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McKENZIE
SEED GUIDE
Copyright ® by McKenzie Seeds
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means,
including photocopy or other, without written permission from the
publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages.
Printed in Canada
All tips and hints in this book have been compiled from information sent
to McKenzie from McFayden Seed Company Ltd., Thompson & Morgan
and the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. We assume no responsibility
should the tips and hints not perform to your satisfaction.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
3
McKENZIE SEED GUIDE
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
Growing Information
5-34
Perennial Varieties
35
Herb Varieties
36
Seedtape Varieties
37
Jumbo Packet Seed Varieties
38
Everlasting (Dried) Flowers, Wildflower & Vines
39
Organic Seed Varieties
40
Peas, Bean & Corn Carton Varieties
41
McKenzie Asian & Gusto Specialty Seeds
42-43
Thompson & Morgan Seed Varieties
44-45
Description of Garden Seed Varieties
Flowers (Annuals, Biennials & Perennials)
46-79
Herbs
80-89
Gardening Wellness Safety Tips
Vegetables
4
90-92
93-116
Quick Reference Guide & Charts
117-137
Gardening Tips
138-165
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
Sowing Times
The actual date when you sow your seeds
will vary from season to season and also
with the area in which you live. In a cold,
late season for example, it is beneficial to
sow later than usual, as earlier sowings
will most probably suffer from the
untypically cold weather they experience.
Later sowings will often catch up and do
just as well as early sowings made in cold
weather, which may have to struggle just
to keep going. Likewise, in cold Northern
areas you may have to sow several weeks
later than in warmer areas for the same
reason. Our recommendations are merely
a guide which should be set against
current weather conditions and your own
experience of when sowings are made in
your area.
Additional Information
Light/Dark
Until germination, seeds needing light
should be placed in subdued lighting out
of direct sunlight and should have no
newspaper, brown paper etc., placed over
the trays. Seeds needing dark for
germination should be placed in total
darkness.
way when you received them and if you
examine them carefully you will see that
Compost
Most reputable seed composts will be
quite adequate. On no account should
potting composts which have additional
fertilizers be used.
Special treatment of seeds before sowing
Some seeds benefit from pre-treatment
before sowing or from being sown in a
particular way. Here are brief explanations of the techniques mentioned in the
following list. In almost all cases it is not
critical that you carry out this pretreatment but if it is not done the seeds
will usually take longer to germinate.
Chipping
Some seeds, e.g. Sweet peas, Ipomoea,
etc have hard seed coats which prevent
moisture being absorbed by the seed. All
that is needed is for the outer surface to
be scratched or abraded to allow water
to pass through. This can be achieved by
chipping the seed with a sharp knife at a
part furthest away from the 'eye', by
rubbing lightly with emery paper or, with
very small seed, pricking carefully once
with a needle etc. Some of our geranium
seeds have already been treated in this
a tiny part of the end of the seed has
been carefully clipped off.
Soaking
Soaking is beneficial in two ways; it can
soften a hard seed coat and also leach
out any chemical inhibitors in the seed
which may prevent germination.
Anything from 1-3 hours in water which
starts off hand hot is usually sufficient. If
soaking for longer the water should be
changed daily. Seeds of some species
swell up when they are soaked. If some
seeds of batch do swell within 24 hours
they should be planted immediately and
the remainder pricked gently with a pin
and returned to soak. As each seed swells
it should be removed and sown before it
has time to dry out.
Pre-chilling
In some instructions you will find a
reference to 'pre-chilling'. This is a pretreatment of the seed which often helps
to speed up the germination of otherwise
slow to germinate seeds. However, even
after pre-chilling some seeds can
stubbornly refuse to germinate until a
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
5
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
year or more has passed, so never be too
hasty in discarding a seed container.
Pre-chilling was traditionally done by
standing the pots outside in a cold frame
during the winter. It is often quicker to
adopt the following technique using a
domestic refrigerator and this is of
particular value if you obtain your seed
outside the winter months.
To pre-chill, first sow the seed on
before germination can take place; for
example some Lillies, Tree paeonies,
Daphne etc need a warm period during
which the root develops followed by a
cold period to break dormancy of the
shoots, before the seedling actually
emerges. Some seeds need a cold period
followed by a warm period and then
another cold period before they will
germinate. In all cases the times and
temperatures have been provided in the
sowing instructions.
Outdoor treatment
moistened seed compost, seal the seed
container inside a polythene bag and
leave at 60-65F (15- 18C) for 3 days then
place in a refrigerator for the
recommended period. For convenience
large seeds can be mixed with 2-3 times
their volume of damp seed compost,
placed direct into a polythene bag which
is sealed and placed in the refrigerator.
However; there must always be sufficient
air inside the bag and the compost
should NEVER become either too dry or
over wet, After pre-chilling these seeds
can then be spread with the compost on
top of a seed container and firmed down.
The seeds must be moist whilst being prechilled, but it will harm them if they are
actually in water. During the period in
the refrigerator; examine the seeds once
a week and remove all the seeds into the
specified warm conditions if any of them
start to germinate.
Light also seems to be beneficial after
pre- chilling, so pre-chilled seeds should
have only the lightest covering of
compost, if any is required, and the seed
trays or pots, should be in the light and
not covered in paper.
Double dormancy
Some seeds have a combination of
dormancies and each one has to be
broken in turn and in the right sequence
6
The above mentioned methods accelerate
the germination process and help to
prevent seeds being lost due to external
hazards (mice, disease etc) but outdoor
sowing is just as effective except longer.
The seeds are best sown in containers of
free draining compost and placed in a
cold frame or plunged up to their rim
outdoors in a shaded part of the garden,
preferably on the north side of the house
avoiding cold dry winds and strong sun.
Recent tests show that much of the
beneficial effects of pre-chilling are lost if
the seed is not exposed to light
immediately afterwards. We therefore
recommend sowing the seeds very close
to the surface of the soil and covering
the container with a sheet of glass. An
alternative method especially with larger
seeds, is to sow the seed in well prepared
ground, cover with a jam jar and press
this down well into the soil so that the
seeds are enclosed and safe from
predators, drying out etc.
Sowing
Where outdoor sowing is recommended
moist soil which is weed free and has
been raked down to a fine tilth is
essential. For hardy annuals and
perennials sowing can be carried out
from late winter onwards as soon as the
ground is workable and has warmed up;
half hardy annuals after all danger of
frost is passed and when the soil has
warmed up.
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
Undercover Sowing
Advice is given throughout this
publication on sowing seeds that need
artificial heat for successful germination.
However; there are a number of aspects
of this fascinating branch of plant
propagation that can best be summarized
here.
list is cleanliness. Trays and pots should be
sterilized before use. So too should the
cover of the propagator or glass of the
greenhouse. Fresh compost should be
used at the start of the season and
emerging seedlings should be treated
with No Damp to prevent damping off.
The first point to make is that you
shouldn't buy the seeds of such plants
until you are confident you have the
facilities to raise them successfully. But
this doesn't necessarily mean you have to
invest in costly equipment.
Some seeds remain viable for a year or
more after the packet seal has been
broken, but it is advisable to carry out a
germination test before the correct
sowing time. Saved seeds require
precisely controlled conditions to retain a
reasonable germination rate, The major
seed companies, of which McKenzie
Seeds and Thompson & Morgan are two
of the longest established, have become
great because they provide high quality
seed of guaranteed viability. It is a false
economy more times than not to save
small amounts of seed from one year to
the next.
All seeds need water, oxygen, the correct
amount of light and the right level of
warmth to germinate. Supplying that
warmth could be a simple matter of
giving the sown seed a place above the
central-heating register; a temporary
home in the airing cupboard or a sunny
windowsill.
The pleasure of raising one's own
bedding plants, for example, is infectious
and one soon realizes that something a
little more spacious and controllable can
be had for very little cost. That
something could be an electrically heated
propagator capable of accommodating
two or more standard size seed trays,
using no more power than a light bulb
but thermostatically controlled to give
the precise temperature for successful
germination.
Of course, one must remember that a
tray of seedlings is the starting point.
Pricking out the seedlings (see page 15)
follows and will involve accommodating
several more trays or many more pots
right through to the hardening off stage.
You will appreciate that enthusiasm for
this most rewarding hobby can soon take
the gardener from a small propagator to
the hankering for a greenhouse.
However large one's ambition, one
should never forget that quite small
safeguards are necessary and top of the
Most seeds germinate best if the tray is
covered with a sheet of glass or plastic to
retain the moisture in the compost. Some
require dark to germinate and this can be
provided by keeping the tray in a light,
warm position while it is covered with a
sheet of newspaper.
A daytime temperature of 65-75F (1824C) is suitable for most undercover seeds
and a drop at night to about 55F (12.5C)
is permissible, V\/hen the seedlings have
emerged, however, the daytime
temperature should be lowered to about
65F (18C) and the seedlings given a light
position but out of direct sunlight.
A practice which is becoming more and
more popular is the sowing of seed into a
3in (7.5cm) pot of moist seed compost
and then sealing this inside a polythene
bag until germination, This method
ensures that the compost stays moist and
results are often better because there is
not such a large area of compost to warm
up. Once the seedlings are well through
the bag should be gradually removed.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
7
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
How To Cope With Tiny Seeds
Tiny seeds, almost as fine as dust, such as
begonia petunia and portulaca, can be
difficult to handle. Sometimes, in fact,
the packet seems to contain nothing
except a trace of dust sized particles.
Here's how to make a success of a tricky
task.
• Start off with compost which is just
moist enough. If it is too wet, spread it
out on newspaper etc., and let some of
the water evaporate. If too dry,
gradually mix in water until it is just
right.
• Use a small pan or pot for sowing,
about 3-5in (7.5-12.5cm) is adequate.
• Fill the pan or pot to overflowing with
the seed compost, then firm it first with
your fingers, then with a wooden
presser.
FILL PAN OR POT
TO OVERFLOWING
• Sow the seed direct from the packet,
tapping it slowly to release the sandseed mixture evenly over the compost.
• Give the surface of the compost a short
burst from a mist sprayer.
• Cover with a piece of glass, or seal
inside a polythene bag to keep the
compost moist and the atmosphere
slightly humid.
• Remember that very fine seeds have less
food resources than normal sized ones
and the correct temperature for
germination is very important.
ADD FINE SAND
WATER FROM
UNDERNEATH
8
• Pour a heaped teaspoon of fine sand
into the seed packet and shake to mix
sand and seed.
SOW DIRECT
FROM PACKET
SEAL IN
POLYTHENE BAG
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
Vermiculite
Vermiculite is a natural, non-toxic mineral
which, when heated to a very high
temperature, expands to many times its
size to produce a honeycomb structure
which has the following benefits to the
gardener:
• Lightweight
• Sterile
• Absorbs surplus moisture and keeps air,
water and nutrients close to the plants
roots, ready for use.
• Insulates the seed from high or low
temperatures thus aiding germination
when used as a seed covering.
• Reduces compression when mixed with
composts like peat or coir.
• Pots and containers are lighter and
easier to use.
• Provides air spaces plants need for their
roots to grow through and ensures that
the essentials of growth, air, water and
nutrients are freely available.
Vermiculite added to compost provides
the plant with more air spaces and has
the ability to regulate the rate of
release of nutrients so that the roots
get their food as they need it.
Vermiculite is helpful in providing
quicker; more reliable seed germination
and because it provides air; moisture and
nutrients as and when required,
germination, growth and transplanting
are all improved.
Seed Sowing
Mix 50% Vermiculite with your usual seed
compost for better root development; it
will also reduce the risk of overwatering
by releasing moisture as required. After
sowing, cover the seed with a thin layer
of Vermiculite instead of compost, no
need to firm. This keeps the seed warm,
moist and protected from sudden
changes in temperature.
N.B. Large seeds can be sown 1/16in deep
in pure Vermiculite but should be
transplanted soon after germination into
50% Vermiculite / 50% seed compost.
Impatiens, verbenas and many other
types germinate and develop better
when covered with Vermiculite rather
than seed compost as it absorbs surplus
moisture, keeps the seed warmer and
supplies it with moisture when required.
Potting Compost
Vermiculite can absorb plant nutrients so
that they are not washed away with each
watering and release them gradually as
the plant needs them. It also contains a
little food i.e. Potassium, Magnesium
and, in smaller quantities, Calcium,
Sulphur, Manganese and Iron.
Seedlings
Seedlings raised in a Vermiculite/compost
mix will naturally benefit from being
transplanted into a similar potting
compost which won't damage their fine
root system. The pots will be lighter and
easier to handle, the compost will hold
more water and will be easier to re-wet.
Potting
Prepare by mixing 1 part Vermiculite with
3 parts moistened potting, or all-purpose
compost. Water lightly to settle the
compost around the roots after planting.
Feed as required.
Containers, Baskets, Flower
Pouches and Window Boxes
All will benefit from the use of a 3 parts
compost to 1 part Vermiculite mix, they
will be lighter; easier to move and yet
will hold more water and be easier to rewet. As with normal composts water
holding granules are also recommended
for maximum water retention.
Bulb Storage
To protect bulbs like Begonias, Gladioli
etc., through the winter, lift, dry off and
pour Vermiculite around the bulbs. It will
absorb any surplus moisture and help
prevent storage rot.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
9
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
Bulb Propagation
Cuttings
Vermiculite can be used for the propagation of bulbs by the "chip" method.
Place bulb chips in a polythene bag, cover
with Vermiculite, and seal with an elastic
band leaving plenty of air space.
Softwood cuttings taken in spring and
summer from Fuchsias, Dahlias,
Chrysanthemums etc., root well in a
mixture of 50% Sow-lite, 50% Seed and
Cutting compost. Make sure that the
compost is thoroughly moist before use
and don't firm down too heavily. Seal
inside a polythene bag until the cuttings
are well rooted.
Store in a warm place until the 'chips'
have formed bulbils and pot up into a
mix of 50 / 50 Sow-Lite and potting
compost.
Damping Off
Seedling collapse, or damping-off is a
wide spread problem for gardeners and
commercial growers. As seeds germinate
they may be attacked or the seedling
may be infected in the post emergence
stage. An affected seed tray would have
a bare area of compost, probably near
one end, surrounded by seedlings
growing poorly. Some seedlings might
have collapsed at the base with a watersoaked appearance. After pricking off,
seedlings may develop brown root tips,
have a weak root system, or collapse at
the stem base and fall over: This is
commonly seen when tomatoes are
pricked off, and the seed leaves turn a
very dark green.
Causes of damping off
Damping-off diseases are caused by
fungi. These microscopic organisms form
colourless threads in soil, compost, or
plant structures. The ones attacking
seedlings are species of Pythium and
Phytophthora, belonging to a group
called the water moulds. The name
highlights the conditions which favour
the spread of these fungi. They flourish
in wet compost and need water to spread
from plant to plant.
When the water is cold they move slowly
and take a long time to come to rest,
whereas at 68F (20C) the spores swim
quickly but soon stop. If they rest on a
root or stem surface a minute thread
emerges and penetrates the plant cells.
These fungi then grow inside the plant
and disrupt the normal cell processes.
There is another soil-borne fungi which
10
attacks seedlings, leading to collapse. This
is called Rhizoctonia. Infected plants tend
to develop a dry, reddish-brown stem
called wire-stem, or the seedling roots
may be affected. Seedlings in patches are
unthrifty or pale coloured and die slowly.
If a badly infected seedling is pulled up
an excessive amount of soil may hang
from the shrivelled root indicating the
weft of fungus growth on the root.
Rhizoctonia spreads entirely by threads
which grow through the compost. All
members of the brassica family seem
particularly susceptible to infection.
Susceptible plants
Pythium and Phytophtora
Snapdragon
Cucumber
Celery
Lobelia
China Aster
Marigold
Cineraria
Nemesia
Rhizoctonia
Aubrieta
Brassicas
Salvia
Stock
Wallflower
Preventing attack
Although some plants are especially
prone to damage, it is best to take
sensible precautions against these
diseases whatever seed you plan to sow
as any plant can suffer.
Before you can plan to control any plant
disease, it is important to know where
the fungus comes from and how it is
spread. In the case of the damping-off
diseases they are soil-borne but can
G R O W I N G
survive in plant or soil debris. The water
moulds spread most in wet compost,
while Rhizoctonia is active in drier
conditions.
The most fundamental principle in
preventing these diseases is hygiene. The
containers, such as pots and seed trays,
the greenhouse and all tools must be
cleaned and free of soil or plant debris.
Soak the containers in hot water and
scrub them thoroughly with a bristle
brush to dislodge small particles of soil or
debris. You may choose to use a
proprietary disinfectant - if you do, make
sure you ventilate the containers before
use to release any remaining fumes. If
you plan to stand trays on the soil floor
of the greenhouse, cover the soil with
polythene or raise the trays up from the
surface so that they don't touch the soil.
You may have the advantage of a heated
propagator which is excellent for
germination, but watch that you put the
trays afterwards on clean benching and
don't expose the seedlings to a sudden
change in temperature or low night
temperatures.
I N F O R M A T I O N
your immediate need. Make a flat layer,
and gently sprinkle water on the compost
surface. Then turn and mix the compost
with your hands. Do the hand test again,
and continue until the compost just holds
together; but drops apart as it falls on
the bench. Once the compost feels right
sowing can proceed. It is quite wrong to
sow seeds in dry compost and then give a
heavy watering. This is the way to get
damping-off.
Don't use too large a container because
large volumes of compost warm up
slowly. Generally a 3in (7.5cm) pot is
quite suitable. Cover the pot and seal
inside a polythene bag and put it at the
appropriate temperature. Once the seed
is surrounded by moist soil it will
germinate.
Young plants which are grown at the
appropriate temperature in good light
and ventilation are more resistant to
disease, because they are sturdy, well
balanced plants. Aim for strong, sturdy
growth at moderate temperatures.
Fungicides
Watering and seed compost
Besides contaminated containers the
water moulds can survive in stored water;
An uncovered tank in a greenhouse soon
collects plant debris, dust, and algae and
spells trouble in propagation. Always use
fresh mains water for moistening
compost and watering seedlings. You can
draw off the tapwater into a can, and
leave the water to warm up before use
the same day.
A liquid copper formulation or damp off,
also with a copper base, can be used to
drench the seed container before sowing
and on seedlings after pricking out, but
they can slow down the growth of very
delicate plants.
It is essential that a proprietary seed
compost is used. Do not use garden soil.
By chance, the compost may be just moist
enough, as you turn it out of the bag,
but it may not, To test it, take a handful
of the compost and squeeze it, open your
hand and let it fall on the bench. If the
compost does not bind and just hold
together it is too dry. If the moisture
oozes between your fingers it is far too
wet. To moisten the compost turn out
sufficient compost onto the bench for
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
11
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
Sowing Biennials and Perennials
Although every garden should have its
summer display of annual flowers, there
should always be room for the earlyflowering biennials, such as wallflowers
and forget-me-nots, and the long lasting
glorious variety of perennial flowers that
form the heart of the herbaceous border.
Biennials are usually sown in a nursery
area of the garden or seed bed where
they can grow undisturbed until ready
for transplanting. Seed sown in spring
will result in plants that are sturdy
enough to be moved to their flowering
positions in autumn, normally when the
summer bedding plants have given of
their colourful best.
Sow the seed in rows and keep the bed
watered during dry spells and weeded at
all times. An occasional feed with a liquid
fertilizer can be given during the early
stages of growth, but refrain from
feeding for at least six weeks before
transplanting to avoid sappy growth that
could be damaged by hard frost.
Some perennials can be treated as halfhardy annuals and sown indoors early in
the year (see page 7) in a propagator,
greenhouse or indoors for transplanting
in late spring to flower during the
summer.
However, the majority of perennials,
including the stately lupins, hollyhocks
and delphiniums, can be grown in the
nursery bed in spring, transplanted to
their permanent positions in the border
in the autumn, to flower the following
season.
Remember these plants will lose their
leaves in late autumn so it is prudent to
mark the planting position with a label
or stake.
Unlike annuals which complete their life
cycle in one year, perennials will occupy
the same site for years, so thorough
preparation of the soil is important to
12
ensure the plants enjoy a long and
healthy life.
The site should be free-draining because
waterlogging is fatal to this group of
plants. Equally, it should not dry out too
rapidly. The best way of achieving a welldrained but moisture retentive soil is to
incorporate plenty of organic material
into the top 6-12in ( 15-30cm). Well
rotted farmyard manure, home made
compost, spent peat from growing bags,
and mushroom compost are all suitable
for turning into the soil before
transplanting the perennials from the
nursery bed.
The addition of about 4oz (112g) to the
square yard/metre of a balanced organic
fertilizer, such as fish emulsion or bone
meal, worked into the top 6in (15cm) of
the soil will help the plants to grow away
strongly.
An annual dressing of the same fertilizer
followed by a mulch of manure or
compost will ensure your perennials have
a long and healthy life.
Successful management of the border
perennials involves such things as slug
control in the spring, staking and division
of mature plants.
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
Transplanting
When seeds germinate, the first leaves to
appear are the cotyledons or seed leaves.
These are usually a pair of oval, fleshy
leaves that bear no resemblance to the
mature leaves of the plant.
The conventional advice is that seedlings
should not be pricked out or transplanted
until the first true leaves appear, but the
gardener must exercise common sense
and move them on only when they are
large enough to handle. In the case of
large seedlings, such as courgettes
(squash) or marrows, this could be before
the true leaves have developed and it is
sound advice to sow such subjects
individually in small pots.
Removing tiny seedlings from the sowing
container into trays of a good universal
compost can be a delicate business. The
golden rule is never to handle the plants
by their stems, which bruise easily, but
always by their seed leaves.
Some people use a sharpened popsicle or
tapered piece of wood. such as an ice
jolly stick, or a metal device called a
widger to separate and ease out the
seedlings, taking care not to damage the
delicate roots.
GENTLY LEVER
OUT SEEDLING
WITH AS MUCH
ROOT AS
POSSIBLE
MAKE HOLES IN
POT OR SEED
TRAYS WITH A
PENCIL
Invariably there will be more seedlings to
transplant than available trays to
accommodate them, so some will have to
be sacrificed or given to friends or put
into the compost bin. The important
point is to give the transplanted seedlings
adequate space to become sturdy young
plants. As a rough guide, allow about 50
seedlings to each full size tray.
It is good planning to prepare the
planting holes in the trays of wellmoistened compost before you actually
lift out the seedlings from the sowing
container. Simply ease each seedling into
position with the roots falling neatly into
the hole, then gently firm the compost
into contact with the baby plant while
still holding it by the seed leaf.
Proprietary composts contain enough
plant food to give the pricked-out
seedlings a good start in life, but you can,
if you wish, start feeding with a dilute
liquid fertilizer, such as Plant start, after a
couple of weeks or so.
HOLD BY SEED
LEAVES & DROP
INTO HOLE
FIRM SOIL
AROUND
SEEDLING WITH
DIBBER
WATER GENTLY
WITH A FINE
SPRAY
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
13
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
Hardening Off
Half-hardy annuals, half-hardy perennials
and some vegetable seeds have to be
germinated indoors because they would
be damaged by frost, harsh winds or cool
growing conditions.
They are sown early in the year in a
heated greenhouse, propagator, warm
room or even, to start off, in the airing
cupboard. Most seeds need a minimum
temperature of 65F (18C) and will
tolerate a drop overnight to about 50F
(10C), but there are exceptions and they
are dealt with separately.
Once the seedlings emerge they must be
given plenty of light, although not direct
sunlight, until they are large enough to
be transplanted into trays (see page 13).
The final operation before planting out is
to harden off the young plants. The ideal
is gradually to acclimatize the seedlings
to the harsher conditions of the great
outdoors. Allow a minimum of ten days
to do this, and preferably longer.
NIGHT - PROTECT INDOORS
14
Start by putting the trays in a sheltered
position outdoors for two hours during
daylight and lowering the temperature
of the greenhouse or propagator for the
rest of the day. Slowly increase the period
that the plants are outside so that by the
time the frosts are finished, the plants
are fully conditioned to being outside.
Don't forget that the trays will need
watering but should be protected from
heavy rain.
When the young plants are transplanted
to their flowering positions they may still
need some protection against the
damaging effects of strong, cold winds.
A very useful aid to successful hardening
off is a cold frame. It should be large
enough to accommodate all the seed
trays, but can be a very simple
inexpensive structure. During the day the
lights - that's the glass or plastic cover
over the walls of the frame - can be
opened or removed altogether, but put
back into position overnight.
DAY - SHELTERED OUTDOORS
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
Sowing Outdoors
As with many other aspects of life,
preparation is an important factor in
successful seed raising. For those seeds
that can be sown directly into the soil,
preparation involves ensuring the site is
in a suitable condition. This means the
soil should be free of weeds, large stones
and debris and be broken down as finely
as possible to what's called a fine tilth.
This is achieved by forking over the top
few inches of soil, then raking it to as
crumbly a texture as possible.
For many vegetables, some hardy annuals
and tree seeds a special seed bed is
prepared in an open but sheltered
position. The seed is sown thinly in drills
made to the recommended sowing depth
for that particular variety. To make the
drill you can use the reverse side of the
rake head to make a V-shaped drill
following a taut garden line.
Alternatively, you can lay the rake, teeth
uppermost, along the garden line and
gently press the handle into the soil to
make a U-shaped drill.
1. FORK SOIL
5. SOW SEED
2. FIRM DOWN
6. COVER
3. RAKE TO A FINE TILTH
7. LABEL
4. DRAW DRILL
8. THIN OUT
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
15
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
The important thing is that the seed
should be in good contact with the soil.
In dry conditions it is advisable to
moisten the drill thoroughly before
sowing, and some gardeners believe that
lining the drill with moist peat is an aid
to even germination.
After sowing the seed, rake soil over the
drill or cover with peat and firm it with
the flat face of the rake. The final touch
is to mark the drill with a plant label
giving the type of seed variety and date
sown.
Where birds are Iikely to be a nuisance
they can be deterred by stretching
strands of black cotton along the rows or
by covering the drills with wire-netting
guards.
Annual flower seeds can, of course, be
sown directly into those parts of the
garden where they will flower.
For best results choose sunny areas that
are well drained. At sowing time the soil
should be moist and at a minimum
temperature of 50F (10C). Annuals don't
need a nutrient-rich soil, so dressings of
artificial fertilizer aren't necessary. All
soils and plants benefit, however, from
organic matter that has been dug in to
the top few inches of the soil early in the
year.
The most effective technique when
sowing a range of annuals is to sow the
seed in patches, rather than in regimental
lines.
It's helpful to draw a plan of your
intentions, placing the various varieties
according to their height, spread and
colour scheme you are aiming for.
Prepare the soil as described above, then
mark out the groups with a trickle of fine
sand or flour. Sow the seed by sprinkling
it as evenly as possible. One way of doing
this is to put the seed into a triangular
wedge of paper, held in one hand while
tapping it with the fore-finger of the
other hand.
Annuals need only a light covering of soil
which can either be sieved over the seed
or the soil can be raked gently after
sowing then firmed with the flat face of
the rake.
When the seed has germinated it will be
necessary to thin out any seedlings that
are overcrowded. Do this as soon as
possible after emergence, but a further
thinning out might be needed when the
plants have developed several pairs of
true leaves. Remember that in the early
life of the seedlings adequate space is a
key factor in determining the plants'
subsequent development, so weeds must
also be kept under control.
Hanging Baskets
Hanging baskets add a whole new
dimension to gardening, helping to
utilize all the available space. With
hanging baskets you can not only
brighten up a sunny wall, but with the
right choice of plants,use them to
brighten up shady areas, for porches,
conservatories and even provide fresh
herbs through the winter with an indoor
basket next to a sunny window.
There are several different types of
basket available from the old favourite
wire mesh type, which is almost
16
indestructible, to solid plastic types which
are almost like a large pot. Wire types
can be planted through the sides and
bottom to give a floral ball effect,
whereas solid plastic ones hold water for
much longer and you don't need to line
them.
When planting your basket first make
sure the young plants or seedlings are at
the correct stage. They should be sturdy,
well rooted and at the stage for
transplanting.
G R O W I N G
Planting the basket
If using a mesh basket, you will need
some form of liner to prevent the soil
falling out. This could be plastic film, a
garbage bag or moss. Moss ensures
excellent drainage and high humidity
both of which help the plants to grow
well, but you will need to water more
often than with the other liners which
are easier to use, although you will
usually have to punch holes in them to
insert the plants.
The plastic pot type basket can only
planted at the top and it's simple
procedure to fill with compost and put in
the plants, remembering to leave space
at the top for watering.
With wire baskets, when using moss, line
the bottom of the basket with a layer of
moss about I in thick and build the moss
up to about halfway up the sides. Then
fill the centre with a moist, good, free
draining soilless compost, preferably one
specially prepared for hanging baskets.
Alternatively you can make up your own
by mixing 1 part Vermiculite with 3 parts
standard soilless potting compost, and a
slow release fertilizer. These will ensure
that the water is distributed evenly, that
it is held for as long as possible and that
the plants are fed through the season.
Insert the first layer of plants by carefully
pushing the leaves through the mesh,
pack plenty of moss around the plants
and fill up the centre with compost,
gently firming around the roots as you
go. Make sure you leave a space large
enough to take the roots of the plant
which is to go in the centre and build up
the outer layer of moss as you go.
Before planting the top, first arrange the
plants to their best effect and then plant
firmly, making a slight dip in the centre
to prevent run-off when watering. If
possible, finish off the top with a layer of
moss to improve the look of the basket
and conserve water.
I N F O R M A T I O N
Provided you are using a good compost
and you are prepared to feed and water
regularly, you will find the best effect
comes from putting plenty of plants in
the basket. With bedding plants it is a
good rule of thumb to put in at least one
plant per inch of basket diameter, that is
12 plants for a 12in (30cm) basket.
However if you are using only strongly
growing plants such as Fuchsias or
Geraniums, then it's better to restrict it to
5 per 12in (30cm) basket.
Once planted, give the basket a good
watering with a watering can to settle
the soil around the roots and stand in a
greenhouse for 2-3 weeks. If no
greenhouse is available, then place in a
cold frame, or failing this, outside in a
shady, sheltered spot and bring it indoors
each evening. During this period, turn
the baskets each day to ensure even
growth, dead head the flowers as they
fade and pinch out the growing points of
any long, straggly plants to ensure bushy
plants.
Moving Outdoors
When the plants are well established the
weather is mild and warm, with all risk of
frost having passed, the baskets can be
hung in their final position. Use a suitably
strong bracket, a 9in (22cm) bracket is
suitable for a 12in (30cm) basket, and
secure firmly. A sunny wall which doesn't
get too hot, facing S.E. or S.W is best but
avoid a windy spot. Unless you have used
shade loving plants, the basket should be
in the sun for most of the day. Keep the
compost moist but not water logged by
frequent watering, usually once a day in
hot weather: Water in the evening for
preference. You can tell whether a basket
needs watering by testing with your
fingers the top 1in of soil. If the surface
only is dry then leave for another day.
When you water; water well roughly
giving about 1/2 gallon (2.3 liters) to each
basket. It is essential the compost is
neither too wet nor too dry as some
plants, like lobelia for example, never
recover from drying out.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
17
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
From mid June onwards it's usually
necessary to feed with a good liquid
fertilizer once a week, or you can give a
weekly feed of high potash fertilizer to
encourage flower production. Replace
once a month with a high Nitrogen feed
to prevent the foliage going yellow.
Finally dead head the plants regularly,
particularly Mimulus, Geraniums,
Nasturtiums and similar; to ensure a
succession of flowers.
Baskets for Vegetables and Herbs
These need a little more attention but
can be both attractive and productive.
They must never be allowed to dry out
and for this reason wire baskets are best
lined with polythene. Suitable subjects
are Bush Cucumbers, Chili Peppers,
Lettuce Salad Bowl, Parsley and Tomatoes
and herbs like Basil, Sage, Chamomile,
Chives, Marjoram, Sorrel and Thyme.
Vegetables need more space than
bedding plants and a tomato such as
"Christmas Grape" or a pepper such as
"Jingle Bells Hybrid" should be planted 3
per 14in (35cm) basket, whereas with
cucumbers, like "Straight Eight", one
plant per basket is sufficient. Feed weekly
with a high Nitrogen feed, grow most of
them in a sheltered spot, but provide a
little shade for herbs and shade from
strong sun for cucumbers.
Everlasting or Dried Flowers
There are four popular ways of drying
flowers: Air drying, glycerine, moist
drying and by using a dessicant. In the
chart overleaf we have listed the most
usual treatment for each subject. They
will probably also respond to other
treatments. Also there are doubtless
many other plants we offer which can be
dried for their flowers or foliage which
haven't been mentioned here.
Air Drying
Air drying is the simplest method, pick
the flowers with as long a stem as
possible when they are just fully out.
Strip off the leaves and hang them upside
down in bunches of 3-6 stems in a cool,
dark, airy place until fully dry.
Glycerine
Glycerine is helpful in giving grasses a
lovely silken sheen or to retain a plant's
suppleness. Dilute 1 part glycerine in 2
parts hot (boiled) water, mix together
well and stand the plant in a jar
containing 2-3in (5-7.5cm) of the mixture.
Leave for 4-5 days until they change
colour.
Moist Drying
Leave on the plant until the flowers are
fully mature then cut, remove all the
foliage and stand in a jar containing 2in
(5cm) of water.
18
Once this has been used up they should
be left to dry naturally. If the petals show
signs of withering once the water is used
up add a little more water.
Dessicant
This method is useful for the more fleshy
flowers which don't dry easily by any
other method. Use a cardboard shoe box
or similar and cover the bottom with 1/23/4in (12-18mm) of dessicant (silica gel or
similar). Place the flowers on this and
work the dessicant carefully in among the
petals until they are full covered and only
the stem shows. For a first attempt it's
best to start with daisy like flowers which
should be placed face downwards on the
dessicant. Seal the lid on the box with
tape and place in a WARM, DRY place
until dry. The time taken will depend on
the size and texture of the flowers, but it
usually takes around 2 weeks. Lift the
flowers out with extreme care and brush
off any surplus dessicant with a soft paint
brush.
Seed Heads and Gourds
Leave the seed heads on the plant until
fully ripe and bring in and air dry for
several weeks. Gourds should be
harvested when fully ripe, this can be
seen by the fruit changing colour and
becoming hard. Leave them on the vine a
little longer if you are doubtful. Cut the
G R O W I N G
gourd with a small piece of stem
attached and bring in to room
temperature to dry. After several weeks
when fully dry they can be given a coat
of clear: varnish if required. Luffa Gourds
turn brown and become lighter in weight
at maturity, bring indoors, wash in a mild
non-bleaching disinfectant and hang in a
VARIETY
TYPE
DRYING
METHOD
Acanthus
Achillea
Aconitum
Alchemilla
Allium
Amaranthus
Ambrosinia
Ammobium
Anaphalis
Anemone
Anthemis
Asclepias
Astilbe
Astrantia
Belamcanda
Bellis
Calendula
Carlina
Catananche
Celosia
Centaurea
Cephalaria
Cephalipterum
Chrysanthemum
Clary
Cortaderia
Craspedia
Crocosmia
Dahlia
Delphinium
Digitalis
Dipsacus
Echinacea
Echinops
Emilia
Erigeron
Erynigium
Euphorbia
Feverfew
HP
HP
HP
HP
HP
HHA
HHA
HHA
HP
HP
HP
HP
HP
HP
HP
HB
HA
HP
HP
HHA
HA
HP
HHA
HP
HA
HP
HHA
HP
HHA
HP
HB
HB
HP
HP
HHA
HP
HP
HP
HP
A
A
D
A or G or M
SH
A or G or M
A
A
A
D
D
SH
D
G
SH
D
A
A
A
A
D
SH
A
D
D
A or G
A
D
D
D
D
SH
SH
A
A
D
A or D
G
D
CODE: A = Air Drying
D = Dessicant
I N F O R M A T I O N
warm, dry, airy place. When ready you
will be able to remove the dry outer skin.
The inner fruit body must then be soaked
in clean water for a few days to help
remove the soft inner tissue and seeds
and then dried and bleached in the sun
or with Hydrogen Peroxide.
VARIETY
TYPE
Gentian
HP
Glaucium
HB
Gnaphalium
HP
Godetia
HA
Gomphrena
HHA
Gourds
HHA
Grasses
HP/HA
Gypsophila
HP
Helichrysum
HP/HHA
Helipterum
HA
Helleborus
HP
Heuchera
HP
Hollyhock
HHA
Iberis
HA
Larkspur
HA
Lavender
HSH
Lawrencellia
HHA
Limonium
HHA
Lonas
HA
Lunaria
HB
Matricaria
HA
Molucella
HHA
Myosotis
HB
Nicandra
HA
Nigella
HA
Papaver
HA
Phlomis
HP
Physalis
HP
Podolepis
HHA
Psilostrophe
HP
Pulsatilla
HP
Rhodanthe
HHA
Scabioisa (Drumstick) HA
Sedum
HP
Stachys
HP
Tagetes
HHA
Verbascum
HP
Xeranthemum
HA
G = Glycerine
M = Moisture
DRYING
METHOD
D
SH
A
D
A
SH
A
A
A
A
D
D
D
SH
A
SH
A
A
A
SH
A
A or D or G
D
SH
SH
SH
A
SH
A
A
SH
A
A
M
A
D
SH
A
SH = Dried Seed Head
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
19
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
F1 Hybrids
What is an F1 Hybrid ?
F1 hybrids are seeds which are produced
by a complicated breeding process where
two pure breeding parent lines are
crossed together to form seed which is
known as F1 hybrid seed. Plants grown
from F1 hybrid seed are usually very
uniform in growth. Also F1 hybrids have
what is known as Hybrid vigour'. Which
means that F1 vegetables give increased
yields and F1 flowers give a much better
floral display.
The seeds from these hybrids are a little
more expensive than normal seed and
this is because of the care which is
needed when producing them. An F1
Hybrid starts its life in the imagination of
the plant breeder who has a very clear
vision of what he wants to produce.
He gets together existing varieties which
have the characteristics he requires in the
new Hybrid, perhaps earliness of
flowering or a particularly nice colour
and he starts by producing lines of seed
which always breed true. That is if you
collect seed from them and sow it the
seedlings will resemble the parents in
every way, this in itself is a long and
painstaking task.
Once the breeder has the necessary pure
breeding lines he or she starts to make
crosses between them and studies the
resulting seedlings. Its a long process but
eventually, usually after about 5 years,
the breeder is satisfied that if certain
varieties are crossed the seeds produced
will give the new variety. That's when the
work really starts!
The breeder can now go into commercial
production and this means that the two
selected parent lines are raised and
planted out close to each other: Now the
task is to stop them from self pollinating,
and to do this often the flowers due to
receive the pollen need to have their
pollen bearing parts removed by hand,
with tweezers! Then the pollen from the
other line is brushed onto the stigma of
the flower in order to cross pollinate it
and the flower may be put inside a bag
to prevent any insects visiting it with
pollen.
If the cross pollination works then later
the seed can be harvested and when
sown it will ALL produce plants which are
identical.
An added problem for the grower is that
he or she must continue to maintain the
pure breeding lines AND carry out the
cross pollination process each time a crop
of F1 Hybrids is needed.
F2 Hybrids
Usually seed saved from F1 Hybrids do
not produce plants which are anything
like the F1, but with some flowers, some
Geraniums, Impatiens and Petunias for
example, the 'F2 generation' will produce
excellent plants which although they
won't be quite as good as F I Hybrids
make a good show and have the benefit
of being cheaper.
Raising F1 Hybrid Geraniums From Seeds
When to sow
From sowing to flowering will take
around 18-20 weeks, depending on the
sowing date and other important factors
such as light, temperature etc.
For earliest flowers sow from mid to late
December onwards to produce flowers in
20
late April, early May. An early January
sowing should produce flowers in midlate May. An autumn sowing can also be
made for overwintering.
How to sow
Use a moist, free draining seed compost.
Sow carefully in a half seed tray or small
G R O W I N G
pot spacing the seeds out so that each
has maximum space and cover with a thin
layer of compost 1/8in (3 mm). Water
gently after sowing with a fine rose or
mist spray and cover the seed container
with a sheet of glass or cover with a
polythene bag and seal with an elastic
band. Turn the glass daily and remove
once the seedlings have germinated.
Ensure that the compost stays moist and
not wet.
Temperature
It is essential that a steady warm soil
temperature is maintained 70-75F
(21 -24C) is best and at this temperature
the seedlings can emerge in 3-21 days.
I N F O R M A T I O N
be gradually reduced, until at
approximately 6-8 weeks after potting,
the night temperature is 55-60F (13-15C).
During the day, the temperature can be
allowed to rise to 70-75F (21-24C). Lower
growing temperatures are quite
acceptable but the plants will take longer
to develop. To get flowers in early July
the temperature can be reduced to 65F
(18C) after germination (or pricking out if
applicable) and two months after sowing
reduced again to 45F (7C). It is impossible
to be entirely definite about this timing
because varieties vary in their natural
rate of maturity and light levels also play
a significant part.
Spacing
One important factor in successful
germination of geraniums is constant
moisture in the early stages. If the seed
starts to germinate and the delicate
young root comes in contact with dry
compost it will probably not survive.
Once the plants have germinated the
temperature can be reduced somewhat
but the growing on temperature will
influence the date of flowering.
Aftercare
Transplanting
Two moves should be made; first prick
out into boxes as soon as the seedlings
can be handled, which may be as early as
7-10 days after sowing; second 5-6 weeks
after sowing, pot up into 3-4in (10cm)
pots. In each case use a light, well
drained potting compost and water in
gently.
Temperature
After pricking out, maintain an air
temperature of 65F (18C) at night and
70F (21C) during the day. Keep at these
levels until 1 -2 weeks after potting (to
encourage rooting) after which it should
Always give the plants adequate space to
give good air circulation and to ensure
healthy growth. Ensure that there is a
space between each plant and that leaves
are not touching. (You should aim for
3-4, 4in (10cm) pots per square foot or
5-6, 3in (7.5cm) pots per square foot).
Water and Food
Geraniums need regular feeding while in
growth, or small hard plants with
yellowed leaves will result. Commence
regular feeding with liquid fertilizer 3-4
weeks after transplanting. Likewise care
should be taken with watering, they will
suffer if kept over wet but too little
water will slow down the growth and
delay flowering.
Autumn Sowing
Recent research at a government research
station has revealed another successful
approach. Now that heating equipment is
more sophisticated and insulation and
other heat saving techniques have
improved so much, there is an argument
for sowing seed in autumn and growing
through the winter very cool. Seed is
sown in October, when ambient
temperatures are still fairly high so fuel
costs are reasonable, and then grown
right through the winter and spring at
45F (7C). This system saves a little on fuel
compared with January sowing but
produces earlier flowering and better
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
21
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
plants. Flowering time is more
comparable with plants grown from
January sowing but kept at higher
temperatures. Whichever method is
chosen, regular feeding is necessary as is
attention to disease control, especially on
overwintered plants. Autumn sown plants
should be watered by hand to avoid over
wet compost in the winter months when
growth is slow. Of course, if you are
overwintering young seed raised plants,
you can utilize the warmth to keep
fuchsias, regal pelargoniums and other
tender perennials through the winter and
so make the best of your insulation and
fuel.
Herbs
Several herbs can be grown in a hanging
basket, window box and even on a sunny
well lit windowsill with just a little extra
care. Sow them at any time from
February to early August, raise them in
the usual way and prick out into 3in
(7.5cm) pots of a good free draining seed
compost. Some herbs like Chives can be
left as they are without pricking out at
all, as they are happy when crowded
together: Make sure that the pots are
always in a good light and reasonably
cool. A regular mist spray will help to
keep them fresh during the summer;
when they will need watering regularly.
When growing well give them a treat
with a weak liquid feed. During the
winter, watering should be done
sparingly, so that the plants just keep
ticking over: Pick the foliage sparingly
from spring to late summer and pluck a
few sprigs throughout the winter too.
Following are some of the herbs that do
well on a windowsill.
22
Basil - a sun lover; excellent for pasta
sauces. Grow in the best available light.
Chives - has a mild onion flavour; it will
tolerate a little shade. Snip off the top couple of inches with scissors.
Marjoram - an all purpose herb also
known as Oregano, likes full sun. Pick the
leaves at the top of the plant just before
it flowers.
Parsley - will tolerate a little shade, sow
in spring for summer use and in August /
September for winter use.
Thyme - an attractive low growing herb
to grace any windowsill. Its strongly
fragrant leaves are excellent fresh or
dried. It prefers plenty of light and
should not be overwatered.
