How To Grow

Choose sweet onion varieties for enjoying raw or cooked within a couple of months of harvest. Storage types keep much longer, and will last until the following spring in the right conditions. All onions are photoperiodic – day length triggers bulb development. Our varieties are all “long day” types, suitable for northern US and Canada. Follow along with this handy How to Grow Onions from Seeds Guide and grow food. Latin Allium cepa Family: Amaryllidaceae Difficulty Scallions are easy to grow. Bulbing onions and shallots may require transplanting and curing after harvest. By following instructions, even novice gardeners should have no trouble....

A fresh, home-grown crown of cauliflower is a thing of beauty – crisp, nutritious, and intensely flavourful.  Follow along with this handy How to Grow Cauliflower from seed guide and grow food. Latin Brassica oleracea var. botrytis Family: Brassicaceae Difficulty Moderately difficult Season & Zone Season: Cool season Exposure: Full-sun Zone: 3-10. Overwintered types are only hardy down to -12 to -19°C (16 to -5°F). Timing Start indoors from early March to mid-June. Transplant in 5-6 weeks. Direct seed when temperatures are reliably above 10°C (50°F). Overwintered types are started in July, transplanted by August 15th. Optimal soil temperature: 10-30°C (50-85°F). Seeds...

This short lived perennial flower (often treated as an annual) originated in China, but was imported to English gardens around the 15th century. Latin Alcea rosea Family: Malvaceae Difficulty Easy Season & Zone Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Zone: 2-9 Timing Start hollyhocks 6-8 weeks before planting out after the last frost date. On the coast, you would start seeds indoors in late February to early March, and transplant out in April or May. An early start may result in flowering the first year. Seeds germinate in 10-14 days. Ideal soil temperature for germination: 15-21°C (60-70°F). Starting Sow seeds...

Here are some notes on how to grow Echinacea. Hardy perennial plants broadly referred to as Coneflowers. Latin Echinacea purpurea Family: Asteraceae Difficulty Easy Season & Zone Exposure: Full sun Zone: 3-9 Timing Sow indoors 8-10 weeks before planting out. Any time from mid-February to late March on the coast. Or direct sow in early spring or early fall. Germination should occur in 10-21 days. Starting Sow seeds shallowly at only 3mm (1/8″) deep. If starting indoors, provide total darkness and a soil temperature of 21-25°C (70-75°F). Once sprouts appear, provide bright light. Growing Space plants at 30-38cm (12-15″) apart...

Check out the blooms on these plants! If planted in a well-drained site, with protection for the roots from frost over the winter, runner beans can be grown as a perennial. Runner beans are botanically different than regular pole beans. They prefer cool summer weather and will drop their blossoms if it gets too hot! They also need more moisture and cool roots all summer. Unlike snap beans, runner beans require pollination by bees to set seed. Fat, slightly fuzzy pods have a richer, beanier flavour than snap green beans.  Follow along with this handy How to Grow Runner Beans Guide and you...