Western Outdoor Aquatics Inc
Customer Service
Spring & Summer
Store Hours
10am - 5pm
Mountain Time
7 days per week
1 800 651 2559
Western Outdoor Aquatics Inc
Frederick, Co
Est. 1995
Local number
303 485 7216
Please Call for Rates to
Alaska & Hawaii
Shipping Rates
.01 - 39.98 = $ 8.50
39.99 - 99.99 = $ 12.00
100.00 up FREE
Arugula Rocket Salad Seed
(Eruca - sativa)
Nothing adds such an exciting, interesting flavor to salads as this green! Its flavor is often described as hot with a hint of nut flavor, tart, and spicy. It is most often eaten raw in salads but can also be steamed or added raw to many other dishes (such as pizza). Leaves are most tender and tasty when young (2"-6" long), but don't worry when your plants mature and grow to a taller 2'-3' as the weather warms. Then, you can forgo the leaves and sprinkle the edible flowers in your salads. As a cool season crop, it is best to plant it in the early spring or late summer for a fall crop. Tolerates partial shade. This packet plants: One 20-foot row or five successive plantings of 4-foot rows.
When to plant outside: RECOMMENDED. Early spring, 3-4 weeks before average last frost, and successive plantings thereafter every 3 weeks until 2 weeks before the first fall frost. (Skip hot part of summer.) In USDA zone 8 or warmer areas, it can be planted in fall for a winter harvest.
When to start inside: 4-6 weeks before last frost and when soil temperatures are very high.
Special Sowing & Germination Instructions: None. Easy to grow in cool temperatures.
Harvesting: Harvest leaves when at least 2" long, but no longer than 6". Pick individual leaves or cut off entire plant at ground level. For best flavor, pick before leaves before the plant begins to flower. (But, if the plant does produce flowers, they are edible too! They make a pretty addition to salads.)
Container Tips: Can be grown in 1-2 gallon containers. If larger, thin to 6" apart.
Bean Bush Contender Organic Seed (Phaseolus - vulgaris)
Contender is simply the earliest bean we could find, only 40 days from sowing to harvest! It has a delicious bean flavor, is stringless, very productive, and tolerates hot weather and mildew. Like out other snap beans, Contender is stringless and excellent when eaten cooked or fresh right out of the garden. Pods are 6" long, thick, and slightly curved on 12" to 20" tall plants.
When to plant outside:
RECOMMENDED. Sow in spring, after average last frost. If the weather is cold and wet, wait for warmer weather. Note: In very hot summer areas such as the south and southwest, plant in March for June harvest and in August for late September harvest.
When to start inside: Not recommended. Special Sowing & Germination Instructions:It isn't absolutely necessary, but seeds can be treated with an inoculant containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This may help plant growth and production if you are planting beans or peas in an area for the first time. Beans need good air circulation, thus the recommended distance between rows of 3'-4'. Seeds that do not come up can be immediately replaced. BUY NEW SEED EVERY YEAR. Bean seed does not store well and old seed is a big contributor to home garden failure.
Harvesting: Snap beans are ready to pick when the pod "snaps" or breaks in half CLEANLY. This is when seeds have just begun to form, and the pods are 4"-8" long. Hold stem with one hand and the pod with the other hand to avoid pulling off branches which may continue to produce. When harvesting, bush beans, some recommend pulling up the whole plant at once, since bush beans produce primarily all at once. (After harvest, the nitrogen-rich plants make great compost material!)
Container Tips: Bush beans can be grown in containers that are at least 2 gallons. 1 plant per container or thin plants to 4"-6" apart in larger containers. They are fun to grow in plastic-lined baskets (with drainage).
Bean Pole Kentucky Wonder Seed (Phaseolus - vulgaris)
This heirloom variety, introduced before 1864, has excellent flavor. A heavy producer, it is meaty and tender. Growing well even in hot climates, it out-produces most other pole bean plants with heavy crops of 9” long, gently curved, oval pods. It is a multi-use bean that is great for drying, shelling, and fresh green beans. Grow it up poles, trellises, fences, or a teepee made of poles (which is a great tent for kids or a cool spot to grow lettuce!).