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
Plants For The Top Of Wall
Some plants can be sown in crevices on
top of a wall to cascade down over it,
provided that there are deep enough
pockets of soil for the plants to get their
roots into. There should be hole at least
as big as a 4-5in (10-12cm) pot for
successful growth and development.
Sow in August/September or March/April
mixing some moist compost with the
seed. Pack the hole with seed compost
and then sprinkle the mixture of seed
and compost on top and firm down.
Moisten the soil with a fine mist spray
and keep moist until the seedlings are
well established.
The following perennials should prove
suitable:
Alyssum saxatile
Arabis Snow Peak
Campanula 'Blue Chip'
Dianthus
Evening Primrose Pink Petticoats
Foxglove Foxy
Snow in Summer (Cerastium)
Thymus serpyllum
Plants To Grow Between Cracks In Paving
Some plants can be sown in cracks in
paving, provided that the roots can grow
under the paving into moist soil. Sow in
August/September or March/April mixing
some moist seed compost with the seed.
Pack the cracks with this mixture, firm
down and moisten the soil with a fine
mist spray. Keep moist until the seedling
are well established.
The following rockery plants should
prove suitable:
Alyssum Saxatile
Campanula 'Blue Chip'
Coreopsis 'American Dream'
Dianthus Artic Fire F2 Hybrid
Melampodium Derby
Snow in Summer (Cerastium
tomentosum)
McKenzie Steppable
Plant Varieties:
• Creeping Thyme
• Irish Moss
• Alpine Alyssum
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
23
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
Grow Your Own Fresh Vegetables
The bean family
The bean family are excellent crops for
the amateur. Broad, dwarf or French and
runner beans are all highly nutritious and
unfussy in terms of soil and climate.
Broad beans
These are the earliest of the family to put
in an appearance. For a family of two
adults and two children self-sufficiency in
this crop means allowing space for three
15ft (4.5m) rows with the rows 18in
(45cm) apart and the plants about 12in
(30cm) apart.
four is achieved with two 15ft (4.5m) rows
to produce about 100 to 150 lb of fresh
beans. The seed is sown 2in (5cm) deep
and 9in (23cm) apart.
Dwarf or French beans
These are half-hardy and produce their
crop after the main flush of broad beans,
but before the runner beans come on
stream.
Prepare the site by digging in home-made
compost, well-rotted farmyard manure or
a proprietary organic compost, followed
by a dressing of dolomitic limestone or
calcified seaweed. Prior to sowing give
the site 40z (112g) per square yard/metre
of a balanced fertilizer.
For self-sufficiency allow three or four
rows 15ft (4.5m) long and about 10in
(25cm) apart. Delay sowing until the soil
temperature has reached a minimum of
50F (10C), because cold, wet soil will rot
the seed. Sow when the last frost has
gone, placing the seed about 2in (5cm)
deep and about 9in (23cm) apart in the
rows. Alternatively, sow the seed in trays
or singly in pots in a frost-free greenhouse for transplanting in late spring.
Sow the seed singly in peat pots in a cold
greenhouse or cold frame in late winter
or sow direct into the soil 2in (5cm) deep
in early spring.
It is important to keep the crop picked
while the pods are young, tender and
stringless. Freeze any surplus as you go
along.
Blackfly can be a problem, so when you
see the first small beans have formed,
pinch out the growing tip of each plant
and cook them like spinach. If blackfly
does get a hold, spray in the evening with
a pyrethrum spray.
The brassica family
Runner beans
One of the most popular of the summer
vegetables and will happily grow up a
garden fence, poles or wigwam of canes
to give a plentiful supply of tender;
succulent beans from early summer
through to the first frosts of the late
autumn.
For best results prepare the site by
digging in compost or manure, followed
in early spring by a dressing of dolomitic
limestone or calcified seaweed. In spring
give a dressing of a balanced fertilizer.
Delay sowing until all danger of frost has
passed and never when the soil is cold
and wet. Self- sufficiency for a family of
24
This is a delicious group of vegetables
that includes Brussels sprouts, cabbages,
cauliflowers and broccoli. There are
varieties to suit every size of family as
well as techniques that enable the size of
cabbages, for example, to be controlled.
All members of this family, except the
spring greens, require a soil that is well
supplied with organic material, while a
spring dressing of a balanced fertilizer is
beneficial, on all but alkaline soils, a
dressing of dolomitic limestone in early
spring is recommended.
All brassicas (including kohl rabi, swedes
and turnips) should be rotated in the
vegetable garden. This means moving
them to a different site every year for
three years. Rotation helps to avoid a
build-up of soil pests and diseases. At
transplanting brassicas should be
protected from cabbage root fly damage
by the use of a fibre disc or square cut
from old carpet underlay.
G R O W I N G
Broccoli, green and white
sprouting
Purple sprouting broccoli is a gourmet
vegetable that everyone can grow. It is
rich in dietary fibre and has as much
vitamin C as oranges. Of all the brassicas,
this gives the best return for the space it
occupies. A bonus is that sprouting
broccoli is cropped when other green
vegetables are in short supply.
One row of 15ft (4.5m) will accommodate
six plants to give self-sufficiency for a
family of four. Sow the seed in spring in a
seed bed 1/2in (1.25cm) deep and
transplant when the seedlings are about
4in (10cm) tall 2ft (60cm) apart each way
Cut the tender shoots, beginning with the
centre, while the flower buds are still in a
tight bunch and continue taking the
shoots for up to seven weeks.
I N F O R M A T I O N
spring in the seed bed, and transplant to
rows 20in (50cm) apart, allowing 12in
(30cm) between the plants. Each plant
should yield about 1 Ib (450g) of spears.
Cauliflowers
This crop is rather more fussy than the
other brassicas. It needs an organicallyrich soil and must never go short of water.
It also needs a generous amount of space.
For an early summer crop, sow the seed
indoors in winter in trays and propagate
at about 60-65F (15- 18C). Transplant in
early spring 18 x 24in (45 x 60cm) apart.
Autumn maturing varieties are sown in a
seed bed in spring and transplanted in
early summer 24 x 28in (60 x 70cm) apart.
Sow the seed 1/2in (1.25cm) deep, thin to
3in (7.5cm) apart and transplant when the
plants have made five or six leaves.
Kohl rabi
Brussels sprouts
Crisp texture, a nutty flavour and a long
cropping season make this one of the
stalwarts of autumn and winter meals,
Choose a variety to suit the space you
have available. Sow in a seed bed 1/2in
(1.25cm) deep from early to mid spring
for transplanting in late spring or early
summer 3ft (90cm) apart. Water the
young plants before transplanting and
firm the soil very thoroughly afterwards.
Cabbage
Raise the plants in a seed bed (see page
15) and transplant when the seedlings
have made four or five leaves. Summer
cabbage is sown in spring 1/2in (1.25cm)
deep for planting out in early to
midsummer 12-18in (30-45cm) apart.
Winter cabbages are sown in late spring
for planting in mid-summer 9-18in (2345cm) apart. Planting distances have a
major impact on the finished size of the
cabbage: close planting results in small
cabbages.
A delicious alternative to turnips and
many people find it easier to grow. The
edible part is the swollen stem which can
be cooked whole or sliced when about
the size of a tennis ball. Sow the seed in
spring 1/2in (1.25cm) deep in rows 12in
(30cm) apart for use in summer. Thin out
to 4-6in (10-15cm) apart. Sow the winter
crop in mid-summer.
Carrots and other root crops
No wonder that carrots are one of the
most popular of all vegetables. They
contain more vitamin A than any other
vegetable, are high in vitamin C and
dietary fibre and have an important
content of mineral salts and trace
elements.
In the root crop category there are also
parsnips, turnips, swedes and kohl rabi, all
nutritious, easy to grow crops that require
relatively little space yet give a bountiful
return. What's more, any surplus can be
stored over the winter to give variety to
winter meals.
Calabrese
This follows the sprouting broccoli and
can be sown successionally to give tender,
succulent spears right through to early
winter: Sow 1/2in (1.25cm) deep in early
Carrots
Sow successionally to give baby carrots in
late spring and early summer followed by
the main crop. Sow an early variety in a
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
25
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
sheltered position in the garden with the
main crop sowings in mid to late spring.
Sow the seed 1/2in (1.25cm) deep with the
rows 6in (15cm) apart. Thin out in stages
to 4-6in (10-15cm) apart.
Two 15ft (4.5cm) rows of main crop
carrots will give a yield of 60 to 80 lb and
the roots can be lifted from late summer
onward, In favourable areas the crop can
be left in the ground with a covering of
straw or plastic sheeting and lifted as
required.
seedlings to 6in (15cm) apart. Keep the
plants well watered in dry weather. Lift
and store in late autumn as for parsnips.
Swede Turnip (Rutabaga)
These are a hardy root crop requiring an
open site and a long growing period. Sow
in late spring in drills 1/2in (1.25cm) deep
and 18in (45cm) apart. Thin the seedlings
to 6in (15cm) apart. Turnips and swedes
are brassicas and should, if possible, be
rotated with others of the family.
Celery and celeric
The main pest of the crop is the carrot fly
which lays its eggs alongside the plants.
When they hatch the maggots tunnel into
the roots causing the plants to wilt and,
eventually, to die while the roots become
riddled with holes.
Celery is a crop that repays a lot of
attention, while celeriac is more hardy
and requires rather less management.
Both crops have a characteristic nutty
flavour and are delicious raw in winter
salads or cooked as a vegetable.
The only effective control is to erect a
barrier to prevent the fly reaching the
crop. Woven plastic fleece can be placed
over the seedlings or panels of polythene
sheeting tacked to wooden frames can be
erected round the rows.
Trench celery requires early preparation of
the site with a 1ft (30cm) trench dug early
in the year: The bottom is filled with 6in
(15cm) of manure or compost, followed
by a 3in (7.5cm) layer of soil. The
remainder of the soil is used for earthing
up the crop.
Parsnips
Parsnip seed is very slow to germinate, so
a sowing in early spring as soon as the soil
is workable is recommended. Sow in rows
1in (2.5cm) deep with the rows 12in
(30cm) apart. Thin out gradually to one
seedling every 5-8in (13-20cm). Some
gardeners sow a quicker growing marker
crop, such as radish, to indicate the
position of the drills. Mature parsnips may
be left in the ground over the winter for
lifting as required or the entire crop can
be lifted and stored in peat or sand.
Turnips
This is a dual-purpose vegetable: delicious
when small and tender as a late spring
crop; versatile and long-lasting as a winter
vegetable, Choose a quick-maturing
variety, such as Early Snowball, for sowing
1/2in (1.25cm) deep in rows 6in (15cm)
apart in early spring. Harvest the roots
when they are about the size of tennis
balls and use the tops as spring greens.
Sow the maincrop, such as Rapa da
Mensa, in mid-summer and thin the
26
Self-blanching and green celery varieties
require no earthing up and are rapidly
increasing in popularity, while celeriac is
treated as a root crop and can be stored
in peat or sand for use throughout the
winter.
Seeds for both are sown indoors in early
spring in trays of compost at 55-60F (1316C). Surface sow celery as the seed needs
light to germinate, but lightly cover the
celeriac. At the two true leaf stage prick
out the seedlings into boxes at about 31in
(7.5cm) apart or individually into small
pots. Harden off the plants gradually
when the weather starts to warm up and
plant out in early summer.
Allow about 9in (23cm) apart each way
for celery Plants and slightly more for the
celeriac. Both crops need adequate
moisture throughout the growing period.
Celery should be protected from autumn
frosts with straw, boxes, or landscape
fabric. Celeriac can be lifted in late
autumn and stored.
G R O W I N G
Chinese vegetables
Interesting flavours, versatility in use and
the ease with which they can be grown
make chinese vegetables valuable
additions to western gardens. There's the
bonus that most of them are ready to
harvest in late autumn and winter when
the choice of traditional vegetables is
rather restricted.
Chinese cabbages
Looking somewhat like a self-folding cos
lettuce with conical hearts and crinkled
leaves, are quite unlike lettuce or
cabbage. The flavour is delicate and the
texture crisp when eaten raw as a salad,
while when cooked the flavour and
nutritional values are retained.
Choose a site that is slightly alkaline but
rich in organic matter and highly water
retentive. Chinese cabbages are shortday
plants, that's to say, they give their best
performance in late autumn and early
winter.
Sow direct into soil blocks or 3in (7.5cm)
peat pots and maintain a minimum
temperature of 50F (10C) from germination to planting out. Transplant at the
two-leaf stage, allowing 12in (30cm) apart
each way. The plants are shallow- rooted
and must never be allowed to dry out.
Water thoroughly and mulch with peat,
home- made compost or composted bark.
The mature hearts should be cut just
above ground level. Although best eaten
immediately after cutting, the hearts can
be stored for up to three weeks in the
salad compartment of the refrigerator.
These are members of the brassica family
who should be protected from cabbage
root fly and rotated as a precaution
against disease.
I N F O R M A T I O N
1/2in (1.25cm) deep in drills 15in (38cm)
apart and thin out to 9in (23cm) apart.
A feature of Pak Choi is that the tender
succulent leaves with thick stalks are mild
flavoured and never become tough, so
there's no waste. They are equally
suitable as a cooked vegetable or raw in
salads.
If sown direct into the garden, unheated
greenhouse or cold frame, the thinnings
can be used as salad material, giving the
plants a spacing of 8in (20cm) apart each
way to grow to maturity.
Chinese Greens
These embrace a number of interesting,
nutritional crops grown for their succulent
leaves. Spinach round leaf (McKenzie
Chinese) matures very rapidly, being ready
in about 60 days after sowing. Sowing in
summer 3/4in (19mm) deep for cropping
in the winter, thinning the plants to
about 16in (40cm). The leaves are cut as
required when they are about 12in (30cm)
tall. Kailaan White flowered (McKenzie) is
grown in the same way but for the
delicious edible flower buds which should
be picked when the shoots are about 6in
(15cm) long and before the flowers open.
Green Giant (McKenzie) is also very hardy
and should be sown direct in late summer
or early autumn for winter cropping. It is
a mustard that should be cut when the
leaves are no more than about 9in (23cm)
tall otherwise the flavour becomes rather
strong. Pak Choi and the above are all
brassicas and should be rotated yearly.
Broad leafed Garlic Chives should be sown
1/4in (6mm) deep in early spring and drills
12in (30cm) apart. Thin out to 9in (23cm)
apart and cut off tops as required. The
clumps can be divided in spring after 2
years.
Pak Choi
A leafy brassica sown in spring for a
succession of cut and come again leaves
or sown in summer for harvesting in the
autumn. Seed sown direct into rich
organic soil will produce a crop ready for
harvesting within about six weeks. Sow
Zucchini/Summer squash
For any early start sow the seeds singly,
about 1/2in (1.25cm) deep, in small pots
and place in a warm position, such as the
airing cupboard or heated propagator
with a temperature of 65-70F (18-21C).
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
27
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
Remove to a warm, light position when
the seeds have germinated and harden
off gradually (see pg 13) for planting out
after the last spring frost.
A sunny, open site with humus-rich soil
that is never allowed to dry out is ideal
for this crop. Six plants spaced 3ft (1 m)
apart each way will give sufficient
Zucchini for a family of four; while four
bush or trailing squash plants will give an
adequate supply. For zucchini the fruit are
cut when they are about 4-6in (10-15cm)
long. Squash should be cut when the skins
can still be readily marked with the
thumbnail. A weekly feed with a liquid
fertilizer ensures a steady supply of young
fruits.
Cucumbers
Greenhouse varieties should be sown
early in the year singly in small pots of
peat-based compost with the seeds about
1/2in (1.25cm) deep. Place in a warm
position, such as the airing cupboard, or
heated propagator at 70-75F (21-24C).
Plant singly into 5in pots and grow at
about 65F(18C).
Plant out at the four-leaf stage into large
pots or directly into the garden. Water
regularly. Pinch out the growing point
and allow two side shoots to develop.
Spray with water well during hot weather
and feed weekly with a liquid fertilizer
high in phosphorous. All-female varieties
can be allowed to fruit only on the main
stem with the side shoots removed along
with any male flowers that might appear.
Outdoor cucumber seeds are started off
the same as the indoor cucumbers but
timed so that the plants are ready for
hardening off and transplanting in late
spring. Alternatively the seed can be sown
direct in late spring. Outdoor plants,
other than bush varieties, will trail and
should be given support to climb over:
Bush varieties can be grown directly in the
garden or large containers.
28
Herbs
Set aside a bed in a sunny position near to
the kitchen for this wonderful group of
plants and you will enjoy not only their
fragrance and beauty but also their
culinary benefits. Most herbs are best
used fresh as garnishing, in stuffings and
sauces, but the dried leaves are valuable
also, while some are grown specifically for
their seeds or for their aromatic quality.
In early spring prepare a fine tilth so that
the hardy annual herbs can be sown as
soon as the soil has warmed up to about
50F (10C). Sow the seed thinly in groups
and cover with finely-sifted soil.
Hardy perennials may be sown at this
time also or in the autumn, while halfhardy herbs should be sown in late spring
after danger of frost has passed.
The onion family
Onions, shallots and leeks are mainstays
of wintertime meals and have always
been firm favourites with amateur
gardeners. They do well in light, deeply
dug soil that has been manured the
previous autumn or winter and with a
dressing of a balanced fertilizer in early
spring.
The easiest way to grow onions is from
sets which are small immature onions that
have been heat treated. They can be
planted in early spring for harvesting in
early summer. You can plant direct into
moist soil or give them a start by placing
them on a tray of moist soil or peat
somewhere warm until the roots have
grown about an inch.
Plant the sets so that just the tip is
showing, allowing about 5in (13cm)
between each, and about 12in (30cm)
between the rows. One pound of onion
sets should give a finished crop of about
70 lb. When the foliage starts to turn
straw-coloured, ease the onions from the
soil and allow to dry off until the skins are
brittle. Hang the onions in nets or
traditional strings in a cool, dry place,
where they should remain in good
condition for at least six months.
G R O W I N G
Onions can also be grown very
successfully from seed sown under cover
in trays early in the year or in shallow
trenches outdoors. Transplant the
seedlings in spring at the same distances
as for sets and use any thinnings as salad
onions.
Winter onion varieties are sown in late
summer to overwinter and harvest the
following spring or early summer. Sow the
seeds about 1in (2cm) apart in shallow
trenches 9in (23cm) apart and thin out to
4in (10cm) apart the following spring. For
spring onions see page 32.
Shallots
Shallots, like small onions, are ideal for
pickling, for flavouring and for grating or
slicing in salads. They are grown from
bulbs, each of which produces 10-20
mature bulbs, and are planted in late
winter for harvesting in early summer.
Push the bulb into the soil to half its
depth, spacing the bulbs 6in (15cm) apart
and the rows 9in (23cm) apart. Ensure the
shallots are thoroughly dry before storing
in nets or trays where they will keep in
perfect condition for up to 12 months.
Leeks
The gourmet vegetable that every
gardener can grow. Seed can be sown
under glass in winter or outdoors in early
spring, very thinly about 1/2in (1.25cm)
deep. When the seedlings are about as
thick as pencils, transplant them to 6-8in
(15- 20cm) deep holes, made with a
dibber, and spaced 6in (15cm) apart each
way. Simply drop the leek into the hole,
then fill it with water. About three weeks
after planting out give the leeks a
dressing of a balanced organic fertilizer,
and a second dressing about three weeks
after the first. Leeks are hardy and should
be dug as required for the kitchen.
Melons
Sow the seed in early spring in a heated
propagator or greenhouse at a steady
temperature of 70-75F (21-24C), setting
each seed 1/2in (1.25cm) deep in a small
pot of peat- based compost.
I N F O R M A T I O N
At the four-leaf stage the plants can be
moved onto an open sunny site, allowing
each plant 3 feet of space.
In the greenhouse, plant in a border soil
enriched with well rotted compost or into
10in (25cm) pots. Train up wires and pinch
out the growing point when it reaches
the roof. While growing upward the main
stem will produce side shoots, let these
develop 2-3 leaves and then pinch out
their growing point also. these side shoots
will also produce shoots (sub-laterals) and
these too should be allowed to produce
2-3 leaves before the growing point is
pinched out. The female flowers grow
best on these sub-laterals.
Under cover it is advisable to hand
pollinate the female flowers (those with a
slight swelling behind the petals) by
dusting them with pollen from male
flowers which have no swelling at all.
Melons must have plenty of moisture at
all times along with regular feeding with
a liquid fertilizer.
To grow bush varieties and climbing types
in frames, pinch out the growing point
when it has 5 leaves. Pinch out the
growing point of the side shoots when
they have 3 leaves. Select 4 of the most
vigorous shoots and train these to 4
corners of the frame, then remove all the
other shoots. Plants may need some
direction from time to time.
Outdoor melons need a fertile well
drained soil which warms up early, and
with plenty of well rotted compost dug in
the previous autumn. They need a soil
temperature of 71-77F (22-25C) and an air
temperature of above 65F (18C) to
flourish. Raise the plants as described,
about 3-4 weeks before you intend to
plant out and at this time cover the soil of
the melon bed with plastic mulch to warm
the soil, retain moisture, improve earliness
and fruit quality. Plant in single rows,
after all risk of frost has gone and the soil
is warm, 20-36in (50-90cm) apart and 6-8ft
(2-2.5m) between rows or other
vegetables, pulling a little soil around the
plant to keep it from touching the plastic
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
29
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
mulch. Water well after planting until
established and dig a shallow water
tunnel either side of the row, each
approximately 21/2ft (80cm) from the
centre of the plant for watering. When
the plants have made 4 true leaves, cut
off the growing point just above the 3rd
true leaf. With vigorous plants a second
pruning at the 8th leaf can be made. They
should run along the ground and need no
support. When the flowers appear, hand
pollination will prevent mis-shapen fruits.
Watering is most necessary just after the
fruits set, at this stage water regularly and
feed at 10-14 day intervals with liquid
feed. Wait until the fruit is fully mature
before harvesting. At this stage a small
crack will appear near the stalk and it will
have a rich fruity fragrance. Harvest with
1/2in (1cm) of stalk attached.
Parsley
This is probably the most nutritious and
versatile plant that the amateur gardener
can grow in the vegetable section. With a
little protection it can be available all
through the year for sauces, salads and
garnishings as well as being an essential
ingredient of stuffing.
The seed is very slow to germinate, but
can be speeded up somewhat by soaking
the seed for 12 hours prior to sowing or
by watering the drill before sowing then
covering with dry soil.
For a continuous supply sow 1/2in
(1.25cm) deep in early spring and again in
the summer in a sheltered position
outdoors or in soil blocks or trays of
compost for thinning or transplanting to
about 6in (15cm) apart. In fall cut back
the flowering stems to prolong the
cropping period.
Peas
Few vegetables can match tender, sweet
garden peas, picked straight from the
plants and eaten within an hour or two.
For those with the room to spare, three
15ft (4.5m) rows of an early variety and
another three rows of a maincrop gives
self-sufficiency for a family of two adults
and three children. This is a crop that
repays careful preparation on of the site
30
as early in the year as possible. Choose an
open, sunny position with deep soil
organically manured and well drained.
Just prior to sowing give a top dressing of
a balanced organic fertilizer or an
inorganic one.
Sow the early varieties in early spring with
the maincrop following about four or five
weeks later: Make a flat-bottomed trench
about 6in (15cm) wide and 3in (7.5cm)
deep. The space between each row should
be approximately the height of the crop.
Sow the seeds in three rows in the trench
2in (5cm) apart each way and cover with
2in (5cm) of soil.
Cover the rows with pea guards or stretch
black cotton along the rows to protect
the seedlings from birds. When the
seedlings are about 4in (10cm) tall give
support with twiggy sticks or netting
supported by stakes.
Do not allow the pods to become overripe as this shortens the harvesting
period. Any surplus peas can be frozen
very successfully.
The salad crops
Beet (Beetroot)
As a salad crop these are best used when
only the size of a golf ball. They can also
be pickled at this stage. The maincrop
beet should not be allowed to become
too big and this means lifting and storing
them in early autumn.
Sow thinly in a trench 1in (2.5cm) deep
and 12in (30cm) apart, thin out to 4in
(10cm) apart. Too early sowing can result
in the crop bolting (running to seed), so
make the first sowing in mid-spring, with
a successional sowing about four weeks
later; and the maincrop sowing in early
summer. Beetroot seeds are actually a
cluster of several seeds and they can be
left to develop as a cluster of four to five
roots.
Chicory
Welcomed by the connoisseur of winter
salads for its tangy bitter-sweet taste and
crisp texture. Seed should be sown early
G R O W I N G
in the summer direct into moist, rich soil.
Germination can be rather erratic in hot
weather; but growth is rapid once the
seedlings emerge. Sow salad chicories in
shallow rows 12in (30cm) apart and thin
out to 5in (13cm) apart.
Endive
This is another basic ingredient of autumn
and winter salads giving crisp, tender
leaves after blanching. Sow the seed
thinly and shallowly in succession from
spring to mid-summer. Sow in rows 12in
(30cm) apart and thin out seedlings to
12in (30cm) apart. Blanching makes the
leaves of chicory and endive white with a
sweeter flavour and crispier texture. It is
carried out from late autumn to midwinter and simply involves covering the
plants as required when the leaves are
dry. Use upturned flower pots, or wooden
boxes.
Lettuce
A crisp and freshly picked lettuce is at the
heart of many delicious salad meals,
snacks and sandwiches. It comes in a
variety of forms and, with some planning,
the season for lettuce can be extended
from late spring and summer into
autumn.
Cabbage, cos and iceberg types of lettuce
are ready to eat 10-12 weeks after
sowing, while the loose-leaf varieties are
ready to start cutting about seven weeks
after sowing.
With all types sow about six feet (two
metres) of row at a time, as shallowly as
possible, making the first sowing in early
spring, preferably with landscape fabric as
protection. Sow thinly in rows 12in (30cm)
apart and thin out to 6-12in (15-30cm)
apart. Successional sowings can continue
until mid-summer at roughly three-week
intervals. The seed will germinate at quite
low soil temperatures, but can prove
stubborn to germinate when the soil
temperature rises above 75F (24C). For a
blend of textures and flavours McKenzie's
Mesclun is ideal.
I N F O R M A T I O N
Cut and come again lettuce
A new and very productive method of
growing lettuce, whereby the young
leaves and not the hearted lettuce are
harvested. By this method the yields are
higher; cropping is earlier and less space is
needed to produce the same amount of
lettuce. The needs of a family of four
throughout the season can be met from
an area of 5-6 square yards using the leaf
lettuce method - less than half that
required for hearted lettuce production.
5-6 square yards should produce a
quantity of leaves equivalent to 4-5
hearted lettuce per week.
The choice of varieties is very important as
close spacing can make the leaves extra
bitter. Also most varieties have bitter
leaves in the early stage which disappear
as the crop matures.
Most good garden soils should not need
any additional fertilizer and if fertilizer is
given. Care should be taken to avoid
giving too much nitrogen as this causes
bitterness in the leaves.
The soil should be moist but not wet and
the seed bed raked thoroughly before
sowing to ensure a fine tilth.
In this method the lettuces are grown
very close together in rows 5in (12.5cm)
apart. A row 1/2-3/4in (12-19mm) should
be drawn out and the seeds sown thinly
along it. There should be approximately
14-16 seeds per foot of row, which ought
to produce about 12-15 plants per foot.
Sowing can be done at 14 day intervals
from April-mid May and again in August
for continuity of supply. The length of
row will depend upon the amount you
will require over 7 days as sowing and
harvesting are done ideally at 7 day
intervals.
Little cultivation is necessary no thinning
is required and very little weeding as the
plants will soon smother germinating
weed seedlings.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
31
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
Harvesting should take place about 60
days from an early sowing and 40 days
from a mid-season sowing. Start at the
end of the row and cut only as much as
you need each day, bearing in mind that
freshly harvested vegetables lose a lot of
their vitamins very quickly after being
harvested.
If you wish to make two harvests from the
bed, the plants should be cut at about
1/2-1in (1.25-2.5cm) from the ground.
Afterwards the area should be cleared of
debris and the soil watered. Regrowth
from the stem bases should occur in about
one or two weeks. It is best to use only
the leaves from one regrowth as the old
stumps may harbour pests and diseases.
Leaf lettuce production can be tailored to
your weekly requirements, there will be
no waste from bolting and less ground is
used. Only 10 sowings should be required
to produce crops ready for harvesting at
weekly intervals from early June to late
October.
Peppers
Another crop that has been developed by
plant breeders with great benefit to the
amateur gardener, because now very
acceptable crops can be produced outside
in growing bags, large pots or other
containers. Peppers are rich in vitamin C
and can be used in salads either raw or
cooked and cooled when they retain their
vivid green, orange, red or purple skin
colour.
Sow the seed as for tomatoes (see page
33) and move the young plants into 3in
(7.5cm) pots at the four-leaf stage. Plant
out after hardening off when all danger
of frost has passed.
Peppers are particularly suited to
production in the unheated greenhouse
which should be kept well ventilated and
sprayed regularly in hot weather as an aid
to pollination and a deterrent to red
spider mite.
Radishes
These are particularly easy to grow and
can be intercropped with rows of lettuce
or beets or broadcast in patches to take
up a minimum amount of space. The
32
earliest sowings can be made in a cold
frame or under landscape fabrics in late
winter with successional sowings
following at about three-weekly intervals.
Choose a sunny, sheltered position in soil
that is well fed with organic matter. Sow
the seed thinly, evenly and shallowly in
rows 4-6in (10-15cm) apart and thin out
early to 1 in (3cm) apart. Water the soil
thoroughly before sowing and after the
seeds emerge.
Spring or bunching onions
These are specially bred for use in salads,
having rapid growth and a milder flavour
than bulb onions. Sow the seed thinly
1/2in (1.25cm) deep in short rows 8in
(20cm) apart from early spring through to
early autumn, allowing about a 4 week
interval between each sowing. Through
the summer they can be selectively picked
leaving the final plants to mature in
autumn when they will be the size of
leeks.
Spinach
A highly nutritious and easily grown crop
for use throughout the autumn, winter
and spring.
Sow perpetual spinach in spring in drills
lin (2.5cm) deep 6in (15cm) apart, in rows
18in (45cm) apart, preferably In a wellmanured organic soil in partial shade.
Pick young leaves regularly, starting late
summer; and give some protection against
frost to enable picking throughout the
winter.
Summer spinach is treated in the same
fashion and takes almost 9 weeks from
sowing to picking, provided that the soil
doesn't lack moisture. So make
successional sowings at 2-3 week intervals
until mid-summer.
Sweet Corn
We offer the latest hybrid varieties that
are far earlier and sweeter than traditional ones, moreover the cob quality has
been substantially improved to make this
a most attractive and rewarding crop for
the amateur gardener.
G R O W I N G
Sow the seed individually in 3in (7.5cm)
pots indoors or in a propagator in early
spring or outdoors 12in (3.5cm) deep,
after the last frost, where the crop is to
mature. Indoor the seeds prefer a soil
temperature of 70-75F (21-24C) for best
germination.
Plant out in early summer in blocks 1-2ft
(30-60cm) each way, depending on the
variety. This is an aid to pollination and
the other is to tap the top of the stem to
transfer pollen from the male flowers to
the female ones below.
Most plants will produce two cobs, the
first being larger than the later second. To
test the cob for ripeness, press a grain
with a finger nail and if the juice is milky,
it is just right.
Swiss chard
This is also known as seakale beet, silver
chard and ruby chard. It is a dual-purpose
vegetable: the leafy part being used as an
excellent alternative to spinach while the
thick, fleshy mid- ribs are cooked and
used like asparagus.
Sow as for spinach and harvest from late
summer to late autumn. The foliage dies
off during the winter but there is rapid
regrowth in early spring.
Strawberry
Surface sow strawberries such as
Temptation on a moist seed compost and
lightly cover from fine perlite. Cover with
glass or polythene. Germination takes 3-4
weeks at 60-65F (15-18C). Widely
fluctuating temperatures will result in
poor germination.
Place in subdued light and move to full
light once the seedlings are up. Take
precautions to avoid damping off. When
large enough to handle, transplant into
small pots or trays at 55-60F (13-15C) and
give an occasional liquid feed. Pot up into
3in (7.5cm) pots and when well rooted,
into their final containers.
I N F O R M A T I O N
Temptation is ideal for hanging baskets,
grow bags and containers. Sown in
October it should be in fruit by late May
and in January by mid-July.
Outdoor and greenhouse
tomatoes
Raising your own tomato plants has
several benefits. For one thing, you can
grow just the variety or varieties you
prefer: You can save money and time and,
perhaps best of all, you can pick your
tomatoes at the peak of their freshness
and full of goodness and flavour. What's
more, tomatoes are one of the easiest
crops to raise from seed with a high
germination factor.
We offer a wide range of varieties to suit
all tastes and purposes including several
types that will do equally well whether
grown in a cool greenhouse or outside.
Tomato seed germinates readily at a
temperature of 60-65F ( 15-18C) so
requires just a warm place indoors for
success. Sow the seed shallowly in a tray
of peat-based compost. Sow early in the
year for greenhouse crops, and early
spring for the outdoor ones.
When the seedlings have made two pairs
of true leaves transplant into 3in (7.5cm)
pots (see page 13) and place them in a
light, warm place indoors or in the
greenhouse. The object is to produce
short-stemmed sturdy plants. Transplant
when the first flowers are showing. The
greenhouse plants can be set into wellprepared border soil or into large pots.
Outdoors a warm, sunny site is needed to
ensure a good crop. Set plants 2ft (60cm)
apart in rows 3ft (90cm) apart, while bush
plants need 3ft (90cm) each way. These
outdoor plants should be hardened off
before planting out after the last spring
frost. Bush tomatoes will also well in large
pots on a sunny patio or against a southfacing wall or fence. Bush varieties need
no attention other than a mulch to
protect the fruit from being splashed and,
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
33
G R O W I N G
I N F O R M A T I O N
in northern districts, protection with
landscape fabrics to increase the yield of
ripe fruit.
Staking varieties, both in the greenhouse
and outdoors, need support. Those
outside can be given a bamboo cane to
which the plant's stem is tied with plastic
string. In the greenhouse the stem of the
plant is loosely tied to a length of string
with the other end tied to a horizontal
wire under the roof.
Plants in growing bags should be watered
according to the instructions on the bag
and feeding with a liquid fertilizer, should
start when the fruit on the first truss has
reached pea size. Staking plants also need
the side shoots removed.
34
Pollination of greenhouse plants can be
assisted by gently shaking the plants and
by spraying occasionally with water.
Greenhouse pests most likely to be
encountered are whitefly, red spider mite
and aphids. Yellow sticky traps hung
among the plants will trap many of the
whitefly or you can use the predator
Encarsia formosa. A buoyant atmosphere,
night and day, and regular misting should
avoid attack by red spider mite, but if it
does get a hold, the pest can be
controlled by the predator Phytoseiulus
persimillis. Greenfly can be checked by
soapy water or a proprietary aphicide.
M C K E N Z I E
S E E D
P R O D U C T
L I N E S
P E R E N N I A L VA R I E T I E S
Look beyond the flowers for perennial contributions to your garden. Several herbs and a
few vegetables are also perennial in most Canadian hardy zones.
Flowers
Agastache Blue Compact
Agastache Heather Queen
Agastache Liquorice Blue
Agastache Liquorice White
Alyssum Saxatile
Armeria Joystick Lilac Shades
Astilbe Arendsii Hybrid mix
Bee Balm Panorama Mix
Bellflower Carpatica Blue
Bergenia Cordifolia Red Start
Candytuft White Snow
Carnation Thief of Hearts
Centaurea Blue Carpet
Cerastium Snow In Summer
Columbine Double Light Blue
Columbine Long Spurred Mixed
Columbine Pink Tower
Coneflower Sonora
Coral Bells Heuchera Sanguinea
Crazy Daisy
Cupids Dart Catanache Caerulea
Delphinium Dwarf Butterfly Mixed
Delphinium Laurin
Delphinium Pacific Giants
Delphinium Percival Hybrid
Dianthus Arctic Fire
Dianthus Siberian Blue
Dianthus Snowdonia White
Digitalis Camelot Lavender
Eupatorium Mistflower
Gaillardia Grandiflora Mix
Gaura The Bride
Geum Red Dragon
Gloxinia Chinese Hardy
Gypsophila Paniculata Babys Breath
Heliopsis Summer Sun
Hosta Elegans
Linum Dwarf Golden Flax
Lupins Russell mix
Malva Zebrina
Mountain Sandwort
Musk Mallow Malva Moschata Rosea
Obedient Plant Rose Crown
Passion Flower
Pentstemon Dwarf Navigator
Physalis Chinese Lantern
Poppy Iceland Mixed Colours
Poppy Pizzicato Papaver Orientale
Potentilla Miss Willmott
Prunella Freelander
Rock Purslane Amaranth
Rudbeckia Goldsturm
Rudbeckia White Swan
Sedum Voodoo
Shasta Daisy Alaska
Shepherds Scabiosa
Stachys Fuzzy Wuzzy
Sweet Violet Queen Charlotte
Valerian Centranthus Ruber Mixture
Verbascum Violetta
Veronica Ramona
Yarrow Wooly Aurea
Herbs
Chives
Garlic Chives
Lemon Balm
Mint
Oregano
Sage
Spearmint
Tarragon
Thyme
Vegetables
Asparagus Viking
35
M C K E N Z I E
S E E D
P R O D U C T
L I N E S
H E R B VA R I E T I E S
McKenzie has a full line of culinary and aromatic herbs and has selected varieties that
also make a decorative contribution to kitchen gardens, walk-ways, and container
gardens.
Basil Cinnamon
Basil Lemon
Basil Purple
Basil Sweet
Basil Thai
Chamomile
Chervil Chives
Cilantro
Catnip
Dill
Dill Fernleaf
Garlic Chives
Lavender
Lemon Balm
36
Mint
Oregano
Parsley Champion Moss Curled
Rosemary
Safflower Red
Sage
Savory Summer
Spearmint
Sweet Marjoram
Tarragon
Thyme
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
MCKENZIE
SEED
PRODUCT
LINES
S E E D TA P E
Gardening couldn't be easier! Pre-spaced seed in biodegradable
tissue in short and long tapes, plus small discs ready for pots.
SeedTape makes gardening easier for those who have difficulty
handling tinier seeds. No more seeds dropped or blown away!
4.5M (15') Seedtape virtually eliminates the need for thinning
and is ideal for rows and borders - straight or curved. We offer
ready to plant discs of Tomatoes, Peppers and Herbs in our Seed
Disc Collections, with each pack containing 5 varieties, each in
separate discs ready to plant in 4" pots.
McKenzie now offers more varieties than ever before in simple, easy to
use SeedTape and Discs.
4.5M (15') Seedtape
Alyssum Snowcloth
Lavatera Silvercup
Matthiola Evening Scented Stocks
Portulaca Double Flowering Mix
Snapdragon Dwarf Lollipops Mixed
Zinnia Peppermint Stick Mixture
Parsley Single Hardy Italian
Beet Cylindra Formanova
Beet Detroit Dark Red
Carrot Red Cored Chantenay
Cosmos Early Sensation Mixed
Carrot Scarlet Nantes Coreless
Cucumber National Pickling
Lettuce Mesclun
Lettuce Grand Rapids
Lettuce Romaine
Lettuce Prizehead
Onion Annual Bunching
Radish Cherry Belle
Radish French Breakfast
Swiss Chard Fordhook
Seed Disc Collections
Pepper Seed Disc Collection
Tomato Seed Disc Collection
Basil Seed Disc Collection
Herb Seed Disc Collection
37
M C K E N Z I E
S E E D
P R O D U C T
L I N E S
J U M B O PAC K E T VA R I E T I E S
Larger packets with more seeds offer an
economical option. McKenzie has a great
selection of flower and vegetable favorites in the
JUMBO packets, including colour garden
mixtures. Jumbo packets are excellent for
suburban and rural gardeners who have lots of
space and for experienced gardeners who know
their needs and plan ahead.
Flowers
All Purpose Mix Wildflower
Butterfly Garden
Hummingbird Garden
Marigold Crackerjack
Morning Glory Ipomea Imperialis
Nasturtium Jewel Mixed
Old Fashioned Flower Garden Annual
Sweet Pea Knee Hi
Sweet Pea Royal Family Mixed
Sweet Pea Spencer Giant Mixture
Sweet Pea Strawberry Sundae
Zinnia Lilliput or Pompon Mixed
Zinnia Tetra Flowered
Vegetables
Beet Detroit Dark Red
Carrot Scarlet Nantes Coreless
Lettuce Grand Rapids
Radish Cherry Belle
38
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
S E E D
P R O D U C T
L I N E S
E V E R L A S T I N G F L OW E R S F O R D RY I N G A N D C U T T I N G VA R I E T I E S
McKenzie is meeting the increasing interest in floral decor
and crafts and has identified, for the gardener, a selection of
flowers that are most suited for dried flower arrangements.
All of these varieties are also very popular for fresh cut
arrangements.
Baby's Breath Covent Garden
Baby's Breath Paniculata
Bells of Ireland
Helichrysum Everlasting
Lunaria Honesty
Physalis Chinese Lantern
Statice
W I L D F L OW E R S VA R I E T I E S
Wildflowers are increasingly enjoyed for their hardiness and
traditional delicacy and beauty. McKenzie has eight individual
wildflower varieties in packets as well as mixtures suited for
specific climates and soil conditions. The mixtures are also
available in convenient shaker-cans.
All Purpose Mix Wildflower
Baby Blue Eyes
Black Eyed Susan
Blue Flax
California Poppy
Low Growing Mix Wildflower
Purple Coneflower
Scarlet Flax
Shade Mix Wildflower
V I N E VA R I E T I E S
Vines are a wonderful addition to any garden. Understanding their habits and knowing
how to use them can be a challenge. Many gardeners feel that vines must have a
purpose, such as hiding a wall or fence. Vines also add texture, color and form. Their
willful growing habits continually change, adding interest all summer long.
Knowing the type of vine you want will help you plan it's location and support required.
Vines are versatile in their use. Did you ever think of adding vines to your containers? Or
use them as a ground cover? Adding some life to an old evergreen is simple with the
simple addition of a vine. Vines complete the landscape in ways other plants can not. So,
be sure to leave some room for some vines, you will be happy you did!
Chilean Glory Vine ‘Tresco Hybrids’
Cobaea Scandens Cathedral Bell
Cypress Vine White
Moonflower
Morning Glory Double Sunrise Serenade
Morning Glory Early Call Mixed
Morning Glory Flying Saucers
Morning Glory Heavenly Blue
Morning Glory Mix Ipomoea Imperialis
Morning Glory Sunspots
Nasturtium Milkmaid
Nasturtium Tall Climbing Mix
Ruby Moon Hyacinth Bean
Scarlet Runner Flowering Bean Vine
Sweet Pea Royal Family Mixed
Sweet Pea Spencer Giant Mixed
Sweet Pea Streamers Mix
Sweet Pea Sugar and Spice
39
M C K E N Z I E
S E E D
P R O D U C T
L I N E S
O R G A N I C S E E D VA R I E T I E S
GROWING ORGANIC...
...for your family
...for your health
...for the environment
Why Garden Organically? Traditional organic growing practices produce hearty disease
resistant plants. Since the introduction of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides gardening
techniques have changed drastically often polluting soil and plant life.
What are organically grown seeds? Organic seeds are produced without herbicides,
pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers.
Who guarantee's the certificability of these seeds? In order to retain a truly organic
product, growers must follow strict criteria for farming and storing organic products.
These practices are closely monitored throughout the world by organic certification
bodies. These organizations pledge a promise to ensure that the final product has met all
government requirements. Upon arrival at McKenzie Seeds, organic seeds are handled,
packaged, stored and shipped in
accordance to the guidelines
enforced by Pro-Cert. McKenzie
Seeds is certified as an organic seed
handler. We guarantee our product
is certified organic. When
purchasing organic seed look for the
official seal of approval to ensure
your purchase is authentic.
Bean Contender
Carrot Berlikum
Cucumber Marketmore
Herb Fennel Swiss
Herb Marjoram
Herb Oregano
Lettuce Mix Baby's Leaf
Melon Honeydew Green Flesh
Onion Evergreen Bunching
Parsley Moss Curled (Seed Tape)
Pea Mammoth Melting
Pepper Golden California Wonder
Spinach Bloomsdale (Seed Tape)
Tomato Cherry Red Pear
Watermelon Crimson Sweet
Zucchini Black Beauty
CERTIFIED ORGANIC BY/
CERTIFIÉ BIOLOGIQUE PAR
Quality Assurance
International
40
M C K E N Z I E
S E E D
P R O D U C T
L I N E S
P E A S , B E A N S A N D C O R N C A RTO N VA R I E T I E S
Convenient packs with more seeds than conventional seed packets.
