West Coast Seeds

Cymbopogon flexuosus. Lemongrass is a tropical plant from the grass family (Poaceae) that will grow well in temperate regions if given the right conditions. Sow Lemongrass seeds indoors in late winter using bottom heat or a seedling heat mat. Maintain moist conditions and a temperature around 21°C (70°F), and the seeds will germinate in 5 to 21 days. Be sure to use sterilized seed starting mix, and either a clear dome over your seedling tray, or sealed into a plastic bag to maintain moisture. Transplant outdoors or into containers in full sun once the weather has warmed up in early summer. At the end of summer move container plants into a frost free environment with good air circulation. Reduce watering to almost none, making the soil barely moist once a week.

When using Lemongrass in the kitchen, remove any loose, outer layers. Either use whole pieces, crushed slightly with a pestle or under the back of your cleaver, or slice sections very thinly in cross section. This will help break up the strong fibres of the grass stalks.

Tender Perennial

Zinnia elegans. Oklahoma Golden Yellow has bold ochre petals with petite, red to yellow centres. Fluffy, medium-sized flowerheads with long but strong stems growing between 30–40" tall. 

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.

Tropaeolum minus. The flat-faced flowers of Black Velvet Nasturtium face upwards, and are held above the pale green foliage. The flowers themselves are such a rich, dark shade of mahogany, they appear almost black from any distance. This compact Nasturtium is perfect for container growing, and it blooms continuously throughout the summer. The edible flowers look sensational as garnishes, and bring a peppery kick to salad mixes.

Annual

Lovely white flesh streaked with purple, and deep purple skins are the product of Mini Purple Daikon radish seeds. The flavour of the root is quite mild compared with the spicy (edible) leaves. Expect 5 to 10% white off-types. This is the perfect variety for kimchi or pickles, and just a nice raw addition to salads for crunch and visual appeal. Learn when to plant radish seeds in our How to Grow Radish instructions by clicking on the tab below. Daikon radishes do best in cool weather so they're a great crop for spring and fall growing, and can be harvested in the winter if grown with crop protection.

Matures in 40 days. (Hybrid seeds)

Hot pink to magenta stems and veins with dark jade coloured foliage, Magenta Sunset is a beauty among the chards. Magenta Sunset Swiss chard seeds are grown primarily for immature salad greens as it tends to bolt during summer heat. The leaves are smooth, and the stalks are narrow, even at full size. Kept in check, it will produce abundant nutritious leaves with a mild earthy flavour. Sow again in August for a fall harvest or for decorative, 60cm (24") tall plants. Swiss chard is absolutely packed with vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibre.

Matures in 60 days. (Hybrid seeds)

A. tuberosum. This flat-leaf variety of Garlic Chives seeds has a strong garlic flavour and aroma. The white flowers and stalks are used (only a small amount is needed), to add the pungent taste of garlic to salads, vegetables, dumplings, and stir-fries. Popular in Asian cuisine, garlic chives are also known as ku chai in Chinese. While the leaves and flower stems are delicious and useful in the kitchen garlic chives are also very attractive flowering plants. Use this herb as companion plants to repel aphids from flowers or vegetables prone to attack.

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

The high performing Potomac snapdragon series was selected for stem and flower quality for production during long summer days. Tall, strong stems have long, refined spikes of orange flowers with accents of yellow and pink. 80-120cm (32-48") tall plants can be grown in the field and garden, or in a greenhouse.

Dalmation Peach is a first year flowering foxglove with uniform, creamy peach-pink blooms and pale freckled throats. Flower bells form on one side of the stem, sitting close together on sturdy stems. Grow these vigorous plants in the garden or in pots as a hardy annual.

CERTIFIED ORGANIC! Giant Winter Organic spinach was bred specifically for autumn, winter, and early spring harvests. It is the most cold hardy spinach, and will thrive in a winter greenhouse or polytunnel, our outdoors under a layer of mulch. Or direct sow in October and November for a very early crop from February through April. This old heirloom grows to the size of Swiss chard leaves. Its leaves are dark green and slightly savoyed, and vaguely triangular in shape.

Matures in 45 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

This red-spotted, open romaine lettuce is sure to turn some heads. The mid-sized plant is open with glossy, green leaves flecked with maroon; making it a delightful and colourful addition to salad mixes. As the leaves get larger, the markings become even more prominent. The leaves of Freckles lettuce are speckled, not blotchy, so they have quite an elegant look. And the flavour is excellent. Freckles lettuce seeds, also known as Forellenschluss are an heirloom variety of Austrian lineage. Be sure to plant some Freckles lettuce seeds in your organic vegetable garden this spring.

Matures in 55-70 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

Pink Bumble Bee Organic tomato seeds are CERTIFIED ORGANIC! Gorgeous pink cherry tomatoes streaked with yellow, hang in trusses on tall, productive plants. Chefs will enjoy their stunning visual appeal and sweet flavour. This is a great bet for market growers and home gardeners alike. Pink Bumble Bee resists cracking. This variety will work in a five gallon (or larger) container, but be sure to provide trellis support, as it forms a vigorous vine. Keep the fruits picked, and the plants will continue producing until late summer.