When to plant outside:
RECOMMENDED. Sow in spring, after average last frost. If the weather is cold and wet, wait for warmer weather. Note: In very hot summer areas such as the south and southwest, plant in March for June harvest and in August for late September harvest.
When to start inside: Not recommended.
Special Germination Instructions: It isn’t absolutely necessary, but seeds can be treated with an inoculant containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This may help plant growth and production if you are planting beans or peas in an area for the first time. Beans need good air circulation, thus the recommended distance between rows of 3’-4’. Seeds that do not come up can be immediately replaced. BUY NEW SEED EVERY YEAR. Bean seed does not store well and old seed is a big contributor to home garden failure.
Beet Detroit Dark Red Seed (Beta - vulgaris)
These tender, sweet, tasty, extremely nutritious roots are much better when they are home-grown. This heirloom variety was introduce in 1892 and is “the standard for beets”. The young leafy greens are great in salads, can be substituted in recipes for spinach or Swiss chard, and can be steamed or frozen. 1 cup of greens has more iron than a hamburger patty. Try sliced beets in salads or to add extra nutrition to your fresh juices (try making a juice with apples and ginger – yummy!). Beets make an excellent spring or fall crop and can also be grown in containers. This packet plants: Three 10-foot rows (about 30 lbs. of beets).
When to plant outside:
RECOMMENDED. Early spring, 3-4 weeks before average last frost for an early summer crop AND late summer for a fall crop. Growing during hot temperature periods should be avoided. In frost-free areas, sow in September for February harvest.
When to start inside: Not recommended. Sow directly outside.
Special Germination Instructions: Soak seeds for 24 hours before sowing. Beet seed is actually a dried fruit with 1-5 seeds in each fruit. Therefore, thinning instructions are very important. Plant seed 1” deep and 1” apart. If several seedlings emerge from 1 fruit in the same spot, immediately thin to 1 seedling per 1”. After 3-4 weeks, thin to 1 seedling for every 3”-5”. Thinned seedlings can be used in that evening’s salad. Do not allow a crust to build up on the soil surface which could hamper seedling emergence. Mulch soil after plants are 2” high.
Bok Choy White Stem Seed (Brassica - rapa)
Gardeners who haven?t tried traditional bok choy are missing out on a wonderful vegetable. It?s really two vegetables in one! The leaves have a swiss chard mustardy flavor. When young, they can be used raw in salads. More mature leaves can be steamed like spinach. The leaves and chopped stems can also be used in stir-fries with beef, pork, seafood, or tofu. Often used as an ingredient on Won Ton soup, you can drop it into soups and simmer just long enough to be limp. Whole young bok choy plants is a gourmet delight when cooked whole or halved. The center stalks are called the Hearts and are considered a delicacy. Dried bok choy is used as an ingredient in Asian cooking. Bok Choy is rich in vitamin C and minerals; it is also high in fiber. A wonderfully versatile plant ? you can also eat the flowers! (Also called White Mustard Cabbage or Pak Choy.)
When to plant outside
:RECOMMENDED. Sow as soon as soil can be worked in spring. 2-6 weeks before average last frost. You may also sow in late summer for a fall or early winter harvest. In warm climates, sow in fall for winter harvest and in very early spring for spring harvest.
When to start inside: Not recommended.
Special Germination Instructions: Easy to start from seed. Thin seedlings by pinching off plant at soil surface, thus decreasing damage to other seedlings. Rotate crops, so you don?t grow any member of the mustard family (such as bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, kale, etc.) in the same place more than once every 3 years.
Broccoli Waltham 29 Seed (Brassica - oleracea)
The ancient Romans loved broccoli for its flavor; today we also love it because we know that it's packed with nutrition. Studies suggest that broccoli may be important in preventing cancer, diabetes, and lowering cholesterol. The heads and stems are packed with vitamin C and provide calcium, potassium, and iron. Growing broccoli is truly producing health food straight from your garden! The 4"-6" blue-green heads on this variety have delicious flavor raw or cooked--much better than store-bought broccoli. It freezes well (a great reason to grow a lot) and kids will adore the "little trees" on their plate. (For broccoli seeds for sprouting, try our large sprouting packet, click here.)