Bean
Bean
Bean
Bean
Bean
Bean
Bean
Improved Golden Wax
Pencil Pod Black Wax
Round Pod Kidney Wax
Stringless Green Pod
Tendergreen Improved
(Pole) Blue Lake Stringless
(Pole) Kentucky Wonder
Corn Early Golden Bantam
Pea Alaska
Pea Green Arrow
Pea Laxton Progress
Pea Lincoln Homesteader
Pea Little Marvel
Pea Sugar Snap Edible Podded
Pea Tall Telephone Alderman
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
41
M C K E N Z I E
S E E D
P R O D U C T
L I N E S
A S I A N S E E D VA R I E T I E S
A special selection of Asian vegetables. The wide range of variety is sure to appeal to all
market segments, especially those more health conscious. All vegetables are proven
performers in Canadian Trial Gardens.
Amaranth Edible White Leaf
Bean Green Long
Bean Long Zi 28-2
Bean Yard Long Orient Wonder
Burdock Takinogawa
Cabbage Kogane
Chinese Cabbage Tenderheart
Chinese Kale Green Lance
Chinese Onion Dacong
Cucumber Chungfeng
Eggplant Ping Tung Long
Mustard Red Giant
Okra Penta Dragon
Pak Choi Tah Tsai
Pak Choi White Long Petiole
Pepper Yuan #1
Radish Baby Leaf Sai Sai purple
Radish Watermelon
Snowpea Snowflake
Tsai-Hsin Choi-San
Watercross Green Stem
Watermelon Seenong
Zucchini Seeyu
42
M C K E N Z I E
S E E D
P R O D U C T
L I N E S
M c K E N Z I E P RO D U C T L I N E : I TA L I A N S E E D VA R I E T I E S
This is our Italian seed line with all the great varieties you've come to
expect from McKenzie. Sensational vegetable and herb selection.
Artichoke Grosso Romanesco
Basil A Foglia di Lattuga
Basil Genovese O Comune
Basil Violetta Aromatico
Bean Bush Borlotto Lingua Di Fuoco
Bean Bush Harvester (Mangiatutto)
Bean Fava Superaquadulce smeralda
Bean Pole Trionfo Violet
Bean Pole Lima O Del Papa
Bean Pole S Anna
Bean Pole Smeraldo
Beet Dolce Di Chioggia
Broccoli Romanesco Natalino
Cabbage Red testa di Negro
Cantaloupe Retato Degli Ortolani
Carrot Gigante Flakkee
Carrot Mezza Lunga Nantese
Cauliflower Brocoverde
Celeriac
Chicory Variegata Di Chioggia
Chicory Verona Red
Cucumber Lungo Della Cina
Cucumber Tondo di Manduria
Cucumber White Wonder
Eggplant Violetta Lunga Di Napoli
Endive Romanesca Da Taglio
Endive Verde a Cuore Pieno
Fennel of Parma
Garden Cress Lepidium sativum
Gourd Lunga Di Napoli (Gourd of Naples)
Herb Italian Sage salvia officinalis
Herb Marjoram Origanum Perennial
Leek Monstruoso Di Carentan
Lettuce Bionda Ricciolina
Lettuce May Queen
Lettuce Misticanza
Lettuce Romaine delle 7 Lune
Marrow Squash Bianco Di Trieste
Onion Barletta
Parsley Aromatico A Costa Rossa
Parsley Gigante di Napoli
Pea Meraviglia D'Italia
Pea Rondo Mezza Rama
Pepper Piccante Di Cayenna
Pepper Quadrato D'Asti Giallo
Pumpkin Tonda Padana
Radicchio Rossa di Treviso
Radish Candela Di Fuoco
Radish Gaudry
Rocket Salad Coltivata Da Orto
Spinach Della Nuova Zelanda O Tetragonia
Spinach Matador
Swiss Chard Liscia Verde Da Taglio
Swiss Chard Selma
Tomato Cuor Di Bue
Tomato Principe Borghese
Tomato Roma
Tomato San Marzano
Turnip Di Milano A Colletto Viola
Turnip Tops Rapini Sessantina
Watermelon Crimson Sweet
Zucchini Custard White
Zucchini Striato D'Italia
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
43
M C K E N Z I E
S E E D
P R O D U C T
L I N E S
T H O M P S O N & M O R G A N VA R I E T I E S
Thompson & Morgan's own development research and breeding grounds and world wide
contacts with top breeders, allow us to introduce many new and often exclusive varieties
each year. Packets are colourful and informative denoting special uses such as: "Easy to
Grow" and "Shade Tolerant", and each of our packets is colour coded for easy selection:
Yellow for Annuals, Blue for Perennials, Red for Vegetables and Herbs, and Green for
Greenhouse/Warmer Climate Varieties.
Flowers
Ageratum 'Summit' F1 Hybrid
Ageratum Southern Cross
Agrostemma githago Ocean Pearl
Angels Trumpet Double Golden Queen
Angels Trumpet La Fleur Lilac
Aquilegia Blue Bonnets
Aquilegia viridiflora
Asarina Scandens 'Jewel' Mixed
Aster Cut Flowers for Floral Decoration
Aster 'Giant Single Andrella'
Bellis Goliath Mixed
Biden’s Golden Eye
Bird Of Paradise
Brachycome 'Purple Splendor'
Brachycome Blue Star
Calendula Porcupine
Californian Poppy Buttermilk
California Poppy Champagne & Roses
Campanula Pyramidalis Mixed
Canary Creeper
Canterbury Bells Mixed
Carnation Trailing
Carnation Stripes and Picotees
Catmint Lemon Scent
Chilean Glory Vine Mixed
Chrysanthemum Court Jesters
Cosmos 'Seashells'
Cosmos 'Sensation' Mixed
Cosmos Versailles Tetra
Delphinium Magic Fountains Mixed
Dianthus 'Brilliancy'
Dianthus T & M Splendour Mixed
Dwarf Snapdragon 'Monarch's Mixed'
Echinops ruthenicus
Echium 'T&M Dwarf' Mixed
Everlasting Flowers Mixed
Flowers To Attract Butterflies
Foxglove 'Wild'
Fried Eggs
Gaillardia Grandiflora
Godetia 'Improved Dwarf' Mixed
44
Gypsophila 'Improved' Mixed
Helenium Autumn Lollipop
Helichrysum Mixed
Hollyhock 'Powder Puffs' Mixed
Impatiens Dwarf Mixed
Laurentia Stargazer
Lavatera 'Mont Blanc'
Lavendar stoechas
Linum grandiflorum ‘Charmer Mixed’
Lobelia Cascading Regatta Blue Splash
Lobelia 'Rainbow Cascade' Mixed
Lobelia RainboeLopezia Cordata ‘Pretty
Rose’
Luffa Sponge
Lupin 'Band Of Nobles' Mixed
Lupin Summer Spires
Marigold Bonita Mixed
Marigold ‘Lemon
Mum’Mesembryanthemum Magic Carpet
Mixed
Michauxia
Morning Glory 'Blue Ensign' (Dwarf)
Morning Glory Mixed Colors
Nasturtium 'Alaska' Mixed
Nasturtium 'Peach Melba'
Nasturtium Climbing Mixed
Nasturtium Tip Top Apricot
Nemesia 'Blue Gem'
Nemesia cheiranthus Shooting Stars
Nemesia 'Mello Red And White'
Nicotiana 'Lime Green'
Nicotiana sylvestris
Nigella 'Persian Jewels' Mixed
Night Scented Stocks Starlight Scentsation
Pansy 'Black'
Pansy Flambé Red F1 Hybrid
Pansy 'Super Chalon Giants'
Passion Flower
Passiflora Quadrangularis
Petunia 'Blue Daddy' F1 Hybrid
Petunia Chifforn Morn Hybrid
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
S E E D
P R O D U C T
L I N E S
T H O M P S O N & M O R G A N VA R I E T I E S
Petunia Storm Mix
Pentstemon Navigator Mixed
Phacelia Royal Admiral
Phlox 'Dwarf Beauty' Mixed
Poppy Flemish Antique
Poppy Blue
Polemonium Apricot Delight
Primrose Cowslip
Purple Bell Vine
Rudbeckia Chim Chiminee
Rudbeckia Goldilocks
Salvia Transylvanica
Scabiosa Salmon Queen
Sea Holly
Silene Jack Flash
Simplicity Mixed Annual Flowers
Snapdragon Dwarf Monarch’s Mixed
Sunflower 'Russian Giant'
Sunflower 'Valentine'
Sweet Pea 'Everlasting'
Sweet Pea 'Firecrest'
Sweet Pea Pink Cupid
Sweet Pea 'Floral Tribute' Mixed
Thunbergia Superstar Orange
Thymus
Venidium
Verbascum hybrida Banana Custard
Verbena Romance Lavender
Veronica Mixed Colors
Viola Endurio
Viola Angel Amber Kiss F1 Hyb
Vegetables
Banana Plant
Beet Alto
Carrot 'Healthmaster'
Carrot Fly Away
Carrot 'Nantes Express'
Cucumber ‘Burpless Tasty Green H
Gherkin Eureka Hybrid
Kale Black Tuscany
Lettuce Mini Iceberg
Pepper 'Golden Bell'
Pepper Hot Tepin
Pumpkin ‘Jack Be Little’
Pumpkin 'Titan'
Radish ‘Flamboyant Sabina’
Radish ‘Rat’s Tail’
Spinach 'Perpetual'
Strawberry ‘Alpine Alexandria’
Tomato 'Tigerella' ('Mr. Stripey')
Tomato Gartenperle
Tomato Ildi
Tomato 'Tumbler' F1 Hybrid
Winter Squash Celebration Mix F1 Hyb
Zucchini 'Courgette'
45
M C K E N Z I E
F L O W E R S
— AGERATUM —
— ALL PURPOSE MIX - WILDFLOWERS —
Annual
aka: Floss Flower
botanical: Ageratum houstonianum
Attracts Butterflies
Annuals, Biennials, & Perennials
Ageratum Blue Mink
100003
True Blue
A traditional favorite Ageratum topped
with extra large blue powder puff
flowers. Compact free-blooming plants.
Because it is a tetraploid, leaves and
flowers are larger than most other
varieties. Thrives in full sun and part
shade. Dislikes windy exposed sites.
Average soil. Looks good when planted
with almost anything else. An
unmistakable border flower. Also
effective in window and porch boxes,
hanging baskets, and other containers.
Native to West Indies, Mexico, and South
America. Start indoors 4-8 weeks before
last frost date.
Ageratum Timeless Mix
128590
A unique mix of tall ageratums with
large flowers, in a wide range of soft
pastels from pink, lavender, purple, white
and blue. An excellent bedding plant
that flowers throughout summer. Also
ideal for lasting cut flower arrangements.
For bushier plants, pinch out the central
shoots. To prevent powdery mildew,
avoid wetting foliage.
All Purpose Mix
100745
Hardy Colourful Blend!
Great if you want quick colour followed
by a permanent display. This blend
features 22 different flowers that will
naturally grow in proximity to one
another. Among them are Prairie Aster,
Dwarf Coreopsis, Showy Blue Gilia and
Blue Arroyo Lupine. Tolerant of marginal
soil conditions. Many colours and bloom
periods in the mixture. For a natural freeflowing garden, or an area that needs
some low maintenance colour. (e.g.
Along a fence or driveway). Plant direct
or start indoors for earlier blooms.
— ALYSSUM —
Annual
aka: Sweet Alyssum
botanical: Lobularia maritima
Likes full sun. Well drained, not too
heavy soil. Does best at cooler
temperatures but will hold up well
through dry, hot summers.Native to
Europe and Asia.
A ly s s u m Tr a i l i n g R o s y R e d
122501
A strong grower, superb for baskets,
containers, pots or in the garden where it
outperforms any other Alyssum. Sweetly
fragrant and easy to grow, keep plants
moist, not wet, as plants will go to seed
under stress. It continues to bloom if
trimmed back. Over watering can lead to
thin, lanky plants.
A ly s s u m C a r p e t o f S n ow
100008
Favorite
Delicate white lacy flowers that together
form a stunning mass. Trim off dead
heads to ensure continuous flowering.
Fragrant. One of the most popular and
widely used border flowers because of its
spreading growth habit. Also excellent as
an edging for paths, in flower beds, and
rock gardens. Forms a cushion if given
adequate spacing. Start indoors 4-6
weeks before last frost or sow outdoors.
46
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
A ly s s u m R oya l C a r p e t
A ly s s u m S n ow cl o t h
100020
Delicate white lacy flowers that together
form a stunning mass. Trim off dead
heads to ensure continuous flowering.
Fragrant. One of the most popular and
widely used border flowers because of its
spreading growth habit. Also excellent as
an edging for paths, in flower beds, and
rock gardens. Forms a cushion if given
adequate spacing. Start indoors 4-6
weeks before last frost or sow outdoors.
A ly s s u m S n ow s t o r m
Annual
botanical: Callistephus chinensis
They thrive best in a sunny sheltered spot
with free air circulation. Deep fertile
earth, moderately moist but well-drained.
Excellent for beds, borders, and as potted
plants. Native to China.
Aster Dwarf Queen Mix
100032
Popular Cut Flower Asters are the most
popular flowers for cutting and provide
late summer and autumn colour in your
garden. Bloom up to 10 days before midseason varieties. Start indoors 6-8 weeks
before last frost or sow outdoors.
A s t e r E a r ly C h a r m
100036
Asters give us our last glimpse of summer.
They will bloom fresh in September,
weeks after frost has killed off less hardy
flowers. They provide great cut flowers.
Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
or sow outdoors.
100007
Snowstorm gives you a blanket of
fragrant white flowers on low compact
plants. Best of all, Snowstorm flowers all
summer. Easy to grow. Snowstorm was a
top performer in our 1995 seed trials.
Grows and flowers best in full sun with
well drained soil, but will tolerate most
locations. Perfect for borders, pots, and
rock gardens. Start seed indoors 8 weeks
prior to last frost. Start indoors for early
flowering or sow in early spring to early
summer outdoors.
— AMARANTHUS —
Annual
botanical: Amaranthus cruentus
A m a r a n t h u s Ve l v e t C u r t a i n
— ASTER —
100016
A more compact Alyssum but very lush
with a powerful decorative effect. Will
flower all season if dead heads are
trimmed. A.A.S. 1952. Medium violet.
Because Alyssum has a natural tendency
to spread and fill space, it works well as a
border plant. Also excellent as an edging
for paths, in flower beds, and rock
gardens. Start indoors 4-6 weeks before
last frost or sow outdoors.
F L O W E R S
128591
A spectacular variety with large ruby red
leaves and flowers that usually stand
erect instead of drooping like other
Amaranthus. Plant in the back of flower
beds for a striking contrast. Easy to grow.
Start indoors 8 weeks before last spring
frost and transplant to garden when 2nd
set of true leaves appear. Harden off
prior to transplanting into warm soil.
A s t e r Pow d e r P u f f s
100041
Tremendous double flowers, 7.5-10 cm (34") in diameter, grow upright on long
sturdy stems. Lovely bouquet-type habit
makes it an excellent cut flower. Resists
wilt. By picking off faded blooms you will
prolong the flowering season. Transplant
to garden, after all danger of frost has
passed, into warm soil. Start seed indoors
7 weeks prior to last frost.
Aster Star Light Pink
128593
Exquisite Fleuroselect dwarf Award
Winner spider type with double flowers
with spider like petals. A perfect bedding
or border plant. Cover seed with fine soil
and firm. When plants are 5 cm (2"). tall,
thin or transplant to rich soil 30 cm (12")
apart. For earlier blooms start indoors 810 weeks prior to last frost.
— BABY BLUE EYES —
Annual
botanical: Nemophila menziesii
B a by B l u e E ye s
100773
Wildflower
Baby Blue Eyes is a delicate flower with 5
47
M C K E N Z I E
F L O W E R S
rounded petals and a white center that
gives it a friendly, pansy-like look. Several
blooms appear on each erect plant. The
leaves are soft green and ferny. It is a
self-seeding annual that can be sown
outdoors after the last frost. It will do
best in partial shade but tolerates full
sun. Light well drained soil of average
fertility. Intolerant of hot weather; plant
in a sheltered location. Grows well with
California Poppy. Excellent for rockeries,
edging. Start outdoors, difficult to
transplant.
BABY'S BREATH - ANNUAL
Annual
aka: Gypsophila
botanical: Gypsophila elegans
Likes sun or light shade and well drained
soil.
B a by ' s B r e a t h
100287
For Cut and Dried Flowers. Tiny starform
white flowers on multi-branched slender
stems. Excellent as dried or cut flowers in
all kinds of flower arrangements and it is
also a nice contrast flower in your flower
bed. Sow outdoors; grow rapidly, not
necessary to start indoors.
— BACHELOR'S BUTTON —
Annual
botanical: Centaurea cyanus
Very easy to grow. A hardy annual flower
for flowerbeds. The leaves are greyish
green. Dead-heading prolongs flowering.
It likes sun or part shade. Reasonably
moist, fertile, well drained soil.Effective
in flower beds and borders. Beautiful for
fresh cut flowers. Flowers are edible.
B a ch e l o r ' s B u t t o n B l u e B oy 1 0 0 0 5 6
Double blue flowers. Plant direct or start
indoors for earlier blooms.
B a ch e l o r ' s B u t t o n Po l k a D o t 1 0 0 0 5 1
Double mixed, bushy, dwarf plants flowering
in white, blue, pink, and carmine. Plant
direct or start indoors for earlier blooms.
— BEAN - ORNAMENTAL —
Annual
botanical: Phaseolus sp
Any pole-bean makes a wonderful
decorative addition to a vegetable or
flower garden but some climbing beans
have become particularly popular
because of their large foliage and
flowers.Some ornamental "beans" are
not edible, and in fact are not true beans.
Bean Scarlet Runner
100617
Pod length 20 cm( 8"), green. Bright
scarlet flowers. Attractive to
hummingbirds all summer. The blossoms
are very large and a brilliant reddish
orange colour. Scarlet Runner is often
grown for its ornamental value on
archways and patio walls. The bean is as
nutritious as every other bean in the
McKenzie line. In the fall, do not forget
to harvest the beans for your kitchen.
When harvested early, these are very
tasty and tender as green beans. Sow
outdoors, directly into the garden when
soil is warm. The more beans you pick,
the larger the leaves it will grow.
Phaseoulus coccineus.
— BEGONIA —
Annual
botanical: Begonia sp.
B e g o n i a ‘ B ayo u P i n k B i c o l o r ’ 1 2 7 4 5 0
48
Big is better when it comes to the new soft
pink and white ‘Bayou’ begonias! Its large,
upright habit and vigorous 12" (30cm)
spread will quickly fill in garden beds and
crowd out competing weeds. The large
foliage allows the plant to collect rain
water and trickle it down to the roots to
make it very water efficient in the
landscape. Excellent choice for containers
and landscapes. Begonia hortensis.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
Begonia ‘Go-Go Mix’
127451
A garden favourite for generations!
Large semi-double blooms, on sturdy
stems, in a stunning array of red, white,
yellow, rose, orange, cherry and apple
blossom. Their neat and tidy plant habit
makes them perfect for patio containers
and window boxes.
— BELLS OF IRELAND —
Annual
aka: Shell Flower
botanical: Moluccella laevis
Native to Mediterranean region and
Syria, not Ireland!
Bells of Ireland
100066
For Dried Flowers. Flower spikes which
are covered with ivory green bell-like
flowers. It is actually a huge, bell-like
calyx, rather than the dainty white flower
which is the dominant feature of the
Bells of Ireland. Prefers well drained,
sandy, fertile soil. Excellent for dried
flower arrangements. Also makes good
cut flowers. Sow outdoors.
— BUTTERFLY GARDEN —
Wildlife Attractor
B u t t e r f ly G a rd e n
100780
The Butterfly Mixture contains a blend of
delightfully fragrant and colourful
flowers that attract nearby butterflies
while adding beauty to your garden. Sow
seed in a sunny or partially shaded
location in early spring after the danger
of frost has passed. Clear the area to be
planted. Loosen soil with rake or hoe.
Mix seed with fine sand and scatter
F L O W E R S
evenly over site. Keep moist until well
established then water only as required.
Some thinning may be necessary to avoid
overcrowding.
— CALENDULA —
Annual
botanical: Calendula officinalis
C a l e n d u l a Pa c i f i c B e a u t y
100074
Easy to grow. Bright blend of orange,
golden-yellow, apricot and big cream
flowers, up to 4"(10 cm) across. Dead
heading prolongs flowering and prevents
self seeding. Likes sun or partial shade.
Adapts to poor soil, will produce
satisfactory flowers under any conditions
except deep shade and extreme heat but
thrives in full sun, fertile soil and cool
weather. Deters asparagus beetles and
tomato hornworms. Admirable for beds
and borders. Excellent cut flower.
Medicinal uses of the Calendula
originated in South America. Tinctures of
Calendula have been used for cuts,
bruises, sprains and wounds. Flowers used
for external salves for sores, bruises and
warts. Teas of flowers relieve cramps,
coughs, and snake bite. Flowers are
edible in salads and soups. Native to
Canary Islands, South and Central Europe,
and North Africa. Plant direct or start
indoors for earlier blooms.
C a l e n d u l a To u ch o f R e d
128592
Delightful shades of yellow, orange, and
apricot flowers are a wonderful choice
for any annual flower garden. Regardless
of color, each flower is blushed with red
at petals' tips, especially on the petals’
undersides. Sow seeds directly into the
garden once danger of frost has passed.
Flowering should occur roughly 8 weeks
after sowing. Thin seedlings to one per
6”, then final spread of 45 cm (18”). An
an excellent cut flower variety.
— CALIFORNIA POPPY —
Hardy Annual
aka: Cup of Gold
botanical: Eschscholzia californica
The California poppy is drought tolerant.
It does well in full sun. Often thrives
where other plants will not.Effective as
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C K
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A B
Z IL EE SF L O W E R S
carpets for sunny slopes.Californians from
Spanish heritage cook the plant in olive
oil to make a hair tonic that they claim
will make the hair grow thick and shiny.
California Poppy is California's state
flower.
Nutritional Facts: Used as a toothache
pain reliever by West Coast Indians. Has
also been used as relief for headache and
insomnia.
C a l i fo r n i a Po p py
100770
moderate. Sow outdoors in spring as
soon as the danger of frost has past.
For early flowering, start indoors in
peat pots and transplant after all
danger of frost has passed. Try sowing
with Sweet Peas for a very attractive
wall of colour.
— CASTOR BEAN —
Annual
botanical: Ricinus communis
Wildflower
Castor Bean
Rich golden-orange flowers on top of a
sturdy stem open from a rose-like bud
into a 4-petal bowl shaped poppy. The
leaves are lacy and stay below the
flowers. Plant along side Baby Blue Eyes.
Esteemed for flower beds and borders,
and window and porch boxes. Not easy
to transplant, Sow outdoors.
— CALLISTEPHUS —
100604
Ricinus is most often grown for its very
attractive foliage. It is a strong growing,
well-branched plant with lobed leaves
and seratted edges. The leaves can grow
up to 25 cm (10") across. Grows best in
well cultivated soil, enriched with organic
matter. It is often used in formal bedding
schemes or as a conservatory potted
plant. Seeds are poisonous. Start plants
indoors in peat pots.
Annual
Callistephus Blue Ribbon
125905
A bushy, dwarf, compact annual, with
fully double flowers that are mounded
with upright, recurving ribbon-shaped
petals, 8-10 cm (3-4") in diameter. Ideal
for beds, borders and containers. Early to
flower and very uniform. Prefers a soil of
neutral or slightly acid pH with a medium
nutrient level and good drainage.
Callistephus chinensis
— CERINTHE —
Annual
Purple Bells
130093
Fleshy blue-green leaves with white
mottling, spiral up the stem, Loved by
bees. An excellent border plant. Cerinthe
major.
— CHILEAN GLORY VINE —
Annual
— CANARY BIRD VINE —
Annual
botanical: Tropaeolum peregrinum
Vigorous Climber!
The Canary Bird Vine is the most popular
climbing plant in the English cottage
gardens.
C a n a r y B i rd V i n e
100082
A native to Peru and Equador, this
hairless annual climber offers unique
canary yellow blooms 2-2.5 cm (3/4 - 1")
across. Vining varieties require supports
(e.g. trellis or fence) and full sun.
Canary Bird Vine likes coarse, porous,
not too rich soil. Watering should be
50
Chilean Glor y Vine Tresco
Hybrids
128586
Eccremocarpus Scaber also known as the
Chilean Glory Vine, an unusual, fast
growing climber, from Chile which offers
masses of fragrant, exotic looking
trumpet shaped flowers in bright colours
that attract hummingbirds. Ideal for
fences, walls and trellis. May be hardy in
some sheltered areas. Germination may
be slow and erratic. Keep medium moist.
When seedlings are large enough to
handle transfer to individual pots.
Harden off before planting outside.
Eccremo carpus.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
— CINERARIA —
Annual
botanical: Senecio pericallis
F L O W E R S
are stunning in beds, borders, baskets or
containers with it’s long lasting colour.
— COSMOS —
Cineraria ‘Jester Royal Shades’ 1 2 7 4 5 2
A stunning blend of daisy-like flowers, in
a mixture of bicolor shades, with distinct
centers. Uniform blooms create a carpet
of stunning flowers as an edging or
border plant in flower beds. Can also be
grown as an indoor potted flowering
plant. Smaller leaves and compact
rounded plant habit differentiate it from
other Cinerarias.
— COBAEA SCANDENS —
Annual
aka: Cup and Saucer Vine
botanical: Cobaea scandens
Cobaea Scandens Cathedral Bell 1 0 0 1 2 4
Cathedral Bell is a fast growing, climbing
vine. Plant in a sunny location with
plenty of shelter. It requires a lot of water
during dry, sunny weather. Start seed
indoors in March and April, and harden
off the seedlings before planting outside
after all danger of frost has passed.
Annual
botanical: Cosmos
Attracts Butterflies
Plant in a sunny location. Moist, but well
drained, sandy, porous soil gives best
results. Sheltered locations protect from
wind damage.
Cosmos Bright Lights
C o s m o s D o u bl e C l i ck
Annual
botanical: Coleus blumei
C o l e u s N ew B r i l l i a n t
100125
An outstanding blend with a wide range
of colours. Bushy plants that boast
colourful foliage with variegated leaves
ranging from ivory and pink through
burgundy, brown and deep green. Coleus
likes warm growing conditions but will
require plenty of water during hot
periods. Place in a well lit spot indoors
and a slightly shaded location in
greenhouse or outdoors. Beds, borders,
boxes or containers, indoors or outdoors.
Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
or sow outdoors. Surface sow. Remove
flower buds to encourage foliage growth.
C o l e u s W i z a rd
130094
A stunning and radiant mix of bright
colourful leaves! Compact and bushy plants
130095
A very impressive introduction to the
Cosmos family! Tall stems carry fully
double and semi-double large blooms, in
shades of white, pink and carmine.
Cosmos bipinnatus
Cosmos Early Sensation Mixed
— COLEUS —
100133
A very popular annual. Lacy fern-like
foliage and large open-faced flowers.
Bright lights is a mix of semi double
yellow and orange shades. Attractive in
beds and borders. Use as cut flowers.
Start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost
or sow outdoors, transplants easily.
Cosmos sulphureus
100135
A very popular annual. Early Sensation
grows tall and creates a beautiful array
when mass planted. A mix of white, pink
and red flowers. Effective as borders or
cut flowers. Start indoors 5-6 weeks
before last frost or sow outdoors,
transplants easily. Cosmos bipinnatus
Cosmos Pied Piper Blush White 1 2 4 9 7 3
This tall bushy border plant produces an
abundance of fluted petals supported on
finely cut fern like foliage. Ideal for borders
adding depth and contrast to the garden.
Seeds can be started indoors 4-5 weeks
before last frost or sown directly into the
garden after all danger of frost has passed.
Pinch out tips once plant reaches 30cm
(12”) to encourage bushy plants. Cosmos
bipinnatus
Cosmos Yellow Garden
128594
Yellow is considered to be a very unique
color for a cosmos. The Yellow Garden
51
M C K E N Z I E
F L O W E R S
has soft yellow 2-8 cm (2-3”) flowers.
Very vigorous grower, blooms later than
other cosmos. When established Cosmos
is drought tolerant. A superb variety as a
highlight to any garden. Makes an
excellent cut flower, and is a great plant
for areas where a wild or natural setting
is preferred, such as a wildflower garden.
Cosmos bipinnatus
— CYPRESS VINE —
Annual
botanical: Ipomoea quamoclit
Cypress Vine White
128587
This annual vine produces masses of five
pointed small white flowers. Feathery or
fern-like foliage reaching height of 15-20’
with Hundreds of blooms throughout the
season. A favourite with hummingbirds.
For sunny spots, fences or pots. Pick
faded blooms to encourage further
flowering. Soak seed overnight prior to
planting, then sow directly to the garden
in thoroughly warm soil. For earlier
flowers, start indoors 4-6 weeks before
the last spring frost date in your area.
— DAHLIA —
128595
An outstanding Dahlia with unique cactus
flowers on dwarf plants with starry, 5-8 cm
(2-3”) flowers in a sensational array of
colours! Easy to grow. Harden off for a
few days prior to transplanting. Can be
dug up in the fall, stored and replanted in
the spring for years of enjoyment. Unlike
many other Dahlias, Stargazer is virtually
maintenance free due to it’s self branching
habit. No staking or pinching required.
Vigorous, uniform plants are perfect for
beds and make an ideal cutflower!
— DIMORPHOTHECA —
Annual
botanical: Dimorphotheca aurantiaca
Start Early!
Au r a n t i a c a A f r i c a n M o o n
130096
This attractive African Daisy has unusual
white and apricot bi-coloured blooms.
Bushy, free flowering plants are ideal for
dry and difficult areas.
52
Annual
botanical: Senecio cineraria
D u s t y M i l l e r S i l v e rd u s t
100116
Deeply cut, woolly, silver grey leaves
makes this plant very popular in annual
flower beds, borders and rock gardens.
This is one of the most popular border
plants because of its lovely blue accent
against traditional greenery. Start seed
indoors 8 weeks before last frost. Cover
lightly and keep growing medium moist,
but not wet.
— EASTER EGG PLANT ORNAMENTAL
GOLDEN EGGS —
Annual
botanical: Solarium melongena 'Golden Eggs'
E a s t e r E gg P l a n t G o l d e n E gg s 1 2 2 5 1 4
Easy to grow, this plant is suitable for not
just the garden, but containers, as well.
Unique and interesting plants produce an
abundance of egg-shaped non-edible
fruits. As this fruit matures it turns from a
white to a golden yellow.
— FORGET-ME-NOT —
Annual
botanical: Dahlia
D a h l i a S t a rg a z e r
— DUSTY MILLER —
Annual
aka: Chinese Forget-me-not
botanical: Cynoglossum amabile
F o rg e t - m e - n o t
100147
Shade Tolerant
Very floriferous sky blue flowers.
Compact plants. Likes sunny, or partially
shaded spot. Any soil, wet or dry
location. Can withstand difficult
conditions Makes a beautiful accent to
cut flower arrangements. The Forget-MeNot like the Rose, represents True Love.
Sow outdoors, flowers quickly, little adv.
to start indoors.
— GAZANIA —
Annual
botanical: Gazania hybrida
Ko n t i k i S t a rs a n d S t r i p e s
130098
A spectacular colour mixture of boldly
striped daisy-like flowers with short, dark
green glossy foliage. Ideal for windy
sites. Great in rockery, mass displays and
for edging borders.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
— GERANIUM —
Geranium Cabaret White
Annual
aka: Cranesbill
botanical: pelargonium hybrids
Start Early!
Though botanically perennial, in Canada
Geraniums should be grown as annual
flowers. Plant them when danger of frost
has past. Feed and water occasionally. They
like full sun and moist but well drained
soil.Plant Geraniums near white Verbena,
white Alyssum, or blue Ageratum. A longstanding favorite among summer bedding
plants. Little can go wrong with Geraniums.
Perfect for low maintenance displays.
Excellent for tubs and large containers. The
Geranium works very well in patio pots or
planters and they will winter
indoors.Geranium flowers are edible.
Geranium Cabaret Red
F L O W E R S
127457
F2- Hybrid
The ‘Cabaret’ series is one of the most
uniform Geraniums available! Large and
very uniform red flower heads are held
well above the foliage. Excellent basalbranching habit, with well-zoned dark
green leaves. A long-standing favourite
among bedding plants. Perfect for
containers, hanging basket and low
maintenance displays. To encourage more
blooms, pinch off faded blossoms. If
planting in a pot, place 3-4 seeds per pot.
Geranium Florist Mix
127459
Very large and uniform flower heads held
well above the foliage. Excellent basal
branching habit. An unbeatable variety
for window boxes, containers, baskets
and flower beds. Feed and water
occasionally. To encourage more blooms,
pinch off faded blossoms. Likes moist but
well-drained soil.
100234
Florist Mix features red, pink and white
Geraniums. The long lasting blooms can
be enjoyed all summer if the seeds are
started early, indoors. Treat Geraniums as
an annual flower rather than a perennial.
Start indoors 8-12 weeks early.
Geranium Red Apple
100237
F2- Hybrid
Red Apple is a superior strain of the most
popular bright red Geranium. The flowers
are very large and uniform. The florets
are soft and full. Start indoors if possible
to ensure the longest bloom period
during the summer months. Start indoors
8-12 weeks early.
— GLOBE AMARANTH —
Annual
botanical: Gomphrena globosa
Globe Amaranth Choice Mix
Geranium Cabaret Rose
127460
Perfect, huge, white flower heads, with soft
and full florets are held well above the
foliage. Excellent basal branching habit,
with well-zoned dark green leaves.
Enhances any flower bed, container or
window boxes. To encourage more blooms,
pinch off faded blossoms. The long lasting
blooms can be enjoyed all summer long!
100276
For Dried Flowers
The blossom and plant resemble
members of the clover family. They are
erect bushy plants. The blooms are 1"(2.5
cm) wide in long stalked clover-like heads
without petals. Blooms continuously for a
long season and does well in hot
weather. Remove first blossoms to
increase production. Needs fairly deep
soil and will tolerate lower fertility and
127458
Geranium Cabaret Salmon
hot dry conditions. The perfect
Large salmon flower heads are held well
everlasting flower, because it holds its
above the foliage. Excellent basalcolor very well. Useful in outdoor beds,
branching habit, with well-zoned dark
they also grow well in containers and
green leaves. Free-flowering with
boxes. Beautiful in both fresh and dried
excellent garden performance. Works
cutflower arrangements. Sow the seed
very well in window boxes, patio pots
indoors about 6-8 weeks before setting
and planters. To encourage more blooms,
out or sow outdoors when night temp.
pinch off faded blossoms.
remains above 10 C.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
53
M C K E N Z I E
F L O W E R S
— HELICHRYSUM —
Annual
aka: Strawflower
botanical: Helichrysum bracteatum
monstrosum
Full sun is essential. Sandy soil.
Others like, Coreopsis, Corn Poppy, and
Mignonette were included for their
alluring color. Suitable for full sun or
partial shade. Plant directly into the
garden or container for the best effect.
— IMPATIENS —
H e l i ch r y s u m E v e r l a s t i n g
100314
For Dried Flowers
A free flowering cutting flower in a bright
colour range. Multi petaled, dense bicoloured blooms. Excellent for dried flower
arrangements and crafts. Start indoors 4-6
weeks before last frost or sow outdoors.
— HELIPTERUM —
Annual
botanical: Helipterum roseum
Timeless Rose
130100
Stunning papery daisy-like rose flowers,
with distinct dark ring around yellow
center. Excellent for dried flower
arrangements . Flowers retain color and
form when dried.
— HIBISCUS —
Annual
botanical: Hibiscus acetpsella
Red Shield
130101
Vibrant red leaves and burgundy flowers
gives a tropical appearance that will
make it a feature plant for summer.
— HOLLYHOCK —
Annual
botanical: Alcea rosea
Fruity Mix
130102
This beautiful mix of soft appleblossom
and peach blooms. Makes a delightful
cutflower.
— HUMMINGBIRD MIXTURE —
Annuals & Hardy Annuals
H u m m i n g b i rd M i x t u r e
100779
Attractive!
A mixture of 15 flower varieties that will
produce flowers attractive to
Hummingbirds. Cup, funnel, and trumpet
shaped flowers like Godetia, Viscaria,
Lavatara, and Larkspur are among the
varieties in the Hummingbird Mixture.
54
Annual
aka: Busy Lizzie
botanical: Impatiens walleriana
Impatiens are basal branching and free
flowering, which makes them one of the
most popular dwarf hybrid Impatiens. Early
flowering, compact and vigorous. Accent
was developed as a "high performance"
seed. Above 90% germination with a quick
uniform emergence. Blooms summer to fall
in shade, semishade, or full sun (if kept
moist), hot or cool weather. Can withstand
heavy rain. Prefers moist (but not soggy)
soil. Perform best when provided with not
more than 6 hours of sunlight a day.
Excellent choice for beds, pots, hanging
baskets, and window boxes. Start 10-12
weeks prior to last spring frost.
I m p a t i e n s B u t t e r f ly C h e r r y
127466
Large, soft pink blooms with a butterflyshaped central eye in every bloom!
Vigorous and free-flowering. Ideal for
containers and baskets. Uniform and
weather-tolerant. Pre-chill seed 4-5 days
before sowing. Cover the seed with a
fine sprinkling of vermiculite or compost.
Keep soil moist, but never wet.
Germinate in the light. Once the plants
have sprouted, maintain good air
circulation, but not directly on the plants.
Set outside only when all danger of frost
has past. Impatiens are very tender.
I m p a t i e n s B u t t e r f ly M i x
127469
Butterfly faced with a delightful mix of
bright glowing colors. Every bloom is a
masterpiece! A lovely, vigorous, freeflowering mix where every large flower
has prominent butterfly eyes. Great for
tubs and baskets. Pre-chill seed 4-5 days
before sowing. Cover the seed with a
fine sprinkling of vermiculite or compost.
Keep soil moist, but never wet.
Germinate in the light. Once the plants
have sprouted, maintain good air
circulation, but not directly on the plants.
M C K E N Z I E
Set outside only when all danger of frost
has past. Impatiens are very tender.
I m p a t i e n s B u t t e r f ly O rch i d
127468
This vibrant colour of impatiens, with a
butterfly-shaped central eye in every
bloom, is intensely beautiful when
planted in containers, flower beds,
baskets and window boxes! Vigorous
and free-flowering. Pre-chill seed 4-5
days before sowing. Cover the seed with
a fine sprinkling of vermiculite or
compost. Keep soil moist, but never wet.
Germinate in the light. Once the plants
have sprouted, maintain good air
circulation, but not directly on the plants.
Set outside only when all danger of frost
has past. Impatiens are very tender.
I m p a t i e n s B u t t e r f ly Pe a ch
127467
Every bloom is a masterpiece! Single,
large peach blooms with deep orange
elegance plus a butterfly-shaped central
eye in every bloom! Great for hanging
baskets and flower beds. Pre-chill seed 45 days before sowing. Cover the seed
with a fine sprinkling of vermiculite or
compost. Keep soil moist, but never wet.
Germinate in the light. Once the plants
have sprouted, maintain good air
circulation, but not directly on the plants.
Set outside only when all danger of frost
has past. Impatiens are very tender.
I m p a t i e n s E x t r e m e L av e n d e r 1 2 7 4 7 1
A brilliant flowing carpet of lavender
blooms grow beautifully in containers,
beds and hanging baskets. Pre-chill seed
4-5 days before sowing. Cover the seed
with a fine sprinkling of vermiculite or
compost. Keep soil moist, but never wet.
Germinate in the light. Once the plants
have sprouted, maintain good air
circulation, but not directly on the plants.
Set outside only when all danger of frost
has past. Impatiens are very tender.
Impatiens Extreme Pink
F L O W E R S
fine sprinkling of vermiculite or compost.
Keep soil moist, but never wet.
Germinate in the light. Once the plants
have sprouted, maintain good air
circulation, but not directly on the plants.
Set outside only when all danger of frost
has past. Impatiens are very tender.
Impatiens Extreme Salmon
127473
Deep, salmon coloured blooms gives this
variety its outstanding look. Ideal for
gardens, containers and window boxes.
Pre-chill seed 4-5 days before sowing.
Cover the seed with a fine sprinkling of
vermiculite or compost. Keep soil moist,
but never wet. Germinate in the light.
Once the plants have sprouted, maintain
good air circulation, but not directly on
the plants. Set outside only when all
danger of frost has past. Impatiens are
very tender.
Impatiens Extreme White
127474
Extreme White Impatiens are perfect to
plant with other colours of Impatiens or
annuals, to create a superb display in
window boxes or hanging baskets. Prechill seed 4-5 days before sowing. Cover
the seed with a fine sprinkling of
vermiculite or compost. Keep soil moist,
but never wet. Germinate in the light.
Once the plants have sprouted, maintain
good air circulation, but not directly on
the plants. Set outside only when all
danger of frost has past. Impatiens are
very tender.
Impatiens F2 Hybrid Mix
100351
All Impatiens provide low-growing
carpets of bright colour. Flowers June
through Frost in partial shade or light
sun. F2 Hybrid. Start 10-12 weeks prior to
last spring frost.
— LARKSPUR —
Annual
botanical: Delphinium ajacis
127472
Soft pink blooms create attention in
flower beds or hanging baskets with it’s
carpet of beauty. Pre-chill seed 4-5 days
before sowing. Cover the seed with a
Larkspur Early Giant Imperial Mxd 1 0 0 3 7 3
Easy to grow. Delphinium-like flowers on
upright strong stemmed plants. Vigorous
grower with abundant flowers in tall
spikes of white, pink, red, blue and
55
M C K E N Z I E
F L O W E R S
purple. Larkspur is self-seeding. Thrives in
sun or light shade and moist well drained
soil. Effective as backgrounds against a
wall or fence. Long lasting spikes are
excellent as cut flowers and in dried
flower arrangements. All parts of the
plant including the seeds are poisonous.
Transplants poorly; Sow outdoors in early
spring.
L o b e l i a C r y s t a l Pa l a c e
100389
Marine dark blue with bronze red
foliage. This dark and dainty border plant
will colorfully contrast a white house,
fence, or another border plant. Start
indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost;
surface sow; keep moist and cool.
— LAVATERA —
Lobelia Regatta Rose Improved 1 2 2 5 0 9
Annual
aka: Polish Rose
botanical: Lavatera trimestris
Popular!
The Regatta is one of the earliest trailing
Lobelia’s available. An improved version
of an old time favorite, Lobelia is
unmatched for its uses in containers,
hanging baskets, and window boxes. This
trailing variety produces an abundance of
delicate rose-coloured flowers from
spring until fall.
L ava t e r a M o n t B l a n c
100385
Trumpet shaped flowers 2-4"(7-10cm)
across. Beautiful white blossoms. Dozens
of blooms per plant. Leaf resembles a
dwarf Hollyhock or mallow. Do not grow
in excessively rich soil since this will
promote too much bush and fewer
flowers. A bushy plant that makes an
excellent temporary hedge. An excellent
cut flower. Cover the seed with a plastic
bag to encourage germination if you
start them indoors. They may be seeded
directly outside, but do not sow them
thickly. To prolong the blooming season,
remove faded blooms to prevent seed
production.
L o b e l i a Tr a i l i n g S a p p h i r e
100393
This Lobelia is sapphire blue with a white
eye and light green foliage. Start indoors
6-8 weeks before last frost; surface sow;
keep moist and cool.
— LOW GROWING MIX WILDFLOWERS —
Annuals, Biennials, & Perennials
L ow G row i n g M i x
100768
Wildflower
L ava t e r a S i l v e rc u p
100383
Flowing salmon pink flowers with dark
rose veins. A trumpet shaped blossom.
Grows like a small Hollyhock. Nice even
foliage. Large 4" hibiscus-type flowers
colored deep rose-pink. Sunny location
with moderately rich soil. Excellent in
beds. Use for cut flowers. Also useful on
its own as a dividing hedge. Blooms
edible. Don't transplant well; Sow
outdoors. Removing faded blooms
prolongs the flowering season.
— LOBELIA —
Annual
botanical: Lobelia erinus
Nutritional Facts: Poisonous if eaten.
Attracts Butterflies
Likes sun or light shade and ample
moisture but good drainage.
