Seeds

Aji is a standard pepper throughout South America. One of the reasons it is not well known here is its slow growth and heat demands. Aji Rico really shows the best of what can be achieved through hybrid plant breeding. Compared to many of the open pollinated heirloom peppers, it boasts faster maturity, better vigour, and higher yields. The tasty pods are medium hot, maturing to full size as green chilies in 50-55 days. Add another twenty days for mature red pods, and the sweet, full-bodied flavour that comes with them. The fruits average 8-10cm (3-4") long, with thin walls and a conical shape. The plants are large in stature at 76-91cm (30-36") tall, so they benefit from staking or a trellis. These AAS Award winning peppers retain their floral, citrus flavour in cooking, and the heat level can be reduced by removing the seeds and pith. 500-1,000 SHUs

Matures in 75 days. (Hybrid seeds)

This old heirloom shelling pea dates back to 1880. It's a versatile, tasty, reliable pea that grows well in cool soil, so it's great for the north, and has good potential for spring and fall plantings. The short vines grow to only 90cm (36), but benefit from some twigs stuck in the soil for support - or a low trellis net. Once known as 'Earliest of All,' Alaska pea matures in just 55 days, making it our earliest pea of all. Expect heavy yields of round, straight, pale green pods, each containing five to eight smooth peas. For drying as soup peas, let the plants mature to 80 days.

Matures in 55 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

Allium cernuum. If you spend enough time looking in the dry woods, rocky outcroppings, and prairies across North America, you will eventually discover Nodding Wild Onions growing in scattered clumps. Individual stems arise to a height of 45cm (18") from bulbs in the ground. In early and mid-summer, they bear umbels of white to rose coloured, pendant flowers that nod and wobble in the wind. These are highly attractive to short-tongued bees, but not to grazing deer. Each flower develops into a spherical fruit, which splits at the end of summer to reveal more shiny black seeds. Beneath the soil, the bulbs split and multiply just the way tulips do. These perennial wildflowers are hardy to Zone 2, and while they are technically edible, it's a good idea to wait until a small colony has developed, and then harvest them judiciously as a summertime treat. Grow in full sun to part shade, or in freely draining containers.

Apium graveolens secalinum. This cutting leaf celery is like the European cousin to our Summer Kintsai Celery. Both are grown for their leaves, not the crunchy stalks. Amsterdam Cutting Leaf Celery is a Dutch heirloom that is used traditionally to flavour soups and stews. It has larger leaves than stalk celery, and these can be harvested a handful at a time, as needed, rather than cutting the whole plant. The flavour is also more pronounced, a little bit similar to Italian parsley. The stems are hollow and can be quite fibrous, but they are excellent for making stock. This annual plant deserves a place in the herb garden.

Matures in 80 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

Sow seeds no more than 5mm (¼”) deep, 3 seeds per pot, and thin to the strongest plant.

Mildly hot, 15cm (6") long green peppers borne on vigorous, upright, bushy 45-60cm (18-24") tall plants. Anaheim pepper seeds are an heirloom from southern California have been around since at least 1913. The tapered fruits have thick walls that are excellent or roasting or smoking, and will mature to dark red if left on the plant. Much less hot than a Jalapeno at 100-500 SHUs. In a warm climate, the plants will bear continuously over a long period, with good foliage cover to protect the fruits. The fruits are two-celled with an appealing, crisp, crunchy texture. Anaheim makes a good, very mild substitute for Ancho in chile relleno recipes.

Matures in 70-90 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

Early maturity and large, attractive fruit make Arapaho an excellent Cayenne pepper. Compact, 45cm (18") tall plants produce high yields of 20-22cm (8-9") long fruit with moderately thick walls and mild heat. The peppers dry well for making homemade hot chile powder, and they're the perfect size for creating decorative ristras. 2,000-4,000 SHUs. 

Matures in 70 days. (Hybrid seeds)

This spiny little hybrid was bred for harvest and pickling the perfect gherkin pickles. But even when the odd one grew to full size in our field trials, they never became bitter. The productive plants kept the crop coming all summer in the field, but they would also work well in a greenhouse setting. The large, bushy plants are parthenocarpic, so they do not require pollination. Usually Artist Gherkin is harvested at such a small stage that even if it is pollinated outdoors, there will not be any seed development yet. Give the fruits a gentle rub with a cloth at harvest time, and the spines easily break off.

These seeds are coated with an inert, organically certified layer which helps to minimize clumping in storage and seed sowing machines. The coating is approved by organic certifiers in Canada, the US, EU, and Japan.

Matures in 45 days. (Hybrid seeds)

A great substitute for Mammoth Melting peas, Avalanche snow pea seeds grow into 15cm (6") pods that are sweet and tender. Plants are "semi-leafless" so they put more energy into producing pods, making for higher yields of snow peas. Plant two to three rows close together and plants will intertwine, providing support for each other. Expect a height of 90cm (36"). Avalanche is resistant to Fusarium Wilt race 1 and powdery mildew. Plant this reliable snow pea from spring to mid-summer in rich, fertile soil.

