Gardening Glossary

Half-hardy plants withstand light frost and their seeds can be planted early. If these annuals are set out in the fall, they will bloom the following spring.

All-America Selections (AAS) is a non-profit organisation that tests and evaluates varieties to choose superior cultivars (AAS winners) for home gardeners. AAS has more than 30 flowers and 20 vegetable test gardens in North America at universities, botanical gardens and other horticultural facilities.

When pollen from one plant variety is used to fertilize the flowers of a different variety, the resulting seed will produce a hybrid variety. The resulting plant (known as F1 hybrid) will have characteristics from both of its “parent” varieties. Not all hybrids produce good results, but sometimes these cross-bred plants will have superior flavour, shorter growing season, cold-hardiness or immunity to disease. It should be said that in our growing area, food produced by some hybrid varieties will be of superior quality to the open pollinated varieties available on the market. Grapefruits are the result of crossing pomelos and...

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) is the broadest way of describing the artificial manipulation of heritable traits of organisms in order to exploit specific characteristics. Both Canada (CFIA) and the US (USDA) define GMOs as including both genetically engineered organisms – as well as those organisms that result from traditional breeding and hybridization. At West Coast Seeds we sell  Non GMO seeds for Organic Growing . To make matters more confusing, the European Union uses the term “genetically modified” and “GMO” to describe what North Americans now define as “genetically engineered” or “GEO.” The distinction we at West Coast Seeds would like...

Germination rates for any given variety of seed are achieved by actually taking samples from specific lots and germinating them in a controlled environment. The rate literally refers to the number of out 100 (or more) seeds which germinate successfully within an acceptable period of time. These tests are normally conducted by government certified laborotories. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency establishes minimum standards for germination rates of all vegetable, flower, and herb seeds for sale in Canada. Generally speaking, the germination rate for nearly all seed will diminish over time as it is stored, so fresh seed generally has the...