Kale

Nero Di Toscana ($3.50) – Old fashioned heirloom variety originating in Italy.  Also known as dinosaur kale, strap kale and black kale.  Toscana produces long, dark green, blistered leaves from the center of each plant.  Plants are tolerant to hot and cold weather.  This type of kale is becoming popular in the bunching and baby leaf market and is excellent in kale soups.

Grown for its greens, Kale can be used to dress up salads, in stir fries, as a garnish, or mashed with potatoes and sausage (German & Dutch delicacy) Rich in Vitamin C and other minerals.  Frost improves flavor. 

(Tip) Kale: Mainly grown for fall and winter crop.  Will remain alive into winter and over winter in mild areas.  For early crops start indoors 4-6 weeks before planting out.  For late crops, seed direct in June – July.  Soil – Kale will tolerate a broad range of soil but prefers sandy loam.  PH 6.5 – 7.  Ensure adequate levels of nitrogen.  Keep a regular watering schedule so plants do not wilt in heat.  Germination - Sow in plugs at 70F for 7 days.  Or outdoors in warm soil.  Transplant or thin seedlings out to 40 – 45cm / 16 – 18”.  Same sort of pests as cabbage.

Lettuce

Marvel 4 seasons organic – 55 days, an early medium-large butterhead with red-bronze leaves.  Low resistance to bolting.  Recommended only for late spring and fall growing.  Old heirloom variety.  Organically grown seed.

Ice Queen Organic – 85 days, an unusual specialty crisp head variety having spiky exterior leaves.  Ice Queen produces medium to large heads with notched, bright green outer leaves.  Good resistance to bolting.  Organically grown seed.

Jericho Organic – 57 days.  A new slow bolting, sweet light green romaine with excellent taste.  Jericho produces tall, heavy heads with a fresh light green color.  French cuisine prefers a sweet, light green crunchy romaine, which Jericho delivers.  Organically grown seed.

Lettuce is generally a cool season plant.  Lettuce is one of the easiest vegetables to grow.  By using different types of lettuce you can have greens and fresh salads all year round.

(Tip) Lettuce: Lettuce can be started indoors for early spring lettuce or for better germination in the heat of the summer.  Start outdoors in the spring and fall.  Indoors sow into final containers 4-5 weeks before planting outdoors.  Lettuce will grow well in almost any soil.  For early crops use light soil.  PH 6.5 – 7.  Lettuce requires moderate amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and higher amounts of potash  adequate moisture is important especially in the last 4 weeks before harvest.  Germination – 7 days at 65-70F light.  Higher temperatures inhibit germination in some varieties.  Sow 6 -12mm / ¼ - ½ “ deep.  Keep moist and cool (shaded) until growth is seen.  Spacing – thin or transplant out to 20cm / 8” 

Melons

Hales Best – 85 days, standard open pollinated melon for box plant growers.  Hales best produces 5-6 lb round-oval melons with a medium suture and net.  Good flavor and orange flesh.  Not as early, productive, or disease tolerant as hybrid cantaloupes.

Nature does not produce anything sweeter than a ripe exotic melon.  Being a favorite item to grow, we have grown various melon varieties over the years.  We have had great success producing quality melons here in Canada due to good varieties and use of IRT mulch.

(Tip) Melons: In Canada melons are best started indoors 3 – 4 weeks before the last frost.  Start 3-4 seeds in a 3-4” pot.  Transplant to the below plant spacing do not break clumps apart.  Soil- Melons like well drained, sandy – silty loam, high in organic matter PH 6 – 6.8.  Enrich with compost or well rotted manure in spring. Melons are heavy users of Nitrogen, potassium and calcium.  Germination- for proper germination soil must be at least 72F for 5 days.  Cooler soil temperature will result in poor germination.  Spacing – plant in clumps 3-4 seeds per clump, 24” apart in rows 4-7 ft apart.  Close planting will result in smaller fruit size.  Melons and Cucumber have the same pest problems.