56
A proven low growing wildflower mix
which is made up of annual and
perennial flower seed providing an
exceptional range of colours. Among the
17 flowers in the Low Growing Mix are
Dwarf Farewell-to-Spring, Blue Bells,
Johnny Jump-up, and Wallflower. Will
tolerate heat and marginal soil
conditions. This mix is great for planting
in a sunny area in front of taller plants, a
fence or a building. Plant directly into the
garden or container for the best effect.
— MARIGOLD —
Annual
aka: French Marigold
botanical: Tagetes patula nana
Attracts Butterflies
Thrives best in full sun in any reasonable
garden soil. Marigolds are tolerant of dry
conditions and stand up well to wind and
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
heavy rain. McKenzie has many varieties
in the Family Tagetes, or Marigold.
"Patula" are dwarf types of Marigolds.
All Marigolds are easy to grow. The
foliage is pungent when crushed. Dead
heading prolongs the blooming period of
marigolds.Marigolds have earned their
place in most vegetable gardens. Their
pungent aroma works to repel some
pesky insects. They also attract hoverflies
which prey on harmful insects.Long life as
cut flowers.Marigold flower petals and
leaves add a bitey tang to salads. Dried
petals are spicy and colourful for breads
and cakes.
M a r i g o l d B o n a n z a B o l e ro
120627
Large 6.6cm (2.25") double flowers
primarily gold with red petal tips.
Bonanza Bolero is an improved French
Marigold. Excellent garden performer
which thrives in full sun. Marigolds are
tolerant of dry conditions and stand up
well to wind and heavy rain. Plant
directly outdoors as soon as all danger of
frost has passed. All America Selections
Winner. Plants spread more when given
adequate moisture.
F L O W E R S
and windy conditions. For early blooms,
start seed indoors 6-8 weeks before the
last frost.
M a r i g o l d L i t t l e H e ro S p r y F 1 1 2 0 6 1 0
This hybrid French dwarf crested
marigold produces large deep red and
yellow crested flowers 5-6.25cm (2-2.5")
in diameter. Excellent performers even
under extremely hot weather. Stands up
very well to rain, heat and windy
conditions. Start seed directly outdoors
after all danger of frost has passed. For
early blooms, start seed indoors 6-8
weeks before the last frost.
Marigold Disco Orange
Marigold Disco Red
Marigold Canadian Sunset
100423
Orange centre, rust crested . Compact.
Expect many blooms on each plant. Good
for uniform backgrounds and borders.
Plant direct or start indoors for earlier
blooms.
Marigold Citris Mix
130103
A stunning french marigold mixture of
yellow, orange and bi-colour flowers.
Ideal in garden borders and can be a
delightful centerpiece to any cutflower
arrangement.
M a r i g o l d H e ro M i x F 1
120609
This gorgeous hybrid mixture comes in
red, yellow, orange, gold two tone red
with orange and maroon and orange.
The double flowers have a diameter of 56.25cm (2-2.5") which is one of the
largest flowering dwarf crested French
Marigolds. This is a low maintenance
plant that stands up well to rain, heat
127475
A bright and new series of Marigolds! Easy
to grow, Disco orange marigold produces
an array of 6 cm (2 1/4") single flower
heads of bright orange. Bushy, dwarf
plants with dark green foliage, blooms
abundantly. A low maintenance plant for
edging, patio containers, window boxes,
borders and flower beds. Sow directly to
the garden in thoroughly warm soil. Are
great for attracting Butterflies.
127476
Add a fresh and dramatic new look to your
garden with this unique dwarf French
marigold! Brilliant 6 cm (2 1/4") single
petals of bright red surrounding a crusty
gold center. Bushy, dwarf plants with dark
green foliage, blooms abundantly. Superb
for edging, patio containers, window
boxes, borders and flower beds. Sow
directly to the garden in thoroughly warm
soil. An excellent performer.
M a r i g o l d D i s c o Ye l l ow
127477
A compact mound of stunning yellow 6
cm (2 1/4") single flowers literally cover
the sturdy well-branched plants all
summer, providing a sunny display. .
Bushy, dwarf plants with dark green
foliage, blooms abundantly. Superb for
edging, patio containers, window boxes,
borders and flower beds. Sow directly to
the garden in thoroughly warm soil. An
excellent performer.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
57
M C K E N Z I E
Marigold Disco Mix
F L O W E R S
127478
These gorgeous French marigolds will
generate an expressive display for edging,
patio containers, window boxes, borders
and flower beds. Orange, red and yellow
single petal flowers bloom profusely on
bushy dwarf plants, with dark green
foilage. Easy to grow with low
maintenance. Plants stand up well to rain,
heat and windy conditions. Sow directly
to the garden in thoroughly warm soil.
— MARIGOLD - GIANT —
Annual
botanical: Tagetes erecta
"Erecta" are the tallest types of
marigolds. Dead heading prolongs the
blooming period of marigolds.Marigolds
have earned their place in most
vegetable gardens. Their pungent aroma
works to repel some pesky insects. They
also attract hoverflies which prey on
harmful insects.When planted in dense
rows, Giant Marigolds make an gorgeous
annual mini-hedge.
M a r i g o l d C r a ck e r j a ck
100412
Unmistakable giant carnation flowers in
orange, gold, and lemon. Very tall and
bushy "Erecta" type. Plant direct or start
indoors for earlier blooms.
— MATTHIOLA —
Annual
aka: Night Scented Stocks
botanical: Matthiola bicornis
M a t t h i o l a N i g h t S c e n t e d S t o ck s 1 0 0 4 4 8
Fragrant!
The Evening, or Night Scented Stock
bears dainty, inconspicuous whitish green
fleurets which close during the day, but
at night ... they have that delicious
fragrance. Sunny locations are best but
will tolerate a little part-day shade. Must
be sown in spring where it will flower.
Grown exclusively for fragrance. Plant
near a deck or window or along paths
which will be used in the evening. Sow
outdoors in early spring.
— MESEMBRYANTHEMUM —
Annual
botanical: Mesembryanthemum
58
Gelato Red
130104
A star-performer for your garden even in
less than perfect summers forming dense,
spreading tufts of green foliage covered
with brilliantly coloured flowers. Thriving
in hot and dry weather. bellidiformis
— MOONFLOWER —
Annual
botanical: Ipomoea alba
M o o n f l ow e r G i a n t W h i t e
100455
For a fabulous show these fragrant white
blossoms are 6 in.(16 cm) across. The
blossoms open in the evening and stay
open until the next noon. To truly enjoy
the fragrance, plant these next to patios,
porches, and windows. Soak the seeds in
warm water for a day before planting.
They may be seeded directly outside, but
for earlier color, start them inside 6
weeks before last frost.
— MORNING GLORY —
Annual
botanical: Ipomoea sp.
Attracts Butterflies
Adapts well to a variety of sites and soils.
However, prefers sunny, sheltered
locations with well drained loamy soil of
moderate fertility. If soil is too moist or
fertile there will be mostly leaves.
Represents "farewell".
Nutritional Facts: All parts of ipomea
plant (including seeds) are poisonous.
M o r n i n g G l o r y D o u bl e S u n r i s e
130105
Serenade
A very fast growing climber with large,
double 2.5-3 cm (1-3”) cherry-red blooms
with a white base and a slightly wavy
edge. Ideal for baskets, containers, and
for covering trellises, banks and tree
stumps.
Morning Glor y Early Call Mixed 100457
Climber
This is one of our loveliest garden
climbers with heart-shaped leaves and
large trumpet-like flowers which last for
merely a day but bloom in quick
succession. Early Call Mixed blooms are
white, pink, magenta, red, and purple.
Sow outdoors or start indoors 4-6 weeks
early.
M C K E N Z I E
M o r n i n g G l o r y F ly i n g S a u c e rs 1 2 0 6 2 8
Unique sky blue flowers with white
stripes. Very showy flowers about 10cm
(4") in diameter. A prolific bloomer.
Plant does not need deadheading as the
finished flowers fold up into a tidy cone
and the vigorous vine still continues
with the magnificent floral show.
Foliage is heartshaped creating an
impressive overall look. Climber.For
earlier blooms, start seed indoors 3-4
weeks before transplanting to the
garden.
Morning Glor y Heavenly Blue
100458
Soft sky blue blooms with a neat yellow
and white center. Will easily climb to
cover a trellis or a fence. Sow outdoors or
start indoors 4-6 weeks early.
F L O W E R S
cucumber beetles.Useful in areas plagued
by rodents as they have little attraction
for its spicy flavour. Flowers are edible in
salads. Young leaves and flowers taste
peppery. The Spanish conquistadors
brought the Nasturtium to Spain from
Peru in the 16th century and since it has
been adored for its beauty and as a
culinary herb.
Nasturtium Alaska
100488
The distinctive bi-colour green and white
foliage are the trademark of this
attractive variety. Contrasting brilliant
single blooms in shades of red make this
an excellent addition to any garden.
Nasturtium Alaska will tolerate poor soil
and drought conditions and still bloom
all summer. Nasturtium tolerates some
shade. Sow direct. Can be started inside
and transplanted outdoors for early
colour after risk of frost.
Morning Glor y Ipomea Imperialis 1 0 0 4 6 3
These Morning Glories are darker shades
of Reds and Purples. Sow outdoors or
start indoors 4-6 weeks early.
Morning Sunspots
128588
You will fall in love with this miniature
morning glory! Plants bear masses of
small tubular orange flowers, quick to
bloom. This twining climber reaches a
height of only 5-6' making it a great
choice for pots and small trellises. Pick
faded blooms to encourage further
flowering. Soak seed overnight prior to
planting, then sow directly to the
garden in thoroughly warm soil. For
earlier flowers, start indoors 4-6 weeks
before the last spring frost date in your
area.
— NASTURTIUM —
Annual
botanical: Tropaeolum majus
Will bloom all summer long in full sun.
Needs well drained, moderately moist,
moderately fertile soil. Poor soil will even
enhance the flowering!Companion plant
for practically every plant in the garden.
It acts as a decoy for aphids, helps deter
whiteflies, cabbage worms, Colorado
potato beetles, squash beetles and
N a s t u r t i u m D w a r f D o u bl e
Cherry Rose
100472
A dwarf double Nasturtium with a most
striking solid red bloom. A non-trailing
bushy plant. The bright double cherry
coloured flowers are held well above the
foliage. Difficult to transplant Sow
outdoors, directly into position.
100474
N a s t u r t i u m J ew e l M i xe d
The Dwarf Jewel is a mix of bushy
compact Nasturtiums. A bed of plants
produces a stunning range of bright
semi-double flowers in red, goldenyellow, orange, pink, chamois rose and
some bi-colours. The flowers are held
well above the foliage. Easy to grow.
Difficult to transplant. Sow outdoors,
directly into position.
128589
Nasturtium Milkmaid
Delicate pale-cream to white blossoms
that would be a superb addition to any
garden. A great conversation piece in any
garden. Plants can climb to 1.8 m (6’) or
more with proper support. An ideal soft
contrast in beds, borders or containers for
continuous summer colour. Easy to grow.
Sow in fine soil, keep moist but not
soaking while germinating.
59
M C K E N Z I E
F L O W E R S
128596
N a s t u r t i u m P r i m ro s e J ew e l
Beautiful pale primrose- yellow , virtually
all double blossoms on compact, uniform
plants. Perfect in beds, borders and an
ideal variety for containers and hanging
baskets. Easy to grow. Sow in fine soil,
keep moist but not soaking while
germinating.
N a s t u r t i u m Ta l l C l i m b i n g
100479
Shade tolerant
The Nasturtium is a large petalled flower
with a long deep spur for nectar. This
mixture offers a rich color range of
orange, gold, and red. One of the most
satisfactory and easily managed garden
flowers. Excellent ground cover. Difficult
to transplant;Sow outdoors, directly into
position.
128597
N a s t u r t i u m T i p To p L e m o n
Pure lemon-yellow flowers held well
above the foliage on compact plants
make this a crisp and refreshing variety
for beds and borders or containers. Easy
to grow. Sow in fine soil, keep moist but
not soaking while germinating.
Nemophilla Penny Black
125912
This little gem features delightful, almost
black, small flowers prettily picoteed with
a broad white edge. A perfect accent
plant for rock gardens, small patios,
borders, edging along pathways and
makes a great container or window box
item. Keep soil moist, but not wet
because a lack of moisture will diminish
the flowering.
— NIGELLA —
Annual
botanical: Nigella damascena
Nig ella Hispanica Exotic
125913
Purple-blue flowers with dark centers and
spider-like seed pods, makes this a unique
addition to your garden. The stemens
give a dramatic look to the flowers, adds
a unique look when used in flower
arrangements and dry flower bouquets.
Very good for fresh cut flowers or dry
flowers.
— OLD FASHIONED FLOWER
GARDEN —
Annual
— NEMESIA —
Annual
botanical: Nemesia strumosa
Nemesia Allspice
128598
A wonderful NEW Nemesia with nearly
all plants displaying a mass of speckled
and flecked flowers giving a touch of the
exotic to this variety. Ideal for use in
beds, borders or for mass plantings.
Nemesias can also be sown direct where
they're to flower. In cool areas sow in
good, moisture retentive soil in late
spring. If starting indoors, sow in growing
medium and keep cool and moist.
Temperatures above 15ºC (60ºF) depress
germination. Plants should be hardened
off carefully as they are not tolerant of
either frost or sudden heat and bright
light.
— NEMOPHILLA —
Annual
botanical: Nemophila discoidalis
60
O l d Fa s h i o n e d F l ow e r G a rd e n 1 0 0 5 0 2
Rock Garden Favorite
A mix of old-fashioned annual flower
seed varieties of various heights in a wide
range of colours. Fifteen flower varieties
are contained in the mix among them,
Aster, Calendula, Clarkia, Cosmos,
Godetia, Rudbeckia, and Zinnia.
— PANSY —
Annual
botanical: Viola witrockianna
Start Early!
Grow well in a wide variety of garden
soils but are at their best in moderately
fertile, well-drained, cool, and reasonably
moist ones. They are intolerant of heat
and dryness. A little shade is
appreciated.Excellent companions for
hyacinths, tulips, and other spring
flowering bulb plants.Splendid in beds
and borders. Effective in containers,
hanging baskets, and as cut flowers.The
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
flowers are edible and excellent for cake
decorations, fresh or sugared.The Pansy is
associated with modesty.
Pa n s y S h ow S w i s s G i a n t
100520
Vigorous, huge gracefully waved flowers
with a thick velvety texture. Blooms are
3-4"(7.5-10 cm). Mixture of intermediate
shades of white, yellow, red, scarlet, dark
blue, and violet. Start indoors 10-12
weeks before last frost date.
— PETUNIA —
Annual
botanical: Petunia hybrida
Start Early!
Petunias must be started indoors to reach
full maturity in Canadian gardens. Out of
doors, all Petunias thrive best in full
sunshine. They do not tolerate shade.
Deadheading regularly prolongs the
blooming period and improves the
plant's vigor. Petunias will bloom all
season long and resist bad weather and
disease. Petunias require a well drained
soil - their greatest enemy is excess
moisture. Tolerant of heat and drought.
Likes sunshine. The Petunia bloom creates
a colorful show from a distance. The soft
trumpet-shaped blooms are very large for
the plant size and plants that are tended
can produce a dozen blooms. The Petunia
comes in many colors, sizes, and flower
forms. Flowers attract hummingbirds.
Petunias are two main types: doubles or
singles. Doubles are heavily ruffled,
many-petaled flowers resembling
carnations; singles are funnel-shaped
(either ruffled or smooth edged) with
open throats. Both doubles and singles
come as grandifloras (very large flowers)
or multifloras (smaller flowers, but more
of them.) Overall there are some 200
varieties on the market. Petunias are a
useful companion for flower and
vegetable gardens. They repel Mexican
bean beetles, potato bugs, squash bugs
and leaf hoppers. Varieties of Petunias
are used for borders, mass flower beds,
edgings, and for containers of all sizes
including hanging baskets. Can be used
as cut flowers.Flowers are edible.
F L O W E R S
Pe t u n i a B o n a n z a M i x
100541
Multiflora Double
Thick double and triple, full bloom
Petunias in shades of white, pink, soft
red, and soft purple. These heavy showy
blooms perch on top of a thick stem. The
blooms are 3"(8 cm) across. For early
color sow seed indoors 6-8 weeks before
transplanting out. Barely cover the seed
with finely sifted soil and keep
germination soil evenly moist. Because of
the small seed size-mist the soil or water
from the bottom when the seed is
germinating.
Pe t u n i a E a s y Wav e B l u e
127491
Spectacular, 6 cm (2 1/2") blue flowers
cover up the vigorous, well-branched
plants. Fast-growing, each plant spreads
up to 90 cm (3’) making it ideal as a
ground cover, in hanging baskets or
planters. A superb performer with nonstop flowering through hot and cooler
periods. Fast recovery after rain and
excellent weather tolerance. A superior
performer holds its excellent appearance
all season. Easy to grow and easy to care.
Pe t u n i a E a s y Wav e S a l m o n
127485
An outstanding improved wave series,
easy to grow and easy to care! Each fast
growing plant spreads up to 90 cm (3’),
smothered with striking salmon-pink
colour, 6 cm (2 1/2") blooms. Excellent in
hanging baskets, containers or as a
ground cover either on their own or
mixed with other wave petunias.
Extremely vigorous plants resist heat,
cold, drought and rain, creating gorgeous
"waves" of color throughout the summer.
Pe t u n i a P i n k Wav e
127497
Loaded with rich, bright pink 7.5 cm (3")
blooms continuously cover the plants
providing a wave of colour. The
spreading and cascading habit makes
them ideal for hanging baskets,
containers, window boxes and ground
cover. Plants will spread up to 120 cm
(4’). Weather tolerance and disease
resistance. Easy to grow!
61
M C K E N Z I E
Pe t u n i a P u r p l e Wav e
F L O W E R S
127496
Free flowering multifloras growing
carpets of bright colour all summer long!
Loaded with intense purple blooms,
measure up to 8 cm (3") in diameter.
Plants will spread up to 150 cm (4’) or
more making it a delightful ground cover
, or in hanging baskets, large containers,
mixed containers or window boxes.
Tolerant of hot and cold weather, as well
as rain. Easy to grow!
Pe t u n i a T i d a l Wav e C h e r r y
127493
An amazing petunia that climbs, trails,
mounds and edges! Masses of gorgeous,
cherry–pink 5 cm (2") blooms
continuously cover the vigorous plants. A
highly versatile petunia creates an
elegant display in any surroundings. You
can grow them from containers, to
beddings, to trellises, to edgings. Very
low maintenance and excellent weather
tolerance. Requires no pinching and
pruning.
rockery. Effective as cut flowers. Also
useful as border and edging plants. Sow
outdoors or indoors 6 weeks before last
frost Establish plants in beds before
intense summer heat. At planting, pinch
out first flower to encourage a quick
second flush of flowers.
— POPPY —
Annual
botanical: Papaver sp.
Thrives in Sun and light shade.
Deadheading is advised to prolong the
flowering season. Light well drained
soil.Young leaves are edible. Cook and
season like spinach or use as a flavoring
in soups and salads.
Po p py D o u bl e S h i r l ey M i xe d
Huge double Poppies, solid color and
white tipped in coral, magenta and red.
Sow outdoors in early spring; transplants
poorly.
Poppy Falling in love
Pe t u n i a ‘ T i d a l Wav e S i l v e r ’
100573
Shade Tolerant
130106
127492
The most versatile petunia available! It
climbs, trails, mounds and edges! Unique
silver-white 5 cm (2") blooms, with deep
purple centers and thin purple veins.
Creates an elegant display in any
surroundings. You can grow them from
containers, to beddings, to trellises, to
edgings. They stand up to summer
storms beautifully, bouncing back from
rain and wind without turning a petal!
Very long-blooming will reward you with
masses upon masses of gorgeous bright
blooms!
— PHLOX —
Annual
botanical: Phlox drummondii hybrida
This spectacular and easily grown annual
produces an abundance of blooms makes
it excellent for borders and cutflowers.
Attracts hummingbirds.
— PORTULACA —
Annual
aka: Moss Rose
botanical: Portulaca grandiflora
It will perform well in full sun, even if the
weather is dry. Prefer a light sandy not
too rich soil that is warm, well drained
and in a sunny open position. It will
prosper in hot dry locations where most
other annuals will not grow. It will not
tolerate even the slightest frost.Excellent
for rock gardens and ground cover.
Po r t u l a c a D o u bl e F l ow e r in g M i x 1 0 0 5 9 1
P h l ox D w a r f B e a u t y M i x t u r e
Attracts Hummingbirds!
100562
This sun loving annual has a dwarf
creeping habit. 1"(2.5 cm) flowers are
brightly coloured and they look like small
shrub roses. 100% double and semidouble flowers. The blooms close once
the sun is hidden. White, soft yellow,
pink, rose, salmon, carmine, and scarlet
colors. Start indoors Feb-Mar or sow
outdoors.
An attractive field grown mixture with a
wide colour range for solid and bi-color
blooms: lilac, crimson, scarlet, pink,
salmon, white, and yellow. Flowers
attract hummingbirds. Likes full sun.
Good well drained moist soil. Excellent
for containers, window boxes, beds or in
62
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
— RAIN DAISY—
Annual
aka: Afican Daisy
botanical: Dimorphotheca sinuata Spring Flash Orange
Rain Daisy Spring Flash Orange
123931
A type of African daisy, “Spring Flash”
will add early color to any garden setting.
A classic beauty in containers, plants will
reach a mature height of 25-30 cm (1012”). Blooms appear from June to frost.
Start plant indoors 8 weeks before last
frost. Pinch back plants to encourage
multiple branching.
Annual
botanical: Lablab purpureus
— SALVIA —
Annual
aka: Scarlet sage.
botanical: Salvia horminum
Salvia Mojito
130109
An exquisite, reseeding flower with
wonderful white and lime green blooms
smothering numerous upright spikes.
Ideal for borders and makes a great
cutflower.
130110
Beautiful, huge, light purple upright
flower spikes. Ideal for mixed containers,
borders and makes a great cutflower
100618
This tropical vine produces blue-green
leaves and fragrant purple pea-like
flowers. After blooming, Ruby Moon
produces lovely purple pods. Plants are
heat tolerant and may be planted against
a south wall. A nice combination plant
with Canary Bird Vine. Can be planted in
containers. This is not a true "bean" but
the pods can be harvested and eaten.
Can be sown directly in the garden after
all danger of frost has passed.
— SALPIGLOSSIS —
Annual
botanical: Salpiglossis sinuata
Salpiglossis Kew Blue
blooms start indoors 8-10 weeks prior to
last frost.
Salvia Picante Light Purple
— RUBY MOON —
R u by M o o n H ya c i n t h B e a n
F L O W E R S
125914
Stunning velvety, dark blue flowers
become even darker towards the center.
Great for containers or bedding.
Plant directly in the garden after all
danger of frost has passed. Or for earlier
—SCABIOSA —
Annual
aka: Pincushion flower
botanical: Scabiosa atropurpurea
Scabiosa Scarlet
123935
An old fashioned favourite, Scabiosa
produces flat quilled flowers ideal for
cutting and perfect for attracting
butterflies. Landscape uses include
borders and massing, but ideally these
plants provide color to any part of your
garden. Sow seeds outdoors as soon as
ground can be worked. Cool season
plants by nature, these plants are ideal
for zones 2-4. Average well drained soil is
preferred. Blooms June - September.
— SCARLET FLAX —
Annual
botanical: Linum rubrum
Scarlet Flax
100753
Wildflower
Scarlet flax will grow up to 24" in ideal
growing conditions but usually is a bit
shorter. It has a star-bell shape in a dark
coral shade that makes it unique in a
flower bed. Bloom profusely making a
colorful summer display. It does well in
light, well drained soil in full sun and
partial shade. It is heat resistant. Effective
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
63
M C K E N Z I E
F L O W E R S
for beds and borders. Sow outdoors,
difficult to transplant. Sow every 3-4
weeks for continuous blooming.
— SILENE —
Annual
botanical: Silene laciniata
S t a r bu rs t
S n a p d r ag o n M a rd i G r a s
130111
Unusual bright red serrated flowers on
slender stems will add a unique flair to
flower beds, garden borders or
containers.
— SHADE MIX - WILDFLOWERS —
Annuals, Biennials, & Perennials
S h a d e M i x W i l d f l ow e r
100778
Hardy & Shade Tolerant
An excellent flower seed blend for shade
near trees or buildings. 17 compatible
varieties are contained in the Shade Mix,
among them: Blue Mountain Columbine,
Tall Sweet Alyssum, Penstemon Salmon
Red, and Black Eyed Susan. This mix will
tolerate marginal soil conditions. To get
the most enjoyment from the flowers,
the plants must have at least four hours
of sun. An excellent blend for developing
a natural array of flowers in that difficult
shady spot. Plant directly into the garden
or container for the best effect.
— SNAPDRAGON —
Annual
botanical: Antirrhinum majus
Sun loving, should be fully exposed to
sun even as seedlings. Prefer well drained
fertile soil. In dry weather deep watering
should be done every few days. This
garden favorite is really a perennial but it
is usually grown as an annual.
Snapdragons can be started indoors to
extend the blooming period. When
plants are 3"(7 cm) high pinch out the
growing points to encourage bushiness.
Flowers attract hummingbirds. Excellent
for beds and borders and for cut flowers.
Can also be used effectively in window
and porch boxes. Dwarf varieties are
useful in rock gardens.
Snapdragon Dwarf Lollipops Mixed
with a large proportion of bloom. The
mix of colour includes white, yellow,
pink, salmon, and red. Plant direct or
start indoors for earlier blooms.
100638
Dwarf Lollipops is a compact Snapdragon
64
100643
Mardi Gras features some bi-colour
florets in a coral-red combination. The
blooms are particularly tall and slender.
Plant direct or start indoors for earlier
blooms.
S n a p d r ag o n M i n i S n a p M i x
128599
Compact, bushy plants in a wide range of
colours. Snapdragons need fertile, well
drained soil in full sun. Snapdragons do
need light to sprout, so plant them directly
on the surface of the soil. Do not crowd
the snapdragons. Water from underneath
to prevent rust. Keep the plants
deadheaded for bloom all summer long.
— STATICE —
Annual
aka: Sea Lavender
botanical: Limonium sinuatum
Statice
100661
For Dried Flowers
Paper-like blooms on stiff stems in an
interesting array of colors-blues, pinks,
mauves, apricots, and yellows. This
Everlasting flower has enduring color.
The blooms feature small upwardreaching serrated florets bunched
together on short stems, and joined
together at a central solid stem in the
fashion of the herb, dill. The Statice
florets impressively cover the flower
head. Deep well drained soil is most
suitable. Tolerates dry conditions well.
Widely grown for indoor decorations.
The perfect flower for crafts because they
M C K E N Z I E
hold their colors superbly after drying.
Also a widely used filler flower in fresh
bouquets. To dry Statice, pick the entire
stem when the flowers are well colored,
just before the flowers are fully open and
tie the stems in bunches. Hang bunches
upside down in an airy dry place away
from sunlight. Can be started indoors 810 weeks before planting out. Plant out
after last frost. Too much fertilizer results
in bad quality and limp stalks. Wide
spacing prolongs the period of flowering.
Annual
botanical: Stylomecon heterophyllum
130112
A spectacular and easily grown annual
producing an abundance of coppery
orange, poppy-like flowers, sweetly
scented of lily-of-the-valley.
— SUNFLOWER —
Annual
botanical: Helianthus annuus
Easy to grow. Single flowering; Gigantic
flowers 12"(30 cm) across!Save the seeds
for a personal treat or let the birds enjoy
them over the fall and winter.The
Sunflower lends a cheery feel to a
neighbourhood garden.
S u n f l ow e r Au t u m n B e a u t y
100308
A beautiful mix of gold-yellow, reds and
browns. Autumn Beauty is an ideal
cutflower, and is easy to grow as a great
border plant. It is a very sturdy plant to
use as a windbreak. When planting, grow
in rows or in groups of 3 plants.
S u n f l ow e r E v e n i n g S u n
100302
Gorgeous shades of mahogany and red
mixed with golden yellow flowers.
Evening Sun grows very tall. Evening Sun
can be planted as a tall border plant, or
used as a windbreaker. It is a perfect
variety for children to grow. Plant in rows
or in groups of 3 or 4 plants.
S u n f l ow e r G o l d e n H e d g e
Hedge performs well as an annual hedge
with stems that branch out to form a
thicker barrier.
S u n f l ow e r H e n r i W i l d e
100303
Golden Hedge is a pollen-free variety
with yellow blooms measuring 15 cm (6")
across. An excellent cut flower. Golden
100307
One of the taller sunflowers, Henri Wilde
produces gold yellow blooms with a black
centre. The perfect variety for
backgrounds, borders or annual hedges
and it is an ideal windbreak. It is also an
excellent cutflower. When planting, grow
in rows or in groups of 3 plants.
S u n f l ow e r I n c r e d i bl e
— STYLOMECON —
Copper Queen
F L O W E R S
100297
A True Dwarf
A great sunflower that only grows 45 cm
(18") high! Easy to grow. Sturdy stems
and big yellow flowers. Keep the soil
moist (but not soaked!). You can grow
these in containers or right in the garden.
Sow directly in the garden. If you grow
Sunflower "Incredible" in containers, just
sow 3 or 4 seeds and when they are a
few inches tall, take out all but one of
the plants. If you grow them in the
garden, plant them in a row or in groups
of 3 or 4 plants.
S u n f l ow e r L a rg e S e e d e d
100671
Very Tall!
Plants will grow even higher when fed
weekly with liquid fertilizer. Full sun. Can
tolerate almost any type of soil. Keep
well watered. Sow outdoors.
S u n f l ow e r L e m o n Q u e e n
100306
Lemon Queen is an early flowering
variety, producing very attractive lemonyellow flowers which contrast nicely with
the brown centre. Great for backgrounds,
borders or beds as well as annual hedges
and children's gardens.
S u n f l ow e r Pa c i n o
100309
Pacino is an easy to grow dwarf
sunflower bearing bright yellow blooms.
It is ideal for container gardening. If
grown in a container, sow 3 seeds and
when plants reach a few inches tall, thin
to all but one seedling. Keep the soil
moist but not soaked until germination
occurs. If sown in the garden, grow in
rows or in groups of 3 or 4 plants.
65
M C K E N Z I E
S u n f l ow e r Pa q u i t o
F L O W E R S
130113
A totally new type of dwarf Sunflower
producing numerous flowers forming a
compact, ball shape plant. A sunny
blend of golden yellow, lemon, red and
bicolour flowers.
S u n f l ow e r S t a r bu rs t B l a z e
F1 Hybrid
128600
Starburst Blaze is a Pollen Free variety
with crested red blooms with a slight
lemon tinge measuring 12-15 cm (4-5")
across. An early to flower variety with the
blooms borne on well-branched plants.
An excellent cut flower or try as a
background item in beds.
S u n f l ow e r S u n s p o t
100304
An early flowering, bushy, dwarf
sunflower that grows to a height of
about 45 cm (18"). Each stem produces a
single giant bloom with bright yellow
petals surrounding a deep golden centre.
A great container variety. If grown in
containers, plant 3 or 4 seeds, and when
they reach a few inches in height, thin to
all but one of the plants. If planting in
the garden, arrange in rows or in groups
of 3 or 4 plants.
outdoors. Grow in rows or in groups of 3
or 4 plants.
— SWEET PEA —
Annual
botanical: Lathyrus odoratus
Ultimate Fragrance!
Plant Sweet Peas in a sunny location. Keep
well watered. Soil must be deep, fertile,
and well drained. A pH of about 7 is best.
Sweet Peas are easy to grow. Their grace
and pleasing fragrance are unsurpassed
among annuals. There is a wide variety of
flower colors.Sweet Pea is a legume, a
nitrogen fixer. It is good for your soil.Of
course, the Sweat Pea is a climber. Many
people grow Sweet Peas for the fragrance
spilled from a bud vase of blooms on the
kitchen table. It is unmatched.
S w e e t Pe a K n e e H i
100685
Delightful blooms in lovely, soft colours
on dwarf vines make this a perfect flower
for foundation planting or beside a low
fence. Plants are early blooming, heat
resistant and require no staking.
Use in borders, window boxes and other
containers. Soak seed for 24 hours prior
to planting directly outdoors.
S w e e t Pe a L i t t l e S w e e t h e a r t 1 0 0 6 7 9
S u n f l ow e r Ta i yo
100310
Taiyo produces large yellow flowers with
a black centre reaching 25-30 cm (10-12")
in diameter. Easy to grow. Excellent for
cutting. When planting, grow in rows or
in groups of 3 plants.
S u n f l ow e r Te ddy B e a r D w a r f
100294
A dwarf variety bearing golden-yellow
blooms. Teddy Bear blooms for about 6
weeks in late summer. Excellent container
variety. Ideal for small gardens. If sowing
directly to your garden, plant in a row or
in groups of 3. In containers, sow 3 or 4
seeds, and when they are a few inches
tall, thin to all but one plant.
S u n f l ow e r Ve l v e t Q u e e n
100305
Velvet Queen is an early flowering
variety, producing dark velvet crimson
blooms, accented with traces of gold and
yellow around its black centre. Easy to
grow. An ideal variety for a windbreak.
These sunflowers can be planted directly
66
Bushy and attractive knee-hi plants are
sturdy requiring no support. They are
smothered with brilliantly coloured,
highly fragrant flowers, ideal for a very
showy, easy to grow garden. Very
Fragrant. Use as a cut flower, for mass
beddings and as a winter crop in a cool
greenhouse. Soak seed for 24 hours prior
to planting directly outdoors.
S w e e t Pe a R oya l Fa m i ly
100691
A favorite mix of bi-color Sweet Peas that
is appreciated for the larger sized blooms
in white, pink, taupe, coral, red and
purple. It will grow tall. Soak seed for 24
hours prior to planting directly outdoors.
S w e e t Pe a S p e n c e r
Giant Mixture
100696
Medium height plants. Oversized blooms
for the height of the plant create a
colorful show from a distance. Full color
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
range. Soak seed for 24 hours prior to
planting directly outdoors.
S w e e t Pe a S t r e a m e rs M i x
127500
The biggest, the brightest, and the
sweetest of them all! A beautiful colour
mixture of giant, ruffled blooms, with a
heavenly scent. A strong climber makes
it perfect for climbing along a wall, a
fence, arches or trellises. Sweet fragrance
and blooms are exceptionally long lasting
and widely used for flower arrangements
and garden decorations. Heat tolerant.
S w e e t Pe a S u g a r a n d S p i c e
100685
Beautiful and fragrant blooms, in a variety
of stunning shades on naturally neat and
compact plants. Creates a spectacular
display when grown in baskets or containers.
— THUNBERGIA —
Annual
aka: Black Eyed Susan
botanical: Thunbergia alata
T h u n b e rg i a B l a ck - E ye d
Susan Vine
100720
This fast-growing vine covers itself with
lovely funnel-shaped 5 cm (2") flowers.
Blooms in it's first year. Prefers welldrained soil in a sunny, sheltered
location. Ideal for covering trellises,
fences or low walls and can be grown in
hanging baskets. Plant direct or start
indoors for earlier blooms.
— VENIDIUM —
Annual
botanical: Venidium fastuosum
Ve n i d i u m O r a n g e P r i n c e
122516
Huge 10 cm (4") orange with black daisy
like flowers, these plants are excellent for
borders and cutting. Beautiful contrasts
of silver-white, deep lobed leaves with a
wooly texture enhance this stunning
plant all summer.
Ve n i d i u m Z u l u P r i n c e
122517
This glorious sunloving plant produces 10
cm (4") flower heads with a striking black
center. Enhanced by its wooly silvery
white leaves, this plant provides an
excellent border as it blooms all summer.
Interplant with Orange Prince for the
ideal complement.
F L O W E R S
— VISCARIA —
Annual
botanical: Viscaria oculata
Viscaria Unique Mixture
125002
A palette of pastel colors bound to soften
any outdoor setting. A perfect perennial
for borders, cottage and wildflower
gardens. A mixture of color that flowers
all summer long. Seeds must be pre
chilled for 8-10 weeks before planting
out. Sow seeds directly into the garden.
In cooler climates sheer plants to the
ground and cover with a mulch for added
winter protection. A very easy plant to
grow. Self seeds readily. Zone 6
— ZINNIA —
Annual
botanical: Zinnia elegans
Attracts Butterflies
Thrives best in full sun. Will bloom in all
weather conditions, will continue to
bloom very late in the season. Can
endure wind and heat. Dislikes high
humidity and root disturbance. Likes
deep porous fertile soil and an open
location with good air circulation.
Colorful solid-head flowers on strong
stems. The Zinnia comes in many shapes
and sizes but is revered for its solid,
lasting color. It is a sturdy, yet beautiful
garden flower.Associates well with many
other kinds of summer flowers, especially
with fine textured kinds such as baby's
breath.The Zinnia is often one of the last
strongholds for the autumn flower
arrangements. One of the most
satisfactory annuals for summer beds and
borders and for supplying cut blooms.
Also attractive in porch boxes and
window boxes and for planting in urns,
tubs, and other containers. Dwarf
varieties are useful for edging paths.
Z i n n i a C a n dy C a n e
125920
You'll enjoy this festive Zinnia mixture!
Each bloom measuring 5cm (2") across is
held on strong sturdy stems. The stripes
with the mix of assorted colors: scarlet,
rose, purple, orange, yellow will add a
colorful nostalgic charm to mass
plantings and cuttings. The more you cut
the quicker new blooms will appear. An
67
M C K E N Z I E
F L O W E R S
easy to grow annual for the summer
garden.
BIENNIALS
— CABBAGE - ORNAMENTAL —
Z i n n i a C a n a r y B i rd
120614
Large flat petaled semi double dahlia on
strong stems. The bright clear yellow
color makes an impressive show in any
flowerbed. Excellent as background in
flower borders. Perfect cut flower. Pinch
out the first flower bud. This will
encourage bushing plants to produce
more flowers. Water Zinnias in the
morning from the base of the plants.
Zinnia Giant Cactus
F l ow e r e d M i x t u r e
120616
The best flower mixture in the Zinnia
family. Also known as "The cut and come
again Zinnia Mixture". Pumila has
rounded flat petaled flowers 6cm to
7.5cm (2.5" to 3") in diameter that are
fully double to semi double in a complete
color range of pink, yellow, red and
white. Sow and seed directly outdoors
once all danger of frost has passed. Cut
the flowers just as the buds are starting
to open.
Zinnia Red Spider
O r n a m e n t a l C a b b ag e
A most popular bedding plant for late
summer and fall due to their colourful
foliage. Easy to grow. Likes full sun or
partial shade. Of course, the leaves are
edible! Plant direct or start indoors for
earlier blooms.
— CAMPANULA —
Hardy Biennial
botanical: Campanula medium
Campanula Meteora
130092
Compact bushy plants covered in starshaped, blue flowers with white centres.
Extremely long lasting, heat tolerant and
heat resistant.
— CANTERBURY BELLS —
Hardy Biennial
aka: Cup and Saucer
botanical: Campanula medium
For centuries, Canterbury Bells has been
the most popular flower in English
gardens.
Canterbur y Bells Cup and Saucer
100095
Semi-double flowers named for their
shape. Cup'n Saucer refers to the Daffodil
128601
Red Spider is a beautiful zinnia that is
mentioned in botanical documents as
early as 1801. With a sturdy habit and
single spider-like bright red flowers.
Attractive 1" blooms from mid-summer
until frost. To encourage the plant to
bush out and produce more flowers,
pinch out the first flower shoot that
forms. Water Zinnias in the morning from
the base of the plants. For earlier blooms,
start indoors 4-6 weeks prior to last frost.
68
100070
Colorful Foliage
100787
The tips of the petals on this semi-double
variety tend to curl slightly back giving
the sturdy blooms an airy feel, not as
tight and compact as the traditional
Zinnia bloom. The flowers are very large
and come in a color range from cream to
light gold to pale pink, pink, and coral.
Plant direct or start indoors for earlier
blooms.
Zinnia Pumila Mixture
Biennial but grown as an annual
botanical: Brassica
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
shape, though the "bell" in Campanula is
somewhat fuller than the "trumpet" of the
Daffodil. The blossom colours range from
white through various pinks and mauves to
deep purple and blue. Plant in a sunny
spot which receives a little shade during
the day. Prefer a porous, well drained soil.
Effective for flower beds and borders.
Unusual long lasting cut flowers. Native to
Southern Europe. Start indoors,late springearly summer, plant out in fall.
— DIGITALIS —
Biennial
aka: Foxglove
botanical: Digitalis purpurea
Nutritional Facts: Poisonous: A leaf
chewed and swallowed may cause
paralysis and sudden heart failure.
Digitalis is one of the most famous and
important medicinal plants. There are no
synthetic drugs that can duplicate the
action of the glycosides in foxglove in
treating heart failure. Never take
foxglove without medical supervision.
Digitalis Excelsior
100218
Excelsior is a Hybrid Mix. The plant bears
florets all round the stem in a horizontal
manner. Colours include white, cream,
pink, and purple. Grows best in deep
fertile soil with an abundance of organic
matter and which is moist but not wet. An
effective border plant. Also serves usefully
as cut flowers. Extremely poisonous. Start
indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost or sow
outdoors, directly into garden.
— HOLLYHOCK —
Biennial
botanical: Alcea rosea
H o l ly h o ck D o u bl e M i xe d
F L O W E R S
and petals can be used to brew a tea.
Roots are also edible. Start indoors 4-8
weeks before last frost; plant out when
night temp. above 10 C (50 F) Cover with
rough coarse material for overwintering.
H o l ly h o ck K i n g H e n r y
the Eighth
H o l ly h o ck T h e Wa t ch m a n 1 0 0 3 2 3
The Watchman bears lovely saucershaped flowers in an unusual maroonblack. It blooms in its second year. An
excellent plant for an English or cottage
garden. Especially attractive when
planted with other perennials, or as an
accent plant. Plant directly outside after
all danger of frost has passed. For blooms
late in the first season, start seed indoors
in February or early March. Cover with
rough, coarse material for overwintering.
— JACOB'S LADDER —
Biennial
botanical: Polemonium caeruleum
J a c o b ’s L a dd e r B l u e Pe a r l
100324
Bright, giant, fully double flowers in a
colour range of rose, salmon, white and
red. Blooms cover the entire height of
the stock. Flowers attract hummingbirds.
Likes full sun. Plant in deep well drained
soil. Although it is capable of
withstanding drought it should not be
neglected. Very suitable for planting
against a fence or a wall. Young leaves
are used in Egyptian cooking. Flower
petals and cooked flower buds are edible
128585
King Henry VIII offers a profusion of
single flowers in delighful pastel shades
of ivory, pink, and red. A wonderful
addition to any flower bed. King Henry
VIII also makes an excellent cut flower.
Plant directly as Hollyhocks generally do
not transplant well. King Henry the
Eighth is a stately biennial that is
wonderful for the back of the perennial
border.
122511
This amazing, tender biennial bears
delightful blue flowers that will bloom
three months after sowing. Hardy to
zone 6, it is treated as an annual in
cooler climates. Ideal for borders and
landscaping, this plant provides interest
with its distinctive leaf formation. Easy to
grow.
— SWEET WILLIAM —
Biennial
botanical: Dianthus barbatus
69
M C K E N Z I E
S w e e t W i l l i a m M i xe d C o l o rs
F L O W E R S
100714
Easy to grow.
— AGASTACHE —
This tall double mixture produces flowers in
a wide range of colours. Flowers attract
hummingbirds. Plant in a sunny location
with well drained,alkaline, fertile, but not
excessively rich, soil. Fragrant. Plant alone in
beds and as groups in mixed beds and
borders. Excellent for background plantings
and cut flower use. Edible flowers have a
spicy flavour reminiscent of cinnamon. Sow
outdoors; Start indoors 6-8 weeks before
last frost for earlier flowering.
— VIOLA —
Biennial
aka: Pansy
botanical: Viola
Nutritional Facts: Flowers are edible.
They are rich in Vitamin C. Add 1/4 cup to
tossed salad for four. Leaves are also rich
in Vitamin C.
V i o l a A a l s m e e rs M i xe d
100734
A large flowered mixture. Flowers up to
2"(5 cm) across are produced. Put in a
sunny or partially shaded location. Grows
well in a wide variety of garden soils but
are at their best in soils which are
moderately fertile, well drained, cool,
and reasonably moist. Intolerant of heat
and dryness. Excellent companions for
hyacinths, tulips, and other spring
flowering bulb plants. Useful for borders,
edging, pots and window boxes or cut
flowers Start indoors 10-12 weeks before
last frost for flowering in late spring.
