté and delicious as snacks or with cocktails.
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