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

This incredible bush bean was bred in Washington State and bears pods up to 22cm (8½”) long. They stay tender with nearly the best flavour of any bean we’ve tried. The pods are medium green and become fully mature at 28cm (11”) long. The plants are tolerant to Brown Spot and resistant to BCMV. This is a fine choice for home gardeners and market growers alike. F26 was the original breeder's personal reference number for the variety, but this titan bean will come to be known as Goliath. This bush bean is determinate and sets its pods more or less all at once in a short harvest period.

Matures in 57 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

 This blend is perfect as a summer side salad or as a garnish. Or mix it in with regular salad greens to add sophisticated flavours to work a day salads.  This premium blend includes finely cut curly endive; tender, sweet, red-leaved lettuce; wavy, rich, dark green escarole; tasty blonde chicory; and just the right amount of arugula and chervil

Habanero pepper seeds are central to the cuisine of Yucatan, Mexico. The little lime-green peppers ripen first to sunset golden, and then to "You've been warned" red. Mature 5cm (2") habaneros have a citrusy flavour and aroma. The seed is slower to germinate (up to 3 weeks) and should be kept at 21-24°C (70-75°F). Use bottom heat of a Seedling Warmer heat mat to accelerate germination. Plants need fertile soil and lots of heat to mature but are well worth the time - and the tears. For most regions in Canada, providing protection to increase heat and lengthen the growing season is necessary for success. At 100,000 - 350,000 SHU's, these powerful chiles are for spice lovers, and not for the faint of heart. Can be grown in containers.

Matures in 100 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

Viola cornuta. These perky little flowers are old-fashioned heirloom favourites and look like miniature pansies with lavender, yellow, and white faces. Direct seed Johnny Jump Up viola seeds from April to July. Sow seeds 0.6cm (0.25") deep, and they should germinate in 12-14 days. Johnny Jump Up viola seeds self sow fairly readily, but they do not take over, and can be easily raked under if unwanted. These look rather good in containers, and their flowers are edible. If you want to try your hand at making candied violets, Johnny Jump Ups are the place to start. Or simply pick some of the fresh flowers and scatter them over salads and summer meals.

Hardy Annual

Tagetes erecta. These vigorous, very upright marigolds feature large, deeply orange flowers with highly ruffled petals. Kees' Orange marigold grows to 60-70cm (24-28") tall, and works well in containers or in the vegetable garden where it makes a generalist companion plant for pretty much all crops. It attracts beneficial insects and repels pests. It is great as a long-lasting cut flower, and looks amazing planted in large groups. Space them carefully to allow for good air circulation.

Annual

Red Russian Kale Seeds grow leaves that are flat, toothed, grey-green leaves with purple stems and veins really brighten after frosts. Tender for salads and good for bunching, the red and purple hues turn a rich, dark green colour when cooked. It may be richer in vitamins and minerals than other greens and is very disease resistant. This old time heirloom kale eventually goes to seed, producing tall towers of yellow flowers followed by edible seed pods. Seed saving is easy with kale, but don't let the plant drop its seed in your garden, or there will be kale in your future for years to come.

Matures in 50 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)

C. pepo. Eight Ball is a novel, round zucchini with dark green skin and some yellow speckling, borne on an easy-to-pick, bushy plant that only grows to about 1m (3') wide. Eight Ball zucchini seeds are an All America Selections Winner with great productivity, uniformity, and flavour. Harvest only a day or so after pollination for tender, exotic looking, spherical zucchinis with just the right tender texture and mild taste. Eight Ball is a good candidate for large containers or raised beds, and will produce lots of fruits over several weeks if plants are regularly picked. Provide fertile soil, and use a balanced organic fertilizer at transplant time.

Matures in 40 days. (Hybrid seeds)

Melissa officinalis. Plant lemon balm seeds and rub the light green leaves for a sudden hit of lemon scent. Use in bouquets to lemon scent a room or brew an invigorating medicinal tea. Lemon Balm seeds produce a herbaceous perennial self-sows and bees love it. Plants grow vigorously so keep self-sown seedlings thinned out. The plants are deer resistant, so a useful filler plant for coastal areas. Chop back the plants by two thirds once the flowers have faded to prevent self sowing and to encourage the growth of new leaves. This plant belongs in every organic herb garden and has been cultivated for centuries as a medicinal plant.

The high performing Potomac snapdragon series was selected for stem and flower quality for production during long summer days. Tall, strong stems have long, refined spikes of ivory white flowers. 80-120cm (32-48") tall plants can be grown in the field and garden, or in a greenhouse.

Plant Peppermint Chard seeds in your organic vegetable garden for delicious, striking chard plants. Dark green, savoyed leaves top pink and white striped petioles on this striking and unique variety. The margins of each stem are hot pink, fading to white in the middle. Peppermint chard seeds are a good candidate for fall and early winter harvests. The pink margin on each stem will get larger and darker as the plant matures, but the nutrition remains high at all growth stages from microgreens to baby greens, to full size Swiss chard.

Matures in 55-60 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

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)