Onions

Sturon Organic ($3.50) -  110 days, improved storage type.  Produces big round bulbs that store well.  Strong yellowish-brown skin with tight necks enhance its suitability for storage and processing.  Can be used for onion set production.  Suitable for spring and summer production.  Organically grown seed.

Red of Florence ($3.50) -  110 days, open pollinated red globe variety from Italy.  Red of Florence produces good quality, medium to deep red, top globe shaped bulbs that store well.  Good selection for bedding plant growers.

Evergreen Long White Nebuka SOLD OUT($3.50) -  70 days, hardy, long, slim white stems.  Very hardy for overwintering.  Little to no bulbing.

Believed to originate in Asia, onions have been used in everyday life for centuries.  Considered a cool season biennial, onions prefer to grow at cooler temperatures.  Higher temperatures promote bulbing and curing.  Plant onions early after the last hard frosts so that they can grow during the spring and early summer, producing bulbs as the temperature increases. 

(Tip) Onions: For most onions, start indoors in late February to mid- March.  Soil – Fertile, well drained non-crusting soil.  Onions will adapt well to many soils.  PH 6 – 6.8.  Fertility – Onions use high amounts of nitrogen and potassium.  Even moisture is required throughout its growth period.  Germination – 7 – 10 days at 70F.  Sow directly into final container 6mm / ¼ “ deep.  Trip tops to 10cm / 4” every week until transplanting.  Space transplants 6-8” apart in rows 16” apart.  When onion tops start to fall over and bulbs have begun to form skins, pull up and allow to sun cure for at least one week.  Do not leave out if there’s a chance of frost.  When onions are dry, clip off the tops and place them in shallow boxes or onion bags.  Place in a cool (a few degrees above freezing) somewhat humid place 65-75% humidity.  For bunching onions sow every second week starting in April until September.  This will provide fresh greens until fall.  Sow seeds in well tilled soil.  Space seeds 6mm / ¼ “ apart and 6mm / ¼ - ½ “ deep.  Keep moisture consistent to produce fresh bunching onions.

Peas

Record ($3.50) – 65-75 days, sweet, heat tolerant, long vined variety for multi – picking.  White flowered, 2 ½ “ pods.  Does better in the heat than Norli.  Plant height 4-5ft.

Lincoln ($3.50) -  72 days, the old homestead type.  Produces medium sized pods with 7-8 small peas.  Holds well in hot weather.  Large plant protects peas.  Heirloom.

Tall Telephone ($3.50) – 72-77 days.  Large podded climber.  Produces heavy yields of dark green peas with large pods.  8-10 peas per pod.  Popular home garden variety for mulit – picking.  Grows 5ft tall.

Blue Pod Capucijners ($3.50) – Heirloom.  Produces early blue pods that can be used as a specialty fresh pea, but is better known for dry use in mixed casseroles.  Peas dry to a grayish color.  Dwarf type.

The edible garden pea dates back to the 16^th century originating in England.  Most of the varieties that we see today were developed in the last century.  Fresh peas contain moderate level s of Vitamin A and C, calcium, phosphorus and iron.  The garden pea is primarily a hardy cool season annual that produces its flowers as the days lengthen.  Peas are a relatively easy crop to grow with few diseases or bug problems.

(Tip) Peas: Sow peas when soil is cool, not cold.  Peas prefer well drained loams with good amounts of organic matter; delay planting in heavy soils.  Grow early varieties on sandy soils due to the fact that they heat up quicker.  PH 6-7.  Fertility – Peas respond well to moderate amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.  Excessive nitrogen will cause plants to become viny and will reduce yields.  Germination – Optimum temp 60F.  Peas should emerge in 5-7 days.  Sow peas 1” deep, 2” between seeds in rows 30” apart.  Often they are seeded in double rows.  Peas are relatively pest free, most problems come with hot weather.