OSC - Ontario Seed Company GMO Free

A classic market variety, 'Bloomsdale Long Standing' is a large, spreading spinach with meaty, savoyed, dark-green leaves with rich, nutty flavor. Offers a continuous bonanza and is slow to bolt. For first crop, sow in spring. Plant again in late summer..

Heirloom Vegetable. This rapidly growing member of the cabbage family produces a greenish-white enlarged stem with short tops and few leaves. Slow to bolt and early producing, White Vienna is best harvested when the stem reaches 5-7.5 cm (2-3″) in diameter. For best growth, irrigation is essential through dry periods. Flesh is white with a nutty flavour when eaten raw and a mild cabbage taste when cooked. Sow seed every two weeks from April through to early August. Like Purple Vienna Kohlrabi, White Vienna is a pre-1860 variety. How to Grow Sow seed directly outdoors anytime from late April to late July 1 cm (1/2″) deep and 2.5 cm (1″) apart. Space rows 30-45 cm (12-18″) apart. Thin emerging seedlings to 10 cm (4″) apart in the row.

Heirloom Vegetable. Dwarf Scotch Kale is an exceptionally hardy shorter variety with a compact growth habit – a good selection for windy sites. The leaves have a white rib and are lightly curled. A handsome looking, robust growing, nutritious plant with a mild taste. First noted in the early 1860’s. How to Grow Sow seed 1 cm (1/2″) deep directly outdoors in early spring or from June to early July in rows 60 cm (24″) apart. Thin seedlings to 30 cm (12″) apart. Kale is very cold tolerant and develops its best flavour after the fall frosts.

Heirloom Vegetable. Red Russian produces lots of flat toothed, grey-green leaves with a central purple-red stem. The red colour intensifies as temperatures decreases in the fall. Leaves turns a rich, dark green when cooked. Soft tender texture when braised or for salads. Red Russian Kale is vitamin rich and very winter hardy. This kale variety arrived in Canada somewhere around 1885. How to Grow Sow seed directly outdoors 1 cm (1/2″) deep in early spring or from June to early July in rows 60 cm (24″) apart. Thin seedlings to 30 cm (12″) apart. Kale is very cold tolerant and develops its best flavour after the fall frosts.

Wisconsin SMR-58 Cucumber Seeds (Pickling Type) 1620 Heirloom Vegetable. The best disease resistant pickling variety. This black spined variety has medium green fruits that taper at both ends. It is a very popular variety with commercial growers. Resistant to scab and cucumber mosaic virus. This variety is an ideal choice for growers in Ontario, Quebec, the Prairies & the Maritimes. Introduced in 1958. How to Grow Cucumbers grow best in a rich, warm, sandy loam soil. Before planting, work into the native soil 30 cm (12″) deep large amounts of garden compost or composted manure. As cooler soil will reduce germination and increase the chance of the seed rotting before it sprouts, wait until the soil has reached a temperature of at least 18 C (66 F) before planting. Mound the soil up into hills about 15-20 cm (6-8″) high and about 30-60 cm (12-24″) across. Space the hills about 120 cm (4′) apart. Sow the seed 2 cm (3/4″) deep with 6 to 8 seeds per hill then after the seed sprouts, thin to 3 or 4 plants per hill. If you have limited space, most cucumbers grow on trellises. Protect the plants from any late spring/early summer frosts and keep the plants evenly watered through the growing season. Even soil moisture is very important as cucumbers become very bitter if the plant becomes moisture stressed by hot dry weather. To prevent damage to the plant, harvest the cucumbers by cutting them from the vine with a sharp knife – do not pull or twist them from the vine.

Straight Eight Cucumber Seeds (Slicing Type) Heirloom Vegetable. Like a trusted friend, this variety can always be counted on to come through! An old favourite that produces outstanding yields of straight, 20 cm (8″) long, smooth skinned, dark green cucumbers. Great for slicing or for using in relishes. A proven performer in all situations: the market garden, the backyard garden & greenhouse! A 1935 All-America winner. How to Grow Cucumbers grow best in a rich, warm, sandy loam soil. Before planting, work into the native soil 30 cm (12″) deep large amounts of garden compost or composted manure. As cooler soil will reduce germination and increase the chance of the seed rotting before it sprouts, wait until the soil has reached a temperature of at least 18 C (66 F) before planting. Mound the soil up into hills about 15-20 cm (6-8 “) high and about 30-60 cm (12-24 “) across. Space the hills about 120 cm (4 ‘) apart. Sow the seed 2 cm (3/4 “) deep with 6 to 8 seeds per hill then after the seed sprouts, thin to 3 or 4 plants per hill. If you have limited space, most cucumbers grow on trellises. Protect the plants from any late spring/early summer frosts and keep the plants evenly watered through the growing season. Even soil moisture is very important as cucumbers become very bitter if the plant becomes moisture stressed by hot dry weather. To prevent damage to the plant, harvest the cucumbers by cutting them from the vine with a sharp knife – do not pull or twist them from the vine.