When to plant outside:
RECOMMENDED. 4-6 weeks before average last spring frost or as soon as soil can be worked in spring. It may also be planted in late summer for fall harvest. In mild winter climates, it can be sown in late fall for winter or early spring harvest.
When to start inside: 3-4 weeks before average last frost. Harvesting: Cut main head when 3"-6" across, buts are tightly closed and don't show any yellow color. Cut head with a couple of inches of stem with a sharp knife. Smaller heads on side shoots will develop for an additional harvest.
Container tips: Broccoli can be grown in a 5-gallon container. 1 plant per container.
Carrot Baby Little Finger Seed (Daucus - carota)
This gourmet mini-carrot is fun for kids of all ages! Even harvested early, it has a deep orange color, tender core, and sweet flavor. Did you know that grocery store ‘baby carrots’ are actually cores from regular-sized carrots? Once you try the sweet and crisp flavor of this 3” long “true” baby carrot, it will be hard to go back to the store-bought imitation. Though it tastes great fresh from the garden – “Little Finger” was developed in France for pickling and canning whole. This packet plants one 15 foot row. Little Finger carrots can also be grown in containers. Although carrots “prefer cool soils to begin life and warm soils to finish it”, you can grow both a spring and fall crop. Carrots will germinate in soils as cool as 45 degrees, and in the fall they can still be dug from the garden and eaten until the ground freezes.
When to plant outside:
RECOMMENDED. First sowing should be 2-4 weeks before average last frost. Successive plantings can be sown every 3-4 weeks until 60 days before the first fall frost. In warm climates with lows above 25 degrees, they can be grown all winter.
When to start inside: Not recommended.
Special Germination Instructions: Soak seeds in water for 12 hours before sowing. (Press them dry between paper towels afterwards to reduce clumping.) Plant 4 seeds per inch. When inch tall, thin to 1 plant per every 3 inches. A favorite gardening tip is to alternate carrot seeds and radish seeds. The radishes will mature first. As they are pulled, the carrots then have more growing room and water going towards their roots from the spaces in between.
Carrot Royal Chantenay Seed (Daucus - carota)
Chantenay carrots have thick, fat roots. This 5"-6" long heirloom variety has sweet flavor and a crisp texture. A great 'all around carrot', it has the excellent qualities of flavor, shallow soil growth, and long storage ability. It grows well in dense soils and can be grown in containers as well as in the ground. This packet plants six 10-foot rows or three successive plantings of two 10-foot rows. Although carrots 'prefer cool soils to begin life and warm soils to finish it', you can grow both a spring and fall crop. Carrots will germinate in soils as cool as 45 degrees, and in the fall they can still be dug from the garden and eaten until the ground freezes.
When to plant outside:
RECOMMENDED. First sowing should be 2-4 weeks before average last frost. Successive plantings can be sown every 3-4 weeks until 60 days before the first fall frost. In warm climates with lows above 25 degrees, they can be grown all winter.
When to start inside: Not recommended.
Special Germination Instructions: Soak seeds in water for 12 hours before sowing. (Press them dry between paper towels afterwards to reduce clumping.) Plant 4 seeds per inch. When inch tall, thin to 1 plant per every 3 inches. A favorite gardening tip is to alternate carrot seeds and radish seeds. The radishes will mature first. As they are pulled, the carrots then have more growing room and water going towards their roots from the spaces in between.
Carrot Scarlet Nantes Organic Seed (Daucus - carota)
Scarlet Nantes is an old favorite for many reasons. It has a reputation for sweet flavor, crisp texture, tenderness, abundant production, and consistent quality. The bright orange-red roots are cylindrical in shape and 6?-7? long. There is no finer garden treat than a homegrown carrot! This packet plants one 12-foot row. Although carrots ?prefer cool soils to begin life and warm soils to finish it?, you can grow both a spring and fall crop. Carrots will germinate in soils as cool as 45 degrees, and in the fall they can still be dug from the garden and eaten until the ground freezes.
