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177 articles Updated seasonally by West Coast Seeds

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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...

10 Seeds To Start In January

January 01, 2020

The holidays are over but the weather outside is still pretty frightful. Here on the coast it is altogether wet — the ground is sodden and...

10 Seeds To Start In January

January 01, 2020

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

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...

Best Flowers for Honey Bees

August 21, 2019

Different bees and pollinators benefit from specific types of flowers. Whether a flower is deep or shallow, red or yellow, generous with nectar or stingy......

Best Flowers for Honey Bees

August 21, 2019

Different bees and pollinators benefit from specific types of flowers. Whether a flower is deep or shallow, red or yellow, generous with nectar or stingy... These all impact the attractiveness to different pollinators. We...

This Is The Cause Of Your Rotten Tomatoes And How To Prevent it

July 23, 2019

It’s a beautiful summer day. Since sowing your tomato seeds in Spring, you’ve been nurturing your container garden, preparing for harvest. There is nothing like...

This Is The Cause Of Your Rotten Tomatoes And How To Prevent it

July 23, 2019

It’s a beautiful summer day. Since sowing your tomato seeds in Spring, you’ve been nurturing your container garden, preparing for harvest. There is nothing like a juicy, summer-ripened tomato fresh from the garden. Finally,...

How to Grow Asparagus Crowns

March 18, 2019

Asparagus crowns are live goods that have been freshly harvested from the soil. Like seed potatoes and hops rhizomes, they have only recently been dug...

How to Grow Asparagus Crowns

March 18, 2019

Asparagus crowns are live goods that have been freshly harvested from the soil. Like seed potatoes and hops rhizomes, they have only recently been dug from the soil, and are in a state of...

About Eggplants

March 17, 2019

Eggplant seeds are relatively slow to germinate, and will probably take 10 days or longer. Soil heated from beneath is likely to speed germination and...

About Eggplants

March 17, 2019

Eggplant seeds are relatively slow to germinate, and will probably take 10 days or longer. Soil heated from beneath is likely to speed germination and help young plants develop. Aim for around 27°C (just...

About Brussels Sprouts

March 04, 2019

The precursor to the modern Brussels sprout were likely grown in ancient Rome, and today’s vegetable was perfected and popularized as early as the 13th century,...

About Brussels Sprouts

March 04, 2019

The precursor to the modern Brussels sprout were likely grown in ancient Rome, and today’s vegetable was perfected and popularized as early as the 13th century, in Belgium, which explains their common name. By the...

About Broccoli

February 18, 2019

Broccoli has quite a few close relatives and variations, and these are designated in botany by the use of “cultivar groups.” Kale and collards, Chinese...

About Broccoli

February 18, 2019

Broccoli has quite a few close relatives and variations, and these are designated in botany by the use of “cultivar groups.” Kale and collards, Chinese broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi all share...

About Kohlrabi

February 04, 2019

Many people in North America think of kohlrabi as being a distinctly European vegetable, but it is actually a staple ingredient in many international cuisines....

About Kohlrabi

February 04, 2019

Many people in North America think of kohlrabi as being a distinctly European vegetable, but it is actually a staple ingredient in many international cuisines. It is has been a popular crop, for instance,...

About Peas

January 21, 2019

Archaeological evidence suggests peas were grown as food crops in Neolithic Turkey, Syria, and Jordan, and in the Nile valley in Egypt as early as 4500...

About Peas

January 21, 2019

Archaeological evidence suggests peas were grown as food crops in Neolithic Turkey, Syria, and Jordan, and in the Nile valley in Egypt as early as 4500 BC. Dried peas remained an important foodstuff in Europe...

About Cabbage

January 13, 2019

Known since ancient Greece and Rome, the modern cabbage is a descendant of wild mustard. The Roman statesman Cato the Elder wrote of its medicinal...

About Cabbage

January 13, 2019

Known since ancient Greece and Rome, the modern cabbage is a descendant of wild mustard. The Roman statesman Cato the Elder wrote of its medicinal properties, “It is the cabbage which surpasses all other...

