West Coast Seeds

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)

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.

Tango Organic celery seeds are CERTIFIED ORGANIC! Improved breeding makes Tango the celery of choice for a wide range of growing conditions. It excels in southern Canada and the northern US. Its stringless stalks have very little fibre, but have a high water content and keep a remarkably refined taste. The leaves are strongly aromatic and useful in soups and savoury dishes of all kinds. Tango matures a little earlier than some of the others, and is recommended for market growers and home gardeners alike. Plus it's open pollinated, so it's well suited for seed saving. Winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

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 85 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

Exposure Full-sun

Viola cornuta. Pink and maroon tipped petals surround a bright yellow centre streaked with distinctive black markings. Rose Antique Gem are hybrid pansies that are heat tolerant, but also have strong overwintering ability. Flowering occurs in early spring through late May, and again in the fall, into early winter. Masses of flowers appear atop short plants that only grow 15-25cm (6-10”) tall. This is a good candidate for containers or edging, and it looks great around the edges of raised vegetable beds. The flowers are edible, and are sensational if they are candied before adding to fancy desserts.

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

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

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)

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

Sow Lacinato kale seeds in the spring and early summer. A most elegant looking HEIRLOOM vegetable, the long, dark green leaves shoot from the central stem like ostrich plumes. A stunning addition to the ornamental vegetable garden, it grows 1m (3′) tall with deeply blistered, strap-like leaves that are frost hardy, but tender when cooked. Lacinato is often referred to as Dinosaur Kale due to its large size and distinctive, prehistoric look. It is an old descendent of Mediterranean kale. Plant Lacinato kale seeds in your organic vegetable garden and harvest this popular and nutritious super-food from summer to late fall.

Matures in 65 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

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)

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.

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)

Thymus vulgaris. This woody little evergreen plant spreads steadily over the years and has pretty pink flowers which bees love. Winter Thyme plants grow to a height of 30cm (12"). Wonderful in Mediterranean cuisine, teas, potpourri and a key ingredient of bouquet garni. Thyme dries well, too - cut sprigs and tie them with thread for hanging out of direct sunlight. They remove the brittle leaves from the stalks and store them in a cool, dry, unlit place. Plants do well in containers, and they're drought tolerant, so consider them for xeriscaping. Cut thyme back by a third at the end of the season to encourage lots of spring growth and flower set.

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)

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

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.

First year flowering foxgloves with uniform blooms on vigorous plants. Dalmation White has bright white bells with contrasting dark purple freckles. 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.

Echinacea hybrida 'Cheyenne Spirit.' Sow Cheyenne Spirit Echinacea Seeds in rows or clumps outdoors in early May for fall blooms. Sow indoors March 15th for August blooms. Plants bloom sixteen weeks after seeding. Germinate at 21°C (70°F), under bright lights. Cheyenne Spirit is a good, long lasting  cut flower. Cheyenne Spirit Echinacea blooms range from yellow to pink to crimson. All Echinacea plants are drought tolerant, but this variety is so dear, you'll want to baby them in the garden. This premium hybrid Echinacea blend is an All America Selections winner, and is sold by seed count.

Perennial

Callistephus chinensis. The Blues Mix is an excellent choice for the cut flower garden. It blooms from July to October on strong, upright, multi branching stems to a height of 75cm (30"). The mix of large and small flowers appear in blues, purples, and white, but all with the ruff of fully double petals. All are attractive to pollinating insects and hummingbirds, and they look magnificent in a large bouquet. Be sure to take frequent harvests of cut flowers, or at least keep the plants dead-headed to prolong and enhance the bloom time. Please follow the planting and spacing instructions closely.

Annual

Love-Lies-Bleeding looks as pretty in the garden as it does in cut and dried bouquets. Long, vibrant burgundy tassels hang from tall, lush green plants. Its easy to grow these vigorous 90-150cm (36-60”) plants. Pair with Hot Biscuits and Green Tails for maximum impact.

T. serpyllum. Creeping thyme is an ornamental. From a tiny clump of little seedlings comes a spreading mat of scented foliage covered with pink flowers. Plant Creeping Thyme seeds for excellent coverage and easy use in rock gardens. This is a mat forming herb that grows to maximum heights of 15cm (6") and blooms May to August. Grow in full sun, in well drained soil, with moderate to low water. Use in rock or herb gardens, as an edging along paths or as a ground cover. Plant in Zones 4-9. Creeping Thyme is a slow growing plant with dust-like, tiny seeds. To fill in a larger area more quickly, try sowing the seeds sparsely into a 128-cell Plug Insert, and create as many seedlings as possible for later transplanting. The seedlings may have to grow in the flat for the first season, but you will end up with better, more even coverage.

Lavandula stoechas. Sow French lavender seeds indoors, 6-8 weeks before last frost, or direct sow the seeds in early spring when a chance of frost is still possible. Uniform and distinctive, 'Sancho Panza' blooms from June to September on shrubby bushes that grow 35cm (14") tall. This variety of French lavender has a fantastic fragrance and dries particularly well. Great in containers, but in mass plantings the scent and colour are amazing. French lavender is also a very hardy perennial and drought tolerant, so good for use in xeriscaping. Cut back the whole plant by a third after flowering is finished to produce new growth.

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)

One of the most beautiful and productive grape tomatoes. Sweet Hearts grape tomato seeds plants produce masses of crack-resistant, super-sweet 4cm (1 1/2") long tomatoes on long vining trusses. These delicious fruits are resistant to tobacco mosaic virus. Perfect for growing in containers and small spaces.

Vine (indeterminate)

Matures in 60 days. (Hybrid seeds)