When to plant outside:
RECOMMENDED. First sowing should be 2-4 weeks before average last frost. Successive plantings can be sown every 3-4 weeks until 60 days before the first fall frost. In warm climates with lows above 25 degrees, they can be grown all winter.
When to start inside: Not recommended.
Special Germination Instructions: Soak seeds in water for 12 hours before sowing. (Press them dry between paper towels afterwards to reduce clumping.) Plant 4 seeds per inch. When inch tall, thin to 1 plant per every 3 inches. A favorite gardening tip is to alternate carrot seeds and radish seeds. The radishes will mature first. As they are pulled, the carrots then have more growing room and water going towards their roots from the spaces in between.
Cucumber Lemon Organic Seed (Cucumis - sativus)
These unique lemon yellow fruits are sweet and crisp with mild flavor that?s easy to digest. It looks like a lemon, but has white flesh and great cucumber taste. The 3.5" x 2.5" fruits are great for slicing and eating fresh or pickling. Lemon Cucumbers are hard to find in the grocery store, so this is a great one to try in your garden. The plants are somewhat drought tolerant, and the fruit stores well in the refrigerator.
When to plant outside: Spring, after the average last frost and when soil is warm, at least degrees.
When to start inside: 4-6 weeks before the average last frost.
Special Germination Instructions: Plant in mounds or rows as you prefer. If rows, plant every 4 inches, thinning to 1 plant per foot. Mounds should be 4 feet apart with 6 seedlings on each mound, thinned to 3 per mound. Another highly recommended method is to plant with a trellis. Cucumbers grow straighter and are easier to see when harvesting. Use the row spacing and tie each main stem to the trellis with string or twist tie.
Eggplant Long Purple Seed (Solanum - melongena)
This Asian eggplant has some wonderful attributes over regular eggplant. It has few seeds and thin skin which makes it easy to slice and cook, and its flavor is milder and more delicate. It is a very international vegetable. Many unique and delicious recipes using it come from countries such as Japan, China, Italy, and Russia. Try dipping it in flour and sautéing in olive oil (Italian recipe), stir-frying it with bean sprouts, peppers, and tomatoes (Chinese recipe), or roasting it and combining with olive oil, chopped onions, and tomatoes (Russian relish recipe). The beautiful lavender flowers on the plants before developing into fruit are an added visual bonus in the vegetable garden. This packet plants 35 plants (after thinning).
When to plant outside: Spring, after average last frost and when soil temperatures are at least 55 degrees F. Outdoor temperatures should be at least 55 degrees at night. Some gardeners plant eggplant when “the oak leaves are fully developed”. The early season use of black plastic as mulch is highly recommended to increase the soil temperature, but make sure it is taken off later in the season.
When to start inside:
RECOMMENDED. 8-12 weeks before the average last frost. To germinate quickly, seed requires VERY warm soil temperatures, between 80 and 90 degrees F. Either use a heating cable or cover the seed tray with a plastic bag to contain warmth. Transplant seedlings outside 1 to 2 weeks after last frost.
The National Garden Bureau announced that 2008 is the Year of Rudbeckia and Eggplant.
Kale Italian Nero Toscana Seed (Brassica - oleracea)
This Italian heirloom is also known as Dinosaur Kale, Black Tuscan Kale, Black Cabbage, and Black Palm. A hearty, nutritious kale with vigorous dark green to black leaves, it traditionally is used to add rustic flavor to soups, stews, but also blends wonderfully in grain dishes. Try sautéed in olive oil with garlic and tossed with pasta. Delizioso! If you plant it in the spring, you can harvest the first shoots as tender young salad greens and achieve full-sized plants in two months. But, you must also try growing it in fall, because a little kiss from a fall frost only makes it sweeter! Plants may over winter in mild climates. Rich in nutrients such as Vitamin A, C, K, calcium, folic acid, and powerful anti-oxidants. Intense nutrition to fuel the passionate gardener! See recipe inside packet for Tuscan Kale Pesto.
When to plant outside: Early spring when soil temperatures are at least 60 degrees for a late spring/summer crop, in late summer for a fall crop, or (in USDA zone 7 or warmer) you can sow in fall for a winter or very early spring crop. Seed can also be sown in successive plantings every 3 weeks starting in early spring.