Matures in 60 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

C. pepo. While they are edible and actually quite tasty, most growers choose Jack Be Little pumpkin seeds for the compact vines and tiny, undeniably cute miniature pumpkins that follow. Each flattened, deeply-ribbed fruit measures only 5cm (2") tall and about 13cm (5") across the top. If cured fully on the vine, the fruits will last as ornaments for as long as twelve months! Jack Be Little makes perfect little bright orange pumpkins for fall decorations, and each plant produces up to eight fruits. Be sure to keep one or two for dicing into fall soups or slicing thin for tempura.

Matures in 95 days (Open-pollinated seeds)

Viola cornuta. We loved this petite pansy as soon as it bloomed, and it bloomed in the first year, over a long period. Just 14 to 16 weeks after seeding, its small, very dark, and flat-faced flowers began to appear. With regular deadheading Back to Black just blooms and blooms. The foliar growth is vigorous, but the stature of the plants remains compact at about 15cm (6") tall. It would look great in containers or window boxes, but it takes on a wonderful appearance in mass plantings. The flowers are actually very deep purple, but so deep that they appear black from a few feet away. Each delicate flower is streaked in the centre by a brush of golden yellow. The edible flower petals look amazing scattered on ice cream. Sow in early spring for summer flowers, or as late as July for winter blooms. It's hardy in Zones 5 to 9.

Perennial

C. maxima. Jumbo Pink Banana Squash is an heirloom that has been around for over 100 years. The smooth, salmon pink skin covers fibreless yellow-orange flesh that makes beautiful pies. Pick when less than 80cm (30") long for best eating quality. Left to grow, they can get as big as 33kg (70 lb) in weight and over 120cm (48") long. This squash has a vining habit, and plants get big, so provide lots of room. You'll be rewarded with two to three spectacular fruits per plant. These are terrific storage squash, and will last all winter if kept in a cool, dark place. Wash the squash with a diluted solution of water with a few drops of bleach after harvest. This will kill off any bacteria, and increase the shelf life of these special fruits.

Matures in 105 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

This early maturing stringless bean has a nice mild flavor. The 15 cm (6") long, straight-podded beans are tender and meaty. The small seeds keep pods round and smooth. Great for processing.

Days to Germination: 6 to 14 days

Days to Maturity: 60 to 70 days

Growing Height: 2m (6.5')

The medium-sized bush plants produce abundant easy-to-pick stringless pods that grow to 10-12 cm (4-5") long.  This easy-to-grow bean is root rot tolerant and resistant to BCMV (common mosaic virus) making it an excellent choice for both novice and seasoned gardeners.

Days to Germination: 6 to 14 days

Days to Maturity: 53 days

Growing Height: 60cm (24")

Early maturing and very productive. 15 cm (6") tasty green stringless beans flourish on compact bush plants. Excellent for fresh cut use. Also ideal for freezing or canning. Try smaller successive sowings one or two weeks apart to extend the harvest season of fresh beans or sow with mid and late season varieties to ensure a continuous supply of fresh and tasty beans. Freezing variety.

Days to Germination: 6 to 14 days

Days to Maturity: 50 to 55 days

Growing Height: 38cm (15")

Tendergreen Improved Beans are a tender, smooth, very meaty green bean. This bush variety is extremely popular with gardeners because of its resistance to disease, heat tolerance, and prolific yields. 15 cm (6") long, straight pods make this an ideal candidate for fresh table use or for freezing.

Days to Germination: 6 to 14 days

Days to Maturity: 52 to 57 days

Growing Height: 40-50cm (16-20")

Bees and flowering plants evolved together millions of years ago. Although bees face many challenges in this age of global climate change, the simple act of sowing the seeds of plants that bees and other pollinators love to forage on is a critically important step in helping to ensure they--and the whole planet--have a future. The Bee Garden Blend wildflower seeds are specially blended by our Certified Bee Master for use in managed landscapes such as disused laneways; verges; or along the edges of cultivated areas in residential or agricultural properties.

Beta vulgaris. Can't choose which beet to grow? Try this multicoloured beet blend. It represents the best and brightest of our beet varieties for high performance and great flavour. Get the most variety out of this colourful, tasty, dynamic blend of beet seeds. This easy to grow vegetable may be eaten from foliage to root. Beets can grow in cool months and can take some frost. Beets are high in Vitamin C, folic acid, antioxidants, minerals, fibre, and potassium. They also contain betaine, a compound that is essential for cardiovascular health.

Matures in 50 to 65 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

Unique long carrot-like dark red roots provide more uniform slices than round varieties. The tops are excellent greens for salads. Use fresh, diced, canned, pickled or frozen. Tops are great for salads. Beets grow quickly and can be re-sown every 2 weeks until mid-summer.

Days to Germination: 10 to 12 days

Days to Maturity: 45-65 days

Detroit Dark Red is the perfect all-purpose beet variety. This medium-early variety produces round, dark red roots. These beets are very enjoyable, growing tender and fine-grained throughout. Ideal for use fresh, canned, pickled and frozen. Tops are great for salads too!