Chicago Cucumber Seeds (Pickling Type) 1605 Heirloom Vegetable. Heavy yielding plants are loaded with perfectly formed, deep green fruit with black spines. The thin skin allows for ready absorption of pickling solutions and while fruit can be allowed to reach up to 12.5 cm (5″) in length without sacrificing quality, they are most often picked at a much smaller size for the “best gherkins” this side of Chicago! Resistant to scab and cucumber mosaic virus. Introduced in 1888. How to Grow Cucumbers grow best in a rich, warm, sandy loam soil. Before planting, work into the native soil 30 cm (12″) deep large amounts of garden compost or composted manure. As cooler soil will reduce germination and increase the chance of the seed rotting before it sprouts, wait until the soil has reached a temperature of at least 18 C (66 F) before planting. Mound the soil up into hills about 15-20 cm (6-8″) high and about 30-60 cm (12-24″) across. Space the hills about 120 cm (4′) apart. Sow the seed 2 cm (3/4″) deep with 6 to 8 seeds per hill then after the seed sprouts, thin to 3 or 4 plants per hill. If you have limited space, most cucumbers grow on trellises. Protect the plants from any late spring/early summer frosts and keep the plants evenly watered through the growing season. Even soil moisture is very important as cucumbers become very bitter if the plant becomes moisture stressed by hot dry weather. To prevent damage to the plant, harvest the cucumbers by cutting them from the vine with a sharp knife – do not pull or twist them from the vine.

Slicing Type. Crisp, tasty, not bitter and truly burpless – need you look further for a better slicing cucumber! These cucumbers may be eaten without peeling, just like celery. Peak flavour and vitamin content is reached when 20-25 cm (8-10″) long. Packet contains 20 seeds. How to Grow Cucumbers grow best in a rich, warm, sandy loam soil. Before planting, work into the native soil 30 cm (12″) deep large amounts of garden compost or composted manure. As cooler soil will reduce germination and increase the chance of the seed rotting before it sprouts, wait until the soil has reached a temperature of at least 18 C (66 F) before planting. Mound the soil up into hills about 15-20 cm (6-8″) high and about 30-60 cm (12-24″) across. Space the hills about 120 cm (4′) apart. Sow the seed 2 cm (3/4″) deep with 6 to 8 seeds per hill then after the seed sprouts, thin to 3 or 4 plants per hill. If you have limited space, most cucumbers grow on trellises. Protect the plants from any late spring/early summer frosts and keep the plants evenly watered through the growing season. Even soil moisture is very important as cucumbers become very bitter if the plant becomes moisture stressed by hot dry weather. To prevent damage to the plant, harvest the cucumbers by cutting them from the vine with a sharp knife – do not pull or twist them from the vine.

There is no doubt that celery is a demanding vegetable to grow. At the same time it is a rewarding vegetable to grow for gardeners with skill, determination and a long growing season. Tall Utah has an early maturity (for celery) and is resistant to bolting under summer stress. Vigorous plants produce nicely flavoured, crisp stalks. Plants reach a mature height of 45 cm (16″). Stalks can be enjoyed young as well. How to Grow Start seed indoors 10-12 weeks before your typical last frost date. Germination occurs in 3 weeks at 21-24 C (70-75 F). After germination grow seedlings on under lights at a slightly cooler temperature of 16 C (60 F). Harden off and transplant to a sunny site in the garden in mid May to mid June. A fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0 is best. Set plants 15-20 cm (6-8″) apart in rows spaced 90 cm (36″) apart. Blanche the stalks by gradually earthing up the stems, beginning when they are roughly 30 cm (12″) high. Feed regularly with a balanced fertilizer. Keeping the soil evenly moist through the entire growing season is absolutely critical for proper stalk formation.