When to start inside: 10 weeks before the average last spring frost and transplant outdoors 6-8 weeks later.
Special Sowing & Germination Instructions: Easy to grow from seed. Thin seedlings by pinching off plant at soil surface, thus decreasing damage to other seedlings. Protect seedlings with caps in early spring if temperatures fall below 30 degrees. Rotate crops, so you don’t have any members of the mustard family in the same place more than once every three years. (Mustard family incudes: alyssum, iberis, nasturtium, arugula, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, kohlrabi, kale, and mustard).
Harvesting: Kale can be harvested two ways: 1) Cut the entire plant off at ground level 6-8 weeks after seeding or 2) strip the lower leaves off the plant periodically. Plants often over winter outside (even in the north). Mulch thickly when the ground freezes, and you can harvest again in early spring.
Leek American Flag Seed (Allium - ampeloprassum porrum)
Europeans have savored the delicious, sweet, subtle onion flavor of leeks for centuries, but this heirloom vegetable is gaining popularity with gourmets and cooks in the U.S. Leeks are an onion relative with compact stems that thicken, but do not form bulbs like onions. The appealing white stems have a creamy yellow heart that can be eaten fresh, grilled, saut饤, and added to soups and stews. Leeks are cold tolerant and can be left in the garden into fall for an extended harvest. This packet plants: one 25-foot row.
When to plant outside: Like onions, leeks are a long season crop ? the earlier you can sow, the better! Sow in early spring, 3 to 4 weeks before the average last frost for late summer harvest, and sow in late spring for fall harvest. In mild winter climates, you can sow in late summer for spring harvest.
When to start inside: 8-10 weeks before the average last spring frost.
Special Germination Instructions: Sow seeds or transplant seedlings into 6? deep trenches. (Sowing depth for seeds is still ??.) As plants grow, pile an inch or two of soil around the lower portion to make it white and mild.
Lettuce Leaf Salad Bowl Blend Organic Seed (Lactuca - sativa)
Salad Bowl Lettuce does not have an exotic name, but its name is very accurate for its performance. If you only plant one lettuce packet this season to keep your salad bowls filled with pretty and delicious leaves, this is the variety to choose. This packet contains a blend of Red Salad Bowl that has delicate, burgundy red, deeply lobed leaves and Green Salad Bowl that has long wavy green leaves. The two varieties mixed together make a beautiful presentation when served at the table! The red variety gets more intense color during cold weather, and both varieties stay tasty (and not bitter) when temperatures are warmer. Salad Bowl Lettuce is on of the most heat tolerant and bolt resistant varieties available. An old favorite as a standard for salad greens, it was an AAS winner in 1952. This packet plants: Five 10-foot rows or five successive plantings of 10-foot rows.
When to start outside:
RECOMMENDED. Early spring, 3 to 4 weeks before average last frost, and successive plantings thereafter every 3 weeks until 2 weeks before the first fall frost. (Skip very hot summers.) USDA zone 8 or warmer: sow in fall for winter harvest.
When to start inside: 6 weeks before average last frost and in summer when soil temperatures are too warm outside to germinate lettuce seed."
Special Sowing & Germination Instructions: Barely cover seed with soil or plant no deeper than 1/8?. Light and cool temperatures increase germination. When thinning lettuce, use the thinnings in salads. It can be planted in rows, but group plantings take up less space and are attractive. Double or triple rows also work. If direct seeding outside in late summer for a fall crop, remember that lettuce seed does not come up well in heat. Cover the seeded area with 2? x 6? boards to keep the soil cool for a few days until seed comes up. For early spring planting, cover soil with clear plastic to warm the soil to 70 degrees (the optimum temperature for lettuce). When seedlings appear, immediately take off the plastic.
Lettuce Romaine Parris Island (Lactuca - sativa)
Named for Parris Island off the coast of South Carolina, this old favorite Romaine deserves a try by any lettuce lover. 'Crunchy leaves', 'creamy white heart', and 'vigorous' are just a few of the words that describe this variety. A mosaic virus tolerant heirloom, it grows with upright, dark green slightly savoyed (crinkled) leaves that reach 8"-12" tall.
