WCS Academy

January 24, 2021

In many cases pre-packaged soil from the garden centre may serve its purpose when filling containers or raised beds. It is usually manufactured in massive...

Mixing Soil from Scratch

January 24, 2021

In many cases pre-packaged soil from the garden centre may serve its purpose when filling containers or raised beds. It is usually manufactured in massive amounts by mixing various raw ingredients before bagging. Here...

Soil Basics 101

January 24, 2021

There are four central issues that offer a better understanding of garden soil and how it can be improved: Soil structure, soil components, soil life,...

Soil Basics 101

January 24, 2021

There are four central issues that offer a better understanding of garden soil and how it can be improved: Soil structure, soil components, soil life, and soil pH. Gardeners (and farmers) will benefit from...

Container Soil vs. Garden Soil

January 24, 2021

We often talk about cultivating organic soil that is rich in microbial action, and full of organisms. Soil in the garden combines naturally occurring minerals...

Container Soil vs. Garden Soil

January 24, 2021

We often talk about cultivating organic soil that is rich in microbial action, and full of organisms. Soil in the garden combines naturally occurring minerals with various organic and and any organic or mineral...

Soil Amendments

January 24, 2021

Most potting soils have enough nutrients that fertilizers are not necessary for seedlings until they are transplanted to the garden. Generally speaking, you want the...

Soil Amendments

January 24, 2021

Most potting soils have enough nutrients that fertilizers are not necessary for seedlings until they are transplanted to the garden. Generally speaking, you want the fertilizer to go beneath each transplant, but not in...

The Poop on Manure

January 24, 2021

Stored manure is often referred to as “rotted manure.” It has no unpleasant smell, and its texture has changed since it was produced. Rotted manure...

The Poop on Manure

January 24, 2021

Stored manure is often referred to as “rotted manure.” It has no unpleasant smell, and its texture has changed since it was produced. Rotted manure is a fantastic soil amendment. Ideally it will retain...

Growing Food in Containers

January 21, 2021

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...

Growing Food in Containers

January 21, 2021

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,...

Autumn Leaves: Nature's Annual Gift to Gardeners

October 26, 2020

Deciduous trees can't make enough of the short days and the sun appearing low on the horizon, so nearly all of them shed their leaves....

Autumn Leaves: Nature's Annual Gift to Gardeners

October 26, 2020

Deciduous trees can't make enough of the short days and the sun appearing low on the horizon, so nearly all of them shed their leaves. The sugars in the drying leaves convert into starches...

HUGE BUZZ: West Coast Seeds Partners With Urban Bee Supplies

September 09, 2020

Urban Bee Supplies is joining the West Coast Seeds family and we couldn't ask for a better match! The world of bees & seeds is...

HUGE BUZZ: West Coast Seeds Partners With Urban Bee Supplies

September 09, 2020

Urban Bee Supplies is joining the West Coast Seeds family and we couldn't ask for a better match! The world of bees & seeds is closely related, and we are all excited about taking...

How to Store Seeds

July 29, 2020

One of the factors that most influences the germination rate of seeds is how they are stored. Like the plants that produce them, seeds come...

How to Store Seeds

July 29, 2020

One of the factors that most influences the germination rate of seeds is how they are stored. Like the plants that produce them, seeds come in all sorts of forms and sizes. They are...

All creatures great and small eat seedlings

July 28, 2020

Organic gardeners share one challenge that has many faces – how to nurse newly emerged seedlings along to the point when they are strong enough...

All creatures great and small eat seedlings

July 28, 2020

Organic gardeners share one challenge that has many faces – how to nurse newly emerged seedlings along to the point when they are strong enough to defend themselves. Because seedlings are so tender and...

About the Summer Solstice

June 16, 2020

The arrival of third week in June brings us the last day of spring and the first day of summer. This year, it will occur...

About the Summer Solstice

June 16, 2020

The arrival of third week in June brings us the last day of spring and the first day of summer. This year, it will occur at 2:43pm (PST on the west coast of North...

Too Much Nitrogen

June 01, 2020

Nitrogen is one of the three most important so-called “macronutrients” for the healthy growth of plants, along with its equally important cousins phosphorus and potassium....

Too Much Nitrogen

June 01, 2020

Nitrogen is one of the three most important so-called “macronutrients” for the healthy growth of plants, along with its equally important cousins phosphorus and potassium. These three elements are the central components of most...

Waiting to Transplant

March 29, 2020

Many plants benefit from a head start by sowing indoors during late winter and early spring. For a few crops, notably peppers and tomatoes, this...

