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.

440 articles Updated seasonally by West Coast Seeds

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Agastache is very attractive to bees. Plant a row away from the garden to lure cabbage moths away from Brassica crops. Do not plant near...

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Agastache is very attractive to bees. Plant a row away from the garden to lure cabbage moths away from Brassica crops. Do not plant near radishes. Agastache is a hardy perennial also known as...

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African Violets have been much loved as houseplants since Victorian plant hunters first encountered them growing in Tanzania. They are incredibly diverse, but excellent for...

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African Violets have been much loved as houseplants since Victorian plant hunters first encountered them growing in Tanzania. They are incredibly diverse, but excellent for indoor growing. They are generally undemanding and thrive best...

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How to grow Shiso from seed. Shiso is a strongly flavoured member of the mint family. Its leaves have a tangy flavour of cumin, mint,...

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How to grow Shiso from seed. Shiso is a strongly flavoured member of the mint family. Its leaves have a tangy flavour of cumin, mint, nutmeg, and anise combined. In stature it resembles a...

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Thyme, like other woody-stemmed herbs, tends to grow very slowly, and benefits from an early start if grown from seed. Unlike basil and other annual...

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Thyme, like other woody-stemmed herbs, tends to grow very slowly, and benefits from an early start if grown from seed. Unlike basil and other annual herbs, you shouldn’t count on harvesting thyme in the...

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SteviaΒ is native to South America.Β The greatest challenge with Stevia is germination.Β Sweetleaf is famously difficult crop from seed. Once plants are established, they will grow well...

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SteviaΒ is native to South America.Β The greatest challenge with Stevia is germination.Β Sweetleaf is famously difficult crop from seed. Once plants are established, they will grow well in hot weather, and are good candidates for summer...

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Summer savory is a half hardy annual. Winter savory is perennial. Both are well suited to container growing. All savories prefer full sun and well-drained,...

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Summer savory is a half hardy annual. Winter savory is perennial. Both are well suited to container growing. All savories prefer full sun and well-drained, rather poor soil. Summer savory wants a warm, protected...

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It’s nice to have one big, reliable sage bush at the corner of the garden. One plant usually provides enough herb for most households, and...

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It’s nice to have one big, reliable sage bush at the corner of the garden. One plant usually provides enough herb for most households, and its flowers are strongly attractive to wild and domesticated...

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Rosemary is not quite as simple from seed as many other herbs, but it can be achieved by novice gardeners if they take certain precautions....

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Rosemary is not quite as simple from seed as many other herbs, but it can be achieved by novice gardeners if they take certain precautions. It is a woody perennial that grows slowly, and...

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No organic kitchen garden is complete without parsley. Both curly and flat-leaf parsley are loaded with flavour and productive over a long period in the...

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No organic kitchen garden is complete without parsley. Both curly and flat-leaf parsley are loaded with flavour and productive over a long period in the garden. Parsley is cold hardy and can even be...

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Greek oregano is one of the most desirableΒ of the many varieties of oregano for cooking. This herb dries well, and retains its strong flavour and...

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Greek oregano is one of the most desirableΒ of the many varieties of oregano for cooking. This herb dries well, and retains its strong flavour and aroma if storedΒ in an airtight container. ItΒ thrivesΒ in patio containers,...

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This fast-growing member of the marigold family can be started indoors or by direct sowing in the garden.Β Continue reading below for more tips on how...

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This fast-growing member of the marigold family can be started indoors or by direct sowing in the garden.Β Continue reading below for more tips on how to grow Mexican tarragon from seed.

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The genus MenthaΒ includes about 24 speciesΒ and cross pollination is difficult to control, so many sources suggest that mint will not come true from seed. Our...

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The genus MenthaΒ includes about 24 speciesΒ and cross pollination is difficult to control, so many sources suggest that mint will not come true from seed. Our mint seeds are grown in isolation and bred with...

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Marjoram is the milder cousin of oregano, with a very similar flavour profile but gentler impact. Sprinkle some freshly cut marjoram over an omelette or...

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Marjoram is the milder cousin of oregano, with a very similar flavour profile but gentler impact. Sprinkle some freshly cut marjoram over an omelette or baguette for a savoury treat.Β Marjoram can be grown as...

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Lovage has been used since the time of the ancient Greeks as a remedy for stomach upsets, and to aid digestion. As herbs go, this...

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Lovage has been used since the time of the ancient Greeks as a remedy for stomach upsets, and to aid digestion. As herbs go, this is a massive plant, so you may only want...

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The roots of this shrub have been harvested for centuries as a medicine and flavouring for sweets. Liquorice is easy to grow and manage once...

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The roots of this shrub have been harvested for centuries as a medicine and flavouring for sweets. Liquorice is easy to grow and manage once it is established, but it should probably be left...

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Lemon balm’s Latin name is taken from the Greek word for bee (Melissa), and from the ancient belief that a swarm of honeybees could be...

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Lemon balm’s Latin name is taken from the Greek word for bee (Melissa), and from the ancient belief that a swarm of honeybees could be attracted to an empty hive simply by placing sprigs...

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Lemongrass is a tropical grass that thrives in summer heat. It is well suited to container growing, and ideal for greenhouse cultivation. It can be...

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Lemongrass is a tropical grass that thrives in summer heat. It is well suited to container growing, and ideal for greenhouse cultivation. It can be grown as a perennial where winters are mild, but...

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Lavender is a genus of the mint family, Lamacieae, that includes 47 species and a great many cultivars. The species name Lavandula is thought to...

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Lavender is a genus of the mint family, Lamacieae, that includes 47 species and a great many cultivars. The species name Lavandula is thought to derive from the Latin wordΒ lavareΒ - "to wash,"Β and probably speaks...

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Dill grows tall and produces lots of aromatic leaves. The umbels of yellow flowers attract numerous beneficial insects to the garden. Dill plants are attractive...

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Dill grows tall and produces lots of aromatic leaves. The umbels of yellow flowers attract numerous beneficial insects to the garden. Dill plants are attractive to ladybird beetles, which will lay their eggs on...

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Traditionally used to flavour bean dishes, epazote has the added medicinal benefit of acting as a carminative, or anti-flatulent agent.Β Epazote is an unfussy plant that...

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Traditionally used to flavour bean dishes, epazote has the added medicinal benefit of acting as a carminative, or anti-flatulent agent.Β Epazote is an unfussy plant that will grow in even poor soils. Grow in full...

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Cumin is used in nearly all cuisines of the world. It is commercially grown in North Africa and West Asia, but if it’s given a...

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Cumin is used in nearly all cuisines of the world. It is commercially grown in North Africa and West Asia, but if it’s given a head start and a warm summer, it will be...

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Learn how to grow culantro in the home herb garden for a never-ending supply of sharply flavoured leaves. This herb is so widely used around...

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Learn how to grow culantro in the home herb garden for a never-ending supply of sharply flavoured leaves. This herb is so widely used around the world that it goes by many names: Shado...

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Cilantro is easy to grow and fast to go to seed in summer. The umbel (cluster) of flowers that forms at the top of the...

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Cilantro is easy to grow and fast to go to seed in summer. The umbel (cluster) of flowers that forms at the top of the plant is highly attractive to beneficial predatory insects. The...

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Chives have been in use as a culinary herb in China since around 3,000 BC. It was Marco Polo who returned westward with the notion...

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Chives have been in use as a culinary herb in China since around 3,000 BC. It was Marco Polo who returned westward with the notion that they made good eating, but chives were not...

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