When to start outside:
RECOMMENDED. Early spring, 3 to 4 weeks before average last frost, and successive plantings thereafter every 3 weeks until 2 weeks before the first fall frost. (Skip very hot summers.) USDA zone 8 or warmer: sow in fall for winter harvest.
When to start inside: Not recommended. (Since lettuce mixes are often grown for baby leaves, it's easier to sow directly outdoors rather than trying to grow individual plants inside and transplanting.)
Special Sowing & Germination Instructions: Barely cover seed with soil or plant no deeper than 1/8". Light and cool temperatures increase germination. When thinning lettuce, use the thinnings in salads. It can be planted in rows, but group plantings take up less space and are attractive. Double or triple rows also work. If direct seeding outside in late summer for a fall crop, remember that lettuce seed does not come up well in heat. Cover the seeded area with boards to keep the soil cool for a few days until seed comes up. For early spring planting, cover soil with clear plastic to warm the soil to 70 degrees (the optimum temperature for lettuce). When seedlings appear, immediately take off the plastic.
Pea Snow Oregon Sugar Pod Seed (Pisum - sativum)
An heirloom, flat-podded snow pea – Oregon Sugar Pod II has tasty, stringless pods for stir-fry and salads. The short 28” vines can be grown as mounds or trellised. They produce a huge number of 4” pods that should be harvested and eaten when the pods are flat, before the seeds form inside. Don’t worry about planting more than you can eat. Oregon Sugar Pod is an excellent freezer variety, so you can preserve your excess crop. This wonderful variety has disease resistance against mildew, pea virus, and common wilt. This packet plants: One 15-foot row.
When to plant outside:
RECOMMENDED. Sow in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. Soil temperatures must be above 40 degrees. A second crop may be planted in mid-summer for fall harvest. In USDA zone 8 or warmer, plant in fall or winter for winter harvest. (In any climate, you can stagger 3 plantings one week apart to spread out the harvest period. You can also plant 2 or 3 varieties at the same time with different maturity dates.)
When to start inside: Not recommended.
Special Sowing & Germination Instructions: Pre-soak seed for 24 hours before planting. Ideally, seedbeds should be prepared in fall; raised beds are recommended, because they will raise the early spring soil temperature and increase drainage. Treating seed with an inoculant (Rhizobia bacteria) may increase yields, since bacteria in the soil may not yet be active during the cool weather of early spring.
Pepper Chile Ancho/Poblano Seed (Capsicum - annuum)
This heirloom chile pepper is called, "Poblano" in the fresh green form and "Ancho" when it is a dried pod. One of the most popular chiles in Mexico, the young green pepper is often stuffed with cheese or meat for chiles rellenos (recipe included inside packet), and the dark, reddish-brown dried pepper is used for the traditional "mole poblano" and chili powder. You will find many uses for this heart-shaped, 3.5" long and 2" wide, mildly spicy pepper. They are wonderful when roasted and peeled or sliced fresh for a spicy kick in many dishes. Fully ripe peppers are red and more sweet, but the fruit can be harvested at any stage.
When to plant outside: Spring, 3-4 weeks after the average last frost date and when soil temperatures are at least 65 degrees or outside temperatures are at least 70 degrees. In USDA zones 9 & 10, they may also be planted in summer for a winter crop.
When to start inside:
RECOMMENDED. 8-10 weeks before the average last frost.
Chile Rellenos Recipe
Scoville Pepper Heat Ratings Wilbur Scoville developed a heat rating chart for peppers in 1912. It is still the standard used today. Below is a list of approximate ratings for peppers offered by Botanical Interests. Different sources may list varied ranges. Pepper heat can be affected by growing conditions. Plants grown in dry, hot conditions will produce spicier peppers.
Mild 0 Bell Pepper, Sweet Italian (no heat) 100-500 Pepperoncini 1,000-1,500 Ancho/Poblano 2,500 Pasilla Bajio
Medium 2,500-8,000 Jalapeno 4,000 Hungarian Yellow Wax 4,500-5,000 New Mexico Joe E Parker
Hot 15,000-30,000 Serrano 30,000-50,000 Cayenne, Tabasco
Extremely Hot 50,000-100,000 Thai, Santaka 100,000-350,000 Habanero 1,040,000 Bhut Jolokia (The hottest pepper according to Guinness Book of World Records. Not offered by Botanical Interests.)