Waiting to Transplant

March 29, 2020

Many plants benefit from a head start by sowing indoors during late winter and early spring. For a few crops, notably peppers and tomatoes, this indoor start is an absolute requirement if growing from...

Preparing Garden Beds

March 09, 2020

Generally speaking, most garden beds benefit from a mulch of organic matter in the form of well rotted manure or compost. A mulch is a...

Preparing Garden Beds

March 09, 2020

Generally speaking, most garden beds benefit from a mulch of organic matter in the form of well rotted manure or compost. A mulch is a surprisingly thin layer that is applied to the surface...

Staff Picked Hand Tools

February 25, 2020

Hand tools for the garden may have lots of uses or they may be for very specific jobs. Either way, the gardeners on staff here...

Staff Picked Hand Tools

February 25, 2020

Hand tools for the garden may have lots of uses or they may be for very specific jobs. Either way, the gardeners on staff here at West Coast Seeds have found some excellent tools...

10 Seedling Tips

January 29, 2020

You’ve selected your seeds, you’ve invested in unfamiliar seed starting equipment, you’ve planted the seeds — and now the damn things are coming up! What...

10 Seedling Tips

January 29, 2020

You’ve selected your seeds, you’ve invested in unfamiliar seed starting equipment, you’ve planted the seeds — and now the damn things are coming up! What to do?!

Starting Tomatoes Indoors

January 28, 2020

There’s nothing quite as perfect as a ripe tomato – that distinctive fresh, green smell of a sun-warmed fruit that bursts in the mouth. It speaks of...

Starting Tomatoes Indoors

January 28, 2020

There’s nothing quite as perfect as a ripe tomato – that distinctive fresh, green smell of a sun-warmed fruit that bursts in the mouth. It speaks of the summer’s heat like nothing else in the garden...

Working with Frost Dates

January 27, 2020

All vegetables take a certain amount of time to mature before they are ready to harvest, so it’s crucial to provide that time. There is no...

Working with Frost Dates

January 27, 2020

All vegetables take a certain amount of time to mature before they are ready to harvest, so it’s crucial to provide that time. There is no point sowing tomato seeds in July, because they take several...

Seedling Heat Mats Really Work

December 30, 2019

The Heat Mats are fairly thick, with several layers of plastic heat bonded (not glued) over a strong heating wire. Water can't get into the...

Seedling Heat Mats Really Work

December 30, 2019

The Heat Mats are fairly thick, with several layers of plastic heat bonded (not glued) over a strong heating wire. Water can't get into the mat so there are no worries when irrigating plant...

Frost Watch

October 31, 2019

As the growing season shifts to winter mode, our attention turns to protecting food plants and flower beds and baskets for as long as possible....

Frost Watch

October 31, 2019

As the growing season shifts to winter mode, our attention turns to protecting food plants and flower beds and baskets for as long as possible. Watch for the first signs frost, which sneaks in...

Suet Feeders: A Gift for the Birds

September 29, 2019

Winter is a gift: it’s nature’s down time, a time when many plants go dormant and many animals have a winter’s rest. However, for those...

Suet Feeders: A Gift for the Birds

September 29, 2019

Winter is a gift: it’s nature’s down time, a time when many plants go dormant and many animals have a winter’s rest. However, for those animals that are still active, winter can be a...

Pollinators and Seeds

August 13, 2019

Understanding the relationships between specific types of flowers and specific pollinators helps to explain why biodiversity is so important. The greater variety of flowers (including...

Pollinators and Seeds

August 13, 2019

Understanding the relationships between specific types of flowers and specific pollinators helps to explain why biodiversity is so important. The greater variety of flowers (including vegetables and herbs) in the garden, the wider range...

Xeriscaping

April 03, 2019

What the heck is xeriscaping? Simply put, xeriscaping is a system of landscaping with water conservation as the priority. In areas that receive little rainfall...

Xeriscaping

April 03, 2019

What the heck is xeriscaping? Simply put, xeriscaping is a system of landscaping with water conservation as the priority. In areas that receive little rainfall in the summer, some thoughtful xeriscaping will allow flowering...

Raised Garden Beds

February 25, 2019

Building raised beds for your vegetable (or herb, or flower) garden requires an investment of work plus the cost of materials, but they will reward...

Raised Garden Beds

February 25, 2019

Building raised beds for your vegetable (or herb, or flower) garden requires an investment of work plus the cost of materials, but they will reward you in the coming years in a number of...

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