Now we’re just three weeks away from the longest day of the year (summer solstice on June 21st), so the soil is warm enough to plant squash and bean seeds. Even in colder climates where the nights are still frosty,...
Continue ReadingAs far as the calendar is concerned, spring is half over, despite the sense for many of us in 2017 that is yet to begin! There are still dozens of seeds to start in May. It can still be cold...
Continue ReadingAs the frost recedes, the possibilities in our gardens expand. Around March 28, gardeners along the south coastal regions of British Columbia witness the last average frost date. This pivotal time signals a period of preparation and anticipation for the...
Continue ReadingIf you're trying to figure out whether your potato plants are determinate or indeterminate, you can breathe a sigh of relief. It's not as critical as it might seem. In the world of potato growing, the lines between determinate and indeterminate varieties are not as clear as they are with tomatoes or beans.
Continue ReadingAs the festive energy of the holidays gives way to the quieter days of early winter, it's a prime time for gardeners to engage in contemplative planning and to dream about the upcoming season's garden. This period, marked by a...
Continue ReadingThe Scoville Scale measures the pungency or spiciness of peppers in Scoville Heat Units (SHU). The higher the SHU, the hotter the pepper: 0 SHU (No Heat): These peppers are sweet and have no detectable heat. 100–2,500 SHU (Very Mild...
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Discover the unique qualities of our Certified Organic Seed Potatoes, a hallmark of sustainable agriculture from the fertile Pemberton Valley. These potatoes are more than just a crop; they're a testament to the sustainable and organic practices followed by our trusted growers. What makes seed potatoes from West Coast Seeds so special?
Continue ReadingWhether you've harvested a bumper crop or picked a bunch of carrots from your local market, storing them properly means you can enjoy their crisp, earthy goodness well into the cooler months. Let's walk through the ins and outs of carrot storage,...
Continue ReadingAs we approach a new growing season, we begin with the inevitable anticipation of how and what we are going to start in the garden. Here at the farm, we start roughly 20,000 seeds every year. About half of those...
Continue ReadingThis is the first year I planted my entire garden with West Coast Seeds. Having a five-acre homestead, we maintain a very large garden with individual beds for each vegetable and 3 greenhouses for our warm season crops. As you...
Continue ReadingEverlasting dried flowers are having a glow up. Because the secret’s out — this “grandma craft” is grandma chic! A dried flower arrangement can be classy with whimsical soft pastels or energetically bursting with vibrant tones. And they have so...
Continue ReadingColeus is often grown as an annual bedding plant or in patio containers to provide a showy splash of vivid colour. Native to tropical regions of Africa and Asia, this shade tolerant plant can also be grown indoors for some extra colour all year round.
Continue ReadingGomphrena, commonly known as Globe Amaranth, belongs to the Amaranth family and are often grown as annual bedding plants.
Continue ReadingCommonly known as Lace Flower, Didiscus is admired for their delicate umbels of tiny, star-shaped flowers that are mildly fragrant.
Continue ReadingThere are plenty of options for seeds that thrive when sown in late summer. The average first frost date for regions like Lower Mainland BC and neighbouring areas (Sunshine Coast, Gulf Islands, coastal Vancouver Island, Puget Sound, Willamette Valley) is around November...
Continue ReadingLove it or hate it, Cilantro can be a tricky yet rewarding crop to grow, especially when you have a continuous supply in the garden. Cilantro is an annual plant, unlike many other perennial herbs, so it needs to be...
Continue ReadingIn milder climates, gardeners can make use of the lengthy winter months through a gardening technique known as overwintering. This method involves planting crops in the summer and fall, then leaving them in the ground to harvest the following spring and summer. These hardy plants either go dormant over the winter or grow very slowly.
Continue ReadingThe Brassica family contains the highest number of food bearing plants in all of the plant families, including Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, collards, cauliflower, and broccoli. All of these plants share the quality of being cold-tolerant. With crop protection, most...
Continue ReadingWho says your garden's bounty has to be a summer-only affair? There's a cornucopia of seeds just waiting to burst into life in July, especially in areas that enjoy milder winters. Many of these varieties will mature into full-grown plants...
Continue ReadingPeas, Pole Beans, Indeterminate Tomatoes and Cucumbers make great vegetables to grow along an arch or trellis. By growing vertically, you’ll get more sun, better air circulation (which also means less chance of disease), and you’ll produce more tomatoes and...
Continue ReadingUnlock The Secrets to Inviting Hummingbirds to Your Garden Let's meet our feathered friends, the Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) and Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna). Typically, the Rufous marks the onset of spring, arriving around mid-March, and stays for a lovely...
Continue ReadingEverybody can grow a salad green garden. Small space gardeners, low-light gardeners, even indoor gardeners can plant seeds to grow a continuous supply of salad through the gardening season. Watch the video below to learn all about growing lettuces and...
Continue ReadingComposting: The Garden's Gift That Keeps on Giving Imagine a process that transforms your kitchen scraps and garden waste into a nutrient-rich, soil-enhancing marvel. Welcome to the world of composting! This eco-friendly practice, deeply rooted in organic and biodynamic gardening,...
Continue ReadingThe Monarch butterfly's fascinating journey and precarious situation has been capturing hearts and headlines recently. If you search "Monarch butterfly" on YouTube, you'll discover a multitude of videos dedicated to preserving this unique species. The Monarch's distinctive migration pattern, spanning...
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