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.

14 articles Updated seasonally by West Coast Seeds

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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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In milder climates, gardeners can make use of the lengthy winter months through a gardening technique known as overwintering. This method involves planting crops in...

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In 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...

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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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Choose sweet onion varieties for enjoying raw or cooked within a few weeks after harvest. Storage types keep much longer, and will last until the...

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Choose sweet onion varieties for enjoying raw or cooked within a few weeks after harvest. Storage types keep much longer, and will last until the following spring in the right conditions. All onions are...

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Crop rotation is the practice of not growing plants where similar plants grew the previous year. Crop rotationΒ prevents the build up of pests and diseases...

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Crop rotation is the practice of not growing plants where similar plants grew the previous year. Crop rotationΒ prevents the build up of pests and diseases and optimizes the use of soil nutrients. Plants from...

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No matter where you live, growing food in containers can be accomplished if you learn some basics. While some types of vegetables are simply better...

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No matter where you live, growing food in containers can be accomplished if you learn some basics. While some types of vegetables are simply better suited to growing with their roots in the ground,...

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With over 1,100 seed varieties to choose from, finding a clear path to the checkout can feel overwhelming. There are beginner mistakes to be made...

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With over 1,100 seed varieties to choose from, finding a clear path to the checkout can feel overwhelming. There are beginner mistakes to be made - as well as ways for seasoned gardeners to...

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The weather outdoors is cold and gloomy. Here on the coast it is altogether wet β€” the ground is sodden and squishy. Elsewhere, the first...

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The weather outdoors is cold and gloomy. Here on the coast it is altogether wet β€” the ground is sodden and squishy. Elsewhere, the first blankets of snow are falling, and the ground is...

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Onions begin to form bulbs in response to temperature, but also the length of the day. In southern Canada and the northern U.S., choose β€œlong-day”...

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Onions begin to form bulbs in response to temperature, but also the length of the day. In southern Canada and the northern U.S., choose β€œlong-day” onions. Our summer days are much longer than our...

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Some vegetable varieties thrive in the cool conditions of fall and early winter, and offered a bit of protection from extreme cold, they can be...

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Some vegetable varieties thrive in the cool conditions of fall and early winter, and offered a bit of protection from extreme cold, they can be harvested right through until spring. The best winter gardening...

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The holidays are overΒ but the weather outside is still pretty frightful. Here on the coast it is altogether wet β€” the ground is sodden and...

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The holidays are overΒ but the weather outside is still pretty frightful. Here on the coast it is altogether wet β€” the ground is sodden and squishy. Elsewhere, snow is falling, and the ground is...

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With careful planning, seeds can be sown from winter to autumn in order to keep the garden productive pretty much all year round. Here are...

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With careful planning, seeds can be sown from winter to autumn in order to keep the garden productive pretty much all year round. Here are some tips for seed sowing for the longest harvest...

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Preserving Summer Morning chill and shorter daylight hours signify the slowing down of the summer garden. We harvest and share the last of our favourites...

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Preserving Summer Morning chill and shorter daylight hours signify the slowing down of the summer garden. We harvest and share the last of our favourites – tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, corn, peppers, but we also...

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