Dear Helen: I have a special interest, along with many others I’m sure, in heirloom flowers and vegetables. Is there a list of seed sources for them, and have you personally used any of them?
F.O.
There is a list of Canadian seed companies that sell heritage seeds on the Seeds of Diversity website: seeds.ca. Click on Canadian Seed Catalogue Index. The left hand side of the page that comes up will have a list of Seed Companies in Canada with links to their emails and websites.
In my Jan. 11 column, I wrote about three local companies focussed on open-pollinated (non-hybrid) and heritage flowers, herbs and vegetables. They are Salt Spring Seeds, Full Circle Seeds (Sooke) and Brother Nature Seeds (Victoria).
Of the catalogues I order from each year, West Coast Seeds, William Dam Seeds and T&T Seeds all use symbols to mark heirloom listings.
I’ve also ordered fairly regularly from three more sources that specialize in heirloom and traditional seeds:
Seed Savers Exchange (seedsavers.org). The print catalogue is brilliant. This year, however, they are changing Canadian customers $12 for it. The website is very easily navigated though.
Pennsylvania Dutch Crookneck squash and the Starfire signet marigold blend from this source are personal favourites. The gorgeous Grandpa Ott’s morning glory is one of two seeds that inspired the creation of Seed Savers Exchange. “Grandpa Ott” is the grandfather of the company’s co-owner,
Florabunda Seeds (florabundaseeds.com). I often return to personal favourites found only here. An example is Naughty Marietta, the oldest dwarf French marigold (Tagetes patula) still available. Amid bewildering numbers of newer varieties, Naughty Marietta remains the one I like best. The plants are loaded with single, bright gold flowers. Each petal base bears a dark burgundy marking.
A most unusual heirloom among Florabunda’s annual flowers is an Australian wildflower called Sturt’s Desert Pea (Swainsona formosa). The foliage is silky grey-green and pea-like. The leafy blooms are blood red, each one with a bulbous black centre.
Here you’ll find heirloom sweet peas, numerous seed blends and collections including a Victorian children’s flower mix called My Secret Garden, and a “cottage garden must” annual flower known as Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate.
J.L. Hudson, Seedsman (JLHudsonseeds.net). This source lists a cornucopia of varieties not to be found anywhere else. Monet’s Poppy, a listing under Papaver, originated from seeds collected “from the garbage pile at Monet’s garden in Giverny, France. The blooms are lavender-pink.
The rosy-purple spreading Wild Petunia is one of two parents of modern petunias. Wild Garden Kale mix, a diverse result from crossing Siberian and Russian kale, looks worth a try, as does a Jewel Box Mix of “dense-headed ‘Gem’ lettuce types in many colours, often streaked or spotted.” These little romaine lettuces form heads with hearts of “wine-red, rose, amber or butter yellow.”
Lunga di Napoli, a southern Italian heirloom winter squash, has a long neck with rounded end, and “vivid orange” flesh with a mild, sweet flavour.
GARDEN EVENTS
Dahlia meeting. The Victoria Dahlia Society will meet Thursday, 7:30 p.m. in The Victorian at McKenzie, 4000 Douglas St. Featured will be “An Introduction to Dahlias.” There will also be a brief tutorial on using Instagram and how to post your dahlia photos on the society’s account. Visitors are welcome.
Salt Spring Seedy Saturday. This Feb. 8 event will run between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the Farmers’ Institute, 251 Rainbow Rd. and will feature vendors, food, an exchange of seeds, and kids’ activities.
HCP classes. The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd. in Saanich, is offering the following courses. To register call 250-479-6162. Details at hcp.ca
• Plant Identification and Culture, Saturday, Feb. 15, 1 to 4 p.m. This is an ongoing series of monthly classes that can be joined at any time. In each session Diane Pierce introduces 25 new plants with descriptions, preferred growing conditions, landscape uses and maintenance. Cost to HCP members per session is $35, others $45. Cost for 12 sessions: members $350, others $450.
• Grow Your Own Wellness Journey, a series of six Sunday sessions. Next in the series is on Feb. 16., 2 to 4 p.m. Learn how to decrease stress and increase wellness through connecting with nature and the seasons. Cost $45 per session for HCP members and non-members.
• Wicker Basket with Wood Base Workshop, Sunday, Feb. 16, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Members $120, others $140.