Pepper Sweet Yolo Wonder Seed (Capsicum - annuum)
Yolo Wonder is a large, thick-skinned bell pepper that is high yielding, sweet, and delicious! They can be roasted, stuffed and baked, added to salads, or sliced into strips for a crisp low-cal snack. A nutritious vegetable, it has more vitamin C than an orange! It can be grown in a container and picked green or red for a confetti of color on your plate. This packet plants: approximately 92 plants started indoors or one 140-foot row.
When to plant outside: Spring, 3-4 weeks after the average last frost date and when soil temperatures are at least 65 degrees or outside temperatures are at least 70 degrees. In USDA zones 9 & 10, they may also be planted in summer for a winter crop.
When to start inside: RECOMMENDED. 8-10 weeks before the average last frost.
Radish Cherry Belle Seed (Raphanus - sativus)
This heirloom is a standard for gardeners who love to grow their own radishes. Mild flavored with solid white flesh, it is great eaten fresh, in salads, or for a crisp crunch in sandwiches. Ready to harvest in only 24 days, it is an easy and rewarding crop for both experienced gardeners and kids! Cherry Belle can be grown in the cool periods of spring and fall. This packet plants: One 20-foot row or seven successive plantings of 3-foot rows.
When to Plant Outside:
RECOMMENDED. Early spring as soon as soil temperature is above 40 degrees. Germinates fastest at 60 degrees. Successive plantings every 10 days until late spring. Sow again in late summer until the first day of frost.
When to start inside: Not recommended.
Squash Summer Blk Beauty Zucchini Seed (Cucurbita - pepo)
Black Beauty Zucchini is an heirloom squash with very tender, creamy white, flavorful flesh. The prolific squash grow on compact bush type plants and can be harvested as 'baby vegetables' or allowed to grow as long as 6" before eating. They can be steamed, grilled, sauteed, eaten raw in salads, and made into relish or breads. If left on the vine too long, zucchinis can grow to the size of a small state (but are somewhat pithy to eat). We have found that baseball bat-sized zucchinis make wonderful doorstops during winter, but you can always resort to the old-fashioned method of dropping your excess crop on your neighbor's doorstep, ringing the doorbell, and then running before they grow that big! If you have a small garden and are worried about having too many zucchinis, try growing the plants in large containers. Production may be somewhat slower in that environment and allow you to pick and eat as the squash mature. This packet plants: 4 hills or 11 plants after thinning.
When to plant outside:
RECOMMENDED. Spring, 2-4 weeks after the average last spring frost date and when soil temperatures have risen above 60 degrees.
When to start inside: Not recommended. In very short season climates, you can sow indoors 3-4 weeks before the average last spring frost date. Sow in individual pots for direct planting.
Zucchini Relish Recipe
Squash Summer Crookneck Seed (Cucurbita - pepo)
This heirloom summer squash is often described as creamy, mild, sweet, and buttery. It can be picked as a ?baby? vegetable or grown to a mature size of 5-6? long. There are many uses for what will seem like hundreds of squash fruits produced per plant. You can steam them, grill them on the barbecue, sautee them, stuff them, add them to breads, or chop them fresh for salads. This packet plants: 6 hills or 18 plants after thinning.
When to plant outside:
RECOMMENDED. Spring, 2-4 weeks after average last frost and when soil temperatures have risen above 60 degrees.
When to start inside:
Not recommended. In very short season climates, 3-4 weeks before average last frost. Sow in individual peat pots for direct planting.
Tomato Bush Italian Roma Organic Seed (Lycopersicon - lycopersicum)
Italian Roma is an heirloom paste and canning tomato from Italy. Growing up to 200 fruits per plant, you will have plenty of fruit to cook for sauces and to eat fresh in salads and sandwiches. The oblong-shaped Roma tomatoes are very firm and meaty without a lot of water or seeds which makes them so good for cooking. If you want paste tomatoes, you may have trouble deciding between the Roma and the San Marzano. If you have room, grow them both! The Roma is a more compact bush type that fruits all at once (good for making that big pot of sauce), and the San Marzano is a climbing pole type that must by caged or staked - it is indeterminate and will give you a more drawn-out longer harvest period. This packet plants: 20 plants (after thinning).
