Seeds

Helianthus 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 (24-48") 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

Preferred variety in European cuisine. 

Variety: Gourmet

Harvest: Summer

Potato Size: Large

Photos courtesy of Van Noort Bulb Co. & Florissa. 

Silky Sweet turnip seeds produce high yields of sweet white turnips with the most amazing texture. They really are silky — very tender with smooth flesh and a distinct sweetness. This turnip is ideal for spring and autumn harvests, and is best picked at 7cm (3") in diameter. It's a great candidate for succession planting. Direct sow short rows every two weeks starting at the last average frost date, and harvest just 35 days later. This turnip has high resistance to White Rust.

Matures in 35 days. (Hybrid seeds)

Skywalker Organic cauliflower seeds are CERTIFIED ORGANIC! This hybrid cauliflower is perfect for late summer or fall harvests. It's a big, hefty variety with large leaves that partially wrap the medium sized heads. These are densely packed with tight, withe curds. The plants are uniform and well adapted for growing regions across North America. In our field trials, the large plants all matured at the identical rate so harvest was very simple. For the home gardener it might be better to plant three or four short rows at two to three week intervals so the crop doesn't come all at once. Skywalker is cold tolerant and resistant to Fusarium Wilt and Fusarium Yellows.

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 75 days. (Hybrid seeds)

Cosmos bipinnatus. Breathtaking Snow Puff Cosmos seeds produce fully double flowers in pure white like little clouds in the garden. This is part of the Fleuroselect winning "Double Click" series from France, bred for shorter, stronger stems. Snow Puff cosmos seeds flowers will bloom all summer on plants that grow 60-80cm (24-31") tall.

Full Sun

Broccoli raab is sometimes called rapini. Like broccoli, it is grown for its unopened flower buds. The flavour is very similar to broccoli, with a touch of bitterness that is surprisingly appealing. Broccoli raab is actually more closely related to turnips than broccoli, but is not grown as a root crop. Sorrento broccoli raab seeds produce uniform dark green florets approximately 5cm (2") in diameter. Sorrento is the fastest rapini to mature. Gather the tender stems with a few leaves and the unopened flower buds for a reliable and nutritious addition to the kitchen or market garden. Plant in mid to late summer for a cool weather harvest well into winter. Expect plants to grow to 78cm (30") tall.

Matures in 40-45 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

Space has dark green, round, spoon shaped, almost smooth leaves that are still meaty enough for real flavour. The leaves are held up off the ground so they stay clean. We recommend this one for summer and fall harvest. This variety is lovely both cooked and raw, as baby leaf spinach, or full size. It will work in larger containers for early spring and late fall growing. Space spinach seeds have hybrid resistance to downy mildew races 1 to 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, and 12. This variety boasts intermediate resistance to cladosporium leaf spot, as well. A fine hybrid developed for growing in the Pacific Northwest.

Matures in 45 days. (Hybrid seeds)

Mentha spicata. Compared to peppermint, spearmint has a less aggressive flavour that has fruity undertones. This mint is easy to grow, and it's fast, too. In boggy settings it can spread by underground rhizome, but this is easy to control by growing it in containers. The leaves dry well and even fresh they make a nice tea — an even nicer mojito. Sow the seeds indoors a month or two before the last frost date, and transplant out when night time temperatures are steadily above 10°C (50°F). Ninety days later, expect white to lilac flowers that are both edible and highly attractive to bees. This mint is perennial and hardy to Zone 4.

A truly unique sunflower of semi-double golden yellow petals surrounding a pollenless green center. Starburst Greenburst's 10-15cm (4-6”) flowers bloom early on 120-159cm (4-6’) branching plants. They are eye-catching as the focal point of a bouquet or bunched on their own. High resistance to Downy mildew.

A unique marigold with an abundance of small flowers, Starfire Mix blooms in shades of red, orange, and yellow, with elegant, fragrant foliage. A great border flower growing to 60cm (24”), these also make for a nice cut flower and edible flower garnish.

Strawberry Blonde French marigold brightens the garden with its colour changing blooms in lovely shades of yellow, coral, and rose. An excellent choice for containers and landscape borders. In cooler temperatures, colour contrast is more distinct. Keep spend flowers deadheaded for a continuous carpet of blooms midsummer to fall. Mounded hait of 20-25cm x 20-25cm (8-10" x 8-10.

Extra early, incredibly sweet snap peas on short, 60cm (2') vines that don't require trellising. Sugar Ann snap pea seeds are an excellent choice for smaller garden spaces. The bushy plants produce crisp, tasty, 6cm (2") pods, and have excellent resistance to pea enation virus and powdery mildew. Sugar Ann was the 1984 AAS Winner, and also received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. It has been a stand-by snap pea for West Coast Seeds for decades. If you're short on space, this is the pea for you - they can even be grown in larger containers.