Uniformly shaped, snow white heads that are thick and solid with tight curds. Good for both early and late season crops. Introduced in 1888, Early Snowball is somewhat self-blanching which means the large outer leaves tend to curl around the white head protecting it from the elements – in spite of this, many growers will still tie the leaves up and around the head to protect it. Best grown during cooler portions of the growing season. How to Grow Fertilize lightly & frequently, never let the plants lack for water. Seed can be sown directly in the garden in late spring. We suggest starting seed indoors 5 weeks before transplanting in late April/early May. When the heads start to form, gather the large outer leaves and tie them over the “curd” to prevent colouring by sunlight. Harvest the head when it reaches 17-20 cm (7-8″) in diameter – cut the entire head off using a sharp knife.

65 Days. Specifically bred for Canada and the northern United States, this is the first new open-pollinated cabbage in many years! Compact plants yield extra early production of solid, split-resistant oval heads weighing only 2-3 pounds. 65 Days Full Sun Sprouts in 7-10 Days Seed Depth: 1/4" Ideal Temperature: 50-75 F Plant Spacing: 10"

A much loved HEIRLOOM cabbage with solidly tight, conical, folded heads 13-18cm (5-7") in diameter, and 26-39cm (10-15") tall. Planted individually, Early Jersey Wakefield cabbage seeds will form a plant up to 1m (3') in diameter, but they can be planted close together, and will form a canopy over the soil. This cabbage has smooth, thick green leaves that are perfect for coleslaw. They can be harvested in summer or overwintered, and they resist splitting in wet weather.

Danish Ballhead produces outstanding quality and uniform, tender, fine-grained heads – all the reasons why this is such a popular variety. Medium to large heads grow to 20 cm (8″) in diameter and weigh on average 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs). This long storing variety is excellent for kraut, cooking and slaw production. Introduced in the late 1880’s. How to Grow Sow seed indoors in a soil-less mix 5 weeks before last frost date. Sow seed 6 mm (1/4″) deep and keep at 20 C (70 F) for the 7-10 day germination period. Grow on at a slightly cooler temperature then harden off and plant outside in late May. Space plants 45 cm (18″) apart in rows with the rows 75 cm (30″) apart.

This open pollinated variety continues to perform well for home gardeners and has retained its excellent eating quality and uniformity through the years. Strong, large plants to 60 cm (24″) tall easily 50 to 100 dark green sprouts about 2.5 cm (1″) in diameter along the strong central stem. Good flavour and exceptionally heavy yielding. Also known as “Catskill” variety. Introduced in the 1890’s, this long-time north-eastern North American home garden favourite has continued to produce reliable yields of tasty sprouts! How to Grow Start seed indoors in a soil-less mix 4-5 weeks before your normal last frost date. Sow seed 6 mm (1/4″) deep and keep at 21 C (70 F) for the 7-10 day germination period. Grow on at slightly cooler temperatures then, harden off and transplant outside to a sunny area in late May. Space plants 75 cm (30″) apart in the row with rows 75 cm (30″) apart.

Danvers Half-Long is a fantastic carrot to grow in shallow soils. Near perfect cylindrical roots grow to about 15-18 cm (6-7") in length. With tender reddish-orange skin and a sweet taste, these carrots are the perfect addition to salads, soups, stews or garnish.

A Kaleidoscope of colourful carrots. Atomic Red, Bambino, Cosmic Purple, Lunar White and Solar Yellow. Sweet and crunchy, they make a cheery looking group of all purpose carrots. We expect market gardeners will be especially pleased as this unusual colour combination is hard to find! Oh and children just love them! How to Grow Carrots will grow well in any open, well cultivated, deep garden soil. As the seed is quite small, mix it with some sand when sowing. Once soil temperature rises above 7.5 C (45 F), sow seed about 7-15 mm (1/4-1/2″) deep in rows spaced 45-60 cm (18- 24″) apart. Sow seed at 5 day intervals over several weeks. Keep the seedbed evenly moist during the 2 week germination period but avoid crusting over the soil as this will greatly reduce the number of seedlings that emerge. Thin the seedlings during the early stages of growth until they are 5 cm (2″) apart. Keep the plants evenly watered, weed free and avoid high nitrogen fertilizers. Harvest any time after the carrot roots develop good colour.

