As we welcome 2015 I am already thinking ahead to Spring and deciding what types of seeds I would like to order this year. There is nothing better to lighten my mood perusing flower and vegetable seed catalogues when it is cold and bleak outside. When I was running my small nursery business I used mainly UK seed catalogues, i.e. Thompson & Morgan, Sutton Seeds and Mr. Fothergill as I was trying to create the “cottage garden” theme and I also obtained alpine plant seeds from Van Dusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver (my favourite are the lewisias and blue gentians but need very specialized growing conditions). The Canadian seed companies I have used over the years are Stokes, Mckenize, Burpee, OSC, Veseys to name a few. With heat trays in my greenhouse, I can start my seeds from about mid March onwards to get sturdy seedlings for late May planting.
I have decided this year to buy vegetable seeds that are more indigenous to the area that I live in. I have researched organic, heirloom varieties and came across a site called naturalhomeandgarden.ca listing appropriate seed companies, one in particular is called Steller Seeds (Sorrento, BC). They have a variety of vegetable and a few herb seeds that are reasonably priced. Another company I noted, in South East Kelowna, is Sunshine Farm. Harrowsmith Alamanac is also a good source if you are researching seed companies throughout Canada.
I start my rosemary seeds in the house in mid February as they do take longer to become an established plant. The key is always to have warmth under the seed trays and avoid over watering as I have learnt from experience over the years. I had contemplated trying to start the annual flower seeds for my hanging baskets but I found that you can pick up young plants from The Greenery in Kelowna at such a reasonable price. It is really not worth the effort unless of course you are doing it on a big scale basis.
Annual flower seeds that I will be buying again this year is the African Daisy (osteospermum) which can be planted in flower beds and containers. I plant sweet peas directly in the soil towards the end of May. The flowers have such a lovely scent and are great in flower arrangements. I always welcome self seeded plants that crop up in the flower beds, i.e. poppies and cosmos, which add an extra punch of colour in the summer months.
Oh the possibilities are never-ending but I am too trying to keep to a budget!
