WCS Academy

Gardening advice, How To Grow Guides, and Seasonal inspiration.

Explore practical articles on seed starting, crop-specific growing tips, seasonal planning, pest management, and garden projects from the West Coast Seeds team.

195 articles Updated seasonally by West Coast Seeds

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Contrary to what its name implies, Micro Clover is not simply a tiny version of standard clover. When Micro Clover is mowed, its leaves grow smaller...

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Contrary to what its name implies, Micro Clover is not simply a tiny version of standard clover. When Micro Clover is mowed, its leaves grow smaller and more numerous, with fewer flowers than conventional clovers....

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Easy Care Envirolawn is a mix of slow-growing grasses & drought tolerant flowers. These low growing, low maintenance varieties can be used as lawn, in paths...

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Easy Care Envirolawn is a mix of slow-growing grasses & drought tolerant flowers. These low growing, low maintenance varieties can be used as lawn, in paths between beds, or for filling any area that needs...

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Bee Turf is a lawn replacement blended from mixed clovers and low-growing wildflowers that was developed by West Coast Seeds in partnership with the City...

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Bee Turf is a lawn replacement blended from mixed clovers and low-growing wildflowers that was developed by West Coast Seeds in partnership with the City of Richmond, BC. It is intended to replace lawn...

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Tall Fescue stands up to traffic, drought, cold, shade, pets, and mowing. It is far tougher than conventional lawn grasses like Kentucky blue grass, but...

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Tall Fescue stands up to traffic, drought, cold, shade, pets, and mowing. It is far tougher than conventional lawn grasses like Kentucky blue grass, but it still makes a lush green lawn. It is...

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Sunflowers will grow in just about any well-drained soil, and they are drought tolerant.  Annual flowers that can grow to incredible heights in just one...

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Sunflowers will grow in just about any well-drained soil, and they are drought tolerant.  Annual flowers that can grow to incredible heights in just one season. Continue reading below for tips on how to...

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Salvia is a close relative of conventional sage, but is grown for its handsome blue flowers rather than as a culinary herb. It is a...

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Salvia is a close relative of conventional sage, but is grown for its handsome blue flowers rather than as a culinary herb. It is a long-blooming member of the mint family. Continue reading below...

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This low-growing space filler will work in sun to partial shade, producing flowers that feed pollinators, followed by seeds that feed wild songbirds. This member...

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This low-growing space filler will work in sun to partial shade, producing flowers that feed pollinators, followed by seeds that feed wild songbirds. This member of the mint family is also edible in salads...

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Plectritis is a member of the honeysuckle family that is native to western North America, from Vancouver Island to southern California. Continue reading below for...

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Plectritis is a member of the honeysuckle family that is native to western North America, from Vancouver Island to southern California. Continue reading below for tips on how to grow Plectritis from seed.

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Our annual phlox is a cultivar of Phlox drummondii, which is native to Texas, but found in numerous other states. It is a low-growing meadow wildflower...

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Our annual phlox is a cultivar of Phlox drummondii, which is native to Texas, but found in numerous other states. It is a low-growing meadow wildflower that works well on its own, or planted with...

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It’s a slow process to grow Goji berries from seed, but once plants are established, they are highly productive. Plants will produce some fruit in...

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It’s a slow process to grow Goji berries from seed, but once plants are established, they are highly productive. Plants will produce some fruit in the second year of growth, but from year three...

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The thick walls of some pumpkins are wonderful for cooking and store well all winter. Pumpkins for carving are thinner walled so kids can decorate...

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The thick walls of some pumpkins are wonderful for cooking and store well all winter. Pumpkins for carving are thinner walled so kids can decorate them easily. Continue reading below for some key tips on...

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Potatoes, just like other vegetables, flower in the summer. If the flowers are pollinated, small fruits can form that look like tiny tomatoes. If the...

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Potatoes, just like other vegetables, flower in the summer. If the flowers are pollinated, small fruits can form that look like tiny tomatoes. If the fruits mature, they can develop seeds. In most cases,...

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Salad greens are usually picked at an immature size and coaxed into regrowing several times. They are a perfect choice for container gardening, as long...

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Salad greens are usually picked at an immature size and coaxed into regrowing several times. They are a perfect choice for container gardening, as long as a good soil mixture is in place. Continue reading...

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One stalk of cooked broccoli gives you 75mg of vitamin C, 1300 IU of beta carotene, 3g of protein and 5g of dietary fibre with...

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One stalk of cooked broccoli gives you 75mg of vitamin C, 1300 IU of beta carotene, 3g of protein and 5g of dietary fibre with only 40 calories. The crown portion tastes great when...

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The immature seeds of the edible soya bean are a nutritious snack. Steam or boil the whole pods for 3-5 minutes and set out, salted...

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The immature seeds of the edible soya bean are a nutritious snack. Steam or boil the whole pods for 3-5 minutes and set out, salted or unsalted, as a fun finger-food. This treat is...

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Many people feel that pole beans have a richer bean flavour than bush beans. The effort of trellising them is more than repaid by the...

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Many people feel that pole beans have a richer bean flavour than bush beans. The effort of trellising them is more than repaid by the ease of picking and their extended, abundant harvest. Pole...

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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. Otherwise,...

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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. Otherwise, enjoy them as fast-growing annuals plants. Runner beans are...

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Summer turnips are great for salads, pickles, and stir-fries. The mild, crunchy roots are a refreshing addition to salads, as are the edible leaves. Turnips are...

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Summer turnips are great for salads, pickles, and stir-fries. The mild, crunchy roots are a refreshing addition to salads, as are the edible leaves. Turnips are easy to grow at just about any time of...

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The three species of squash that we offer represent a wide variety of shapes and colours. Each will cross-pollinate readily within their species. For instance,...

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The three species of squash that we offer represent a wide variety of shapes and colours. Each will cross-pollinate readily within their species. For instance, all C. pepo will cross-pollinate with each other, but not with C....

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The succulent leaves of Swiss chard can be used much like spinach. You can even use the big ones for wraps like cabbage rolls. The...

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The succulent leaves of Swiss chard can be used much like spinach. You can even use the big ones for wraps like cabbage rolls. The colourful stems can be cooked like asparagus. Enjoy the...

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The trick to growing spinach is to grow it fast and harvest it fast, and use the right varieties in the right season. Spinach bolts...

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The trick to growing spinach is to grow it fast and harvest it fast, and use the right varieties in the right season. Spinach bolts as the days get long and when the soil gets hot....

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The humble rutabaga is often called a turnip, but rutabagas are much more useful in the kitchen, are more nutritious, and they store well. Amazing...

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The humble rutabaga is often called a turnip, but rutabagas are much more useful in the kitchen, are more nutritious, and they store well. Amazing yields of flavourful roots are possible in a small...

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Time radish plantings one to two weeks apart for a longer harvest period. The secret to growing a great radish is to plant when the...

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Time radish plantings one to two weeks apart for a longer harvest period. The secret to growing a great radish is to plant when the soil is cool, to not plant too close together,...

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The flavour of parsnips becomes sweeter after frost. They are a very versatile vegetable in the kitchen to fry, roast, steam, mash, or bake. Parsnips...

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The flavour of parsnips becomes sweeter after frost. They are a very versatile vegetable in the kitchen to fry, roast, steam, mash, or bake. Parsnips take their time becoming large in the garden, but...

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