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.

164 articles Updated seasonally by West Coast Seeds

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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...

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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...

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As far as the calendar is concerned, spring is half over, despite the sense for many of us in 2017 that is yet to begin!...

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As 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...

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As the frost recedes, the possibilities in our gardens expand. Around March 28, gardeners along the south coastal regions of British Columbia witness the last...

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As 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...

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Even though February brings chilly weather, it's a great time to get a head start on your garden by sowing seeds indoors. This early planting...

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Even though February brings chilly weather, it's a great time to get a head start on your garden by sowing seeds indoors. This early planting allows your seedlings to develop well in time for...

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Envision a holiday gift that sprouts into a beautiful garden. Seed bombs are the answer, blending utility with a touch of whimsy. These small but...

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Envision a holiday gift that sprouts into a beautiful garden. Seed bombs are the answer, blending utility with a touch of whimsy. These small but mighty spheres are a cinch to craft and can...

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As we approach a new growing season, we begin with the inevitable anticipation of how and what we are going to start in the garden....

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As 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...

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This 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...

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This 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...

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Everlasting dried flowers are having a glow up. Because the secret’s out — this “grandma craft” is grandma chic! A dried flower arrangement can be...

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Everlasting 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...

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Coleus is often grown as an annual bedding plant or in patio containers to provide a showy splash of vivid colour. Native to tropical regions...

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Coleus 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...

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Gomphrena, commonly known as Globe Amaranth, belongs to the Amaranth family and are often grown as annual bedding plants.

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Gomphrena, commonly known as Globe Amaranth, belongs to the Amaranth family and are often grown as annual bedding plants.

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Commonly known as Lace Flower, Didiscus is admired for their delicate umbels of tiny, star-shaped flowers that are mildly fragrant.

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Commonly known as Lace Flower, Didiscus is admired for their delicate umbels of tiny, star-shaped flowers that are mildly fragrant.

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Who 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...

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Who 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...

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Unlock 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,...

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Unlock 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...

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The 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...

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The 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....

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Early this year I was so excited to get a hold of African Violet seeds, I wanted to start growing them right away! However, African...

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Early this year I was so excited to get a hold of African Violet seeds, I wanted to start growing them right away! However, African Violets need warm temperatures (20°C or higher) for germination,...

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The Perennial Wildflower Seeds ingredients are listed below. This is the right blend to establish where flowers are needed to come back year after year....

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The Perennial Wildflower Seeds ingredients are listed below. This is the right blend to establish where flowers are needed to come back year after year. Perennial flowers are often drought resistant and very winter...

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Cilantro and dill are both good examples of umbelliferous plants. When these plants bloom, the flower structure is in a shape called an umbel —...

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Cilantro and dill are both good examples of umbelliferous plants. When these plants bloom, the flower structure is in a shape called an umbel — scores of tiny flowers arranged on a more or...

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West Coast Seeds has conducted significant research into the companion planting guidelines and has defined the best possible results and reasons for each of our...

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West Coast Seeds has conducted significant research into the companion planting guidelines and has defined the best possible results and reasons for each of our recommendations in our companion planting chart, below are a...

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The purpose of this cover crop is not to build soil as much as to generally benefit the garden. This is exactly the same seed that...

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The purpose of this cover crop is not to build soil as much as to generally benefit the garden. This is exactly the same seed that we sell for flower gardens, only in bulk sizes...

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Dactylis (orchard grass) is a long-lived and fast growing perennial that produces faster re-growth in summer than Timothy grass. Continue reading below for tips on...

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Dactylis (orchard grass) is a long-lived and fast growing perennial that produces faster re-growth in summer than Timothy grass. Continue reading below for tips on how to grow orchard grass from seed.

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Cloud Grass, a species of bentgrass, forms a diaphanous hazy mist in late summer when its delicate, tiny flowers spread out in all directions. It...

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Cloud Grass, a species of bentgrass, forms a diaphanous hazy mist in late summer when its delicate, tiny flowers spread out in all directions. It is useful to know some tips on how to...

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Nicotiana flowering tobacco looks timeless in the garden, adding height and airy lightness to any sunny spot. Water during hot, dry spells. Deadhead frequently to keep...

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Nicotiana flowering tobacco looks timeless in the garden, adding height and airy lightness to any sunny spot. Water during hot, dry spells. Deadhead frequently to keep plants looking neat and to prolong flowering. Stake in...

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Collinsia is a wonderfully easy annual to grow from seed. Like Alyssum and a handful of others, it's pretty much a matter of simply placing...

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Collinsia is a wonderfully easy annual to grow from seed. Like Alyssum and a handful of others, it's pretty much a matter of simply placing the seeds where the flowers are to grow and...

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This hardy, low-growing wildflower mix includes twelve species of annuals and perennials that can be used to replace conventional grass lawns. The blend can also be...

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This hardy, low-growing wildflower mix includes twelve species of annuals and perennials that can be used to replace conventional grass lawns. The blend can also be mixed in with other Lawn Solution seeds to increase...

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