Viola Helen Mound
PERENNIALS
Annual
botanical: Agastache Cana
Blue Compact
— ALYSSUM SAXATILE —
Perennial
aka: Saxatile, Basket of Gold
botanical: Alyssum compactum
Likes full sun. Well drained, not too
heavy soil. Does best at cooler
temperatures but will hold up well
through dry, hot summers.
A ly s s u m S a x a t i l e - G o l d D u s t 1 0 0 0 2 6
PERENNIAL Border Plant
A very popular golden yellow-flowered
Alyssum. It is a dwarf and compact
perennial plant. The foliage of Alyssum
Saxatile is silver coloured and very
fragrant. Excellent for rock gardens.
Useful for cut flowers. Start indoors 4-6
weeks before last frost or sow
outdoors.
100732
A Tough Survivor!Small flowered viola.
Tri-colour - purple, lavender and yellow.
Excellent for naturalizing. A tough
survivor. It will do well under practically
any conditions of sun, shade, drought or
moisture. Represents modesty. Start
indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost for
flowering in late spring.
70
128582
A delightful, early flowering variety, with
medium dark blue flowers set on spikes
on 18 - 20” plants. Ideal for growing as a
centre-piece plant in large container or
basket in a patio garden.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
— AQUILEGIA —
Annual
botanical: Aquilegia vulgaris
Lime Sorbet
130091
A most fashionable and elegant plant.
Produces many stems with lime-green,
double spurless flowers. Attracts
beneficial insects and hummingbirds.
Makes an ideal cut flower.
— ASTILBE —
Perennial
aka: False Spirea
botanical: Astilbe arendsii
Astilbe Arendsii Hybrid Mix
100031
This popular strain produces plants
with attractive, deeply cut, fern-like
foliage throughout the growing
season. Tall stalks of long-lasting
feathery blooms appear in midsummer.
Prefers a humid, well-drained soil rich
in humus. Blooms can be used as cut
flowers or dried flowers. Start indoors
or outdoors.
— BABY'S BREATH - PERENNIAL —
Perennial
botanical: Gypsophila paniculata
Likes sun or light shade and well drained
soil.
B a by ' s B r e a t h Pa n i c u l a t a
100291
Bushy plants with masses of tiny white
flowers on long slender multi-branched
stems. Expect blooms in the second year.
An easy-to-grow perennial. Perfect for
dried flower arrangements. Ideal for
borders, rock gardens or combined with
other perennials. Used extensively by
florists for fresh and dried bouquets. To
dry, cut stems when flowers are fully
open and hang upside down in a dry,
shady place. Sow seed directly outdoors
in spring. This variety is not allowed in
Manitoba or Saskatchewan.
— BEE BALM —
— BELLFLOWER —
Perennial
aka: Carpatian Harebells
botanical: Campanula carpatica
B e l l f l ow e r B l u e C l i p s
100094
This unmistakable bellflower displays a
perfect dome of leaves completely
covered in blue cup-shaped flowers
throughout the summer. Needs light to
germinate. Blooms in the second year.
Popular in borders and containers. Plant
direct or start indoors for earlier blooms.
— BERGENIA —
Perennial
botanical: Bergenia cordifolia
B e rg e n i a C o rd i fo l i a R e d
100065
Start Heart-leaved Brilliant clusters of red
flowers bloom atop fleshy stalks amid
bold, glossy foliage that forms a heartshape. The leaves are big and beautiful.
Bergenia is an ideal plant to complement
rock walls or for use as a border for the
garden. It is also an excellent
groundcover. Sow directly outdoors in
early spring, keeping soil moist but not
wet. Heart-Leaved Bergenia is a good
choice for a more experienced gardener.
— BLACK EYED SUSAN —
Perennial
aka: Rudbeckia or Brown Eyed Susan
botanical: Rudbeckia hirta
B l a ck E ye d S u s a n
100762
Wildflower
Perennial
aka: Bergamot, Monarda
botanical: Monarda didyma
B e e B a l m Pa n o r a m a M i x
F L O W E R S
Long-blooming clusters of flowers on
top-sturdy stems. This is a special mixture
with many shades of scarlet, bright red,
pink, salmon and crimson. Prefers a
humid well-drained soil rich in humus.
The scented leaves are often used to
make bergamot tea. Plant direct or start
indoors.
100456
Spectacular and easy to grow flowers.
This self re-seeding lively perennial moves
with the wind. Flower spikes are covered
with ivory green, bell-like sepals. Will
bloom during hot summers and fall
weather that is not kind to some other
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
71
M C K E N Z I E
F L O W E R S
flowers. Long lasting blooms. Full sun or
partial shade. Can tolerate dry periods.
Will flourish in any garden soil. Plant
with Purple Coneflower. Excellent for
mass planting. Effective as cut flowers,
either fresh or dried. Start indoors 6-8
weeks before last frost; plant out after
frost danger past.
— BLUE FLAX —
Perennial
aka: Prairie Flax
botanical: Linum perenne
Blue Flax
100774
Wildflower
A very robust plant. The Blue Flax
flower opens flat with five bluish
purple heart-shaped petals and a tiny
yellow dot centre. There are usually
several flowers per plant. Blooms
profusely for long periods making a
colorful summer display. Blooms last
one day. Prefers dry conditions and full
sun. Light sandy well drained soil. Looks
lovely with Blanket flower. Ideal for
rock gardens. Good for intestinal
disorders. Relieves constipation. Used
for coughs and lung/chest problems.
Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
or sow outdoors.
— CACTUS —
Perennial
botanical: Cactaceae
C a c t u s N ov e l t y M i x
100071
Popular Indoors
A special mixture of cactus varieties. Slow
to germinate. Once established, requires
minimal watering. Sunny location with
free air circulation. Soil should be porous;
good drainage is required. Decorative.
For flower pot and green house
application. Keep soil lightly moist and
well lighted. Due to the variation in
germination time, it is useful to start
seeds in a glass jar half full of moist peat
moss. Should be placed in a sunny
location. Seedlings can be picked out as
they germinate.
— CANDYTUFT —
Perennial
72
botanical: Iberis sempervirens
Attracts Butterflies
Plant in a sunny location with averagedry soil. Good drainage is required, will
not tolerate wet ground. Will not thrive
under extensive shade or excessive
moisture. Will tolerate shade only during
very high summer temperature. Will
flower 6-8 weeks after sowing. Native to
southern Europe.
C a n dy t u f t W h i t e S n ow
100091
Dark green narrow leaves. White Snow has
large blooms: 1.5" (3.75 cm) wide dense
heads of white flowers flecked with yellow
centres. Sunny borders and rockeries. Not
easy to transplant. Sow outdoors. Keep
uniformly moist during germination.
— CENTAUREA —
Perennial
botanical: Centaurea cyanoides
Centaurea Blue Carpet
125908
"Blue Carpet" introduces a new look in
cornflowers. Retaining the popular blue
cornflowers, this plant has low mounds of
greyish foliage with abundant bright
blue blooms. A very popular choice as a
low growing bedding plant or at the
edges of garden borders. Grow young
plants in cool well-ventilated conditions
before transplanting outside.
— CERASTIUM —
Perennial
aka: Snow-in-Summer
botanical: Cerastium tomentosum
C e r a s t i u m S n ow I n S u m m e r
100111
This popular perennial forms a mat of
silvery foliage literally covered with small,
pure white, star-shaped flowers. Expect
blooms in the second year after starting
from seed. Prefers well-drained, average
soil and full sun to partial shade. Prune
harshly after blooming to stimulate
compact growth. An excellent ground
cover. Wonderful contributor to a
xeriscape. Plant direct or start indoors for
earlier blooms.
M C K E N Z I E
— CLEMATIS —
Perennial
botanical: Clematis tangutica
C l e m a t i s R a d a r L ov e
100121
Radar Love produces masses of bright
yellow, bell-shaped flowers, followed by
decorative silver seedheads. A lovely
plant for pots and patios. Seedheads are
ideal for dried flower arrangements. Start
seed indoors about 12 weeks before the
last expected frost. Transplant outdoors
when the plant is about 7.5 cm (3") tall,
or after all frost danger is past. Seeds can
also be planted outdoors in fall. Here is a
plant for a more experienced gardener.
— COLUMBINE —
Perennial
aka: Granny's Bonnet
botanical: Aquilegia vulgaris
Columbine Long
S p u r r e d M i xe d
100126
Easy to grow.
This old-fashioned Columbine has double
spurred flowers, often showing two
colours in a bloom. The leaves resemble a
shamrock. Flowers attract hummingbirds.
It thrives best in partial shade. Prefers
light sandy soils with an appreciable
amount of decayed organic matter. Use in
flower beds and borders. Very popular in
cottage gardens. Columbine represents
grace and elegance. Wild strains of
Columbine are found in the forest and
were among the first transplants to the
garden of early Canadian pioneers. Start
indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost or
sow indoors in spring, plant out late
summer. Chill seed at 4-5 C (40 F) before
sowing.
C o l u m b i n e P i n k Tow e r
100128
A unique variety, bearing double pleated
pink flowers with unusual short spurs
resembling raspberry fruits. Plants are
slender and upright. Pink Tower makes
an excellent show when combined with
Evening Primrose or Lupines. Best used as
a landscape plant. Ideal for cutting. For
the more experienced gardener. Start
seeds indoors in early spring or outdoors
in late spring or fall. Transplant the
W W W . M C K E N Z I
F L O W E R S
seedlings to thin them out when they
reach 5 cm (2") in height.
— CUPID'S DART —
Perennial
botanical: Catananche caerulea
Cupid's Dart
100083
This flower has attractive daisy-like
lavender-blue flowers and grey-green
grassy leaves. Will bloom in it's first
season when started indoors. It is perfect
for perennial borders. Excellent for cut or
dried flowers and a good ground cover.
For better germination, start indoors.
Cover the seed in clear plastic.
— DELPHINIUM —
Perennial
aka: Larkspur
botanical: Delphinium
Delphinium Blue Bouquet
122505
A very appealing collectors plant.
Compact branching plants with flowers
well suited for cutting and drying. Blue
Bouquet prefers a fertile sandy soil in a
warm sunny site. Combine with the
Alaska Shasta Daisy for a tremendous
contrast in a perennial garden.
Delphinium Laurin
123993
Laurin is a distinctively different type of
Delphinium. This new introduction has
been in development for many years and
the results were worth the wait. The eye
catching bushy plants are literally covered
with sharp red, tubular flowers. Laurin
will do well all summer long on the patio
and in the garden. Sow directly to the
garden in thoroughly warm soil, for
earlier flowers start indoors 16 weeks
before the last spring frost date in your
area. Sow 6 mm ( 1/4 ") deep, 2.5 cm (1")
apart in will drained soil. Hardy zone 3.
D e l p h i n i u m Pa c i f i c G i a n t s
100166
Easy to Grow.
The best strain in perennial Delphiniums.
Large double and semi double florets on
strong massive spikes. Vigorous sturdy
growth. Plant in sunny sheltered location.
Does well in most soils. Effective in flower
E S E E D S . C O M
73
M C K E N Z I E
F L O W E R S
beds and borders and can be used as cut
flowers. Sow August to September, plant
out in spring.
D e l p h i n i u m Pe rc i va l
100171
A stately, old-fashioned perennial bearing
long spikes of gorgeous white flowers
with a black heart. Blooms in the first
year if started indoors in February or
early March. Combine with Lillies, Yarrow,
or Roses for a pleasant effect. Transplant
to the garden when seedlings are about
5 cm (2") tall. Sow seeds directly outdoors
in August or September for second
season blooms.
— DIANTHUS —
Perennial
aka: Maiden Pinks
botanical: Dianthus deltoides
Plant in a sunny spot. Prefer porous,
alkaline soil. Good drainage is very
important.
D i a n t h u s A rc t i c F i r e
100189
An attractive, mat-forming perennial
bearing tiny green leaves and numerous
white flowers with a glowing red eye. It
will bloom over a long period. Prefers
light, sandy well-drained slightly alkaline
soil and full sun. Excellent rock garden
plant. The blossoms are edible. Start
indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost or sow
outdoors in early spring. Deadhead to
stimulate repeat blooms.
Dianthus Siberian Blue
100187
A late-flowering Dianthus bearing indigo
flowers. Siberian Blue makes a terrific
companion to Creeping Phlox and
Bellflower Blue Clips. A native of Siberia.
Start seed indoors 6-8 weeks before the
last frost or directly outdoors once frost
danger has passed. Pinching off faded
blooms will prolong flowering. Plant in
groups of three or five for best effect.
— EUPATORIUM —
Perennial
aka: Joe-Pye Weed
botanical: Eupatorium maculatum
E u p a t o r i u m M i s t f l ow e r
122506
A bold, easy to grow perennial with light
74
purple, sweetly scented flowers that
provide a lure to butterflies. Excellent in
formal borders and informal landscapes
like meadow gardens, or in the back of
the perennial border combined with
garden Phlox, Daylilies or Purple
Coneflower.
— EVERLASTING PEA —
Perennial
aka: Lathyrus
botanical: Lathyrus latifolius
L a t hy r u s
100380
Climber
Exquisite perennial which adds beauty to
your garden for years to come. Very
popular, easily cultivated, hardy
herbaceous perennial-very much like the
annual sweet-pea. A climber with
strongly winged stems. Colourful 1.5"(4
cm) flowers form big clusters 3-5"(7-12
cm) across. Many clusters per stem are
produced on each vine. This beautiful
mixture of flowers includes pink, red,
rose, white and purple.. Well drained,
neutral or mildly acid (pH 6-7.5) soil is
preferred. Excellent for trellises, walls,
and fences. Vigorous. Will climb up to 6
ft (2 m). May also be allowed to sprawl
over rocks, stumps, low walls etc. Plant
direct or start indoors for earlier blooms.
— FUZZY WUZZY —
Perennial - Zone 4
botanical: Stachys
130120
G a i l l a rd i a G r a n d i f l o r a M i x
An excellent foliage plant for use in
borders, edging, ground cover or as a
container plant. Though grown for its
wonderful soft touchable foliage it has
the added bonus of lavender blooms
— FOUR O' CLOCK —
Tender Perennial
botanical: Mirabilis jalapa
F o u r O ' C l o ck M a r v e l o f Pe r u 1 0 0 2 0 9
This tender perennial is usually grown as
an annual. It has erect stems and mid
green heart-shaped leaves. Trumpet
flowers open mid to late afternoon and
fade the following morning. Reliable and
M C K E N Z I E
dependable performance in many types
of climatic conditions. Bloom for a long
period in summer and fall. Flowers attract
hummingbirds. Prefers a sheltered sunny
site with a well drained soil. Tolerant of
poor soils, pollution, and heat. Effective
when grouped in beds and for ribbon
borders, edgings and window and porch
boxes. All parts of plant are poisonous
Sow outdoors or start indoors 4-6 weeks
early. Best results if given an abundance
of water.
— GAILLARDIA —
Perennial
aka: Blanket Flower
botanical: Gaillardia aristata
Attracts ButterfliesGaillardia thrives in
hot, dry, windy areas in full sun and poor
soil.It is a great cutflower. It's durability
makes it popular in mixed flowerbeds
and mass plantings.
G a i l l a rd i a G r a n d i f l o r a M i x
100219
Has a large daisy-like flower with a
dominant crimson rust centre and yellow
petal tips. It blooms steadily in a hardy
bobbing bush of long stemmed flowers.
Full sun with fertile, well drained garden
soil. Generally stand summer heat well
but will suffer if has to endure much hot
dry weather; keep well watered under
these conditions. Intolerant of wet clay
soils. Useful for cut flowers as well as
garden decoration. Start indoors 4-8
weeks before last frost date. If sown early
will bloom first growing season.
— GEUM —
Perennial
botanical: Gomphrena globosa
R e d D r ag o n
100276
Mid-green foliage with upright stems
carry large fully double 38 mm (1 1/2”)
scarlet flowers with wavy petals. A
superb flower great in borders,
containers, landscaping and as an
attractive cut flower. Cold and frost
tolerant.
— GLOXINIA —
Perennial
botanical: Incarvillea delavayi Hardy Gloxini
F L O W E R S
G l ox i n i a C h i n e s e H a rdy
122508
A very attractive, interesting border and
rock garden perennial. The deep green,
coarsely toothed leaves develop after the
exquisite flowers. Rich purplish trumpet
blooms 5-7.5 cm (2-3") appear in the
second year. Hardy to zone 4.
— HEUCHERA —
Perennial
aka: Coral Bells
botanical: Heuchera sp.
C o r a l B e l l s H e u ch e r a
100319
An attractive display of small, delicate red
bell flowers atop long stems. Prefers a
rich moisture retaining soil with good
drainage. A great plant for borders. Start
seed indoors in early spring. When
seedlings are 5 cm (2") tall, transplant to
thin out the plants. Seed can be planted
directly outdoors in late spring or fall.
Coral Bells should be planted in groups of
3-5 seeds. Heuchera sanguinea
— HOSTA —
Perennial
botanical: Elegans sieboldiana
Hosta Elegans
128583
Highly ornamental plant with very
attractive bluish-green foliage that
provide great colour and style to any
perennial bed. Easy to grow. Start indoors
in a clean container on top of moist,
sterile soil and cover with a thin layer of
dirt. Cover the container and keep soil
moist at all times. Keep in a warm
location. Place seedlings under light and
move to larger containers as the plant
grows. Transplant outdoors after
acclimatizing the plant for a few hours
each day. Hosta’s can take 2 years or
more to fully develop the complete
characteristics of a Hosta, but it’s fun to
see how they turn out. Zone 3.
-— LUPINS —
Perennial
aka: Lupin Russell Hybrids
botanical: Lupinus
Lupins Russell Mix
100401
Shade Tolerant. Easy to grow.
75
M C K E N Z I E
F L O W E R S
The Russell Lupins is one of the nicest
accommodating plants. The colorful,
bubble-like blooms in white, yellow, pink,
and blue, cling to the tall stock. They are
quick growing and if started indoors,
should bloom in their first year. Full sun is
required for best results. Prefer welldrained, reasonably fertile soil, mildly
acidic to neutral. Ideal for cut flowers.
Sow outdoors in early spring; soak seeds
24 hrs. Should be covered with coarse
material to overwinter. Dislike root
disturbance. Germination is enhanced if
seed coats are nicked with a knife or file
or soaked for 24 hrs in lukewarm water.
— MALVA —
Perennial
aka: Striped Mallo
botanical: Malva sylvestris 'Zebrina'
M a l va Z e b r i n a
122510
A magnificent perennial bearing
gorgeous 75 cm (21/2') flower spikes filled
with 5 cm (2") lavender striped blooms.
Blooms all summer long and combines
very well in the perennial border with
Phlox Liatris or bright yellow Yarrow.
— PINK MUSK MALLOW —
Perennial
aka: Mallow
botanical: Malva moschata
M u s k M a l l ow R o s e a
100408
A very popular shrub-like perennial with
abundant saucer-shaped pink blooms on
numerous stems. Maple-like leaves have a
musky smell when crushed. Blooms easily the
first year from seed, even when sown directly
outdoors. Popular in perennial borders. Plant
direct or start indoors for earlier blooms.
— PASSION FLOWER —
Perennial
botanical: Passiflora caerulea
100525
Pa s s i o n F l ow e r
Passion Flower is a semi-woody climber
with 5-9 lobed, blue and white flowers.
Makes a terrific patio plant. It is a perfect
plant for a south or west wall in a
sheltered location. Passion Flower is
native to southern Brazil. Start seed
indoors about 10-12 weeks before the
76
last frost. Transplant to a container when
plants are about 7.5 cm (3") tall. Bring
indoors in winter. Passion Flower is a
great selection for a more experienced
gardener.
— PENSTEMON —
Perennial
botanical: Penstemon barbatus
Penstemon Dwarf Navigator
123936
One of the hardiest Penstemons
available! Prominent spikes of trumpet
flowers rise above the low mound of
green foliage. Moderately heat and
drought tolerant, these plants are ideal
for borders, wildflower gardens and
attracting hummingbirds. Sow seeds into
the ground once it can be worked. For
earlier blooms start plants indoors 4-6
weeks before last frost. Blooms June August. Hardy to zone 3.
— POPPY - PERENNIAL —
Perennial
aka: Icelandic Poppy
botanical: Papaver nudicaule
Po p py I c e l a n d M i xe d C o l o rs 1 0 0 5 7 8
The Iceland Poppy is easy to grow. This
mixture contains white, yellow, orange
and pink traditional Poppy flowers that
bob in the wind over deep cut soft green
foliage. Effective in rock gardens.
Admirable for beds, borders, or for cut
flowers. Poisonous. Blooms well first
summer if sown in early spring. Seed
exceptionally fine. Mix with twice its
amount of fine dry sand before sowing
to ensure wider more even spacing.
Po p py P i z z i c a t o
100586
A Fleuroselect Gold Winner!
These semi-dwarf plants produce a
majestic array of red, white, orange and
pink flowers adorned with large, leafy
stems. Each plant can produce up to 20
stems. This plant is one of the showiest
perennials. Once finished blooming, the
plant goes into dormancy so it is
necessary to plant other perennials
around it to fill up any gaps left in your
flower garden. Seed heads are popular in
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
dried flower displays. Fresh flowers are
excellent for cutting. Plant directly
outdoors in spring after all danger of
frost has passed.
— PHYSALIS —
Perennial
aka: Winter Cherry
botanical: Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii
P hy s a l i s C h i n e s e L a n t e r n
100572
For Dried Flowers - Shade tolerant.
Easy to grow. The flower blooms white
and then turns into orange flamed
hanging paper lanterns in fall. Likes full
sun or part shade. Prefer well drained
alkaline soil but will grow without
difficulty in ordinary soils of various
types. Excellent dried plant for flower
arrangements. Plant direct or start
indoors.
— PRUNELLA —
Perennial
botanical: Prunella grandiflora
Freelander
130107
Prunella freelander is a first year
flowering perennial. Flowers in great
profusion with a dwarf and compact
habit. Attracts beneficial insects for the
garden.
— PURPLE CONEFLOWER —
Perennial
botanical: Echinacea purpurea
Attracts Butterflies
P u r p l e C o n e f l ow e r
100757
Wildflower
The Purple Coneflower has long reddish
purple petals that lean back from a warm
golden rust crowning centre. The large
flower stands atop a sturdy stem. These
flowers can be spotted from a great
distance on a brown prairie, where they
grow naturally. Long lasting blooms. It is
fairly drought tolerant. Does best in full
sun but will tolerate a little part-day
shade. Will prosper in any ordinary
garden soil. Grows well beside Black-eyed
Susan. A border plant which is excellent
for cut flowers.. Sought for health-giving
properties. A herbal form taken as an
F L O W E R S
immune booster. Plant direct or start
indoors. Will bloom well in first summer
if sown in early spring.
— RUDBECKIA —
Perennial
botanical: Rudbeckia sp.
R u d b e ck i a G o l d s t u r m
100609
1999 Perennial of the Year!
Bright yellow, daisy-like flowers bear a
dark centre. This spectacular variety adds
bright, long-lasting colour to any
perennial flower bed. Rudbeckia
Goldsturm combines nicely with Phlox,
Bee Balm or tall ornamental grasses. A
stunning perennial for flower
arrangements. Start seeds indoors in early
spring or outdoors in late spring or fall.
Once plants reach 5 cm (2") in height,
transplant in the garden so they are
thinned out.
R u d b e ck i a S p o t l i g h t
130108
Golden Yellow flowers with small
contracting chocolate spots with a
compact and branched habit.
— SEDUM —
Perennial
botanical: Sedum spurium 'Voodoo'
S e d u m Vo o d o o
128584
The deep intense red leaf colour of new
Sedum ’Voodoo’ creates an almost magical
contrast with the bright rose coloured
flowers and uniform bronze leaf colour.
Thriving in hot sunny locations. ’Voodoo’ is
durable and long lived in the garden. The
bright flowers create an interesting contrast
with the dark leaf. ‘Voodoo’ received the
Fleuroselect Quality Mark for its nice habit
and its intense leaf color. Sow at 18 °C.
Grow on at 12 - 15 °C. Keep cool with not
too much light and not too moist.
Transplant 3 weeks after sowing.
— SHASTA DAISY —
Perennial
botanical: Leucanthemum x superbum
Attracts Butterflies
Shasta Daisy Alaska
100626
Easy to grow.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
77
M C K E N Z I E
F L O W E R S
The Shasta Daisy Alaska is the classic daisy
for "She loves me...She loves me not...".
It has clean white long-petalled daisy like
flowers with bright yellow centres. The
flowers are 2"(5 cm) across. They like full
sun but will tolerate partial shade. Will
do well in any good garden soil which is
neither excessively dry or wet. Nice cut
flowers. Young leaves can be eaten in
salads, sandwiches, or added to soups.
Should be finely chopped and used
sparingly. Symbolize freshness and
innocence. Plant direct or start indoors.
— SHEPHERD'S SCABIOSA —
Perennial
aka: Jasione
botanical: Jasione laevis
S h e p h e rd ' s S c a b i o s a
100633
These pure blue flowers will brighten up
any perennial bed, growing in masses
atop attractive green foliage on erect
stems. Plant with Yarrow, Black-Eyed
Susan and Alaska Daisies for a particularly
stunning effect. Sheperd's Scabiosa are
ideal for borders and rockeries. It also
makes a beautiful cutflower. Plant
directly outdoors in the spring, and once
plants are about 5 cm (2") spread them
out through transplanting.
— VALERIAN —
Perennial
botanical: Centranthus ruber
Ve ro n i c a R a m o n a
125919
Elegant spikes, carrying light blue flowers
with dark veins, makes this perennial
ideal for borders and containers. One of
the delights for your spring garden!
Makes an excellent cut flower.
— VIOLA - PERENNIAL —
Perennial
aka: Sweet Violet
botanical: Viola odorata
Sweet Queen Charlotte
100738
A beautiful dark blue flowering selection of
the popular sweet violet. Attractive, dark
green, heart-shaped leaves. Prefers a
humid, well-drained soil rich in humus.
Highly fragrant and popular to use to make
nosegays. Long stems are suitable for
cutting. Sow in late winter to early spring
on the surface of a good free-draining
growing mix. Cover seeds lightly. Seal in a
polyethylene bag at about 16-21 degrees C
(60-70 F) until germination. Transplant to
7.5 cm (3") pots when large enough to
handle. Plant out when all risk of frost has
passed. May also be sown directly in the
garden in spring or fall.
ORNAMENTAL
GRASSES
Annual
B l a ck M a d r a s ( P u r p l e R i c e ) 1 3 0 1 1 9
Va l e r i a n M i x t u r e
100110
Bold and beautiful fragrant flower
clusters in shades of white, rose and red
atop blue-green leaves. Valerian will
bloom in the first year if seeds are started
indoors in February or early March. An
ideal background for any rock garden.
Excellent as a cut flower and great as a
border plant. You can use the oil of
Valerian to perfume your soap. Use the
roots of Valerian to prepare a soothing
tea. Plant directly in the garden after all
danger of frost has passed.
— VERONICA —
Perennial
botanical: Veronica gentianoides
78
A unique, exotic ornamental grass that
keeps its attractive form. Very easy to
grow. Ideal as a contrasting plant in any
flower garden. Oryza Sativa
G o l d e n To p G r a s s
100259
This ornamental grass is grown for its
blooms, which is a terrific addition in
fresh and dried floral arrangements.
When drying, harvest the blossom before
they mature. They will continue to
develop while they are drying and will
truly stand out. Lamarckia aurea
F ro s t e d C u r l s
130118
Very attractive, fine textured, low growing
grey sedge. This variety creates the illusion
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
of falling water when permitted to spill
over rocky slopes or walls. Carex comans
Purple Fountain Grass
100270
This ornamental grass is grown for its
bloom which is a terrific addition to fresh
and dried floral arrangements. At
maturity, tops are golden yellow with a
touch of purple. Plant in rock gardens
and at the front of flower beds. Use
fresh or for drying in everlasting
bouquets. When drying, harvest the
blossom before it matures. Blossoms will
continue to develop while drying.
Panicum violaceum
PERENNIAL
Blue Fescue Grass
100268
One of the most durable and long-lived
grasses, chosen for its colour and ability.
Sturdy compact mounding plants with
special features of colourful and highly
decorative, 30 cm (12") silver-blue, fine
textured foliage. Requires average to dry
soil. Grows well in containers and rock
gardens. Cut back flower heads to
maintain compact appearance. A superb
colour accent as a ground cover and
edging. Festuca glauca ‘Select’
P i n k Pa m p a s G r a s s
127503
F L O W E R S
mid-green leaf blades grow thickly with
the plumes soaring above them. Densely
tufted, clump-forming. Spreads 90-180 cm
(3-6’). Adds beauty to your landscapes or
dried for indoor arrangements. A
spectacular sight when in full bloom.
Cortaderia selloana
Tu f t e d H a i r G r a s s
100266
Dark green, tufted grass with slim leaves.
Delicate flowers are 2' (60 cm) taller than
the plant itself. Airy flower panicles
change from green to yellow, to near
purple. Requires moisture and light
shade. Plant in flower beds or borders.
Can be used fresh or in dried
arrangements. Easy to grow.
Deschampsia caespitosa
W h i t e Pa m p a s G r a s s
127504
A favourite variety plant with large,
fluffy, white plumes, gracefully borne on
numerous large stalks. Heavily scented
leaf blades grow thickly with the plumes
soaring above them. Spreads 90-180 cm
(3-6’). Superb for landscapes or dried for
indoor arrangements. Very dramatic focal
point of the lawn or border. Outstanding
for backgrounds. A spectacular sight
when in full bloom. Cortaderia selloana
Long, silky, soft pink plumes are borne on
dozens of large stalks. Heavily scented
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
79
VM
E C
G K
E E
T N
A B
Z IL EE SH E R B S
— BASIL —
Annual
botanical: Ocimum basilicum
Basil Cinnamon
123939
A native to Mexico, the leaves of
cinnamon basil have a spicy cinnamon
flavor, flowers are deep pink with purple
bracts. Add to hot beverages for added
taste. Ideal for containers.
— BASIL —
Annual
botanical: Ocimum basilicum
Basil Sweet
101331
Basil is a soft stemmed plant. It's leaves
are pungent. Sow outdoors or plant
indoors in early spring and transplant to
a location receiving full sun once danger
of frost is past.. Pinch the tops of the
plants to encourage bushiness. Will grow
without difficulty in ordinary gardens;
best suited to well-drained, not overly
rich soil: pH 5.5-6.5. Sensitive to frost.
When planted near peppers and
tomatoes, Basil enhances their growth.
Deters aphids and asparagus beetles.
Basil is said to repel mosquitoes. Suitable
for herb gardens, flower gardens, and
vegetable gardens; outdoors in pots,
window and porch boxes and other
containers, and may be grown in pots in
greenhouses and sunny windows in
winter. Very popular as an after dinner
tea to aid indigestion and expel gasses.
Also effective for inhibiting growth of
organisms that cause dysentery. Basil is
always best fresh. Use in tomato dishes,
in salads, and with poultry or fish. Basil is
best stored in an oil, in vinegar, frozen or
dried kept in a tightly sealed container.
Native to India, Africa and Asia. Ancient
lore says that to grow a good crop of
Basil, one had to shout and pray when
sowing the seeds. Fortunately even
without shouting, Basil is easy to grow.
Sow outdoors or start indoors 5-6 weeks
early Grows best at temperatures above
21 C (70 F). When flowers develop cut the
plants back to a height of 6" (15cm). This
stimulates young growth. Pinch out tops
of branches to prevent blooms, this
produces more leaves. Cut stalks when
beginning to flower; dry for two weeks;
can be frozen but drying is better.
— BASIL - LEMON —
Annual
botanical: Ocimum basilicum citriodorum
Basil Lemon
101274
Thin, downy, pale green foliage. Spikes of
tiny white flowers cover the plant during
the summer. Can also be grown indoors.
Lemon Basil has a tantalizing lemon
aroma and taste. Pick leaves and stems at
any time for fresh use. Harvest just
before blooming for dried use. Plant in
moisture retentive, organically rich soil,
outdoors or indoors.
80
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
V E G E T A B L E S
M C K EV NE ZG I EE T A
HB
E LR EB SS
— BASIL - PURPLE —
— CATNIP —
Annual
botanical: Ocimum basilicum ruffles
Perennial
botanical: Nepeta cataria
Basil Purple
101276
Purple basil has dark luxurious leaves. The
green is almost hidden beneath the
dominant purple pigment. Pale lilaccoloured flowers bloom atop thick, dark,
glossy leaves. Harvest the leaves once
they are 2.5 cm (1") in length. Purple
basil grows well indoors and in windowsill gardens. For its wonderful aroma and
excellent flavour, basil has become an
essential in every herb garden. Purple
basil adds colour as well as flavour to
salads, pizza, lasagna, tomato sauces and
other italian dishes. Use fresh, dried, or
frozen. Plant in moisture retentive,
organically rich soil, outdoors or indoors.
— BASIL —
Annual
botanical: Ocimum basilicum
Basil Thai
123938
A very aromatic herb ideal for cooking.
Thai and Vietnamese dishes. Add to beef
and chicken dishes to maximize.
Catnip
101286
Broad leaves grow larger at the base of
the plant. The flowers are elongated
white clusters at the tip of the plant.
Harvest flowers and top-most leaves to
encourage bushiness. Plant directly
outdoors when the soil is warm or start
indoors in early spring and transplant
into a partially shaded spot. Tolerates
most soil conditions but prefers well
drained dryish soil not too rich in
nutrients: pH - 6.6. If allowed to flower,
Catnip will sow itself. A great companion
for many vegetables - most garden pests
hate it. Improves the growth and flavour
of radish. When cut down it makes an
excellent deterrent mulch. Catnip tea is
usually taken at bedtime because it works
as a mild sedative on humans. People like
Catnip for its minty flavor. Use for tea,
soups, and sauces. Named for its biggest
appreciator, Catnip is a favorite in the
Feline world. Put some in your cat's
favorite toy. Sow outdoors fall or early
spring or start indoors.
— CHAMOMILE —
Annual
botanical: Matricaria recutita
Chamomile
101273
A sweetly scented, multi-branched plant
with finely cut leaves. The daisy-like
flowers have yellow centres and white
ray petals making this herb a lovely
contributor to beauty in the flower
garden. It is easy to grow in full sun and
sandy, well-limed soil. Cut foliage for
scenting purposes any time. The dried
flowers are used in chamomile tea. Plant
direct or start indoors.
GARDENING TIP
Did you know that Basil will repel
bugs from tomato plants and that
Savory will repel the bugs from
bean plants?
81
M C K E N Z I E
H E R B S
— CHERVIL —
Annual
aka: Gourmet Parsley
botanical: Anthriscus cerefolium
Chervil
101290
Easy to grow.
Fresh Chervil can be started in pots at any
time of the year. Plant outdoors in spring
in a partially shaded area. Chervil will
tolerate marginal soil conditions but does
best in rich organic soil; pH - 6.5, but
should be kept moist in a sandy soil.
Chervil will not thrive in very hot
temperatures. Dislikes transplanting.
Press seeds lightly into soil and when
seedlings are 3-4" high thin out. Sow
seeds at 3-4 week intervals from early
spring until fall. Improves growth and
flavor of radishes. Makes an attractive
houseplant. Leaves fresh or dried used as
garnish for fish, in soups, salads, and
omelettes. The flavor fades when dried so
freezing is recommended if fresh Chervil
is not on hand. Sow outdoors, does not
transplant well. Sow in fall and spring for
succession of greens.
— CHIVES —
Perennial
botanical: Allium schoenoprasum
Chives
101292
Cold Tolerant
Soon after the snow is gone, Chives
emerge in clumps of dark green grass-like
hollow onion leaves. The plant flourishes
if it receives a "hair cut" twice a month
during the growing season. The lavender
globe-shaped flowers are very impressive.
Chives may be started indoors in early
spring or planted directly outdoors in
spring in full sun or partial shade. Sow
seed in a row and cover with 0.25-0.5 "
soil. Do not thin first year and the second
year will produce harvestable leaves. The
second spring, transplant small clusters of
seedlings 5-6" (15cm) apart leaving about
6 bulbs in each cluster. Full sun and
ordinary garden soil: pH - 6. Hardy Zone
2. A good companion plant for carrots,
grapes, roses and tomatoes because
Chives will deter Japanese beetles and
aphids. Clumps can be divided and
82
transplanted after the first season to
make distinct corner focal points in your
Herb garden. Chives can also be grown in
containers or window boxes. Chives have
a mild onion flavor and are used in
salads, sauces, and in egg or cheese
dishes. Flowers are also edible. Holds
flavor better frozen than dried. For
drying cut into small pieces and dry 7
days. The plant is native to the orient.
Sow outdoors in spring. Lift, separate and
replant every 3 years. Harvest repeatedly
and regularly whether produce is needed
or not by cutting about 1" (2.5cm) above
bulbs with a sharp knife. This stimulates
growth of young tender leaves. Clumps
can be divided and potted for indoor use
during winter.
— CILANTRO —
Annual
aka: Coriander, Chinese Parsley
botanical: Coriandrum sativum
C i l a n t ro
101297
A lacey-leafed herb. Flowers quickly
leaving a harvest of large firm seeds.
These plants like an open sunny location
with moderately good ph neutral (6.6)
soil. Prefers full sun but will perform in
partial shade. Ideal for flavoring soups,
cheeses, breads, pastries sausages, and
pickles. The pungent flavor comes from
the seed. This is one of the flavoring for
curry powder. The leaves can be used and
have a milder flavor. The seed can be
ground to produce an orange like flavor.
Seed directly into the herb bed as soon as
danger of frost is past. Coriander is
difficult to transplant.
— DILL —
Annual
botanical: Anethum graveolens
Dill
101302
Dill grows fairly tall on sturdy stems. The
blooms are tiny yellow flowers on the
tips of an array of central stems. The
ferny leaves are very small but are
meticulously gathered for freezing and
drying by lovers of this herb. Stagger the
planting of your dill seed, every 2-3
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
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ant une couleur
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Idéales pour
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Sow / Semez à
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conserver.
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Germination
Vitamin Content
days / jours Con
tenu Vitaminque A, B2, D & E
Sow early in the
proper germinati spring as soon as the soil can
will be ready for on. For fall seeding sow the seedbe worked. Keep soil moist for
harvest 10-14 days
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mid summer for a
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Fertilize with natu
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• Foil sealed for
freshness.
PETUNIA ST
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PÉTUNIA «T
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Mélange F1
HYBRIDE
ANNUAL
ANNUELLE
GUSTO ITALIA
✓ Authentic Italian
Seeds specifically
selected for the
Canadian Climate!
Net Wt.
✓ Beautiful full size
800
colour product
pictures.
✓ Three languages –
BASIL•
BASILIC • BA
SILICO
A FOG
LIA DI LATTUG
A
Italian, English and
French.
✓ Innovative recipe
tips on the back of
each package.
IC • BASILICO
BASIL • BASIL
A
LATTUG
A FOGLIA DI
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and wrapping around ricotta
mild in taste. Ideal for stuffing directly outdoors once all
very large lettuce leaf Basil
for indoor use, or sow
Days to Maturity: 75-80. A
first
A & C. Start seeds at anytime
for containers. Expect your
cheese. Good source of Vitamins require an organically rich well drained soil. Ideal
Plants
danger of frost has passed.
n et
harvest 5-6 weeks after sowing.
feuilles de très grande dimensio
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pour
qui est doux au goût. Parfait à l’intérieur, vous pouvez semer les graines en tous temps.
Les plants nécessitent une
vitamines A et C. Pour utiliser dans la terre quand il n’y a plus aucun risque de gel. tout autre récipient. Vos
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dans
ou
vous pouvez semer directem matières organiques. Parfait pour la culture en pots
la mise en terre.
terre bien irriguée et riche en
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pouvez vous attendre à une
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Periodo di maturazione: 75-80 negli involtini di ricotta. Buona fonte di vitamina A e
mente il pericolo delle gelate.
come ripieno e come involucro direttamente all’esterno quando è passato completa container, dà il primo
vasi
momento al chiuso o seminare mente ricco e con buon drenaggio. Ideale per
organica
piante richiedono un terreno
de recette •
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Recipe Tip Idée
ricette
Suggerimenti per
124770
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© McKENZIE SEED R7A 6E1
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. Top with
add to basil leaves
Preparation
fresh tomatoes and tely delicious! A must in
salad! Thinly slice
Create the perfect
and Olive Oil. Absolu ved in olive oil.
Arugula, Oregano
for later use or preser
mozzarella cheese,
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any Pesto recipe.
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Tranchez finement mozzarella, d’arugula,
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feuilles de basilic
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mozzarella, rucola
Create un’insalata
possono
Ricoprire il tutto con ricette a base di pesto. Le foglie
foglie di basilico.
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origine:
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Lot/ Partita:
WILDFLOWERS
McKenzie Wildflower mixes are
formulated for Canadian climates and
we‘re ready to paint Canada with
vibrant colour!
Choose from SIX popular wildflower
mixes. Each contains numerous
varieties and generously seeds a large
area! Create a multitude of low
maintenance beauty suitable for any
landscape.
HUMMINGBIRD GARDEN
Formulated with 24 wildflower varieties
designed to provide a dazzling array of natural
colour and beauty. Attracts nearby
Hummingbirds to your garden, providing hours
of enjoyment for the most avid bird watcher.
McKenzie Wildflowers are easy to
grow and require little or no
maintenance.
Great for attracting colourful birds
and butterflies and adding a natural
splash of colour to any landscape.
SHADY GARDEN
Contains a blend of 24 shade-tolerant
wildflowers chosen to perform well under
reduced light conditions such as along north
walls and under tree canopies.
B U T T E R F LY G A R D E N
This popular mix contains a blend of 26
delightfully fragrant wildflowers known for
their ability to attract butterflies into the
garden. Provides hours of enjoyment for the
most avid gardener and children while adding
beauty to your landscape.
ALL PURPOSE GARDEN
Contains 25 varieties of popular annuals,
biennials and perennials to ensure an
abundance of vibrant colour from early spring
through late fall! This easy-to-grow mixture
thrives well in sun and partial shade.
PERENNIAL GARDEN
Cash in on the growing popularity of
Perennials! This blend of 26 hardy perennial
wildflowers will provide a rainbow of colour
year after year and is a natural for the
gardener seeking long term results!
LOW GROWING GARDEN
Contains 23 varieties of hardy low growing
wildflowers to provide a wealth of colour all season
long. Grows on average only 35 cm (14 in) tall.
STEPPABLE PLANTS
ALPINE ALYSSUM
Alyssum Alpine displays an abundance of
flowers that are complemented by silvery
foliage. Ideal as a ground cover, between
walkways or along retaining walls.
IRISH MOSS
Irish Moss is a perennial groundcover, which
forms a beautiful dense mossy carpet of
emerald-green foliage. Perfect for growing
around stone paths, walkways or in the rock
CREEPING THYME
Creeping Thyme is a soft evergreen perennial
groundcover, which forms a dense mat with
clusters of tiny lavender to white flowers.
STEPPABLE PLANTS CANS
Description
Wildflowers
Creeping Thyme
Irish Moss
Alpine Alyssum
Coverage-can
30
5
3
3
m2
m2
m2
m2
(323 ft 2)
(54 ft 2)
(32 ft 2)
(32 ft 2)
ONIONS & GARLIC
OUR LARGE SELECTION OF
ONION PRODUCTS ARE SURE
TO SATISFY ALL OF YOUR
GARDENING REQUIREMENTS
Colour-coded cappers assist
gardeners to select varieties to suit
their gardening and culinary needs
YELLOW ONION SETS
• Excellent all-purpose winter dry storage onion
• Best for long storage
MULTIPLIER ONIONS
• Produces early green onions for salads, soups,
etc
RED ONION SETS
• Great for adding colour and flavour to your
favorite foods and salads
WHITE ONION SETS
• Milder sweet onions used for burgers, soup,
stews, etc
SPANISH ONION SETS
• Large size onions with a mild sweeter flavour
• Excellent for hamburgers or hot dogs
GOURMET SHALLOTS
• Produces a distinctive and delicate flavour
• Great for sauces
GARLIC BULBS
• Easy to grow and widely used
in pickles, salads, breads,
gravies and sauces
ELEPHANT GARLIC
• Larger than regular garlic, with
a delicate mild flavour and
having no garlic aftertaste
RED GARLIC
• Unique red cloves produce a
memorable and very rewarding
mild flavour
McKENZIE LAWN SEED
In store point of sale material
to assist with making buying
decisions!
Banners: Bright & colourful.
Helps you choose the right
product for your specific
needs.
Tear Off Info Pads: Useful
lawn care information on
seeding, mowing, watering
and fertilizing.
