Growing Guide
Growing is easy – all it takes is a little bit of love! Follow the instructions below to produce the perfect crop!
Basil
Sweet Basil
The common large leaf green basil with a mind, sweet, citrus flavour. Easily grown in warm soil.
- Plant seeds approximately ¼” deep and 10-12” apart
- Plant in full sun
- Pinch out flower heads when they appear to allow leaves to continue to grow
- Grows to 12-24” inches tall
Bush Beans
Bush Blue Lake
A new variety with traditional Blue Lake taste and colour, but a better plant and pod. It produces 5.75” long straight, dark green pods that are held high on strong bush plants. Pods are a traditional large sieve size and are great for freezing. Resistant to Rust and tolerant of Root Rot and Bacterial Brown Spot.
- Plant seeds approximately ¾” deep – ensure 2-4” between seeds and 3’ between rows
- Plant in Full Sun
Bush Beans
Delinel
Excellent taste and holding quality. Produces an abundance of long (6-7”), slender pods that can be picked at a young stage (¼” thick). Excellent specialty market bean.
- Plant seeds approximately ¾” deep – ensure 2-4” between seeds and 3’ between rows
- Plant in Full Sun
Chives
Polyvit
Improved, high yielding European variety for bunching; early, vigorous upright growth. The strong blades are dark green and uniform with a mild flavor.
- Plant in partial sun
- Grow to about 12” tall
- Very hardy
- Great for container gardens
Cilantro / Coriander
Santo
A Benchmark variety, Santo is an extra slow bolting selection producing broad, fresh green leaves on strong stems. Excellent for bunching. Direct seed multiple sowings every 2 weeks for a continuous supply.
- Plant in direct sun
- Well Drained soil needed
- Great for container gardens
- This is a great companion plant that repels harmful insects
Dill
Bouquet
The essential pickling herb. Its feathery foliage is used to garnish cucumber salads and other dishes. A tall dill producing many flower heads.
- Plant in full sun
- Plant seeds close to the surface with about a ¼ inch of fine soil over
Eggplant
Rosa Bianca
Italian heirloom 4-6” x 5-7”, 1-2kg (2-4lb) white fruit with lavender streaks and a creamy, pudding-like flesh. Fruit is narrow at the top, widening with indentations that look like folded fabric. Mild flavour with little to no bitterness. Great for stuffing and slicing.
- Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost – ensure 24” spacing between plants and 4-6” spacing between rows
- Plant in full sun
- Move seedlings outdoors to the rich moist soil, about 24” apart
- Do not plant in soil used for tomatoes, peppers, eggplants or potatoes in previous years
Lettuce
Buttercrunch
Time-proven variety producing thick, green outer leaves giving way to sweet, creamy coloured, compact head. Some bolt tolerance in the summer heat.
- Ensure 8-10” spacing between plants
- Plant in full sun to part shade
- Well-drained, nutrient-rich soil needed
- Keep soil consistently moist
Peas
Snow Peas
Large, sweet pods. Produces heavy yields of 4 ½” long and ¾” wide flat pods. Large, 3-4ft vines protect tender pods from the sun. Pick when thin.
- Ensure 3” spacing between plants
- Plant in full sun to light shade
- Keep soil consistently moist
- Plants may require a “trellis” for support
Pepper
California Wonder
The standard open-pollinated pepper. Medium 4” fruits with thick, fleshy walls and mild flavour. Matures green to crimson.
- Start indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost – ensure 12-18” spacing between plants and 18-36” spacing between rows
Zucchini
Black Beauty
Standard open pollinated variety. Also known as Dark Green. Dark green, cylindrical fruits on large bush plants. Pick when the fruit is 6-8” long for optimum quality.
- Start indoors 4 weeks before planting outside – ensure 12” spacing between plants and 18-26” spacing between rows
- Plant in full sun
- Well-drained, nutrient-rich soil needed
- Keep soil consistently moist
Tomato
Tiny Tim
A very early, dwarf patio tomato. Determinate plants grow about 15” tall and are covered with ¾” bright red fruits. Good flavour. Can be grown in pots, window boxes, or gardens.
- Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost – ensure 24” spacing between plants and 4-6” spacing between rows
- Plant in full sun
- Plant will grow to about 15” tall
Tomato
Bonny Best
Well-known home and garden variety. Bright red, 160g, flat globe shaped fruits on small indeterminate plants.
- Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost – ensure 24” spacing between plants and 4-6” spacing between rows
- Plant in full sun
- Well-drained, nutrient-rich soil needed
- Keep soil consistently moist
Winter Squash
Waltham Butternut
Medium-large, 12”, blocky pear-shaped squash have tan-yellow skin. Dark orange with fine flavour. Excellent keeper.
- Start indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost – ensure 4-5” spacing between plants and 8-10” spacing between rows
- Plant in full sun
- Well-drained, nutrient-rich soil needed
- Keep soil consistently moist