Roots are a rich bright orange and average 15 cm (6″) in length and up to 4 cm (1.5″) in diameter. Consistently cylindrical, smooth skinned and blunt ended, Nantes is a great tasting, tender but crisp, almost coreless carrot…even when the carrots are harvested late in the season! Nantes typically has a high moisture content which makes it a good choice for juicing. First described in 1885 but no doubt grown well before that. How to Grow Carrots will grow well in any open, well cultivated, deep garden soil. As the seed is quite small, mix it with some sand when sowing. Once soil temperature rises above 7.5 C (45 F), sow seed about 7-15 mm (1/4-1/2″) deep in rows spaced 45-60 cm (18- 24″) apart. Sow seed at 5 day intervals over several weeks. Keep the seedbed evenly moist during the 2 week germination period but avoid crusting over the soil as this will greatly reduce the number of seedlings that emerge. Thin the seedlings during the early stages of growth until they are 5 cm (2″) apart. Keep the plants evenly watered, weed free and avoid high nitrogen fertilizers. Harvest any time after the carrot roots develop good colour.

Imperator is a sweet, crisp, flavourful carrot with an eye-catching deep orange colour. Nicely formed roots average 18-20 cm (7-8″) in length, very uniform and quite suitable for bunching. This carrot does best in a deep, open, well worked soil. How to Grow Carrots will grow well in any open, well cultivated, deep garden soil. As the seed is quite small, mix it with some sand when sowing. Once soil temperature rises above 7.5 C (45 F), sow seed about 7-15 mm (1/4-1/2″) deep in rows spaced 45-60 cm (18- 24″) apart. Sow seed at 5 day intervals over several weeks. Keep the seedbed evenly moist during the 2 week germination period but avoid crusting over the soil as this will greatly reduce the number of seedlings that emerge. Thin the seedlings during the early stages of growth until they are 5 cm (2″) apart. Keep the plants evenly watered, weed free and avoid high nitrogen fertilizers. Harvest any time after the carrot roots develop good colour.

One of our most popular storage varieties. Orange-scarlet roots are smooth, even-shaped and free from eyes. The meaty carrots are 15 cm (6″) long and 2.5 cm (1″) thick with a sweet taste. A garden staple that is a good choice for soils that tend to be a little heavier. Introduced in 1929. How to Grow Carrots will grow well in any open, well cultivated, deep garden soil. As the seed is quite small, mix it with some sand when sowing. Once soil temperature rises above 7.5 C (45 F), sow seed about 7-15 mm (1/4-1/2″) deep in rows spaced 45-60 cm (18- 24″) apart. Sow seed at 5 day intervals over the several weeks. Keep the seedbed evenly moist during the 2 week germination period but avoid crusting over the soil as this will greatly reduce the number of seedlings that emerge. Thin the seedlings during the early stages of growth until they are 5 cm (2″) apart. Keep the plants evenly watered, weed free and avoid high nitrogen fertilizers. Harvest any time after the carrot roots develop good colour.

Broccoli has been cultivated for over 2000 years. This garden favourite is native to the Mediterranean but migrated throughout the world to become a major vegetable of choice for home gardeners. Broccoli are high in vitamins A and C, folic acid and iron. Interestingly, broccoli contains high levels of the reputed cancer fighting compound, sulforaphane. Green Sprouting is an old Italian variety that matures early and is surprisingly easy to grow. Large vigorous plants grow to 50 cm (20″) tall. Produces heavy crops of large, solid, central heads with numerous medium size lateral heads produced later in the season. Open pollinated. How to Grow 300 seed/gram. Plants mature quickly and grow best in cooler weather. Both early and late crops are possible. For early crops, start seeds indoors in a soil-less mix from late March to early April. Set out the transplants in late April and early May spacing them about 45 cm (18″) apart in rows 90 cm (3′) apart. Fertilizing is essential. Use a balanced NPK granular or 20-20-20 water soluble. Keep weeded and evenly watered. Broccoli may become top heavy as the heads form – staking may be required. Harvest the main head when the buds are tight and compact, well before flowering. Cut the centre stalk at an angle below the main head and avoid damaging the side shoots. This encourages more heads to develop and will prolong the harvest. Flowering will signal an end to head production. One packet sows approx. 20 m (66’) of row when thinned to a 40-50 cm (16-18”) spacing.