WEST COAST BLEND
Specially formulated premium
lawn seed blend for West Coast
growing conditions.
L A W N R E PA I R
C O T TA G E M I X T M
Rapidly fills in bare or
damaged spots caused by pets,
salt damage, winter kill, etc.
Quality blend of grasses that
are more drought tolerant and
requires less mowing. Provides
fine bladed grass with superior
colour and wear tolerance.
ALL PURPOSE
Use in backyards and high
traffic areas. Establishes
quickly.
DELUXE BLEND
Premium blend for the
demanding lawn lover who
wants the best! Ideal for front
lawns.
QUICKGRASS®
Provides fine textured turf
when you need it in a hurry!
Germinates in 7 – 10 days!
S H A D Y N O O K TM
Specially formulated for lawns
that receive very little sun.
Ideal for use around trees and
shrubs.
LOW MAINTENANCE
Drought tolerant. Requires less
fertilizer and mowing.
Endophyte enhanced.
KENTUCKY BLUE
Its fine leaf and exquisite
colour provide a luxurious,
dark green thick lawn. For
boosting the appearance of an
existing lawn or for starting
from scratch.
BULK BAGS
Buy in Bulk and Save!
Most lawn seed products are
available in bulk size (4 kg, 10
kg and 22.7 kg) heavy duty
bags. No ripping! No mess!
Larger bag sizes are great for
landscapers and for
bigger properties! 4
kg bags have a
convenient carry-out
handle.
H E I R L O O M VA R I E T I E S
For that nostalgia gardener or for those who love the old favourites, try some of our new
heirloom varieties.
In the new Heirloom line are wonderful selections such as the Armenian Cucumber – one
of the best slicing cucumbers around, Lettuce Red Oakleaf which provides a sweet tangy
taste and flavor to salads and sandwiches and the excellent Radish German Giant,
producing scarlet skinned radishes that can grow up to the size of baseballs without
becoming woody or spongy! Some of the other traditional favorites that are recognized
for their outstanding quality over the years is the Bush Bean Contender, Carrot Danvers
Half-Long and Tomato Bonny Best. These exceptional varieties have remained favorites
for a reason as they continue to consistently provide prolific crops of vegetable with
amazing taste.
Favorite Heriloom flower varieties include the soft pale pink flowers of the Cosmos
Daydream which never fails to provide a stunning garden flower display. The easy and
fun to grow Morning Glory Tricolor Ensign Mix presents a bright and colorful quality
wherever they are planted and a truly wonderful garden success can be found with the
Sweet Pea Bijou as it offers color and fragrance that will be enjoyed by all.
McKenzie is proud to lead gardening towards new and exciting discoveries as well as
remember the trustworthy and reliable varieties that still remain unbeatable today.
Get a head start on Spring! While many seeds can be grown directly outdoors,
there are varieties that should be given an early start indoors and transplanted to
the garden after all danger of frost has passed. Growing from seed, while it may
appear to be complicated, tedious and messy, is something anyone can do and can
be a very pleasant and an enjoyable activity to gardeners of all ages. Experience the
coming of spring in the comfort of your own home. The results are rewarding
whether you are growing fresh tasty vegetables or beautiful flowers!
What will I need? It varies on how much you will be starting indoors, but the basics
include soil, growing trays or pots, a warm place for them to grow, and of course
your favourite McKenzie seed varieties.
McKenzie offers you a selection of products that will meet all of your seed starting
needs from seeds to growing medium, Jiffy trays with domes, peat pellets / pots /
strips & heat mats.
Ask for them by name!
M C K E N Z I E
weeks from May to July for a succession
of your dill throughout the season. Easy
to grow. Plant outdoors in early spring,
after last frost, in full sun. Will volunteer.
Well drained moist soil pH - 6. Although
dill is quite hardy, the location should be
protected from wind. Dill is supposed to
enhance the growth of onions, cabbage
and lettuce. Do not plant close to carrots
or fennel. A must for all herb gardens.
Dried, dill compliments a dried flower
arrangement. Dill has a very fresh
fragrance in the garden. Use the aromatic
leaves and seeds to flavor fish, stews,
vegetables, poultry and for pickles and
salads. Sow outdoors, transplanting is
difficult. Leaves are best just as flowers
open; harvest seeds as soon as ripe, cut
off whole plant and hang to dry.
Dill Fernleaf
101277
Fernleaf Dill produces compact, bushy
plants with finely cut, dark green leaves.
Fernleaf dill is slow to bolt A must for
every herb garden. Harvest the leaves for
fresh or dried use. Especially good for
flavouring sour cream and other dipping
sauces. Once the plant does bolt, the
seeds are perfect for making dill pickles.
All America Award Winner in 1992. Sow
outdoors, transplanting is difficult.
— GARLIC CHIVES —
Perennial
botanical: Allium tuberosum
Nutritional Facts: Garlic contains a
substance (also found in onions) that
interferes with the formation of blood
clots and may help to reduce cholesterol.
It also has anti cancer properties. There is
an indication that it can reduce tumors
and inactivate some cancer-causing
chemicals.
Garlic Chives
H E R B S
help reduce the presence of aphids on
roses. The plant is a uniform spray of
greenery and makes a nice corner focus
in any Herb garden. Good as indoor pot
plant. Harvest any time in the season for
fresh kitchen use. The leaves have a mild
garlic flavour and can be chopped for
salads, sauces, or soups and in breads,
cheese and meat dishes. Early fall and
spring best seasons to plant.
— LAVENDER —
Tender Perennial
a.k.a. English Lavender
botanical: Lavandula angustifolia
L av e n d e r
101358
Aromatic!
Lavender has compact, narrow foliage on
multiple slender stems arising from a
central focus. The colour of the flower
has become a descriptive adjective - a
unique shade of pale purple - Lavender.
The flowers are elongated spurs; clusters
of many tiny florets close to the stem.
Start lavender indoors in January,
February, or March. Sprinkle seeds on a
wet paper towel and fold it. Place it in a
plastic bag and put it on top of the
refrigerator for warmth. In 4 or 5 days
place the germinated seeds 2"(5cm) apart
in flats in a sunny window. Keep moist by
misting. Plant the seedlings outdoors in
spring in a location receiving full sun.
Though a perennial, Lavender is not
winter hardy in most parts of Canada.
Hardy in Zones 4 and 5. Dry, sandy, well
drained soil with pH 7.1 (alkaline). Full
sun and free circulation of air. Lavender
When lifting in the
garden...
101310
A very early fresh herb, Garlic Chives
grow in grass-like clumps. The leaves are
deep green and hollow. The blooms are
white star-like clusters. Plant outdoors in
spring in a location receiving full sun.
Prefers well drained, dry, not too rich
soils in warm sheltered locations. Can
Don't reach for the load or try to pull
it towards you. It may be heavier than
you expect. Move closer to it instead.
A helpful hint from the
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
83
M C K E N Z I E
H E R B S
makes a lovely and aromatic border plant
for pathways and edging. Suitable for
herb gardens and low hedges. Both the
leaves and the flowers are very fragrant.
Dried flowers are favorites for potpourris.
Lavender can be brought indoors and
enjoyed over the winter as a house plant
in a sunny window, then in the garden
every spring. Repels moths, flies, and
mosquitoes. Use for home made soap,
perfume and pot pourri. A sachet or little
pillow of lavender can comfort a
youngster who has difficulty sleeping.
Flowers are edible. Native to the
Mediterranean, Start indoors. Infertile
soil seems to improve fragrance. Cut and
dry whole flower spikes when flowers
begin to open; do not use excessive or
prolonged heat when drying flowers or
seeds since oils are very volatile.
— LEMON BALM —
Perennial
botanical: Melissa officinalis
Lemon Balm
101312
A bush plant with light green leaves
which when brushed or crushed releases
a remarkable lemony scent. Plant
outdoors in spring in full sun or partial
shade. Lemon Balm can be grown as an
annual. Hardy Zone 3. Prefers sunny
location and well drained porous soil of
moderate fertility and pH - 7. The flowers
of Lemon Balm are particularly attractive
to honey bees (its Latin name "Melissa"
means Bees) and so help in pollination of
your other garden crops. The plant is also
known to repel more pesky insects. A
fragrant addition to pot pourri.
Preparations from leaves are used to
treat feverish colds and headaches, to
relieve menstrual cramps, and to calm
nervous stomachs. Crushed leaves help
wounds and insect bites.' In the kitchen,
Lemon Balm is used with soups, meats,
fish, sauces and salads. It is also good for
tea and tea blends, fruit salads, and
jellies. Flowers are edible. Lemon Balm is
native to Southern Europe and North
Africa. Start indoors 8-10 weeks before
last frost or sow outdoors late fall for
germ. following spring. Easily grown
from seed but takes two or more years to
84
produce sizable plants. Produces more
intense flavor and aroma under infertile
growing conditions.
— MARJORAM —
Tender Perennial
botanical: Origanum majorana
Marjoram Sweet
101337
A bushy plant with small light green
leaves. Marjoram is a tender perennial
but is generally grown as an annual.
Plant indoors in early spring and
transplant to a location receiving full sun.
Does best in light, well drained alkaline
soil with pH 6.0-8.0. Needs moderately
fertile earth but excessive fertility may
reduce its aromatic qualities. Marjoram is
a tender perennial. (Hardy Zone 9). In
Canada it is usually grown as an Annual.
Attracts pollinating bees and deters
garden pests. Marjoram has ornamental
appeal, it is a beautiful little plant that
can be grown in pots, indoors, or can be
featured as an edging in the Herb
garden. It is very aromatic. Marjoram has
been used in cosmetics. Use in salads,
teas, and jellies. Sow outdoors in early
spring. Germination may be slow. During
early stages seedlings should be shaded
lightly. To provide succession, 1 or 2 later
sowings should be made. Cut stalks when
starting to flower; hang to dry.
For safe digging ...
Don't stoop or twist. Dig and lift with
your knees bent. Take the strain with
your legs rather than your back. When
emptying the shovel, turn to directly
face the dumping site.
A helpful hint from the
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
— MINT —
Perennial
botanical: Mentha spp.
Mint
101353
Very Hardy
It has soft blue flowers that hug close to
the stem and deep green foliage. Plant
indoors in spring. Transplant to a location
receiving partial shade or full sun. Mint is
a very hardy perennial plant. It will
tolerate marginal soil conditions but
prefers fairly moist soil with pH 5.5-6.5.
Water generously in dry weather. A
partially shaded location is best where
soil tends to dryness. Mint repels many
kinds of pests. Deters white cabbage
moths and improves the health of
cabbage and tomatoes. People who are
unfamiliar with the pure aroma of fresh
mint are usually pleasantly surprised by
its sweet aromatic contribution to a back
yard garden. Mint tea is particularly
soothing and can be served to all family
members, young and old alike. Used for
salads, jellies and teas and cold
beverages. Because Mint is so hardy,
children can feel free to pick it for
pleasure without setting the plant back
in any way. Plant direct or start indoors.
Can be invasive and should be restrained
from moving into adjacent paths and
lawns. This can be accomplished by
removing the bottoms of old pails or
other containers, sinking the containers
into the ground and planting inside.
H E R B S
should be mulched over the winter to
improve its chances of surviving a
Canadian winter. Hardy zone 4. Plant
Oregano near your beans to enhance
their growth. The large leaves of the
beans will provide some welcome shade
for this pungent herb. It makes a lovely
border plant in a Herb garden and makes
a nice house plant. Does well in
containers and as ground cover for banks.
Oregano is the aromatic core of most
Euro-Mediterranean tomato sauces. Use
fresh or dried in all kinds of sauces,
gravies, salads, stuffings, dressings and
meat dishes. Native to the
Mediterranean. Plant direct or start
indoors. Cut stalks when plant starts to
flower; hang to dry two weeks; remove
leaves, crumble and store.
— OREGANO —
Perennial
botanical: Origanum vulgare
Oregano
101316
Shade Tolerant
The Oregano plant has soft moss-green
leaves. Start Oregano indoors for best
germination. The seeds are very tiny and
should not be covered as they germinate
by light. Transplant the seedlings
outdoors in the Spring. Does best in a
sunny location with light, dry, well
drained, alkaline soil pH 6.0-8.0. Excessive
moisture is likely to be harmful. Needs
moderately fertile earth but excessive
fertility may reduce aromatic qualities. It
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
85
M C K E N Z I E
H E R B S
— PARSLEY —
Annual
botanical: Petroselinum crispum
Parsley is easy to grow in moderately rich,
moist well-drained soil with an
appreciable amount of organic matter:
pH - 6. Although fairly slow to germinate,
you can hasten the germination of
Parsley by soaking seeds 24 hrs. in
lukewarm water.Attracts useful insects
like bees and other pollinators. Plant near
asparagus or tomatoes.Parsley is most
often thought of as a garden plant but it
will do well on a window sill, even in a
chilly room. Parsley grows well in
containers on patios, in sunrooms and on
the kitchen window sill. In the garden,
parsley creates lush greenery between
annual flowers, especially
geraniums.Parsley works with most foods
except sweets. It has a gentle flavor.
Essential in many Curries and in Mexican
cooking. The honey from Parsley is
86
famous for its gentle nippy taste. The
leaves are often used as a garnish.
Coarsely chopped leaves provide a
distinctive flavour to various dishes,
especially poached fish. Nutritional Facts:
Parsley is very vitamin rich. Provides
dietary vitamin C, A, several B vitamins
plus calcium and Iron.
Pa rs l ey C h a m p i o n M o s s C u r l e d 1 0 1 4 6 7
Fine, closely curled, very dark green 12"
tall. Also called Extra Triple Curled.
Excellent for flavoring. Gentle flavour.
Champion Moss Curled is very good for
freezing. Plant direct or start indoors.
GARDENING TIP
Dry fresh herbs between paper towels.
Rinse, shake off excess moisture and
separate the leaves from the stems.
Spread one cup of leaves, on a double
thickness of paper towel, and
microwave on full power for two or
three minutes or until the leaves are
brittle. Let stand ten to fifteen minutes.
Crush and store in airtight containers.
Dorine Rothwell, Choiceland SK
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
Pa rs l ey S i n g l e H a rdy I t a l i a n
101475
Glossy dark green, flat cut leaf. Celery
leaf type. Strong flavour. High Yielding,
Plant direct or start indoors.
— ROSEMARY —
Tender Perennial
botanical: Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosemary
101320
Rosemary leaves are long thick and
slender with a light fuzz. Rosemary is an
excellent bee plant and honey derived
from it is of high quality. Rosemary is a
tender perennial evergreen. It will survive
the winter in Hardy Zone 9 but should be
grown as an annual in most Canadian
climates. Plant indoors in the spring and
transplant to a location receiving full sun.
It thrives in well-drained soil with pH of
6.0-7.5. Wet soil inhibits growth.
Somewhat drought resistant. Great
companion for almost any garden plant.
Snails, slugs, and many insect pests dislike
rosemary and it attracts pollinating bees.
Well suited for containers, terraces, steps
and other parts of the garden. Since it
tolerates reflected heat very well it is
suited for planting at the base of sunny
walls and for use in patios and other
paved areas. The leaves have a strong
minty fragrance useful in potpourris. As a
medicinal Rosemary has been revered for
centuries for its ability to promote
circulation. It is used in baths and rubs.
Use with chicken, in meat stews, with
fish, and in vegetable or cheese dishes.
Start indoors. Cut leaves when flowers
are beginning; do not use excessive or
prolonged heat when drying since oils
are volatile; freezing is not
recommended.
— SAFFLOWER —
botanical: Carthamus tinctorius
GARDENING TIP
A good way to help control pests in
your garden is to grow a variety of
aromatic plants, such as chives, dill,
basil, and garlic.
H E R B S
S a f f l ow e r R e d
101362
This attractive herb produces golden
thistle-like flowers with reddish tips.
Plant in full sun, in a normal, welldrained soil, ensuring not to over
fertilize. Safflower is also growing in
popularity as a dried flower. The dried
safflower is often used to enrich the
colour of cream soups, marinades, salad
dressings and curries. The oil-producing
seeds are used in cooking oils and salad
oils. Sow outside or indoors in peat pots
as it dislikes transplanting.
— SAGE —
Perennial
botanical: Salvia officinalis
S ag e
101322
Sage is one of the most popular and
commonly cultivated herbs. Its leaves are
recognizable by their bluish tinge.
Preferably used fresh, it can also be dried
and stored in tightly stoppered jars and
other containers. Plant indoors or
outdoors in early spring in a sunny spot.
Sage is usually grown as an annual
although it is a perennial plant. Hardy
Zone 4. Well drained, fertile soil well
supplied with organic matter and pH 5.56.5. Plant sage with cabbage, carrots,
strawberries, or tomatoes to encourage
their growth. Do not plant near
cucumbers. Plant in rows or herb gardens
in casual groups about 18-24" (45-60cm)
apart. Sage is used in soaps, cosmetics and
hair dye. Care should be taken if used as a
hair dye. An error in the recipe has been
known to give hair a greenish tint. Sage
makes delicious tea that will soothe a sore
throat. Sage is one of the most ancient of
medicinal herbs. Leaves are used in
dressings to stuff pork, veal, goose, duck,
and other meats and to flavor soups,
stews, sausages, and cheeses. Through
history wise elders who used Sage to
promote health became named for this
versatile herb. Sow outdoors early spring
or indoors about 2 months early. Generally
not productive after 3 or 4 years; replace
with young vigorous stock. Cut leaves or
leafy tops of stalks when flowers begin;
freezing not recommended.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
87
M C K E N Z I E
H E R B S
— SAVORY —
— SPEARMINT —
Annual
botanical: Satureja hortensis
Perennial
botanical: Mentha spicata
S avo r y S u m m e r
101327
Summer Savory plants have thin
elongated leaves and light plum-coloured
flowers that sit close to the stem. The
plant branches outward from the base
into a well-shaped little bush. Used as
culinary sweet herbs and garnishes. Can
also be used as a vermifuge. Plant
indoors or outdoors in early spring in a
sunny location. Summer Savory
germinates quickly. Well drained,
moderately fertile soil. Pack soil around
the stem for support as the plant
matures. Soil: pH - 6.9. Improves growth
and flavor of beans and onions and
discourages cabbage moths. A good bee
plant. Summer Savory is well-suited for
container gardening. Scatter in patches in
herb gardens or suitable as a border
hedge. Medicinally, Summer Savory aids
in digestion, sore throat, reduces fevers,
and even soothes bee stings. It is pleasant
tasting and harmless. The leaves of
Summer Savory have a sharp flavour that
is well suited for bean dishes, meat pies,
in poultry dressings, with roasted meats,
casseroles, soups and salads. Plant direct
or start indoors. Make successive
plantings at 3-4 week intervals. Cut stalks
when starting to flower. Hang to dry.
Freezing not recommended.
88
Spearmint
101349
Esteemed for flavoring. Plant indoors in
spring and transplant to a location with
full sun or partial shade. Succeeds in
variety of soils preferring those that are
deep and fertile, wet to moist, and with a
pH of 5.5 - 6.5. Water generously in dry
weather. If soil tends to be dry, a partially
shaded location is best. When planted
around the base of fruit trees it helps
control insect pests while attracting
beneficial insects such as hoverflies and
bees. Spearmint is the best strain of mint
for cooking. Use in baking, with
vegetable and meat dishes, and in sauces.
It is also refreshing for hot and cold
beverages, in preserves and jellies, in
salads and as a garnish with pork dishes.
Plant direct or start indoors. Can be
invasive and should be restrained from
moving into adjacent paths and lawns.
This can be accomplished by removing
the bottoms of old pails or other
containers, sinking the containers into
the ground and planting inside.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
M C K E N Z I E
H E R B S
— TARRAGON —
— THYME —
Perennial
botanical: Artemisia dracunculus
Perennial
botanical: Thymus vulgaris
Ta r r ag o n
101351
The tarragon leaf is long and blade
shaped. Leaves alternate upward on a
central stem. Blossoms form mid-season
atop the stem. These plants like an open
sunny location with rich, sandy, ph
neutral (6.9) soil that is well-drained.
Prefers full sun but will produce in partial
shade. Has a very mild flavor. The perfect
herb to be used in herb vinegar, as well
as sauces, and salads. For homemade
tarragon vinegar, put fresh tarragon
leaves into white vinegar and place it in a
dark place for 3-4 weeks before use.
Plant direct or start indoors.
T hy m e
101342
Heat & Sun Lover
Thyme may be the most useful and
perfect herb. It grows as a bushy plant
with tiny grey-green leaves on woody
stems. Plant indoors in late winter and
transplant to a location receiving full sun.
Thyme prefers warm, dry conditions. A
porous soil without minimal nutrients is
best; too rich a diet will encourage
unseemly vigor which increases
susceptibility to disease and winterkill. To
ensure wintering, avoid harvesting
foliage in the autumn. Hardy Zone 2. Soil:
pH - 5.5 - 7.0. Thyme benefits egg plants,
potatoes and tomatoes when planted
adjacent. It also repels cabbage root fly. It
makes a very attractive edging plant.
Admirable for herb gardens, rock gardens
and dry walls. Helps in the digestion of
fatty foods. Used to relieve spasms and
coughing. Use as a seasoning in meat
sauces, in soups, vegetables dishes, and
with fish. Native to Southern Europe. Its
scientific name, "Thymus" is Greek for
courage. Plant direct or start indoors. Cut
leafy tops and flower clusters when
plants are blooming; hang to dry.
GARDENING TIP
One teaspoon of thyme and one
teaspoon of sage mixed well with one
cup water can be sprayed on cabbage,
followed by a dusting of flour, works
wonderfully to keep insects away.
Arline Pratchler, Govan SK
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
89
G A R D E N I N G
S A F E T Y
T I P S
Gardeners Safety Tips
Helpful Hints from:
• gardening tasks require bending your
joints and stretching your muscles preserving flexibility
• lifting and repetitive tasks around the
yard build strength and endurance
G E T R E A DY. . . B E F O R E YO U G O
These gardening safety tips are offered
to you by the Canadian Physiotherapy
Association and its almost 10,000 member
physiotherapists, who want you to have a
healthy and active gardening season.
Physiotherapists are healthcare
professionals educated to help people of
all ages and lifestyles to gain and
maintain their desired level of active
living. With their applied knowledge and
understanding of the human body in
action, physiotherapists are able to work
with you to increase your mobility, relieve
your pain, build your strength and
improve your balance and cardiovascular
function. They not only treat your injury,
but they also teach you how to prevent
the onset of pain or injury that may limit
your activity.
The physiotherapists in your community
and across the country offer gardeners
these helpful hints to ensure you get the
most enjoyment and remain the most
active this gardening season.
If you would like further information on
a general stretching program or if you
experience persistent pain after
gardening or other activities, you can
contact a physiotherapist directly or ask
your family doctor for a referral. For
more information about physiotherapy in
general, you can visit the Canadian
Physiotherapy Association web site at:
www.physiotherapy.ca.
• avoid pain and injury when you begin
gardening by keeping your body in
shape all year round. Do regular
physical activity and stretching
• plan ahead - have the right tools for
the job, - maintained and ready for
safe use
• keep your supplies within easy reach consider using a carpenter’s apron
• plan the work area for your comfort
• rehearse the movement prior to your
task to give the muscles a stretch
• have to crouch? Warm up with trunk,
hip and knee bends
• plan to reach? Stretch your neck and
shoulders to mimic the activity.
• warm-up stretches should be slow,
sustained 10 - 20 seconds, and painfree
TO O L S O F T H E T R A D E
• match the size of the gardening tool
handle to the size of your hand
• hold your tools in a loose comfortable
grip. Holding too tight may cause
injury.
D O N ' T V E G E TAT E : C U LT I VAT E !
• 30 minutes of gardening give general
health benefits similar to going for a
brisk walk
90
• choose tools that you can hold so that
you keep your hand positioned in line
with your forearm
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
G A R D E N I N G
• use tools to reduce work
- use a wheelbarrow or wagon to
transport supplies
- use power tools for repetitive
work
- use an extended handle to reduce
the reach
• keep digging and cutting tools sharp
• consider using a low, padded kneeling
stool, with side handles to help you
stand up, when working at ground
level
• be creative! Adapt or create your tools
for your comfort
- pad the handle for hand comfort
- use knee pads or a foam pad for
kneeling
- wrap a slippery handle with tape
to improve your grip on it (hockey
stick tape will do)
K N OW YO U R L I M I T S
• be realistic! - Your body is only ready
to perform at the level of effort and
endurance it is regularly used to
• work within your physical strength.
Occupational Health Standards list safe
lifting loads as: 64 lbs for middle aged
men and 28 lbs for women, but a safe
lift is less than this when the load is:
- low to the ground or overhead
- deep in a truck or difficult to
reach or
- an awkward shape
• pace yourself.
- take a break when you’re tired
- spread heavy lifting and digging
tasks over a week rather than a
weekend
S A F E T Y
T I P S
- spread major projects throughout
spring, summer and fall. Take
time to recover between projects
• rotate tasks. Avoid over-use injuries by
working in different positions and by
doing different activities throughout
the day
" P O S I T I O N " YO U R S E L F F O R S U C C E S S
• find your “easy zone” - a comfortable
posture for your body to work in
• try to do your work in the “zone”
• be warned that continuous activity
outside your easy zone may cause
sprains and strains
• avoid “out of zone” postures by:
- moving with your work. Keep
your work in front of and close to
your body to avoid reaching and
twisting
- using tools to assist you (eg. stools,
sprinkler, hose caddy)
- positioning your body at the
height of your work
• can’t avoid an awkward position? A
slow reverse stretch every 15 minutes
will reduce strain
• lift with your knees slightly bent and
your back straight. Avoid twisting or
reaching
91
G A R D E N I N G
S A F E T Y
T I P S
Stretches for the Gardener
A "warm up" before you start your
gardening work out helps to reduce
muscle strain injury and fatigue. March
on the spot until you feel warm, then
take a few minutes to do the following
stretches. Repeat the stretches again at
the end of your activity.
When stretching, please remember:
•
•
•
•
Movements should be slow and
controlled;
You should feel a gentle stretch of the
muscle - stretching should not be
painful;
Once you feel a stretch, hold the
position 10-15 seconds - do not
bounce or jerk;
Repeat each stretch 2 or 3 times.
NECK
© The Sanders Group Inc.
1. Sit or stand with good posture
2. Bend neck forward as shown
© The Sanders Group Inc.
1. Sit or stand with good posture
2. Keeping face forward, tip ear toward
shoulder
SHOULDERS
© The Sanders Group Inc.
1. Grasp elbow with opposite hand
2. pull elbow and arm across chest until
you feel a gentle stretch
© The Sanders Group Inc.
1. Reach up behind head as shown
2. Press elbows back until you feel a
gentle stretch
WRISTS
© The Sanders Group Inc.
1. Hold wrist as shown
2. Bend wrist until you feel a stretch
92
© The Sanders Group Inc.
1. Hold your hands together as shown
2. Bend the wrists until you feel a
stretch
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
V E G E T A B L E S
— ASPARAGUS —
Au n t M o l ly ’s G ro u n d C h e r r y
Perennial
botanical: Asparagus officinalis
Nutritional Facts: Asparagus is very
mineral rich and has Vitamin A. When
stored at room temperature, asparagus
loses half of its Vitamin C content in 2
days. Refrigerate at retail and at home to
prolong nutritional value.
A s p a r ag u s V i k i n g
100986
Viking is one of the hardiest Asparagus
varieties. It is very productive. The stalks
are dark green and have a delicious
flavour. They will produce a light crop in
the second year with a full crop in the
third year. Productive life is 8-20 years.
Does best in sunny, warm, sheltered
locations with deep, well drained, fertile,
cool soil (ph 6.0-7.0). Have soil loosened
deeply. Water liberally during dry
weather. Keep well cultivated and free of
weeds. Plant near tomatoes, nasturtiums,
parsley, basil but not near garlic,
gladiolus, or onion. It is a powerful
diuretic. Rich in vitamin C and minerals
like calcium, phosphorus and potassium.
Serve as cooked vegetable, raw in salads,
or may be frozen for winter use. For best
flavor, eat or process as soon after
harvesting as possible. After harvest
spears must cool to 0 - 2C. This preserves
sugars. Loss of sugar increases the fiber
and lowers the quality. Goes best with
the following herbs: chives, sage, lemon
balm, thyme and savory. Sow outdoors
early spring or start indoors in midwinter
Seed should be soaked overnight in tepid
water before planting. Alternatively, one
year old crowns can be planted. In order
to develop strong crowns, tops should be
allowed to grow without cutting for the
first two seasons. Should be harvested
when stems reach about 8" (20cm) and
buds at the tips of stems are still tightly
compressed.
— AUNT MOLLY’S
GROUND CHERRY —
Annual
botanical: Physalis pruinosa
125902
This outstanding variety originated in
Poland and is prized for its flavor! Fruits
are 1.3 - 1.8 cm (1/2" to 3/4") in diameter
and are encased in a papery husk that
turns brown when the fruits are ripen.
Stores 3-4 weeks in the husk. Sprawling
habit. Excellent citrus flavor, can be used
for preserves, pies, over ice cream and in
fresh fruit salads.
— BEAN - BROAD —
botanical: Vicia faba
Unlike most beans, the faba beans are
tolerant to some frost and must be
planted as soon as the ground can be
worked. These plants have a more
rounded leaf than the bush bean. The
pods and leaves protrude from a very
stalky central stem. The bean is large and
flat, like a Lima bean, but darker in
color.Use Broad Beans in soups, stews and
dips. They are quite starchy and very
nutritious. Excellent as vegetable source
of protein.
B ro a d B e a n W i n d s o r
L a rg e Po d
101001
Broad Variety
Windsor is an erect sturdy plant with 3-5"
hairy pods. Sow outdoors, directly into
garden when soil is warm.
— BEAN - BUSH —
botanical: Phaseolus sp
A Healthy Staple Food
There are hundreds of varieties of beans
grown around the world. McKenzie
carries three distinct types of beans, those
most frequently selected by Canadian
gardeners: Broad Beans, Pole Beans, and
Bush Beans, in Green and Yellow, that
grow in bushy form, without support. To
extend your crop and prolong
blossoming, pick your beans when tender
making sure to take all beans from each
plant. Beans should always be planted
directly into the ground. They are in the
legume family and so are nitrogen fixing
plants; good for your garden. Beans do
best in any garden soil with a pH of
about 6.0-7.5. They should be planted
93
V E G E T A B L E S
outside when the ground is warm and
frost danger is past. Apply mulch to help
retain moisture. Use fertilizer low on
nitrogen - eg. "5-10-5".Plant near
potatoes, beets, carrots, peas, cauliflower,
cabbage, eggplant, cucumber, corn,
radishes, celery, rosemary, parsnip and
sunflower but not near onions, kohl rabi,
gladiolus nor fennel. All beans are very
high in protein and can complete a
balanced meal as a meat substitute.
Beans can be eaten fresh during the
summer months: raw, marinated, boiled,
steamed or in soups and stews. They
freeze very well if lightly blanched and
frozen immediately after picking. Some
beans are suitable for pickling. Of course,
the world wide staple is the dried bean.
All varieties of beans are suitable for
drying. Leave the pods on the vine until
dry, then harvest. Bush Beans are grown
principally for enjoyment fresh, in-season,
for drying and use in soups, dips and
sauces during the winter months. When
picked young, they freeze very
well.Nutritional Facts: Beans are rich in
vitamin C, calcium and also contain
protein, dietary fiber, Vitamin A iron and
folacin. Folacin controls the cell function
together with vitamin B12 and it
produces red blood cells. Beans are a very
important food for pregnant women.
They can help to control blood sugar
levels. Dried beans and vine-picked beans
are equally protein and fibre rich.
B e a n G r e e n C ro p
101006
Green Bush Variety
Pod 6-8"(15-20 cm), dark green flat pods.
Sow outdoors, directly into garden when
soil is warm.
B e a n I m p rov e d G o l d e n Wa x 1 0 1 0 0 8
Yellow Variety
Pod length 6-7"(17-18 cm), yellow. Sow
outdoors, directly into garden when soil
is warm.
B e a n Pe n c i l Po d B l a ck Wa x
101030
Pod length 6"(15 cm), yellow. The Kidney
bean is widely used in Mexican Chile. Sow
outdoors, directly into garden when soil
is warm.
B e a n R oya l B u rg u n dy
101031
This unusual purple podded bean is easy
to grow and produces an abundant yield
of tender and delicious stringless beans.
Pods turn dark green when cooked. Best
flavour when picked about 10 cm (4")
long. Sow outdoors after last frost in well
drained soil, in a sunny location. Great
flavour. Excellent fresh or frozen. Sow
outdoors, directly into garden when soil
is warm. Make successive plantings every
two weeks for a continuous supply.
B e a n S t r i n g l e s s G r e e n Po d
101040
Snap Variety
Pod 6-7"(15-18 cm), light green. Excellent
canning bean. Sow outdoors, directly into
garden when soil is warm.
B e a n Te n d e rg r e e n
101016
Snap Variety
Pod 6"(15 cm), dark green. Meaty, tender,
good canner. Sow outdoors, directly into
garden when soil is warm.
— BEAN - POLE —
aka: Pole Bean
botanical: Phaseolus sp
Great for decorative gardens!
Should be planted outside when ground
is warm and frost danger is past. The Pole
Bean best presents the lush foliage of the
Bean Family. In these climbing varieties,
the leaves reach for the sun and create a
complete cover on walls, trellises and
fences. The beans are usually longer and
broader than the Bush Bean varieties.
Pole Beans add a focal aspect to a garden
101024
Yellow Variety
Pod length 6-7"(17-18 cm), yellow. Sow
outdoors, directly into garden when soil
is warm.
94
B e a n R o u n d Po d K i d n ey
Yellow Variety
GARDENING TIP
Plant beans or horseradish in and
around your potato patch. They help to
repel the potato beetles.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
V E G E T A B L E S
if planted, in a circle around a tire and a
pole, may-pole or teepee fashion.The
flavor is better than from bush beans.
Pole beans are gourmet beans.
Nutritional Facts: Rich in minerals calcium
and potassium.
Po l e B e a n Ke n t u ck y Wo n d e r 1 0 1 0 2 1
Pole Variety
Pod length 7-8"(17-20 cm) oval dark
green. Sow outdoors, directly into garden
when soil is warm.
Po l e B e a n Ke n t u ck y
Wo n d e r Wa x
100991
The pods are round, 20 cm (8") long, with
a creamy light yellow colour. Great fresh.
A delicious home garden variety, best
when pods are picked young. Use fresh
or frozen. Sow outdoors, directly into
garden when soil is warm. An application
of nitrogen inoculant will improve yields.
Po l e B e a n R o m a n o
101028
Tallest Pole Variety
Pod length 8"(20 cm) medium green. This
is the tallest of McKenzie Pole Beans. Old
favorite, long wide podded stringless
green beans. Tender, meaty and flavorful.
Excellent for freezing and canning. Sow
outdoors, directly into garden when soil
is warm.
101034
Po l e B e a n S c a r l e t R u n n e r
Ornamental Climber. Attracts
Hummingbirds!
Pod length 8"(20 cm), green. Bright
scarlet flowers attractive to
hummingbirds all summer. Scarlet runner
is a fast-growing vine often grown for it's
ornamental value on archways and patio
walls. The blossoms are very large and a
brilliant reddish orange color. In the fall,
do not forget to harvest the beans for
your kitchen. They are as nutritious as
every other bean in the McKenzie line.
When harvested early, these are very
tasteful. The more beans you pick, the
larger the leaves it will bear. Tender
green beans. Sow outdoors, directly into
garden when soil is warm.
— BEET —
botanical: Beta vulgaris
Beets are generally slow sprouters but
once they are up they produce lots of
food. Since they survive in a wide variety
of climates and soils, they are well suited
for home gardens. For best results, soil
should be adequately drained, deep,
fertile, crumbly, and well supplied with
organic matter. pH of 6.0-6.8. During dry
weather, water enough to keep soil moist
and prevent plants from wilting - be
careful with watering not to make the
soil into a cement block. Plant near bush
beans, cabbage, lettuce, kohl rabi but not
near pole beans.The leaves create a nice
contrast of colour in your ornamental
garden. Also very decorative combined
with Silver Mound or Dusty Miller.Tops
may be used as fresh greens in salads or
may be cooked. Roots may be cooked as
fresh vegetable, diced in salads, canned,
pickled, or frozen. Tops are excellent in
salads and taste like spinach when
boiled.Thought to have originated in the
Mediterranean area. The first record of
recipes were by Romans in the second
and third centuries.
Nutritional Facts: Beets are nutritious,
high in Vitamins and low in calories but
high in calcium, sodium and potassium.
Beets contain folacin and plenty of sugar
which becomes tastefully apparent when
cooked. Beet tops are rich in beta
carotene, calcium and iron.
B e e t C y l i n d r a F o r m a n ova
101057
Carrot-like dark red roots. Sow outdoors
in early spring as soon as soil can be
worked.
101064
B e e t D e t ro i t D a r k R e d
Dark red round sweet roots. Sow
outdoors in early spring as soon as soil
can be worked.
B e e t E a r ly Wo n d e r
101078
Tall semi-globe dark red roots. Stores
well. Sow outdoors in early spring as
soon as soil can be worked.
B e e t G o l d e n D e t ro i t
130121
Sweet and tender round, orange roots
with golden flesh. Stays gold-yellow
95
V E G E T A B L E S
when cooked and does not bleed. Tops
are deep, glossy green. Roots grow fast,
but retain their sweet flavour even when
quite large.
B e e t R u by Q u e e n
101082
Bright red short top. Semi-globe roots.
Sow outdoors in early spring as soon as
soil can be worked.
(5cm) each way to avoid overcrowding.
After weather has settled set out in
garden 18" (45cm) apart in rows spaced 2
ft (60cm) apart. Break off lower leaves as
sprouts begin to form. Harvest after
sprouts are 1" (2.5 cm) in diameter
beginning with lower sprouts and
working up plant. Plants will continue to
produce until late fall. Light frost
improves the flavor.
— BROCCOLI —
botanical: Brassica oleracea var. italica
Nutritional Facts: Broccoli is one of the
healthiest foods you can eat. It is rich in
Vitamins and minerals. Broccoli also
contains special enzymes and good
amounts of beta carotene and Vitamin C.
B ro c c o l i M u n ch k i n
120618
A dwarf open pollinated Broccoli. The
plant grows approximately 30cm (1") tall
but they produce big deep blue green
heads. Cut the main head and you will
likely harvest a good sized secondary
head a little later. Vitamin Rich. Start
seed indoors 6 weeks before the last
frost.
— BRUSSELS SPROUTS —
botanical: Brassica oleracea var.
gemmifera
Cold-weather crop that likes rich welldrained moisture retaining soil. Brussel
Sprouts are a cool season vegetable and
are not recommended where the
summers are long, hot and dry.Celery, dill,
chamomile, sage, mints, rosemary,
wormwood, onions, potatoes, hyssop,
thyme, and beets all help keep insects
away. Do not plant near strawberries or
pole beans.Nutritious cooked vegetable
and ideal for freezing. Pinching out the
growing point at the top of the plant will
encourage the development of the
sprouts.
Nutritional Facts: Rich in vitamin A,
Protein, indoles, Vitamin C and Beta
B r u s s e l s S p ro u t s L o n g
101094
— CABBAGE —
botanical: Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Cold-weather crop that likes rich welldrained moisture retaining soil (pH 6.5 to
7.0). Cabbage does well in cool
weather.Cabbage grows well beside
onions, beets, beans, lettuce, cucumbers,
potatoes, celery, any aromatic herbs
(except fennel), and nasturtiums. Avoid
planting Cabbage near your tomatoes,
pole beans or strawberries. Plant with
thyme to deter the cabbage worm.
Cabbages are used raw in vinegar-based
and creamy cole slaws. Boiled cabbage is
enjoyed along-side sausage. Stir fried
cabbage adds an essential flavour to
Oriental vegetable dishes. Rice and meat
rolled in a Cabbage leaf make the
popular Ukrainian favorite, Holobtsi.
Cabbage broadens the flavour of all
soups and is an essential ingredient in
many family recipes for Borscht. Of
course, the pickled variety, Sauerkraut is
an essential with Bratwurst and Reuben
Sandwiches.
Nutritional Facts: Good source of iron and
potassium. Rich in vitamin A, Protein,
indoles, Vitamin C and Beta Carotene.
C a b b ag e E a r ly C o p e n h ag e n
101102
Market Medium green globe. Diameter 67"(15-18 cm). Start indoors about 6 weeks
early.
— CANTALOUPE —
aka: Musk Melon
botanical: Cucumis melo
Cantaloupe will not grow well when the
soil temperature is below 24º C (75 F). Does
best in a fertile, light, sandy soil with a
high organic content; pH 6.0-7.5. Warm,
sheltered, sunny location. Needs a long
Medium green small cabbage-like
sprouts. Start indoors about 6 weeks
early. Start indoors, thin to about 2"
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
96
V E G E T A B L E S
growing season plus warm days and night.
Start indoors in peat pots because they do
not like transplanting. Sow 5-6 seeds in
hills spaced 5-6 ft (1.5-1.8 m) apart or plant
seeds 4" (10cm) apart in a row. When
plants are 3-4" (8-10cm) high thin to 2 or 3
strong plants/hill or 18-24" (45-60cm) apart
in rows. Fruits that start after midsummer
will not have time to mature and should
be removed. This thinning will direct
nutrients to developing fruits. Harvest
when fruits are thoroughly ripe; when the
stem attached to the melon will slip from
it at a slight touch. Plant near corn.
Nutritional Facts: Rich in vitamin A and C
and high in minerals.
Cantaloupe Delicious
101114
Orange Flesh. Melon size: 15.4 X 13.9 cm.
Sow outdoors in spring after soil
thoroughly warm and after danger of
frost is past. Could start seeds indoors 4-5
weeks before you can plant outdoors in a
peat pot. Plant seedling and pot as one
unit because cantaloupe does not like
transplanting.
— CARROT —
botanical: Daucus carota var. sativa
They are slow to germinate so be patient.
Soil temperature should be at least 5 C (41
F) before seeding; will not germinate at
lower temperatures. They like deep loose
sandy loam (pH 5.5-7.0) in a sheltered
location. The soil should be deeply spaded
and raked before seeding and must be
kept moist without washing seeds away.
Uniform soil moisture is very critical in
producing crisp, sweet carrots - moisture
stress will slow growth producing thickened
cells (woody texture). Flavor becomes bitter.
Carrots must be hilled to prevent green
shoulders. Carrots come in all shapes and
sizes. For quicker crops choose the shorter
varieties.To repel the carrot fly, plant with
onions, leeks, and herbs. Carrots perform
well when planted near beans, peas,
tomatoes, Brussel sprouts, peppers,
cabbage, lettuce, radish, chives, basil,
chervil, dill, mint, sage, savory or rosemary
but not near dill, celery, or parsnips.Some
gardeners have success sowing carrots with
fast growing radishes. The radish marks the
row, shades the small carrot seedling and is
harvested before carrots produce their
major food growth.Carrots are a central
staple vegetable in most Canadian kitchens.
They are enjoyed raw in cole slaws and on
vegetable trays. They are served as a
vegetable alone, or in combination with
other vegetables. Carrots are seldom absent
from soups and stews and they add
delightful colour to a jar of pickles.Probably
originated in Asia. Around the first century
were widely used by Greeks for medicinal
purposes. Was being grown for food in
England in the 17th century and introduced
to North America by early colonists.
Nutritional Facts: Carrots contain more
vitamin A than any other vegetable and are
a good source of calcium, potassium, and
phosphorus. Folk medicine recommends
Carrots for healthy skin and eyes. The most
important member of the root crops - it is
grown worldwide. Eating raw carrots
provide important dietary fibre. Carrots with high levels of beta carotene, are being
credited for "blocking cancers" especially
smoking related cancers". They supply
energy and prevent constipation. Eating
carrots will lower the blood cholesterol
levels. Eat one seven-ounce carrot a day for
three weeks and you will find a cholesterol
reduction of up to 11%.
C a r ro t H y b r i d Te n d e rsw e e t
101145
Extremely long - 10 X 1.5" orange/red
with medium dark green tops. Sow
outdoors as soon as ground can be
worked.
C a r ro t L i t t l e F i n g e r
101118
Half long - 3.5-4" X .75" deep orange.
Sow outdoors as soon as ground can be
worked.
C a r ro t N a n t e s To u ch o n
101146
Popular fine-textured variety for home
gardens and freezing. Half long - 7"
(18cm) X 1.5" (4cm). The inner is bright
orange. The Nantes are one of the
highest quality carrots: too small for
processing but excellent for the Home
97
V E G E T A B L E S
Gardener. Sow outdoors as soon as
ground can be worked.
