West Coast 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

Thymus fragrantissimus. Grow this distinctly orange-scented thyme in hanging baskets or rock gardens and it will cascade over the edge. Its trailing nature makes it a prime candidate for ground cover, and established plants can even stand up to light foot traffic. It will grow between paving stones and over slopes and other hard-to-cover areas. And of course it is edible — its citrus overtones blend perfectly in savoury dishes. It reaches a maximum height of 25-30cm (10-12").

Perennial

New to North America, this Japanese heirloom is a medium sized, oblong daikon type. The wasabi-green skin and flesh is crisp and succulent, with a strong heat reminiscent of the much loved Japanese horseradish paste. The flavour is sharp and tear-inducing for lovers of spice. Wasabi radish seeds also make excellent micro-greens, with the spiciness developing early on in its tiny leaves. Radishes can be grown all season but they're easiest when sown March/April and again August through October. Optimal soil temperature: 18-24°C (65-75°F). Seeds should sprout in 5-7 days.

Matures in 60 days. (Open pollinated seeds)

Yes to Yellow peppers are very early to mature at only 65 days from transplant. This is part of the Hungarian Cheese series, with squat, round fruits with thick walls. They start green, but mature to an intense yellow colour. The plants themselves are strong and vigorous, with many fruits setting in the season. Try these peppers pickled or stuffed, or just keep them around for sweet raw snacking. They keep well after harvest and are the perfect pocket size to head out the door with. Try them in kids' lunches. This is a sister product to Orange You Sweet and Right on Red. All three are available in our Hungarian Cheese Blend.

Matures in 65 days. (Hybrid seeds)

Sweet is the key word in Orange You Sweet from the Hungarian Cheese series of peppers. These ones start out green and grassy but as the sugar content builds in the fruits they turn bright orange. Thick walled and succulent, but smaller than an apple, they're the right size to tuck in a lunchbox or just your pocket on the way out the door. Enjoy the appealing texture raw or chop them into a favourite pasta sauce. These are fast growing, vigorous plants that do well in containers or in the organic garden bed.

Matures in 65 days. (Hybrid seeds)

For truly enormous onions, choose Kelsae sweet onion seeds. This HEIRLOOM cross of two exhibition onions was developed in Scotland in the 1950s. Kelsae is a sweet, mild, white onion of the long day variety, suited to growing in northern regions. In 1995 one grower managed the world record of the largest onion ever grown at 16 lbs, 8 1/2 oz. Most growers will not achieve this size, but the bulbs will certainly be large. Kelsae keeps well into the following year. Although it was the result of a crossed parentage, Kelsae is not a traditional hybrid. It will produce viable seeds for seed saving.

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 110 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

What a wonderful flavour! The thick, pale green flesh of this Galia-type melon has a rich, tropical aroma and taste. Diplomat is tolerant to powdery mildew as well. The 2.2-2.8kg (5-6lbs) fruits have yellow skins and fine netting, and they grow on strong vines. Trellis these vines or let them sprawl on the ground. Grow in full sun, and do everything you can to increase heat around the plants. Black plastic mulch works well, building and trapping solar energy in the soil for warmer roots and less evaporation.

Matures in 75-80 days. (Hybrid seeds)

Stunning creamy white carrots with light green shoulders. Almost coreless, the sweet but mild flavour develops early so it is a great choice for baby carrots. This heirloom carrot variety is great for cooking, which brings out the sweetness even more. These tender, tapered, 15-30.5cm (6-12") roots have a pleasantly crisp and crunchy texture. White carrots are closest to the original carrots first cultivated hundreds of years ago.

Matures in 60 days

Shishito peppers are trending, turning up in gourmet menus across North America. They may be the perfect bite-sized pepper for blistering under the broiler and serving with a sauce. The 60cm (24”) tall plants produced buckets of slender, mild peppers in our field trials. And they kept producing into October. Tasty at the green stage, it matures first to orange and then to deep red when its sugars are the highest. Its thin walls make it ideal for tempura or roasting. We found that every tenth or twelfth pepper had a bit of heat to it, but they were still milder than a jalapeño.

Matures in 60 days. (Hybrid seeds)

Smooth-skinned, bright red radishes with a very round, uniform shape. Cherriette is bred to perform in higher temperatures, so it holds better potential for harvesting into summer. The ideal production time is spring and fall. The pure white flesh of Cherriette is dense and crisp, with a sweet, hot flavour. This is a very uniform radish variety that is slow to develop pith. Its tops are short, but sturdy for bunching. Cherriette has out performed the open pollinated varieties in our trials. Try Cherriette in window box type containers. Plant short rows every two weeks from March to early May, and again in September and October for fall harvests.

Matures in 24 days. (Hybrid seeds)

Parsley Pea seeds produce tendrils that are unique and delicious. Technically a snap pea, this curious pea is more often grown for its edible tendrils, leaflets, and flowers. Harvest whole plants when they are 15-20cm (6-8") tall or cut above the first node and get a second flush of growth. Plants will produce snap peas at about 60 days on 1m (3') tall vines if not harvested for greens. Try growing Parsley Peas in a 5-gallon patio container or in flower boxes, and harvest the fresh tendrils as needed. They make a fresh and crunchy addition to salads and sandwiches.

Matures in 24-60 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

Green Arrow shelling peas are excellent for fresh eating, freezing, canning, or cooking. Heavy yields of dark green pods up to 11cm (4.5") long contain 9 -11 peas each, born in pairs at the top of the compact bush plants. A reliable, adaptable variety for gardeners and market growers.

Green Arrow shelling pea seeds were first bred in England as a main season pea crop and are listed in some UK sources as Green Shaft.

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.

Glorious flavour and crisp texture make Gold Rush bush bean seeds a great choice for pickling and freezing. The beans are bright yellow with green tips. They are borne in clusters around the stem which makes them easy to pick. The stringless pods are perfect at 10-12cm (4-5”) long. The medium sized bush plants are resistant to BCMV and tolerant of root rot.  Wax beans have a pleasant, mild flavour and make a lovely change from regular green beans.

Matures in 58 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

This AAS award winning compact bush bean is great choice for the new gardener. The bushes are low-growing, self-supporting and shallow-rooted, making it suitable for container gardening. The plant is generally trouble-free and produces tasty 7" long, round green pods. Like other bush beans, Derby produces a one-time crop but the beans have a good holding ability so growers can enjoy an extended harvest. The above average yields are also easy to pick. Lengthen the growing season with succession planting until mid-summer. Derby is resistant to Common Bean Mosaic Virus