Micro Clover Seeding Calculator

December 03, 2018

For optimal performance as a lawn alternative, Microclover should comprise approximately 5% of the total seed mix by weight. If your goal is a...

Micro Clover Seeding Calculator

December 03, 2018

For optimal performance as a lawn alternative, Microclover should comprise approximately 5% of the total seed mix by weight. If your goal is a full lawn replacement, we strongly advise maintaining this ratio...

Soil Temperature and Day Length

May 08, 2018

The changing seasons, and the longer daylight hours in summer are a result of the angle of the Earth’s axis in relation to the sun....

Soil Temperature and Day Length

May 08, 2018

The changing seasons, and the longer daylight hours in summer are a result of the angle of the Earth’s axis in relation to the sun. It’s easy to forget how these changes can affect...

Overwintered Leeks

April 21, 2018

Last summer I planted a few rows of fall and winter harvest leeks in our demonstration beds at Kirkland House here in Ladner. We chose...

Overwintered Leeks

April 21, 2018

Last summer I planted a few rows of fall and winter harvest leeks in our demonstration beds at Kirkland House here in Ladner. We chose the varieties described as “winter harvest” since they are...

Favourite Seed Starting Tools

February 25, 2018

There are loads of ways to start seeds indoors in the late winter and early spring. You can use really basic tools like egg cartons...

Favourite Seed Starting Tools

February 25, 2018

There are loads of ways to start seeds indoors in the late winter and early spring. You can use really basic tools like egg cartons on a windowsill, and this will achieve a perfectly...

Gifts for Gardeners

November 30, 2017

All gardeners can appreciate a gift that is thoughtful and useful. From newbies to gardening veterans, we have a gift that any gardener will love....

Gifts for Gardeners

November 30, 2017

All gardeners can appreciate a gift that is thoughtful and useful. From newbies to gardening veterans, we have a gift that any gardener will love. Check out our favourite holiday gifts for gardeners, and...

How to Grow Horseradish

October 10, 2017

Horseradish belongs in the perennial food garden. Once the plants are established, they can be harvested at any time of the year, and the flavour...

How to Grow Horseradish

October 10, 2017

Horseradish belongs in the perennial food garden. Once the plants are established, they can be harvested at any time of the year, and the flavour is particularly good in winter, when cold temperatures bring...

Making a Cloche Greenhouse

May 03, 2017

These instructions will help you plan your garden, making a cloche greenhouse configuration, choose your covering material and pipe frame. Then they will help you...

Making a Cloche Greenhouse

May 03, 2017

These instructions will help you plan your garden, making a cloche greenhouse configuration, choose your covering material and pipe frame. Then they will help you set up your greenhouse and make the very best...

Commit to Grow Day 16: Grow Kale

April 17, 2017

If you ever find yourself tempted to purchase kale from a supermarket, you really ought to try growing it. By its nature, kale is one...

Commit to Grow Day 16: Grow Kale

April 17, 2017

If you ever find yourself tempted to purchase kale from a supermarket, you really ought to try growing it. By its nature, kale is one of the easiest, hardiest, and most productive of all...

Commit to Grow Day 12: Salad

April 12, 2017

Back on Day 2 of our Twenty-one Days of Green, we talked about planting chives. We chose chives because they have to be among the...

Commit to Grow Day 12: Salad

April 12, 2017

Back on Day 2 of our Twenty-one Days of Green, we talked about planting chives. We chose chives because they have to be among the very simplest of all herbs to grow from seed....

Commit to Grow Day 6: Sprouts

April 06, 2017

For the 21 days leading up to Earth Day, we are asking you to Commit to Grow with us. We appreciate that some of you...

Commit to Grow Day 6: Sprouts

April 06, 2017

For the 21 days leading up to Earth Day, we are asking you to Commit to Grow with us. We appreciate that some of you might not even have outdoor gardening space, so today...

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