C a r ro t R e d C o r e d C h a n t e n ay 1 0 1 1 2 3
Variety will do well on fairly heavy land.
Reddish-orange with indistinct core. An
excellent storage type carrot. Also
recommended for canning and freezing.
Half long pointed - 7-8" X 2". Excellent
quality especially the young roots. They
become fibrous with age. Sow outdoors
as soon as ground can be worked.
C a r ro t R e d C o r e d D a nv e rs
101127
Excellent quality, tender carrot which is a
favorite for processing. Half long pointed
- 8" (20cm) X 2" (5cm) reddish orange.
Good flavor! Sow outdoors as soon as
ground can be worked.
Purple Haze
130122
‘Purple Haze’ is the only imperatorshaped purple carrot. It’s purple exterior
with a bright orange interior will keep its
colour when raw in salads or coleslaw
and cooked quickly as in a stir-fry.
C a r ro t S c a r l e t N a n t e s
Coreless
101132
This variety's bright orange flesh and
delicate flavour make it ideal for
freezing. Half Long - 7" (18cm) X 1.5-2"
(4-5cm). Sow outdoors as soon as ground
can be worked.
C a u l i f l ow e r E a r ly S n ow b a l l
101154
Uniform. 6"(15 cm) head. Very vigorous.
Cold-weather crop that likes rich welldrained moisture retaining soil which
contains an abundance of organic matter.
(pH 6-7). Extremely intolerant of heat and
drought. A good source of vitamin C, iron
and calcium. Cooked as a vegetable and
raw in salads. May also be pickled and is
ideal for freezing. Start indoors 6 weeks
before last frost. Start indoors, when
plants are 3" (8cm) high thin to 2" (5cm)
apart to avoid crowding. Transplant to
garden once weather settled. Choose a
cloudy day for planting out.
— CELERY —
botanical: Apium graveolens
Start VERY Early!
Nutritional Facts: Low in calories.
Celery Green Utah
101162
Dark green erect smooth stems. Soil
should be kept moist, both in seed bed
and in the final planting area. Require
rich mellow soil (pH 6.0-7.0) that is well
drained but at no time lacks moisture.
Sow seed 1/8" (3mm) deep. When plants
are 3" (8cm) tall, thin or transplant to 4"
(10cm) apart. When weather has settled,
set in garden about 6" (15cm) apart in
both directions. Plant near cabbage,
leeks, tomatoes, beans or peas but not
near carrots nor parsnips. All parts of
plant are edible. Not easy to grow. Start
indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost.
Plant outdoors on a cloudy, humid day.
C a r ro t Te n d e r l o n g I m p e r a t o r 1 0 1 1 2 2
Extremely long - 10 inches long, 1.5" in
diameter at the top. Orange red with
medium dark green tops. Imperator type
carrots become woody with age. Sow
outdoors as soon as ground can be worked.
— CAULIFLOWER —
botanical: Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
Nutritional Facts: High in folacin and
vitamin C. Frozen cauliflower has 1/3 less
vitamin C than fresh.
98
— CORN —
Annual
botanical: Zea mays
Nutritional Facts: While not famous for
it's nutritional contributions, never forget
that Corn is an excellent source of
protein and carbohydrate.
— CORN - NORMAL SUGARY —
botanical: Zea mays
Normal sugary varieties (sometimes coded
SU) contain varying amounts of sugar and
convert the sugar to starch rapidly after
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
V E G E T A B L E S
harvest. Most corn varieties fall into this
category. Some resistance to cold soils.
Water frequently and when silk appears
keep soil moist at all times. Harvest when
silk turns brown and dry.
6-8" ears. 12-14 rows of kernels per ear.
Long, tight husks keep out earworms.
Sow outdoors when soil is thoroughly
warm.
101183
C o r n Pe a ch e s a n d C r e a m
Sugar Enhanced
C o r n E a r ly G o l d e n B a n t a m
101189
Normal Sugary
Our best selling corn for years! Golden
yellow cobs and a relatively dwarf plant
habit. Good yields. 12.5-15 cm (5-6") ears.
8 rows of kernels per ear. One of the
sweetest yellow corns. Excellent quality,
fresh and canned. Sow outdoors when
soil is thoroughly warm.
— CORN - SUGER ENHANCED —
botanical: Zea mays
Sugar Enhanced corn varieties (sometimes
coded SE) have tender kernels which
convert their sugar to starch slower than
Normal Sugary (SU) varieties. Cold soil
sensitive. Should be sown 7-10 days later
than SU varieties. Some resistance to cold
soils. Sow corn in a soil when
temperature is about 15-20 C (60-70 F)
and the soil is moist. Seed will rot if
planted when the soil is cold and wet.
Rich well-drained moisture retaining soil pH 6.0-6.8. Water plants whenever they
show any signs of wilting and keep soil
moist when the tassels appear. Corn is
considered relatively drought resistant,
but the yields are enhanced by regular
applications of water. The most critical
periods are the silking and pollination
and when the ears are filling. Plant near
peas, tomatoes, potatoes, beans,
cucumbers, cantaloupe, squash, cabbage,
parsley or pumpkin.Corn is a colorful
favorite food in most Canadian
households. In most families, fresh
garden corn is a high point of the
harvest.Squash and beans and corn are
three crops native to North America, and
they thrive in each other's company. The
nitrogen-fixing beans provide extra
nutrients for the corn which is a heavy
feeder. The squash protects the corn from
hot sun and from raiding raccoons by
creating an obstacle course of heavy
twisting vines.
C o r n H o n ey a n d C r e a m
Sugar Enhanced
7-8" ears. 14-16 rows of kernels per ear.
Extra tender and sweet. 80% yellow and
20% white kernels. Sow outdoors when
soil is thoroughly warm.
— CORN - SUPER SWEET —
botanical: Zea mays
Supersweet varieties (sometimes coded
SH2) are sweeter than other corn types.
They require isolation to prevent cross
pollination. At harvest they retain their
sweetness because they do not convert
sugar to starch. Varieties are very sweet
with double the amount of sugar content
of SU corn. Water frequently and when
silk appears keep soil moist at all times.
Harvest when silk turns brown and dry.
C o r n C a n a d i a n E a r ly
S u p e rsw e e t
101205
8-9" ears, 16 rows of kernels per ear. This
variety has a better cold weather
tolerance than any of the other SH2
corns. Sow outdoors when soil is
thoroughly warm.
— CRESS —
Annual aka: Curly Cress or Pepper Grass.
botanical: Lepidium sativum
C r e s s E x t r a Tr i p l e C u r l e d
101208
Cress is a deeply cut low-growing green
that looks somewhat like parsley. Will do
well in any well drained soil in full
sunlight. Rich soil. It can be grown in a
101196
99
V E G E T A B L E S
window, indoors. It is a splendid green
for garnish and to spice up sandwiches
and salads. Taste like Radish in flavor. An
excellent first crop for a child to grow.
Sow outdoors as soon as ground can be
worked. For continuous supply make
successive plantings every two weeks
until August. May be eaten about ten
days from sowing. Harvest when leaves
are 4-6" (10-15cm) high.
Attention All
Gardeners!
Lifting safely requires more brain
than brawn... Bend your knees, not
your back, and you greatly reduce
stress to your lower back. Keep the
load close to and in front of your
body. Carry heavy objects waisthigh or use a wheelbarrow.
A helpful hint from the
100
— CUCUMBER —
Annual
botanical: Cucumis sativus
Plant directly in the ground after danger
of frost is past and soil is warm - 65 F(18
C). If you wish to start plants indoors use
peat pots and weather the plants before
setting them in the ground. Roots should
be disturbed as little as possible while
transplanting. Soil should be well worked
and kept moist, pH of 6.0-6.8. Location
should be sheltered from wind.
Cucumbers are shallow rooting so it is
advisable to mulch to keep the soil moist.
Extended periods of cold weather
followed by bright sun will cause sudden
wilt.Plant near beans, peas, tomatoes,
cabbage, lettuce, radishes, sunflower, dill,
nasturtiums but not near potatoes or
aromatic herbs. Plant radishes around the
cucumbers as they repel cucumber
beetles. There is nothing that speaks of
summer like fresh, sliced cucumber; on a
platter with a bit of salt or vinegar or in a
sandwich on fresh bread. Cucumbers are
the most important ingredient of pickles;
sweet, sour, dill, and relish. Cukes also
have a place as an attractive garnish in
soups and on a dinner plate. There are
two groups of cucumbers: white spine
and black spine. White spine types turn
creamy white when completely mature.
Black spine types turn yellowish orange.
Spines are miniature stickers that stick
out from the end of the fruit.
Nutritional Facts: Cucumbers are low in
calories because they are mostly water.
Cucumber Earliest Mincu
101219
Short, light green. 4 x 1 3/4" white
spined, compact vines and heavy yielder.
Plant directly in the ground after danger
of frost is past and soil is warm - 65 F(18
C). If you wish to start plants indoors use
peat pots and weather the plants before
setting them in the ground. Roots should
be disturbed as little as possible while
transplanting. Soil should be well worked
and kept moist, pH of 6.0-6.8. Location
should be sheltered from wind.
Cucumbers are shallow rooting so it is
advisable to mulch to keep the soil moist.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
V E G E T A B L E S
Extended periods of cold weather
followed by bright sun will cause sudden
wilt. Plant outside only when all danger
of frost is past and the soil is warm. If
starting indoors, take particular care not
to disturb the root system when
transplanting.
C u c u m b e r E a r ly R u s s i a n
101225
Short, light green. Small fruit, black
spined and very prolific. Pickling variety.
Plant outside only when all danger of
frost is past and the soil is warm. If
starting indoors, take particular care not
to disturb the root system when
transplanting.
Cucumber English
L o n g Te l e g r a p h
101229
16"(40 cm), dark green forcing. This
variety has male and female flowers in
each vine. Bitterfree! English Long
Telegraph was developed in England
where hot-house cucumbers are very
popular. Be sure to gently shake green
house plants around noontime, daily to
simulate a breeze and encourage
pollination. English Long Telegraph also
thrives out of doors. Slicing variety. Plant
outside only when all danger of frost is
past and the soil is warm. If starting
indoors, take particular care not to
disturb the root system when
transplanting.
Cucumber Hybrid Sweet
Slice (Burpless)
101255
8"(20 cm) long, dark green, white spined,
slightly tapered. Unusual sweet,
bitterfree! Slicing variety. Plant outside
only when all danger of frost is past and
the soil is warm. If starting indoors, take
particular care not to disturb the root
system when transplanting.
C u c u m b e r I m p rov e d
Long Green
101213
12"(30 cm) long, dark green, black
spined, very vigorous. Plant outside only
when all danger of frost is past and the
soil is warm. If starting indoors, take
particular care not to disturb the root
system when transplanting.
C u c u m b e r M o rd e n E a r ly
101232
Compact growth habit.
Short, medium green, white spined. Fruit
is blunt. A nice compact plant for a
smaller garden space. Pickling variety.
Plant outside only when all danger of
frost is past and the soil is warm. If
starting indoors, take particular care not
to disturb the root system when
transplanting.
Cucumber National
101235
5 x 2 1/2" cylindrical, blocky, dark green,
black spined. Resistance to cucumber
mosaic and scab. Plant directly in the
ground after danger of frost is past and
soil is warm - 65 F(18 C). If you wish to
start plants indoors use peat pots and
weather the plants before setting them
in the ground. Roots should be disturbed
as little as possible while transplanting.
Soil should be well worked and kept
moist, pH of 6.0-6.8. Location should be
sheltered from wind. Cucumbers are
shallow rooting so it is best to mulch to
keep the soil moist. Extended periods of
cold weather followed by bright sun will
cause sudden wilt. Pickling variety. Plant
outside only when all danger of frost is
past and the soil is warm. If starting
indoors, take particular care not to
disturb the root system when
transplanting.
C u c u m b e r S p a r t a n D aw n
101247
6 x 2 1/2" blocky, medium green, black
spined, high yielder.. Pickling variety.
Earliest of pickles. Plant outside only
when all danger of frost is past and the
soil is warm. If starting indoors, take
particular care not to disturb the root
system when transplanting.
Cucumber Straight Eight
101250
8"(20 cm) long, medium green, very
uniform fruit, white spined. Very juicy
white flesh. Small seeds. Very popular!
Slicing variety. Plant outside only when
all danger of frost is past and the soil is
warm. If starting indoors, take particular
care not to disturb the root system when
transplanting.
101
V E G E T A B L E S
— EGG PLANT —
botanical: Solanum melongena
Egg Plants like hot weather and should
be planted in the sunniest spot in your
garden. They like a rich soil with ample
humus; pH 5.5-6.5. Seed should be started
indoors. Sow 0.25" (6mm) deep in a seed
bed with good drainage. Seed bed should
be kept warm and moist during
germination. When 2" (5cm) high thin or
transplant to 3" (8cm). When weather
and soil are thoroughly warmed, set in
garden spacing about 18-24" (40-60 cm)
apart in rows 2.5 ft (75cm) apart. It is best
to transplant on a shady day, water well
and shelter from the sun for a few days.
During dry weather should have deep
soakings at intervals to keep foliage from
wilting.Plant near peppers or beans. The
colorado potato beetle is a common pest
for eggplants.
Nutritional Facts: Eggplant is not very
nutritious on its own. It has hardly any
vitamins and a little protein, but
everyone who has tried eggplant stuffed,
or in casseroles is very enthusiastic about
this most delicious and versatile
vegetable.
E gg P l a n t B l a ck B e a u t y
121942
Heat Lover
Oval shaped, dark purple, 15 X 13 cm.
Large bush type of plant has a glossy
black skin. Tender perennial, grown as
annual. Start indoors 7-8 weeks before
last frost date. Days to maturity are from
the time you plant the seedlings
outdoors. This is after all danger of cool
nights is past and the temperature will
not go below the 7C (45F).
— ENDIVE —
aka: Escarole
botanical: Chichorium endivia
E n d i v e F u l l H e a r t B a t av i a n
101263
Escarole has dark green, slightly crumpled
leaves that are not curly. This is a very
popular salad vegetable in Europe which
has an increased popularity in America.
Escarole is the name for the endive type
that have leaves broad, coarse and
crumpled. Plant type is medium large, it
has deep hearted inner leaves - the other
102
type of endive is called curly endive.
Endive is easy to grow and should be
grown like lettuce. pH 6.5-7.0. Moisture
retaining well drained soil. Rich in
vitamins A and C. Plant direct or start
indoors.
— KOHL RABI —
botanical: Brassica oleracea
Cold-weather crop that likes rich moist
soil; pH 6.5-7.0. Keep well watered.Plant
near beets, lettuce, onions but not near
tomatoes or beans.Delicious raw with a
veggie dip. Cook like you would a turnip.
Taste raw resembles water chestnuts.
Nutritional Facts: A Brassica. The Kohlrabi
is similar to red cabbage in vitamin and
mineral content.
Ko h l R a b i E a r ly W h i t e
101367
8-10 x 2" round, creamy globe. White
flesh with light green skin. Sow outdoors
as soon as soil can be worked.
— LEEK —
botanical: Allium porrum
Nutritional Facts: Leek is just as nutritious
as the onion; it is a very healthy food. It is
low in fat and has been credited with
lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, and
preventing blood clots. When eaten
green, Leek is high in vitamin A.
L e e k M o n s t ro u s C a r e n t a n
101375
Start Very Early!
Hardy and vigorous. Side: 8 X 1". A
relative to the onion, Leek is easy to
grow, cold tolerant. It is slow growing so
to get an early crop, seed should be
started indoors. When 4-5" tall,
transplant to a trench 6" deep and 6"
across. Gradually fill trench as plants
grow, surrounding stems with soil. This
blanches the stem providing better flavor.
Does best in a sunny location with deep,
well drained, loam soil (ph 6.0-6.8). They
do not grow on soils with a pH below
6.0. Leek needs even moisture
throughout the growing season and a
lack of moisture will give a lesser quality
leek. Plant near celery, carrots, celeriac,
onions but not near peas nor beans. Leek
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
V E G E T A B L E S
seems to help to lower the blood
pressure. Delicious cooked vegetable and
excellent for flavoring soups and stews.
Native to Eastern Mediterranean. Start
indoors in March and plant outdoors in
late April or early May.
— LETTUCE —
127511
A unique, little, mini romaine is unlike any
variety of lettuce! Its dark green, shiny
leaves enclose a creamy blanched heart.
The sweet flavour and crispy texture are
very inviting in salads and a perfect size
for sandwiches or hamburgers. Baby Star
is low in calories, high in fiber and
contains bioflavoroids. Plant directly into
garden once danger of frost has passed.
Sow in late summer for a fall crop.
101383
A Head Lettuce. Compact, dark green.
Loose heads of crumpled leaves which are
very soft and buttery. Sow directly into
the garden.
Lettuce Cos or Romaine
aka: Butterhead or Boston
botanical: Lactuca sativa
Lettuce is a cold weather plant and likes
to be planted in a moist, well-drained soil
(pH 6.0-7.0) as soon as ground can be
worked in the spring. For an early crop
start indoors 4-5 weeks before last frost.
Should have full sun in spring and fall
and partial shade during the hottest part
of summer. Keep soil moist without
wetting foliage any more than necessary.
For early harvest you also can plant
lettuce seeds in late fall. McKenzie offers
two distinct types of lettuce, Leaf Lettuce
and Head Lettuce. Head lettuce forms a
solid mass of tightly compressed leaves. It
should be harvested when the heads are
solid and before any sign of seed stock
development is seen. There are 3 types of
Head lettuce: 1) Crisphead sometimes
called iceberg. This is a firm lettuce with
big tight heads. 2) Butterhead is loose
heads of crumpled leaves which are very
soft and buttery. 3) Cos or Romaine
lettuce is erect cylindrical heads, outer
green, inner is whitish.Plant near beets,
carrots, radishes, kohl rabi, strawberry,
cabbage, onion, basil or cucumber.Makes
a wonderful and healthy border.
Nutritional Facts: Cos and Leaf are high in
vitamin A, C, folacin, beta carotene, iron,
and calcium. Crisphead is the lowest.
L e t t u c e B a by S t a r
Mini Romaine
L e t t u c e B u t t e rc r u n ch
101388
Romaine types of Head Lettuce grow
taller. Medium green, slightly sanoyed.
Erect, cylindrical head, outer green, inner
is whitish. Romaine is a very high quality
lettuce that develops elongated heads of
long ribbed leaves. The dark green outer
leaves are coarse in appearance with light
green inner leaves. Sow directly into the
garden.
L e t t u c e E a r ly G r e a t L a k e s
101405
A Head Lettuce. Round, medium large,
brittle, heavy, tightly folded, bright green
leaves with cream inner core. Sow directly
into the garden.
L e t t u c e I c e b e rg
101419
A Head Lettuce. Tall, round, medium
green. Sow directly into the garden.
L e t t u c e R e d B u t t e r wo r t h
122518
A French gourmet butterhead lettuce.
Soft, sweet tasting leaves are green,
overlaid with reddish bronze on firm
heads. Slow-bolting. Black seeded. A
delicacy in any salad. Ideal as a garnish.
Lettuce Summertime
101378
This may be the best head lettuce for the
home gardener. This iceberg type is a
crisphead lettuce. Heat-tolerant and slow
bolting. This variety is resistant to tipburn
and rib discolorations. Compact, mature
heads are solid and slow to become
bitter. Harvest the heads before the hot
weather or the heads may become mushy
in the center. Cool weather crop. Moist,
well-drained soil is best for all types of
lettuce. Sow directly into the garden.
103
V E G E T A B L E S
— LETTUCE - LEAFY —
aka: Leaf Lettuce
botanical: Lactuca sativa
Leaf Lettuce forms loose open clusters of
leaves, can be harvested at any stage of
growth, and is very easy to grow. Lettuce
is a cold weather plant and likes to be
planted in a moist, well-drained soil (pH
6.0-7.0) as soon as ground can be worked
in the spring. For an early crop start
indoors 4-5 weeks before last frost.
Should have full sun in spring and full
and partial shade during the hottest part
of summer. Keep soil moist without
wetting foliage any more than necessary.
For early harvest you also can plant
lettuce seeds in late fall.
L e t t u c e E a r ly C u r l e d
101392
A Leaf Lettuce. Large, compact, light
green. The leaves are variable in shape,
margin and colour. The leaves will form a
compact rosette. Sow directly into the
garden or container.
Lettuce Grand Rapids
101393
A Leaf Lettuce. Medium large upright,
light green. Sow directly into the garden
or container.
Lettuce Prizehead
101410
A Leaf Lettuce. Large upright, light
green. Broad, crumpled leaf type. Sow
directly into the garden or container.
— MESCLUN —
Annual
botanical: various
M e s cl u n
101428
Green Vegetable Mixture
Mesclun is a blend of lettuces and leafy
greens including chicory, endive parsley,
basil, and spinach. Harvest when young
and crisp. Prefers rich loamy soil and cool
mild weather with a minimum of
afternoon shade. Mesclun can be grown
in containers. Low in calories and highly
nutritious, Mesclun makes a healthy
104
salad. It is noted for its combination of
flavours, colours and textures. Serve with
light vinegrette dressing to complement
the natural flavour. Plant direct or start
indoors.
— ONION —
botanical: Allium cepa
Onions are easy to grow. For larger
onions at harvest time start your seeds
indoors in flats and transplant in early
spring. Otherwise, plant as early in spring
as ground can be worked. Onions require
fertile, well-drained, non-crusting soil (pH
6.0-6.8) which has been thoroughly tilled.
They do not thrive in soils with a pH
below 6.0. Exposure to full sun is
necessary. Light and air are required to
develop properly. Onions are shallow
rooted and a well drained moistureretaining soil is very important.Plant near
beets, tomatoes, cabbage, leeks, any
herbs, carrots, strawberries, parsnip or
turnip but not near beans, peas nor
asparagus.For some reason it is difficult
to find a child who will admit to liking
Onions. By the time we are adults,
however, Onions have become our
favorite, raw, cooked and as an
important flavoring herb. Onions are
used world-wide in salads, meat dishes,
soups, pickles and sandwiches.
Nutritional Facts: These bulbs are so
widely grown as vegetables that we
forget to give them credit for their
healing powers. Onion paste is said to
prevent infections in wounds and burns.
They can clear bronchial congestion. One
medium onion will provide you with 1/5
of your daily Vitamin C requirements plus
some folic acid, fiber, vitamin B6, thiamin
and calcium. The sulfer in onions reduces
cholesterol and lowers blood pressure.
The adenosine in onions will help to
prevent blood clots.
O n i o n Ye l l ow S w e e t S p a n i s h 1 0 1 4 5 2
Mild Globe shape, yellow. Popular
because of large size and mild flavor.
Remain very solid in storage. Plant direct
or start indoors.
— ONION - BUNCHING —
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
V E G E T A B L E S
botanical: Allium cepa
For larger onions at harvest time start
your seeds indoors in flats and transplant
in early spring. Otherwise, plant as early
in spring as ground can be worked.
Onions require fertile, well-drained, noncrusting soil (pH 6.0-6.8) which has been
thoroughly tilled. They do not thrive in
soils with a pH below 6.0. Exposure to full
sun is necessary. Light and air are
required to develop properly. Onions are
shallow rooted and a well drained
moisture-retaining soil is very important.
O n i o n A n nu a l B u n ch i n g
101436
Most popular strain for bunching. Mild
and sweet. Good for pickling. Plant direct
or start indoors.
O n i o n R e d B a ro n
122519
Red Baron is a great tasting red bunching
onion (scallions) which can be grown out
as a mature, deep red storing onion for
use as scallions. For storage onions, the
seed can be sown in early spring. For
summer use, seed in June or early July for
late summer and fall crops. A vigorous
upright grower, delicious in salads.
— PARSLEY - ROOTED —
Annual
botanical: Petroselinum crispum
More Parsley in Herbs!
Pa rs l ey H a m bu rg R o o t e d
101462
6-8"(15-20) cm long, 2-5" in diameter.
White flesh roots. Grows like a carrot.
Excellent for stews and soups. Sow
directly into the garden.
— PARSNIP —
botanical: Pastinaca sativa
Nutritional Facts: A good source of
Vitamin C.
Pa rs n i p H o l l ow C row n
101477
12 inches long with a 2 inch crown,
Parsnip Hollow Crown is well tapered
white long and smooth. Easy to grow,
like carrots. Mix some radish seeds with
the parsnips. Radish is fast growing and
will shield the young parsnip seedlings
from drying out. Heavy yielder. This root
vegetable takes 4 months to mature.
Frost enhances its sweet delicate nut-like
flavour. Does best in rich loamy soil which
has been well cultivated; pH 6.5-7.0. Soil
preparation should be done the same as
it would be for carrots: dig deeply and
use light soil. Soak seed in lukewarm
water for 24 hours to shorten the three
week germination time. Keep soil moist
during germination. Plant near beans,
peppers, potatoes, peas, radish, onions,
garlic but not near carrots nor celery.
Delicious raw when young and tender.
Also a great addition to vegetable dishes
and in soups and stews. Believed to be
native to Eastern Mediterranean area. In
Roman times, parsnip was prized for
medicinal use as well as for food. It was
being grown in North America by the
17th century. Sow outdoors in early
spring.
— PEA —
botanical: Pisum sativum
Fresh, Frozen, Canned or Dried Peas can
be planted as soon as the snow is off the
soil. Peas are legumes, nitrogen fixers
that add important nutrients to your
garden. Rotate the location of your peas
to places where you have had potatoes in
past years and your soil will be
rejuvenated. pH 7.0. Peas are the star
performers in most gardens. They come
up quickly and give a high yield of
quality food. Most peas grow as a small
climbing bush. They like to be planted in
close proximity to one another. This
provides shade for the root and mutual
support for climbing. Some taller varieties
may need additional support and there
are a great many popular methods of
planting and supporting Peas that can
make harvest very easy. McKenzie offers
garden Peas in three groups: Snow Peas,
English Garden Peas and Snap Peas.
English Garden varieties are traditional,
tried and tested. The pods of English
Garden varieties will grow thick to
protect peas which have been developed
for superior flavor and larger size. This is
a cold weather plant. Pods usually will
produce about eight peas.Plant near
radish, carrots, cucumbers, corn, beans,
turnip, celery or potatoes but not near
onion nor gladiolus.Fresh young peas are
enjoyed off the vine by children and
105
V E G E T A B L E S
blackbirds alike. Cover your peas with a
netting or build a decorative scare crow if
you have problems with birds.Peas are a
pleasure fresh, steamed with butter or
mixed with other vegetables. All Peas are
suitable for drying. They will store
indefinitely in the dried form and will
make a filling and nutritious addition to
soups and stews.
Nutritional Facts: Peas are high in protein
and are an excellent source of iron. The
nutritional value of the garden pea is
related to its maturity. The contents of
calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium and
potassium increases substantially with
ripening while vitamins A & C decline
with ripening of the seed. Peas can lower
blood cholesterol and help to control
blood sugar.
Pe a A l a s k a
101485
A Bush Variety that will Climb too!
One of the earliest varieties. Very heavy
producer. Average 2.5 in.(6 cm) pods are
filled with 6-8 sweet peas. Disease and
wilt resistant. Pods are light green in
color. Vines are packed with full pods.
Well-drained reasonably fertile soil is
preferred. Need sun, but for second
sowing, use a cooler north facing slope.
Perfect for canning because it ripens
uniformly. Perfect for table use since it
matures early before hot temperatures.
Good for freezing, canning, and drying
like split peas. Pea Alaska has been reintroduced as a high performing hybrid.
It's parent strain was one of McKenzie's
original garden pea varieties and was
very popular around the turn of the
century. Plant directly into the garden
early, as soon as the ground can be
worked.
Pe a G r e e n A r row
per pod. It is an all purpose pea that
grows under a wide range of conditions.
Sow outdoors, directly in garden.
Pe a L i n c o l n H o m e s t e a d e r
3 1/2" long, green pods. Very sweet peas.
An old favorite variety! Sow outdoors,
directly in garden.
Pe a L i t t l e M a r v e l
Medium green pods. Dwarf type. High
quality and yield. Sow outdoors, directly
in garden.
120619
Pe a M r. B i g
High yielding variety of giant dark green
pods 10-12.5cm (4-5") with 9-10 delicious
sweet tasting peas per pod. The large
strong vines do not need any support. Mr.
Big Pea has an excellent resistance to race
1 fusarium wilt. Year 2000 All American
Selections Winner. Will Sow Approx. 17'
row. Produces giant pods. A light
application of nitrogen will increase yields.
Pe a Ta l l Te l e p h o n e
101513
A Climbing Variety
4 1/2-5" oval, dark green pods. High
quality pea! Sow outdoors, directly in
garden.
101488
A Bush Variety. 4" long, bright green
pods, superbly sweet. 9-11 peas per pod.
Sow outdoors, directly in garden.
101492
A Climbing Variety
4 1/2" long, medium green pods. 7-9 peas
106
101507
A Bush Variety
A Bush Variety
Pe a L a x t o n P ro g r e s s
101497
A Climbing Variety
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
V E G E T A B L E S
S n ow Pe a S n ow f l a k e
101525
Stir Fry Crisp pods with a delicate
succulent taste. Very easy to grow. Well
drained fertile soil is best. Do not grow
with onions, garlic or glads. The perfect
addition for all stir-fry cooking and a
terrific accompaniment to fresh salads. If
peas become too mature to be used as a
snow type, shell the peas for use as a
garden type pea. Plant directly into the
garden early, as soon as the ground can
be worked.
— PEA - SNAP TYPES —
aka: Snow Pea
botanical: Pisum sativum
Snap Peas are a fairly recent innovation
in gardening. Introduced in 1979, Snap
Pea is a combination of garden and snow
peas.The pod of Snap Peas is thick and
juicy and deliciously edible. They should
be harvested when the Peas are tiny for
stir-fries and garnishes. Later the full
sized peas taste sweet and crisp and can
be eaten in the same fashion as English
Garden varieties.
Pe a E d i bl e Po dd e d S n ow
101510
A Climbing Variety
Slender edible pods must be eaten when
pods are still flat otherwise they grow as
a garden pea but do not taste as good.
Light green. Sow outdoors, directly in
garden.
Pe a S u g a r A n n
101520
Edible Pod
Medium green, very sweet with large,
fleshy pods. It is a bush snow pea. Sow
outdoors, directly in garden.
Pe a S u g a r S n a p
101512
Edible Pod! - A Climbing Variety.
Medium green, sweet. Very tall plant.
Sow outdoors, directly in garden.
— PEPPER - HOT —
botanical: Capsicum annum
Growing Popularity Peppers are warmth
loving vegetables so the seed should be
started indoors about eight weeks before
the date of the last frost. They do best in
warm, sandy soil; pH 6.0-6.5. Location
should be sunny, sheltered from wind,
and soil kept reasonably moist. Be sure to
harden off the seedlings otherwise the
plant will get a stress set back. Pepper
plants have dark green smooth shiny
leaves. They grow a sturdy central stem
that will support the peppers as they
mature. The fruit of all pepper plants
grows to full size as a green pepper.
When it matures it will change colour
(usually to red). It will also change colour
off the vine. McKenzie offers both Sweet
and Hot peppers. Pepper is a tender
perennial which can be grown as an
annual.Plant near tomatoes, eggplant,
onions, carrots or parsnip.Many hot
pepper plants have a dainty profile and
decorative fruit.The surge in popularity
of spicy tropical foods has boosted the
popularity of Hot Peppers in the garden.
Chilies and Jalapeños are essential for
salsa, curry, nachos and many other
modern recipes. Hot Peppers store nicely
dried and can then be used for spicing up
pizza, sauces and Mexican food. They
make beautiful and delicious pickles.
Nutritional Facts: Red peppers are high in
beta carotene.
Pe p p e r H y b r i d S u p e r C h i l i
101548
HOT!
A.A.S. winner. Green to red. Tapered to a
blunt end. 6 X 1 cm. Hot. Colourful
peppers ripen from medium green to
orange to red. Peppers can be used fresh
or dried. Start indoors for earlier fruit.
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V E G E T A B L E S
Pe p p e r J a l a p e n o J a l a p a Hybrid
Pe p p e r R e d B e l l
101550
HOT!
Hybrid. Medium green to red. Cylindrical.
Blunt end, 2 X 3 cm. Hot. Start indoors
for earlier fruit.
— PEPPER - SWEET —
aka: Capsicum or Bell Pepper
botanical: Capsicum annuum
Most pepper plants do not have a large
nor spreading growth habit so they make
great container plants. Many of the
smaller peppers can be brought indoors
in the fall. Their peppers will turn red on
the vine offering a beautiful fall
decoration for your home. Sweet Peppers
are enjoyed raw, in stir fries, in casseroles
and offer an important flavour to many
meat and fish dishes.
Nutritional Facts: Sweet (and Hot!)
Peppers are often overlooked for their
nutritional value. They are extremely
high in vitamin C, having even more than
a citrus fruit. Red peppers are high in
beta carotene.
Pe p p e r E a r ly C a l i fo r n i a
Wo n d e r
Medium green to red. 8 X 10 cm fruit.
Bell-shaped. Start indoors for earlier fruit.
Pe p p e r F i s h
124974
An African American heirloom variety.
Beautiful green and white variegated
foliage proceeded by pendant fruits 68cm (2-3"). Peppers ripen from cream
with green stripes to orange with brown
to all red. Terrific in salsa, this variety is
comparable to a jalapeno. Very hot! Start
seeds indoors 8 weeks before last frost.
Sow seeds directly into 4" pots.
— PUMPKIN —
botanical: Cucurbita pepo
Easy to grow. Grows best in soil with pH
5.5 to 7.5. Keep well drained soil moist.
Plant near corn, eggplant, radish but not
near potatoes. Pumpkins are excellent for
canning, for pies, and for soup. The seeds
are enjoyed as a tasty and nutritious
snack. Everybody loves Pumpkins; the
symbol of Halloween.
101533
Pumpkin Dill's Atlantic Giant PVP 101566
Sweet
Green to red. 10 X 10 cm fruit bellshaped. Big, excellent stuffing pepper!
Start indoors for earlier fruit.
Pe p p e r M i n i B e l l M i xe d
128581
Short and stocky 16" plants covered with
sweet 2" fruits that have 2-3 lobes,
excellent fresh flavor. Ripen from green
to chocolate, or to red, or to yellow
depending upon the variety. Delicious!
90 days from transplant. Once all danger
of frost has passed, harden off the
seedlings prior to transplanting to the
garden.
This grand-daddy of pumpkins can grow
45-225 kg (100-500 lb)! The record for
this variety is over 600 pounds. Start the
seed indoors 2-4 weeks before the last
frost then set them out when the ground
is thoroughly warm, or sow the seeds
directly in the ground after the danger of
GARDENING TIP
Pinch off all the leaves of swiss chard,
spinach and leaf lettuce about every
two weeks. The leaves will regrow and
you can enjoy the vegetables all season
without replanting.
Mildred Kerber, Saskatoon SK
108
101527
Sweet
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
V E G E T A B L E S
frost has passed. When the fruit sets,
prune the fruits until only one or two are
left. Water frequently and add fertilizer
occasionally to aid its growth. When fully
matured, cut the pumpkin off the vine,
leaving a portion of the stem attached to
use as a handle.
P u m p k i n J a ck O ' l a n t e r n
101556
Medium orange flesh. Good carver. Size:
28 X 36" circumference. 10 lbs round to
elongated meaty, sweet. Sow outdoors
when frost danger past and soil is warm.
Pumpkin Small Sugar
101562
Orange flesh. Sweet taste. 6-8 " in
diameter. Small Pumpkins are also
enjoyed as decorative centre pieces during
the fall. The perfect size for two big pies.
Pumpkin freezes very well. Sow outdoors
when frost danger past and soil is warm.
— RADISH —
101568
Round, bright red .75 inch. Resembles a
cherry. Crisp and delicious. Sow directly
into the garden.
101567
Perfect globe, crimson with solid white
flesh. 1.5 inch. White flesh. Firm, crisp,
and mild, grows without getting hollow.
Sow directly into the garden.
R a d i s h F r e n ch B r e a k f a s t
101583
Oblong. 1.3 inch. Scarlet root with white
tip. Crisp and mild. Sow directly into the
garden.
Radish Scarlet Globe
101586
Olive shaped. 1 inch. Medium size. Crisp,
tasty. Good for forcing. Sow directly into
the garden.
Radish Sparkler White Tip
101589
Almost round. 1.75 inch. Snappy flavour.
Does not get hollow. Sow directly into
the garden.
R a d i s h W h i t e I c i cl e
botanical: Raphanus sativus
The radish is easy to grow and quick to
mature. Grows best in cool weather; will
not tolerate extreme heat or drought.
Prefers full sunlight. Will grow in most
types of soil; prefers pH 6.0-7.0. For best
tasting results keep soil moist. Radishes
are the quickest growing root crop. They
come in a great many shapes and colors.
Most radishes have a crispy white texture
and an edible thin Red skin but some
varieties are white or even black! The
radish has a reputation for being hot but
some in fact are very mild. The variety,
the soil conditions, and the maturity of
the Radish can all affect its flavor. Plant
near peas, beans, lettuce, nasturtiums,
cucumbers, carrots, parsnips or chervil.In
Canada, radishes are usually eaten raw in
salads or as a garnish. Varieties of radish
that are used in cooking (see Daikon
under Radish-Oriental) have recently
been introduced by McKenzie.
Nutritional Facts: A good source of
Vitamin C.
Radish Cherry Belle
Radish Crimson Giant
101596
Long and slender. 5.5 X 1 inch. Crisp,
tender, mild and sweet. Sow directly into
the garden.
— SPINACH —
botanical: Spinacia oleracea
Easy to grow. Best results are obtained in
good, rich, well-drained garden soil; pH
6.0-7.5. A cool weather vegetable. Best
growth occurs in spring and fall.
Intolerant of hot weather, it requires
plenty of moisture. Plant near corn or
nasturtiums but not near potatoes.
Spinach is native to Iran and surrounding
areas. 14th century English cookbooks
contained spinach recipes. It was brought
to America by early colonists.
Nutritional Facts: Rich in Iron, beta
carotene, folacin, protein and other
minerals and vitamins.
S p i n a ch K i n g o f D e n m a r k
101611
Leaves are dark green, large, broad and
rounded, with a slightly crumpled look.
The plant has a spreading habit. Feed
with a high nitrogen fertilizer. Sow
outdoors as soon as ground can be
worked.
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V E G E T A B L E S
S p i n a ch L o n g S t a n d i n g
Bloomsdale
S q u a s h S u n bu rs t H y b r i d
101606
Slow to bolt and go to seed. Glossy dark
green, thick textured, very crinkled.
Heavy yields. Sow outdoors as soon as
ground can be worked.
S p i n a ch R e g a l
130125
A slow bolting variety well suited for
dense planting. Resistant to downy
mildew. Regal’s fresh erect young leaves
makes it a perfect choice for baby leaf
spinach salad.
— SPINACH - TETRAGONA —
Perennial
aka: Tetragona, Perennial Spinach.
botanical: Tetragonia tetragonoides
Best results are obtained in good, rich,
well-drained garden soil; pH 6.0-7.5. A
cool weather vegetable. Best growth
occurs in spring and fall. Intolerant of hot
weather, it requires plenty of
moisture.Plant near corn or nasturtiums
but not near potatoes.Spinach is native to
Iran and surrounding areas. 14th century
English cookbooks contained spinach
recipes. It was brought to America by
early colonists. Nutritional Facts: Rich in
Iron, beta carotene, folacin, protein and
other minerals and vitamins.
— SQUASH —
127513
This hybrid summer scallop squash is fast
growing producing an abundance of
young, tender 1-3" (2.5-7.5cm) fruits,
summer through fall. Unique bright
yellow with a dark sunburst pattern at
both ends. Interior flesh is creamy white
and tender with an extremely tasty mild
and buttery flavour. An excellent source
of vitamin C. Compact bush type plants
allow for easy picking. Generous
watering is required if the weather is dry.
Plant 5-6 seeds/hill, then thin to best 3.
S q u a s h Z u c ch i n i D a r k
101637
Summer Variety
Straight. 15-18 cm. Sow directly into the
garden.
— SQUASH - WINTER —
botanical: Cucurbita maxima
Winter Squash (species maxima) has more
flavor than Summer Squash (species
pepo). They have hard thick shells and
should be left on the vine until fully
ripe.Stores well.
Nutritional Facts: Winter types are a good
source of vitamin A and beta carotene.
S q u a s h B u t t e rc u p
101623
Winter Variety Turban Shaped
Dark green stripes, orange flesh. 4 X 6".
Sow directly into the garden.
Nutritional Facts: Squashes are always an
excellent source of vitamin C and beta
carotene. The flowers are high in
potassium.
— SQUASH - SUMMER —
botanical: Cucurbita maxima
Squash will grow easily and will produce
abundant food for the space. Soil should
be rich and well drained; pH 5.5-7.5.
Generous watering is required if the
weather is dry. Summer Squash is fast
growing producing an abundance
of thin-skinned fruits. Summer
squash will give young tender
fruits summer through fall. Plant
near corn or nasturtiums but not
near potatoes.Squash is usually
cooked. It has a place in baking,
in stir fry, in stews, in casseroles
and in pickles.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
110
V E G E T A B L E S
S q u a s h B u t t e r nu t
101624
S w i s s C h a rd B r i g h t L i g h t s
101654
Winter Variety
All America Selections Winner!
Bottle shaped. Creamy brown. Orange
yellow flesh. 5 X 12". Sow directly into
the garden.
Bright Lights offers a brilliant rainbow of
colour! Plant stems can be yellow, gold,
orange, pink, violet, or variegated, in
addition to the standard red or white.
Easy to grow. A great ornamental plant.
Offers a milder chard flavour. Sow in the
spring. Harvest can begin 4-5 weeks after
planting for young salad greens. Pick
young or mature leaves just above the
soil line so that plants can grow back for
multiple harvests.
S q u a s h Ta bl e Q u e e n
101629
Winter Variety
Smooth thin shelled. Light yellow flesh.
4.5 X 5". Looks like a large dark green
acorn with a hard shell with pointed
blossom end. Sow directly into the
garden.
— STRAWBERRY SPINACH —
botanical: Chenopodium capitatum
S t r aw b e r r y S p i n a ch
127499
A remarkable plant that grows delicious
berries and tasty spinach-like-leaves in
one! Very showy and compact plants are
grown for their nutritious triangular
tooth leaves and tender shoots used in
salads or steamed. Shiny mulberry-like
fruits are edible, can be added to salads
or used for drying. Re-seeds year-afteryear.
— SWEDE TURNIP —
aka: Rutabaga
botanical: Brassica napus
S w e d e Tu r n i p L a u r e n t i a n
Globe
101648
Cream yellow flesh. 5-6"(15-18 cm)
diameter. Cold-weather crop that likes
deep, rich, well-drained, moisture
retaining soil; pH 6.0-7.0. Avoid planting
turnips near potatoes. Closely related to
Turnips but they are longer, smoother
and full of vitamin A. Sow outdoors as
soon as ground can be worked in spring.
— SWISS CHARD —
botanical: Beta vulgaris var. cicla
If you have problems growing Spinach,
try Swiss Chard. It tolerates summer
temperatures that makes spinach bolt to
seed. Sunny location with rich, welldrained fertile soil; pH 6.0 to 7.0. Should
be watered generously during dry
Nutritional Facts: High in iron and
vitamins.
S w i s s C h a rd D i s c ov e r y
130126
A premium baby leaf and bunching swiss
chard. Distinctly pleasant flavour,
Delicious in salads, quiche, and steamed
with butter.
S w i s s C h a rd F o rd h o o k
101655
Broad dark green leaves on thick broad
white stems. Both stalks and leaves
edible. Delicious in salads, in quiche, and
steamed with butter. Freezes well. Sow
outdoors in spring as soon as frost
danger past.
S w i s s C h a rd R h u b a r b
101667
This chard variety looks like rhubarb with
bright crimson stalks and dark green
leaves. Grows well in containers. Iron and
vitamin rich. It is delicious. Leaves and
stalks are tasty in salads and as cooked
greens. It is also great for freezing. Sow
outdoors in spring as soon as frost
danger past. It can be harvested all
season long by cutting the outer leaves
for use and allowing the inner leaves to
continue to grow.
— TOMATO —
botanical: Lycopersicon lycopersicum
Tomato seed should be started indoors
and the plants must be planted outdoors
as soon as danger of frost is past.
Tomatoes are extremely sensitive to cold.