When to plant outside: Generally started indoors, tomatoes can also be directly seeded outside! Sow in spring, after the average last spring frost and when soil temperatures reach 60 degrees. In warm winter/hot summer areas of the south, southwest, and parts of California, they can also be planted in early fall for winter harvest.
When to start inside: 6-8 weeks before the average last spring frost.
Special Sowing & Germination Instructions: when planting seedlings outside, bury the roots and stem up to the first set of leaves horizontally. Curve the stem above the ground to a vertical position. The stem will sprout roots and develop a strong root system.
Tomato Pole Brandywine Seed (Lycopersicon - lycopersicum)
Many gardeners believe that this heirloom is the best tasting tomato in the world! The old Amish variety dating back to 1885 was passed down from generation to generation, and it has won many taste tests over the years. This pink beefsteak type has rich flavor, thin skin, and can weigh up to 1 lb. An indeterminate type, the vine will grow until fall frost and must be staked or caged. Like most heirlooms, Brandywine has not been bred for disease resistance, though it definitely has a strong disposition to be so well loved for so long. It may require a little more pampering and attention than more modern hybrids, but its outstanding flavor is well worth the effort. This packet plants: 15 plants (after thinning).
When to plant outside: Generally started indoors, tomatoes can also be directly seeded outside! Sow in spring, after the average last spring frost and when soil temperatures reach 60 degrees. In warm winter/hot summer areas of the south, southwest, and parts of California, they can also be planted in early fall for winter harvest.
When to start inside: 6-8 weeks before the average last spring frost.
Special Sowing & Germination Instructions: when planting seedlings outside, bury the roots and stem up to the first set of leaves horizontally. Curve the stem above the ground to a vertical position. The stem will sprout roots and develop a strong root system.
Container Tips: Pole (indeterminate) tomatoes can be grown in five-gallon containers. Use a cage or stakes to support vines. One plant per container.
Wheatgrass Organic Seed (Triticum - aestivum)
Often called, "Liquid Sunshine", wheatgrass juice is considered to be one of the most nutritious foods available to humans. Just six ounces of wheatgrass juice, an extract of wheatgrass seedlings, can supply the vitamin and mineral needs of an adult! Wheatgrass can also be sprouted to make raw wheat berry sprouts, and pots of fresh wheatgrass make beautiful centerpieces or decorations around the home. Best of all, wheatgrass can be grown at any time of year.
Growing for Juice: Simply sow the seeds into flats of soil and grow either under fluorescent lights (2"-3" away from the lights), in a very bright window, or outside. Shoots should be harvested when they are about 7 days old and can then be made into juice in a wheatgrass juicing machine. (Do not attempt to make juice in an ordinary juicer. The grass blades will burn out and clog these machines.)
Sprouting: Wheatgrass seeds (also called wheat berries) can also be eaten as young sprouts. Soak seeds in water for 6-12 hours in a seed sprouting jar, drain, and then rinse 2-3 times daily for 2-3 days. The sprouted seeds can then be used in salads, or ground into dough to use for dehydrated raw cookies and pastries.
Interior Decorating: Even if you aren't into the health benefits of wheatgrass, there are many ornamental uses for wheatgrass. The fresh, uniform green foliage of wheatgrass in beautiful pots is a unique, stunning addition to any table sitting or special occasion. For example, Easter Eggs nestled in the grass makes a wonderful Easter feast centerpiece. Fresh pots of wheatgrass around the house are almost as good as fresh pesto in the dead of winter to give you hope that spring will arrive! Many interior designers like to place fresh pots of wheatgrass (in lieu of cut flowers) on mantles, end tables, or shelves for a truly fresh and upscale look in any room.
(Although cats can eat Wheatgrass, we highly recommend choosing our Catgrass instead. It is a special kind of oats with a smooth blade that is easier for cats to keep down and digest.