Matures in 56 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

Sugar Baby Organic watermelon seeds are CERTIFIED ORGANIC! This classic heirloom icebox type melon first appeared on the market back in 1959. Sugar Baby melon seeds produce watermelons that have a thin, hard rind with distinct stripes that become almost black at maturity. The flesh is firm, sweet, almost orange-red, with small, apple-like seeds. The round fruits grow to about 18cm (7″) in diameter on vines that can be grown along the ground or up a trellis. Provide as much heat as possible for the best productivity by growing under a cloche, in a greenhouse, or even in raised beds. Be sure to use very fertile soil and provide even moisture through the growing season.

Matures in 82 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

Sweet, stringless pods are borne on 80cm (30") semi-leafless vines that do not require support. The pods are about 9cm (3 1/2") long and average 2 pods per node. Sow Sugar Lace II seeds for giant harvests of very sweet snap peas. This variety is resistant to powdery mildew and pea enation mosaic virus, so it handles the cool weather at the end of the season better than others. Try planting as late as early August for harvests into October. It's also a nice one for early spring planting - you can direct sow as early as mid-February on the coast.

Matures in 68 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

This selection of kale varieties that thrive in the warmth of summer is intended for succession planting, starting early in the year. Sow short rows at three week intervals for a perpetual supply of baby greens, and allow half the crop to continue maturing into the cool weather at the end of summer. Grow the Summer Kale Blend in full sun to partial shade, in the garden beds or patio containers. Choose containers depending on the size intended for harvest - larger containers for larger plants. Enjoy tender baby leaf kale in salads and wraps, or chop into soups for added nutrition. This blend includes Red Russisan, Vates Blue, and Lacinato.

Matures in 40-60 days.

This stunning bright yellow pumpkin looks amazing in the garden and displayed with other varieties. Sunlight's round, 1.8-2.75kg (4-6lb) fruit have fantastic uniformity, growing on semi-bush plants that have intermediate resistance to Powdery mildew.

Matures in 100 days

Sunrise Bumble Bee Organic tomato seeds are CERTIFIED ORGANIC! Along with Pink and Purple Bumble Bee tomatoes, Sunrise has orange skins that are streaked with bright gold. They are strikingly beautiful, but also boast tremendous sweet flavour. The texture is succulent and the small cherry fruits are resistant to cracking. The Bumble Bee series will work in a 5 gallon (or larger) container, but be sure to keep the vines well picked so they keep producing right through late summer. And provide strong support for the vigorous plants to lean on.

Indeterminate (vine) Matures in 70 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

Gorgeous peach blossoms top the vigorous 2m (6.5') vines of Sunset runner bean. Worth growing for the eye-catching blooms alone, it is equally rewarding to grow for its prolific harvest of beans that can be used as fresh green snap or dried shell beans that are lavender with black speckles. Enjoy the dried beans all winter in savory soups and stews.

Sweet Basil organic seeds are CERTIFIED ORGANIC! This vigorous basil variety produces large, mid-green leaves all summer long. Keep picking the growing tips and the 2 pairs of leaves below them for the kitchen. More branches will sprout producing more leaves. This large-leaved Italian type is the preferred variety for traditional pesto recipes. Plant several times for a continuous supply until frost. Grow some organic sweet basil in a pot on a warm and sunny windowsill, and harvest fresh leaves right through the winter. Basil is a heat-loving plant so wait until the soil has warmed up before planting. Basil seeds may take several weeks to germinate, so be patient. Bottom heat speeds germination.

Dianthus plumarius. Sweetness Dianthus seeds are the Fleuroselect award winning variety and much loved for their ability to produce flowers in the first year of growth. The variable, frilled, pink to white flowers appear from July to October atop stems that grow only 15cm (6") tall. Try it in containers or raised beds. Dianthus is quite drought tolerant, so it is a good option for xeriscaping. This variety of Dianthus is easy to grow from seeds. Mulch in winter if really cold weather is expected, or simply grow it as an annual with new seeds each spring. Hardy to Zone 3.

Perennial

Centaurea cyanus. A mix of purple, blue, pink, and white papery blossoms bring summer colour to the garden. Try planting some Tall Mixed Cornflowers in a big clump at the edge of the yard for stunning summer colour. They are an excellent cut flower and they dry well, looking fresh for ages. Cornflowers are highly attractive to pollinators and beneficial insects like Syrphid flies. The flowers are edible, and the plants are drought resistant for xeriscaping. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong the bloom period, and to keep plants looking tidy. Tall Mixed Cornflowers seeds are easy to save from year to year.

Annual

Personal size mini melon with a wonderfully sweet flavour. Tasty Bites’ .5kg (1#) fruit have light yellow netted skin and deep orange flesh, developed by crossing an ananas and a Charentais. Vigorous plants with good disease resistance produce high yields of these tasty treats. Fruit ripens over a long period making this a good choice for gardeners and market growers.

Matures in 75-80 days

Exposure Full Sun