Days to Germination: 10 to 12 days

Days to Maturity: 50 to 60 days

The perfect all purpose variety. Medium early variety. Dark red round roots that are sweet, tender and fine-grained throughout. Ideal for use fresh, canned, pickled and frozen. Tops are great for salads too! Beets grow quickly and can be re-sown every 2 weeks until mid-summer.

Please Note: Seed tapes require consistent moisture to ensure best germination.

Days to Germination: 10 to 12 days

Days to Maturity: 50 to 55 days

Detroit Dark Red is the perfect all-purpose beet variety. This medium-early variety produces round, dark red roots. These beets are very enjoyable, growing tender and fine-grained throughout. Ideal for use fresh, canned, pickled and frozen. Tops are great for salads too!

Please Note: Seed tapes require consistent moisture to ensure best germination.

Days to Germination: 10 to 12 days

Days to Maturity: 50 to 60 days

C. maxima. Give Big Max pumpkin seeds a good early start indoors in May and transplant them out once the soil is warm in June. Provide deeply dug, very fertile soil, and you can expect very large Jack-o-Lantern type pumpkins up to 23kg (50 lbs) each! For the real competition size pumpkins, go with Dill's Atlantic Giant. But those require a lot of work and soil preparation. Meanwhile, Big Max will produce a pumpkin that kids of any age will be proud to call their grand champion. This variety is great fun to grow with children, but be prepared for the large size of the plants.

Matures in 105 days (Open-pollinated seeds)

Dwarf sunflower for containers and small garden beds, perfect for children to plant! Big Smile has the classic bright sunny-yellow petals with a dark center. Compact, branching plants are 25-38cm (10-15”) when grown in pots and slightly taller at 30-60cm (12-24”) when grown in the garden. Bears Pollen.

Lathyrus odoratus. Its rich colour range is dominated by blues and purples, but accented by the occasional highlight of scarlet or pure white. The stems are long, sturdy and uncommonly straight for excellent cut flowers. The vines are not huge at five feet tall, but larger than described them in our catalogue. We have them on a trellis growing quite upright, and they are still very much in bloom in early August. We rate the fragrance at medium-strong (6/10), but as cut flowers, they are among the best. Keep cutting flowers or removing any seed pods that form in order to prolong the flowering period. Try Bijou sweet peas in large containers to bring colour and fragrance to your patio garden.

Annual

The easiest way to produce fresh, high quality sprouts in your kitchen! In just 2-4 days you can enjoy healthful sprouts in soups, salads, and sandwiches. This sprouter has three separate sprouting trays that drain automatically for a continual harvest or for three different sprouting mixes at once. The Biosta Kitchen Crop Sprouter is really simple and convenient for sprout lovers. Constructed from BPA-free polystyrene (recycle #6) plastic. This sprouter comes packaged in a box that measures 24cm wide x 20cm tall x 24cm long.

Centaurea cyanus. The tall silvery stems of this cornflower provides a stunning contrast to the deep plum coloured blooms. Cornflowers are wonderfully adaptable to a variety of soils, and are heat and drought tolerant. Suitable for beds, borders, as well as meadows. They attract a host of pollinators but are ignored by deer. They make excellent cut and dried flowers. The petals are also edible—try them in salads or sprinkled on desserts.

Annual.

Wonderful flavour in a personal sized watermelon. Crisp, juicy melons with dark, striped, firm skin over rich red flesh. Black Beauty Mini Watermelon seeds grow nice and compact plants with excellent flavour. Fruits grow 2 to 2.5kg (4-5.5 lbs). Picking watermelons from the vine, when they are at peak ripeness, is really amazing. The fruit is at its maximum sweetness, and the flavour is intense. This is not like store-bought melons at all. To check for maturity, watch the tendril nearest the stem that leads to the fruit. As soon as it withers, the fruit has reached its top ripeness.

Matures in 80 days. (Hybrid seeds)

The standard summer squash, introduced in the 1920s. Large bush plants grow semi-upright and open, and are loaded with glossy dark green fruits with firm creamy white flesh and fine flavour. Plants are productive very early, and over a long period. Best eaten when under 20cm (8" long). Black Beauty zucchini seeds are the best variety for freezing. Black Beauty zucchini is a 20th Century heirloom that won the All American Selections prize back in 1957. It was first introduced to American market growers in the 1920s, and was commercially available as seed from the 1930s on.

Matures in 60 days. (Open pollinated seeds)

Black Cherry tomato seeds produce hardy, vigorous vines loaded with gorgeous purple to mahogany brown cherry tomatoes 2.5 cm (1") 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 (60") 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)

Matures in 65 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

This winter-hardy heirloom is a distinctive black colour on the outside with a milky white and tender interior that packs a bit of bite. Large turnip-shaped 8-10cm (3-4") diameter globes with deep black skins over solid, crisp, pungent, pure-white flesh. Black Spanish Round radish seeds have very tall tops, and are primarily grown for winter storage. They will stay fresh all winter if stored wet sand. This variety was introduced before 1824, and is listed in some old seed catalogues as Noir Gros Rond d'Hiver. Plant Black Spanish Round radish seeds in mid to late summer and eat when it is the size of a quarter. Space radishes 8-10cm (3-4") apart.

Matures in 60 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)