Move to garden after the night
temperature is expected to remain above
15 C (60 F). Some gardeners have success
seeding outdoors in warm soil. Tomatoes
do well in any deep well drained soil with
111
V E G E T A B L E S
pH 5.5-7.5. It is a deep rooting, heat
loving plant. Most tomatoes will thrive in
a greenhouse environment as long as
pollination occurs. To encourage
pollination of "hot-house" tomatoes,
gently shake the plants (ideally, around
noon) to simulate a breeze. The most
common problem with tomatoes is
known as blossom end rot. The cause of
blossom end rot is a calcium deficiency
and drought. The symptoms are light tan
lesions turning to dark brown sunken
areas at the blossom end of the fruit. The
lesions enlarge and become more sunken
accompanied by dry rot. Normally fruit
that are about half developed are the
first to show the symptoms. Blossom end
rot occurs during periods of luxuriant
growth and during periods of alternately
high and low soil moisture. Soil that is
affecting the uptake of calcium may
result in blossom end rot. Other causes
include excessive soil salinity and root
damage. To control blossom end rot use
an application of lime or calcium fertilizer
and irrigate during dry weather or apply
mulch to provide a constant moisture
supply. Do not give too much nitrogen
especially the nitrogen fertilizer in the
ammonium form since this increases the
demand for calcium by the plant and
reduces the availability of calcium in the
soil. Do not plant tomatoes on spots
which are difficult to irrigate. Plant near
asparagus, pepper, celery, onions, carrots,
cucumbers, basil, parsley, chives,
marigolds or nasturtiums but not near
dill, potatoes, cabbage or kohl rabi.
Tomatoes top the list of useful
vegetables. All varieties, particularly the
Cherry Tomatoes are great for tossed
salad. The big slicers like Beefsteak make
a great sandwich, toasted or plain.
Tomatoes are very important for sauces,
soups and meat dishes. They can be
preserved by canning and freezing and in
recent years, dehydrated tomatoes have
become very popular.
Nutritional Facts: Tomatoes are high in
Vitamin A and C. Although levels of both
are effected by environment vitamin C is
not as high in fruit from shaded plants as
those in strong sun light. Like carrots,
112
tomatoes are another good source of
beta carotene. They are a highly
nutritious low-calorie food.
To m a t o B i g B e e f
101721
Bush Variety
High yielder. An indeterminant variety.
For all climates. Deep well drained soil is
best. Use borage as a companion plant to
attract bees for early pollination. Rich
flavor combined with large size. Start
seed indoors 8 weeks before planting
outside. Transplant when all danger of
frost is past. When transplanting out,
bury the stem of the tomato up to the
2nd or 3rd set of true leaves-this aids in
deep root development. Eliminate
blossom end rot problems by deep
watering the plants so that the root
system will be less effected by
fluctuations in soil moisture.
To m a t o B r a n dy w i n e R e d
127514
A ‘Heirloom’ variety that is well known
for its size and excellent flavour! Deep
red, very large size fruits can weigh up to
900 grams (2 lbs )! Rich sweet flavour is
great for salads, canning, soups and
sandwiches. Plant seedlings outdoors
once all danger of frost has passed and
soil has warmed. Deep, well drained soil
is best. Inderterminate.
To m a t o B u s h B e e f s t e a k
101681
Large! Bush Variety
12 oz. deep oblate fruit; a slightly
flattened globe shape. Red. Start seed
indoors 8 weeks before planting outside.
Transplant when all danger of frost is
past. When transplanting out, bury the
stem of the tomato up to the 2nd or 3rd
set of true leaves-this aids in deep root
development.
To m a t o C h r i s t m a s G r a p e
127515
Bright, scarlet, 2.5 cm (1") grape-like
fruits. Super productive plants bear loads
of huge clusters, 10-20 fruits per cluster!
Their sweet rich flavour is satisfying in
salads or straight from the vine.
Excellent keeper. Plant seedlings outdoors
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
V E G E T A B L E S
once all danger of frost has passed and
soil has warmed. Deep, well drained soil
is best. Indeterminate.
To m a t o C h e r r y R o m a
128748
Incredibly heavy set of 1" long plumshaped fruits. Addictive sweet-spicy
flavor, great fresh or dried. Fruits hold
well for extended periods. Similar in
appearance to grocery store grape
tomatoes. Indeterminate. Plant seedlings
outdoors once all danger of frost has
passed and soil has warmed. Deep, well
drained soil is best. Harden off the
seedlings prior to transplanting.
To m a t o E a r ly G i r l
101692
Early Girl is a medium size tomato, and
one of the earliest slicing tomatoes for
home gardeners. It is a very popular red
115-170 gram (4-6 oz) globe-shaped
tomato. It will produce continuously until
frost. It is indeterminate and has good
disease resistance. Stake well and keep
well fed and watered. Requires full sun.
Start seed indoors 8 weeks before
planting outside. Transplant when all
danger of frost is past. When
transplanting out, bury the stem of the
tomato up to the 2nd or 3rd set of true
leaves-this aids in deep root
development.
To m a t o G o l d e n Q u e e n
125917
An eye-catching tomato with yellow-gold
color throughout and delicious flavour.
Fruits are round, do not crack and
become a size of 6 - 8 cm (2 1/2 - 3 3/4").
Excellent for canning, freezing, sauces
and novelty salsa! Indeterminate.
Staking required.
To m a t o H y b r i d E a r ly
101690
This is one of the most productive of all
tomatoes and it is a very early variety. It
produces pendant clusters of medium
sized 115 gram (4 oz) tasty, firm fruits. It
has a good disease resistance. Stake well
and keep well fed and watered. It
requires full sun. A very sweet tomato.
Start seed indoors 8 weeks before
planting outside. Transplant when all
danger of frost is past. When
transplanting out, bury the stem of the
tomato up to the 2nd or 3rd set of true
leaves-this aids in deep root
development.
To m a t o M a n i t o b a
101695
Juicy!!
This was a top performer in our 1995
seed trials. It is a very trustworthy early
variety that is excellent for the prairies.
Very juicy fruit that is bright red in
colour. Deep well-drained soil is best.
Mulch the soil in hot dry weather to
retain even soil moisture.Start seed
indoors 10 -12 weeks prior to last frost.
Eliminate blossom end rot problems by
deep watering the plants so that the root
system will be less affected by
fluctuations in soil moisture. When
transplanting, bury the stem of the
tomato up to the second or third set of
true leaves. This will aid in deep root
development.
GARDENING TIP
To help support young plants that have
just been transplanted in the garden,
put juice cans, pop bottles or bleach
bottles (with ends removed) over the
plants. This also helps to keep plants
warmer, moist and keeps animals from
tramping on tender young plants.
Remove cans when plants are strong
enough to support themselves.
Barbara Bordeleau, Blind River ON
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
113
V E G E T A B L E S
To m a t o P i n k Po n d e ro s a
101700
Tasty Staking Variety
5 oz. oblate fruit. Pink. Start seed indoors
8 weeks before planting outside.
Transplant when all danger of frost is
past. When transplanting out, bury the
stem of the tomato up to the 2nd or 3rd
set of true leaves-this aids in deep root
development.
To m a t o P u r p l e P r i n c e
101671
Produces tennis-ball sized fruit and turns a
deep reddish brown when ripe. Will set
fruit in cold weather. Stake well and keep
well fed and watered. Plant in full sun. Its
rich tomato flavour is hard to beat. Purple
Prince is a heritage tomato variety from
Siberia where it is a market favourite.
Start seed indoors 8 weeks before
planting outside. Transplant when all
danger of frost is past. When
transplanting out, bury the stem of the
tomato up to the 2nd or 3rd set of true
leaves-this aids in deep root development.
R a i n b ow B l e n d
130128
A sensational blend of assorted Heirloom
tomatoes, such as Black, Pink, Red,
Cherokee Purple, Green Zebra, White
Wonder and Nebraska Wedding - you
have an Heirloom pack that can’t be beat!
To m a t o R o m a V. F.
101702
For Sauces! - Bush Variety
3 oz. Pear-shaped fruit. Orange/red. Start
seed indoors 8 weeks before planting
outside. Transplant when all danger of
frost is past. When transplanting out,
bury the stem of the tomato up to the
2nd or 3rd set of true leaves-this aids in
deep root development.
To m a t o R o m a n C a n d l e
124975
This open pollinated variety offers
spectacular smooth iridescent yellow
fruits that are 5cm (2") wide and 10cm
(4") long. Very meaty with nice flavor.
One of the few pure yellow banana
shaped fruits available to gardeners. An
indeterminate variety that may require
staking.
114
To m a t o S p e ck l e d R o m a n
124976
A cross of two heirloom varieties
(Antique Roman and Banana Legs),
Speckled Roman produces gorgeous 8 x
12cm (3x5") fruit with jagged orange and
yellow stripes. This meaty tomato has a
great taste with few seeds. This very
productive indeterminate type may
require staking.
To m a t o S t a r f i r e I m p rov e d
101696
Early - Bush Variety
3 oz. globe fruit. Red. Start seed indoors
8 weeks before planting outside.
Transplant when all danger of frost is
past. When transplanting out, bury the
stem of the tomato up to the 2nd or 3rd
set of true leaves-this aids in deep root
development.
To m a t o S u b A rc t i c P l e n t y
101703
This variety matures early. It is an early
upright determinate tomato. It produces
bountiful yields of 42-85 gram (1-1.67 oz)
bright red tomatoes. Sub Arctic Plenty
was developed in Alberta for Prairie
climates. It will set fruit, even under cold
conditions. Stake well and keep well fed
and watered. Start seed indoors 8 weeks
before planting outside. Transplant when
all danger of frost is past. When
transplanting out, bury the stem of the
tomato up to the 2nd or 3rd set of true
leaves-this aids in deep root
development.
To m a t o S w e e t 1 0 0 H y b r i d
101705
Staking Variety
Less than 1 oz. fruit. Red. Sweet 100 will
climb as high as 10 feet if staked so will
provide a beautiful crop, right on your
patio. Start seed indoors 8 weeks before
planting outside. Transplant when all
danger of frost is past. When
transplanting out, bury the stem of the
tomato up to the 2nd or 3rd set of true
leaves-this aids in deep root
development.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
V E G E T A B L E S
To m a t o Ye l l ow Pe a r- S h a p e d
125918
A superb miniature 2.5-3cm (1 - 1 1/4")
pear-shaped yellow tomato with a
delightful sweet flavour. Excellent in
salads, preserves or eating fresh. Vigorous
vines bear profusely. Mid-early ripeness
until frost. Indeterminate. Staking
required.
— TOMATO - PATIO —
botanical: Lycopersicon lycopersicum
Small Space Options!
Tomato seed should be started indoors
and the plants must be planted outdoors
as soon as danger of frost is past.
Tomatoes are extremely sensitive to cold.
Move to the garden when night
temperature expected to remain above
15 C (60 F). Some gardeners have success
seeding outdoors in warm soil. Do well in
any deep well drained soil with pH 5.57.5. Tomato is a deep rooting plant. Patio
tomatoes grown indoors, or in a green
house should be gently shaken around
noon each day, during the blossom
period. This action simulates a breeze and
encourages pollination.Many tomatoes
make beautiful patio plants, particularly
the bush varieties that produce fruit
lighter than 5 oz.
To m a t o S w e e t C h e r r y H y b r i d 1 0 1 7 0 4
Staking Variety
Sweet Cherry produces an abundance of
globular cherry-type fruit with an
average weight of less than 28 g (1 oz.).
This high yielder is an indeterminate
variety, which means that the plant
grows tall and requires staking. Seeds
should be started indoors about 8 weeks
before setting out in the garden. Keep
the growing medium moist, but not wet
to promote healthy root development.
Needs less space than bushy type
varieties.
To m a t o T i ny T i m
101706
For Garnish! - Staking Variety
Less than 1 oz. fruit. Red. ASC, ST. Start
indoors for earlier fruit.
— TURNIP —
botanical: Brasicca rapa
Cold-weather crop that likes deep, rich,
well-drained, moisture retaining soil. If
you grow turnips for the greens, they do
not need thinning.Avoid planting turnips
near potatoes.Turnips store well for use
all winter. They are delicious raw with
vegetable dips. They can be served
boiled, either cubed or mashed, and
turnips add important flavor to poultry
and beef stews.
Nutritional Facts: A good source of
vitamin C.
115
V E G E T A B L E S
Tu r n i p E a r ly S n ow b a l l
101724
Sweet
Egg shaped. Cream white flesh with
white skin. Sweet. pH 5.5-7.0. Sow
outdoors as soon as ground can be
worked in spring.
Tu r n i p P u r p l e To p
White Globe
101727
Cold Tolerant
Crisp, pure white flesh. 2-5" diameter. pH
6.0-7.0. Most popular as a raw vegetable
treat. Sow outdoors as soon as ground
can be worked in spring.
— WATERMELON —
botanical: Citrullus lanatus
Sow direct or start indoors 2-3 weeks
early. Plant or transplant outdoors when
night temperatures remain above 13 C
(55 F). Seed should be started indoors in
peat pots because watermelon roots are
sensitive to transplanting. Does best in a
sunny location with rich well drained soil;
pH 6.0-6.8. Water during dry weather.
Native to Africa where they grow wild,
but have been cultivated for thousands
of years.
Wa t e r m e l o n E a r ly
I m p rov e d C a n a d a
101734
Oblong, dark green stripes with red flesh
and reddish brown seeds. 10 x 12" 10-15
lbs. Foliage, attract bees for better
garden pollination. Seeds can be put
directly outside after the last frost. For
earlier fruit, start seed indoors 2-3 weeks
early. When transplanting out, take great
care not to disturb the root system.
Wa t e r m e l o n S u g a r B a by
101739
Globular. Crisp, red flesh is very sweet. 78". Most popular watermelon! Seeds can
be put directly outside after the last frost.
For earlier fruit, start seed indoors 2-3
weeks early. When transplanting out,
take great care not to disturb the root
system.
To prevent
injuries...
Exercise regularly and
year round to promote
strong and flexible
muscles and to ensure
you're ready to pursue
your favourite activities,
like gardening.
A helpful hint from the
116
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
We have included convenient Quick Reference
Charts to help with garden planning. Ten
characteristics were identified and the garden
seed selections that fit these categories are
grouped and sorted.
The following legend will help you easily use the
charts.
ATTRIBUTE
ATTRIBUTE DESCRIPTION
Growth
Variety's perpetual growth habit
Light
Preference for sunlight
CODE
CODE DEFINITION
A
B
P
Annual
Biennial
Perennial
●
Full sun
Shade preferred
Partial shade
C
OK for containers
Containers
Variety suitable for containers
Start Seed
Variety's preferred start method
I
O
I/O
Start indoors
Plant directly outdoors
Direct plant or start indoors for
earlier blooms or fruit
Drought
Varieties that tolerate dry conditions
or are suitable for rock gardens and
xeriscapes
D
Will tolerate drier soil or rain
shortages
R
X
Suitable for rock gardens
Suitable for xeriscapes
Habit
Variety's physical growth
L
M
T
V
Maximum height < 30 cm
Maximum height 30 cm - 1 m
Taller than 1 m
A vine. Climbing habit
Cutting
Stems suitable for cutting and
bouquets
*
Asterisk = yes, suitable
Drying
Suitable for dried arrangements and
crafts
*
Asterisk = yes, suitable
Edible
Blooms are edible
*
Asterisk = yes, suitable
Short Season
Varieties that can be harvested earlier
*
Asterisk = fewer than 65 days
to maturity
117
C H A R T
Ageratum Timeless Mix
A
C
I
M
Aquilegia Lime Sorbet
P
I
M
All Purpose Mix Wildflower
A
I/O
T
Amaranthus Velvet Curtains
A
I
M
Aster Dwarf Queen Mix
A
I/O
L
Aster Early Charm
A
I/O
M
Aster Starlight Light Pink
A
I/O
L
C
●
Astilbe Arednsii Hybrid Mix
P
Baby Blue Eyes
A
O
Bachelor's Button Blue Boy
A
I/O
Bachelor's Button Polka Dot Mix
A
I/O
M
Begonia ‘Bayou Pink Bicolor’
A
C
I
M
Begonia ‘Go Go Mix’
A
C
I
M
Bells of Ireland
A
O
M
Bergenia Heart-leaved
P
O
M
Black Eyed Susan
P
I
M
Butterfly Garden
A
I
T
Calendula Pacific Beauty Mix
A
I/O
M
Calendula Touch of Red
A
I/O
M
Canary Bird Vine
A
I/O
TV
Candytuft White Snow
P
O
L
Canterbury Bells Cup and Saucer
B
I
M
Catchfly
A
O
Cerastium Snow In Summer
P
I/O
Chilean Glory Vine Tresco Mixed
A
I/O
TV
Clematis Radar Love
P
C
I
VT
C
I/O
M
Coleus
A
*
*
*
L
*
*
*
L
P
I
M
Cosmos Early Sensation Mixed
A
I/O
T
Dahlia Stargazer
A
I
M
C
*
M
X
Columbine Long Spurred Mixed
118
*
I/O
C
●
*
*
*
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
SHORT SEASON
M
EDIBLE
I
HABIT
C
DROUGHT
A
FLOWERS
LIGHT PREF
Ageratum Blue Mink
TYPE
START SEED
TOLERANT
CONTAINER
SHADE
DRYING
R E F E R E N C E
CUTTING
Q U I C K
R E F E R E N C E
Delphinium Blue Bouquet
P
I/O
L
Delphinium Percival
P
I
T
Dianthus Siberian Blue
P
I
M
Digitalis Apricot Beauty
B
I
T
Digitalis Excelsior - Foxglove
B
I/O
T
Everlasting Pea
P
I/O
TV
Forget-me-not
A
I/O
M
Four O'Clock Marvel of Peru
TP
Fuzzy Wuzzy
P
Geranium Florist Mix
I/O
M
I
M
P
I
M
Geranium Red Apple
P
I
M
Gloxinia Chinese Hardy
P
I
M
C
Golden Moss
A
I
L
Hibiscus Red Shield
A
I
T
Hollyhock
B
O
T
Hosta Elegans
P
I
M
Impatiens Butterfly Cherry
A
I
L
C
Impatiens Butterfly Mix
A
C
I
L
Impatiens Butterfly Orchid
A
C
I
L
Impatiens Butterfly Peach
A
C
I
L
Impatiens Extreme Lavender
A
C
I
L
Impatiens Extreme Pink
A
C
I
L
Impatiens Extreme Salmon
A
C
I
L
Impatiens Extreme White
A
C
I
L
Lady's Mantel
P
I/O
M
Lavatera Silvercup
A
O
M
Lobelia Crystal Palace
A
I
L
Lobelia Regatta Rose
A
I
L
Lobelia Trailing Sapphire
A
I
L
Low Growing Mix
A
O
M
Lupins Russell Mix
P
O
T
C
C H A R T
SHORT SEASON
EDIBLE
DRYING
CUTTING
TOLERANT
HABIT
START SEED
CONTAINER
FLOWERS
LIGHT PREF
TYPE
SHADE
DROUGHT
Q U I C K
*
*
*
*
119
C H A R T
Malva Zebrina
P
I/O
M
Mistflower Eupatorium
P
I
M
●
Monarda Panorama Mix
P
I/O
T
Morning Glory Flying Saucers
A
I/O
V
Nasturtium Alaska
A
O
Nasturtium Dwarf Double Cherry Rose
A
O
M
Nasturtium Jewel Mixed
A
O
M
Nasturtium Milkmaid
A
C
O
TV
*
Nasturtium Primrose Jewel
A
C
O
L
*
Nasturtium Tip Top Lemon
A
C
O
L
*
Nemesia All Spice
A
C
I/O
L
Ornamental Cabbage
B
I/O
M
Pansy Black and White
B
I
L
Pansy Show Swiss Giant
B
I
L
Passion Flower
P
I
VT
Physalis Chinese Lantern
P
I/O
M
Poppy Double Shirley Mixed
A
O
M
Poppy Falling in Love
A
O
Poppy Iceland Mixed Colors
P
I
R
M
Purple Coneflower
P
I/O
D
T
Scarlet Flax
A
O
Shade Mix
A
Silene Starburst
A
C
I/O
M
Stylomecon
A
C
O
M
Sweet Violet Queen Charlotte
P
I
L
Viola Helen Mound
B
120
C
C
M
M
*
*
*
*
M
O
●
●
D
I
D
*
L
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
*
SHORT SEASON
EDIBLE
DRYING
TOLERANT
CUTTING
START SEED
FLOWERS
CONTAINER
TYPE
LIGHT PREF
SHADE
HABIT
R E F E R E N C E
DROUGHT
Q U I C K
Q U I C K
R E F E R E N C E
A
O
*
*
Lettuce Prizehead
A
O
*
*
Lettuce Simpson Elite
A
O
*
*
Lettuce Summertime
A
O
*
*
Lettuce
A
O
*
Marrow Squash Striato D'Italia O Di Napoli
A
I/O
*
Pole Bean Meraviglia Di Venezia A Grano Nero
A
O
Savoy Cabbage Testa Di Ferro
A
I/O
*
Snow Pea Snowflake
A
O
*
Spinach
A
O
*
Catnip
P
I/O
*
Chervil
A
Lemon Balm
V
DRYING
Lettuce Grand Rapids
CUTTING
*
HABIT
*
DROUGHT
O
CONTAINER
A
V E G E TA B L E S
LIGHT PREF
Lettuce Early Curled Simpson
TYPE
SHORT SEASON
TOLERANT
EDIBLE
START SEED
SHADE
C H A R T
*
*
HERBS
●
O
M
*
P
I/O
M
*
Mint
P
I/O
M
*
Oregano
P
I/O
M
*
Spearmint
P
I/O
M
*
Thyme
P
I/O
M
*
C
DR
*
121
Q U I C K
R E F E R E N C E
C H A R T
Perennials Flowering Times
Site
Soil
Alkaline
Soil*
Name
Flowers
Achillea
Jun-Sept
sun
wd
Agapanthus
July-Sept
sun
wd
Agastache
Jun-Aug
sun
wd
Alchemilla
Jun-Aug
sun/shade
wd
Alstroemeria
Jun-Sept
sun
wd
Alyssum saxatile
Apr-June
sun
wd
Anaphalis
Aug
sun/shade
wd
Aquilegia
May-June
sun/shade
wd
X
Arabis
Mar-June
sun
wd
X
Armeria
Jun-Aug
sun
wd
X
Aruncus sylvester
Aug
sun/shade
wd
Astilbe
Jun-Aug
sun/shade
d/m
X
Aubrieta
Mar-June
sun
wd
X
Belamcanda
August
sun/light
wd
Campanula
July-Aug
sun/light
wd
X
Catananche
Jun-Aug
sun
wd
X
Christmas Rose
Dec-Mar
part shade
d/m
X
Chrysanthemum
Sept
sun
wd
X
Clematis tangutica
Aug-Oct
sun
wd
X
Cyclamen
Aug-Oct
sun
wd
X
Delphinium
Jun-July
sun
wd
X
Dianthus
Jun-Aug
sun
n/l
X
Echinacea
July-Sept
sun
wd
Erigeron
Jun-Aug
sun
wd
X
Eryngium
Aug-Sept
sun
wd
X
Fuzzy Wuzzy
June-July
sun/shade
wd
Gaillardia
Jun-Oct
sun
wd
Geum
June-Aug
sun
wd
Gypsophila paniculata
Jun-Aug
sun/light, shade
wd
X
X
X
X
X
wd = ordinary well drained garden soil
d/m = moist but well drained soil
n/l = neutral or limey soil
* These plants as well as growing in ordinary garden soil will also do well in alkaline soil.
122
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
Q U I C K
R E F E R E N C E
C H A R T
Perennials Flowering Times
Site
Soil
Alkaline
Soil*
Name
Flowers
Helianthemum
Jun-July
sun
wd
Incarvillea delavayi
May-July
sun
wd
Lychnis
July-Aug
sun
wd
X
Malva
Jun-Sept
sun
wd
X
Mimulus
Jun-Sept
sun/shade
d/m
Monarda
Jun-Sept
sun/light
d/m
Myosotis
May-Jun
sun
wd
Pansy
May-Sept
sun/light
wd
X
Papaver nudicaule
Jun-Aug
sun
wd
X
Papaver orientale
LMay-EJun
sun
wd
X
Penstemon
Jun-July
sun
wd
X
Platycodon
Jun-Aug
sun
wd
Polemonium
April-July
sun/light
wd
Primula acaulis
Mar-Apr
sun/light
d/m
Primula auricula
March-Mar
sun/light
d/m
Primula denticulata
March-Mar
sun/light
d/m
Primula polyanthus
Mar-Apr
sun/light
d/m
Primula veris
Mar-Apr
sun/light
d/m
Primula vialli
Jun-July
sun/light
d/m
Primula vulgaris
Mar-Apr
sun/light
d/m
Prunella
JulyAug
sun
wd
Rudbeckia
July-Sept
sun
wd
Saxifrage
June-Aug
sun/light
wd
X
Verbascum
July-Aug
sun
wd
X
Viola cucullata
May-June
sun/light
wd
X
Viola labradorica
April-May
sun/light
wd
X
Viola odorata
Feb-Apr
sun/light
wd
X
Viola tricolor
May-Sept
sun/light
wd
X
X
X
X
wd = ordinary well drained garden soil
d/m = moist but well drained soil
n/l = neutral or limey soil
* These plants as well as growing in ordinary garden soil will also do well in alkaline soil.
123
QUICK REFERENCE CHART
P
Alyssum Saxatile - Gold Dust
P
Astilbe Arednsii Hybrid Mix
P
Baby's Breath
P
Bellflower Blue Chips
P
Bergenia Heart-leaved
I/O
R
O
C
*
R
T
M
P
O
M
Black Eyed Susan
P
I
M
Blue Flax
P
I/O
Cactus Novelty Mix
P
I
Candytuft White Snow
P
O
L
Canterbury Bells Cup and Saucer
B
I
M
Cerastium Snow In Summer
P
I/O
Clematis Radar Love
P
Columbine Long Spurred Mixed
C
DR
X
*
M
L
I
VT
P
I
M
Columbine Pink Tower
P
I
M
Cupid's Dart
P
I
M
Delphinium Blue Bouquet
P
I/O
L
Delphinium Pacific Giants
P
I
T
Delphinium Percival
P
I
T
Dianthus Arctic Fire
P
I/O
Dianthus Siberian Blue
P
I
M
Digitalis Apricot Beauty
B
I
T
Digitalis Excelsior - Foxglove
B
I/O
T
Evening Primrose
B
I
T
R
*
*
*
*
L
*
*
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
*
SHORT SEASON
EDIBLE
L
I/O
●
DRYING
M
I/O
124
BIENNIALS
CUTTING
O
&
HABIT
C
DROUGHT
START SEED
Agastache
CONTAINER
FLOWERS
LIGHT PREF
TYPE
PERENNIALS
Everlasting Pea
P
I/O
TV
Four O'Clock Marvel of Peru
TP
I/O
M
Fuzzy Wuzzy
P
I
M
Gaillardia Grandiflora Mix
P
I
M
Geranium Florist Mix
P
I
M
Geranium Red Apple
P
I
M
Geum
P
O
M
Gloxinia Chinese Hardy
P
I
M
Heuchera Coral Bells
P
I
L
Hollyhock Double Mixed
B
I
Hollyhock Fruity Mix
B
O
T
Hollyhock King Henry the Eighth
B
O
T
Hollyhock The Watchman
B
I/O
T
Hosta Elegans
P
I
M
Jacob's Ladder Blue Pearl
B
I
M
Lady's Mantel
P
I/O
M
Lupins Russell Mix
P
O
T
Malva Zebrina
P
I/O
M
Mistflower
P
I
M
Monarda Panorama Mix
P
I/O
T
Musk Mallow Rosea
P
I/O
M
Ornamental Cabbage
B
I/O
M
Pansy Black and White
B
I
L
Pansy Show Swiss Giant
B
I
L
Passion Flower
P
I
VT
Physalis Chinese Lantern
P
I/O
M
Poppy Iceland Mixed Colors
P
I
Poppy Pizzicato
P
O
M
Prunella
P
I/O
S
C
C
●
C
C
D
R
SHORT SEASON
BIENNIALS
EDIBLE
&
DRYING
DROUGHT
START SEED
CONTAINER
FLOWERS
LIGHT PREF
TYPE
PERENNIALS
C H A R T
CUTTING
R E F E R E N C E
HABIT
Q U I C K
*
T
*
*
*
*
M
*
*
125
C H A R T
T
Rudbeckia Goldsturm
P
I
M
Sedum Voodoo
P
I
L
Shasta Daisy Alaska
P
I/O
M
Shepherd's Scabiosa
P
O
Sweet Violet Queen Charlotte
P
Sweet William Mixed Colors
C
M
*
I
L
*
B
I/O
M
*
Valerian Centranthus Ruber Mixture
P
I/O
M
*
Viola Aalsmeers Mixed
B
I
Viola Helen Mound
B
I
Catnip
P
I/O
Chives
P
●
R
*
R
L
D
L
*
HERBS
C
*
O
M
I
M
I
M
*
*
*
*
Garlic Chives
P
Lavender
TP
Lemon Balm
P
I/O
M
*
Marjoram Sweet
TP
O
L
*
C
*
Mint
P
I/O
M
*
Oregano
P
C
I/O
M
*
Rosemary
TP
C
I
T
*
Sage
P
M
*
D
I/O
Spearmint
P
I/O
M
*
Tarragon
P
I/O
M
*
Thyme
P
I/O
M
*
P
I/O
T
*
DR
V E G E TA B L E S
Asparagus Viking
126
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
SHORT SEASON
D
BIENNIALS
EDIBLE
HABIT
I/O
CONTAINER
P
FLOWERS
LIGHT PREF
Purple Coneflower
TYPE
DROUGHT
&
START SEED
PERENNIALS
DRYING
R E F E R E N C E
CUTTING
Q U I C K
R E F E R E N C E
SHORT SEASON
*
*
O
M
*
*
I/O
M
*
*
DRYING
VT
CUTTING
O
HABIT
SHORT SEASON
O
PERENNIALS
EDIBLE
START SEED
C
&
C H A R T
EDIBLE
CONTAINER
LIGHT PREF
O R N A M E N TA L
GRASSES
TYPE
ANNUALS
DROUGHT
Q U I C K
*
*
Blue Fescue Grass
P
L
Golden Top
A
O
Pink Pampas Grass
P
O
T
Purple Fountain Grass
A
O
T
*
*
Tufted Hair Grass
P
O
T
*
*
White Pampas Grass
P
O
T
Black Madras
A
C
O
M
Froseetd Curls
P
C
O
Bean Scarlet Runner
A
*
S
SEASON
DRYING
DROUGHT
START SEED
CONTAINER
FLOWERS
LIGHT PREF
TYPE
SHORT
*
CUTTING
D
T
HABIT
D
HERBS
Chervil
A
Savory Summer
A
●
C
V E G E TA B L E S
Bean Green Crop
A
O
M
*
*
Bean Improved Golden Wax
A
O
M
*
*
Bean Kentucky Wonder
A
O
T
*
*
Bean Romano
A
O
T
*
*
Bean Round Pod Kidney Wax
A
O
L
*
*
Bean Scarlet Runner
A
O
TV
*
*
Bean Stringless Green Pod
A
O
M
*
*
Bean Tendergreen
A
O
M
*
*
Beet
A
O
*
*
Broad Bean Windsor Large Pod
A
O
*
*
Broccoli Munchkin
A
I
*
*
Cabbage Early Copenhagen Market
A
I
*
*
M C K E N Z I E
L
S E E D S
127
R E F E R E N C E
C H A R T
*
*
A
O
*
*
A
O
*
*
O
Cauliflower Early Snowball
A
I
Chinese Mustard Greens Green Giant
A
Corn Canadian Early Supersweet
Cress Extra Triple Curled
DRYING
O
A
CUTTING
*
Carrot
DROUGHT
*
CONTAINER
*
V E G E TA B L E S
LIGHT PREF
*
TYPE
SHORT SEASON
SEASON
EDIBLE
START SEED
SHORT
HABIT
Q U I C K
D
Cucumber
A
I/O
*
*
Egg Plant Black Beauty
TP
I/O
*
*
Lettuce
A
O
*
*
Mesclun
A
I/O
*
*
Pak Choi White Long Petoile
A
O
*
*
Pea
A
O
*
*
Pepper
A
I
*
*
Radish
A
O
*
*
Snow Pea Snowflake
A
O
*
*
Squash
A
O
*
*
Strawberry Spinach
A
O
*
*
Swiss Chard
A
O
*
*
Tomatillo Toma Verde
A
C
I
*
*
Tomato
A
C
I
*
*
Turnip
A
*
*
128
C
C
M/T
T
O
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
Q U I C K
R E F E R E N C E
C H A R T
C
I
M
Ageratum Timeless Mix
A
C
I
M
Alyssum Rosy Red
A
C
I
L
Aster Starlight Light Pink
A
C
I/O
L
Bellflower Blue Chips
P
C
I/O
M
Campanula
A
C
I
DR
*
*
*
L
*
*
Calendula Touch of Red
A
C
I/O
M
Castor Bean
A
C
I
T
Clematis Radar Love
P
C
I
VT
Coleus
A
C
I/O
M
Cosmos Yellow Garden
A
C
I/O
*
*
*
T
*
M
*
D
M
Dahlia Stargazer
A
C
I
Dimorphotheca
A
C
I
Fuzzy Wuzzy
P
C
I
M
Easter Egg Plant Golden Eggs
A
C
I
L
Geranium
A
C
I
L
Geum
P
C
O
M
*
Globe Amaranth Choice Mixture
A
C
I/O
L
*
Lobelia Regatta Rose
A
C
I
Marigold French Jolly Jester
A
C
I
Nasturtium Milkmaid
A
C
O
TV
*
Nasturtium Primrose Jewel
A
C
O
L
*
Nasturtium Tip Top Lemon
A
C
O
L
*
Nemesia All Spice
A
C
I/O
L
Pansy Black and White
B
C
I
L
Passion Flower
P
C
I
VT
Petunia
A
C
I
L
Phlox Dwarf Beauty Mixture
A
C
I/O
L
D
SHORT SEASON
A
EDIBLE
Ageratum Blue Mink
DRYING
M
CUTTING
O
HABIT
C
DROUGHT
START SEED
p
FLOWERS
LIGHT PREF
Agastache
TYPE
CONTAINER
C O N TA I N E R
L
D
L
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
129
Q U I C K
R E F E R E N C E
C H A R T
VT
SHORT SEASON
EDIBLE
DRYING
CUTTING
O
HABIT
C
DROUGHT
START SEED
A
CONTAINER
FLOWERS
Ruby Moon Hyacinth Bean
LIGHT PREF
TYPE
C O N TA I N E R
*
Sedum Voodoo
P
C
I
L
Sunflower Incredible
A
C
O
M
Sunflower Pacino
A
C
O
M
Sunflower Sunspot
A
C
O
M
Sunflower Teddy Bear Dwarf
A
C
O
M
Stylomecon
A
C
O
M
A
C
I/O
L
Basil Purple
A
C
I/O
M
*
Basil Sweet
A
C
I/O
L
*
Chives
P
C
O
M
*
*
Lavender
TP
C
I
M
*
*
Oregano
P
C
I/O
M
*
Rosemary
TP
C
I
T
*
Savory Summer
A
C
I/O
M
*
*
Mesclun
A
C
I/O
*
*
Pepper
A
C
I
*
*
Tomato Cherry Roma
A
C
I
*
*
Tomato Roman Candle
A
C
I
*
*
Tomato Speckled Roman
A
C
I
*
*
Swiss Chard Rhubarb
A
C
O
*
*
Zinnia Red Spider
H E R B S
D
V E G E TA B L E S
130
Q U I C K
R E F E R E N C E
C H A R T
EDIBLE
SHORT SEASON
DRYING
CUTTING
HABIT
DROUGHT
START SEED
CONTAINER
FLOWERS
LIGHT PREF
TYPE
VINES
*
*
Bean Scarlet Runner
A
O
VT
Canary Bird Vine
A
I/O
VT
Chilean Glory Vine Tresco Mixed
A
I
TV
Cypress Vine White Ipomoea
A
I/O
TV
Clematis Radar Love
P
I
VT
Cobaea Cathedral Bell
A
I
VT
Everlasting Pea Lathyrus
P
I/O
TV
Moonflower
A
O
TV
Morning Glory Early Call, Mixed
A
I/O
TV
Morning Glory Flying Saucers
A
I/O
V
Morning Glory Heavenly Blue
A
I/O
TV
Morning Glory Sunspots
A
I/O
TV
Morning Glory Double Sunrise Serenade
A
I/O
TV
Nasturtium Milkmaid
A
C
O
TV
Passion Flower
P
C
I
VT
Ruby Moon Hyacinth Bean
A
C
O
VT
Sweet Pea Mixed
A
O
TV
*
Sweet Pea Little Sweetheart
A
O
MV
*
Sweet Pea Streamers Mix
A
O
TV
*
Thunbergia Black-Eyed Susan Vine
A
I/O
TV
Bean Scarlet Runner
A
O
TV
*
*
Cucumber Earliest Mincu
A
I/O
V
*
*
Cucumber English Long Telegraph
A
I/O
V
*
*
Pea Alaska
A
O
MV
*
*
Pole Bean Kentucky Wonder Wax
A
O
V
*
Pole Bean Lima O Del Papa
A
O
V
*
Pole Bean Pencil Pod Black Wax
A
O
V
*
Tomato Sweet 100 Hybrid
A
I
V
*
C
*
*
*
V E G E TA B L E S
C
*
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
*
131
R E F E R E N C E
P
I/O
R
L
Baby's Breath
P
O
R
T
Blue Flax
P
I/O
DR
M
California Poppy Mission Bells
A
O
R
M
Campanula
A
I
DR
L
Cerastium Snow In Summer
P
I/O
X
L
Cornflower Pink
A
I/O
D
C
*
*
SHORT SEASON
Alyssum Saxatile - Gold Dust
EDIBLE
HABIT
L
DRYING
DROUGHT
R
CONTAINER
I/O
LIGHT PREF
A
TYPE
Alyssum
FLOWERS
C H A R T
TOLERANT
START SEED
DROUGHT
CUTTING
Q U I C K
*
*
Dianthus Arctic Fire
P
I/O
R
L
Dimorphotheca
A
C
I
D
M
*
Globe Amaranth Choice Mixture
A
C
I/O
D
L
Hollyhock Double Mixed
B
I
D
T
Hollyhock King Henry the Eighth
B
O
Marigold
A
I/O
D
L
Mesembryanthemum
A
I/O
D
L
Nasturtium Alaska
A
O
D
M
Nasturtium Milkmaid
A
C
O
TV
*
Nasturtium Primrose Jewel
A
C
O
L
*
Nasturtium Tip Top Lemon
A
C
O
L
*
Poppy Iceland Mixed Colors
P
I
R
M
Purple Coneflower
P
I/O
D
T
Shepherd's Scabiosa
P
O
R
M
Valerian Centranthus Ruber Mixture
P
I/O
R
M
Viola Blackjack
B
I
R
L
Viola Helen Mound
B
I
D
L
*
I
D
T
*
I/O
DR
M
*
I
D
*
*
T
*
*
HERBS
Rosemary
TP
Thyme
P
C
V E G E TA B L E S
Cauliflower Early Snowball
132
*
*
Aster Starlight Light Pink
A
Astilbe Arednsii Hybrid Mix
P
Baby's Breath
P
*
*
I/O
L
*
T
*
*
*
I/O
O
*
R
Bells of Ireland
A
O
M
*
Calendula Touch of Red
A
C
I/O
M
*
Campanula
A
C
I
Carnation Chabaud Giant Mix
A
Clematis Radar Love
P
Columbine Pink Tower
P
Cosmos
A
Cupid's Dart
P
Forget-me-not
A
Globe Amaranth Choice Mixture
A
●
C
L
*
I
DR
M
*
I
VT
I
M
*
O
T
*
I
M
I/O
C
O
C
I/O
DRYING
M
L
D
O
*
M
*
L
*
P
Helichrysum Everlasting
A
M
Helipterum
A
I
M
*
Hollyhock Fruity Mix
A
O
T
*
Lady's Mantle
P
I/O
M
Larkspur Early Giant Imperial Mixed
A
O
T
I/O
*
*
Geum
*
*
*
*
*
*
Marigold Durango Mix Hybrid
A
I/O
L
*
Marigold Citrus Mix
A
I/O
L
*
Physalis Chinese Lantern
P
I/O
M
*
Poppy Pizzicato
P
O
M
*
*
Poppy Falling In Love
A
O
M
*
*
Rudbeckia Goldsturm
P
I
M
*
Shepherd's Scabiosa
P
O
R
M
*
Statice
A
I
D
M
Salvia Mojito
A
Salvia Picante
A
Sunflower Autumn Beauty
Sunflower Golden Hedge
Sunflower Henri Wilde
A
Sunflower Paquito
A
*
O
M/T
*
O
M
*
A
O
T
*
A
O
T
*
O
T
*
O
M
*
C
C
SHORT SEASON
DROUGHT
●
I
I/O
EDIBLE
START SEED
C
DRYING
CUTTING
P
A
&
HABIT
Aquilegia Lime Sorbet
Aster Dwarf Queen Mix
C H A R T
CUT
CONTAINER
FLOWERS
LIGHT PREF
R E F E R E N C E
TYPE
Q U I C K
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
133
M
*
M
*
I/O
M
*
*
O
M
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Sunflower Starburst Blaze
A
O
T
*
Sunflower Taiyo
A
O
T
*
Sweet Pea
A
O
TV
*
Sweet Pea Streamers Mix
A
O
TV
*
I
L
*
I
M
*
Sweet Violet Queen Charlotte
P
Venidium Orange Prince
A
●
Venidium Zulu Prince
A
I
M
*
Zinnia Canary Bird
A
O
M
*
Zinnia Pumila Mixture
A
Zinnia Red Spider
A
C
HERBS
Chamomile
A
Chives
P
Dill
A
Lavender
TP
Safflower Red
A
134
C
O
C
I
I/O
*
M
SHORT SEASON
EDIBLE
O
I/O
HABIT
DRYING
DROUGHT
DRYING
CUTTING
&
START SEED
C H A R T
CUT
CONTAINER
LIGHT PREF
R E F E R E N C E
TYPE
Q U I C K
SHORT SEASON
Calendula Pacific Beauty Mix
A
I/O
M
*
Calendula Touch of Red
A
I/O
M
Chrysanthemum Merry Mix
A
O
M
Cornflower Pink
A
I/O
D
Dianthus Arctic Fire
P
I/O
R
Evening Primrose
B
I
Hollyhock Double Mixed
B
I
Hollyhock King Henry the Eighth
B
Lavatera Mont Blanc
A
Nasturtium Milkmaid
A
Nasturtium Primrose Jewel
C
DRYING
*
CUTTING
*
HABIT
VT
DROUGHT
O
CONTAINER
A
FLOWERS
LIGHT PREF
Bean Scarlet Runner
TYPE
EDIBLE
START SEED
EDIBLE
*
*
*
*
L
*
T
*
T
*
O
T
*
O
M
*
C
O
TV
*
A
C
O
L
*
Nasturtium Tip Top Lemon
A
C
O
L
*
Ornamental Cabbage
B
I/O
M
*
Pansy Black and White
B
C
I
L
*
Ruby Moon Hyacinth Bean
A
C
O
VT
*
Salvia Sclarea
B
O
M
*
Sweet William Mixed Colors
B
I/O
M
*
Valerian Centranthus Ruber Mixture
P
I/O
R
M
*
Viola Helen Mound
B
I
D
L
*
D
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
135
C H A R T
R
L
A
Alyssum Rosy Red
A
Alyssum Saxatile - Gold Dust
P
I/O
Aster Dwarf Queen Mix
A
I/O
L
*
Aster Starlight Light Pink
A
I/O
L
*
Baby Blue Eyes
A
O
L
Campanula
A
Candytuft White Snow
P
O
Cerastium Snow In Summer
P
I/O
Cineraria Jester Royal Shades
A
C
I
L
Coleus Wizard
A
C
I/O
L
Delphinium Blue Bouquet
P
I/O
L
Dianthus Arctic Fire
P
I/O
Dusty Miller Silverdust
A
I
L
Easter Egg Plant Golden Egg
A
I
L
Gazania Kontiki Stars and Stripes
A
I
L
Globe Amaranth Choice Mixture
A
Golden Moss
A
I
L
Heuchera Coral Bells
P
I
L
Impatiens Mix
A
I
L
Lobelia Crystal Palace
A
I
L
Lobelia Regatta Rose
A
I
L
Lobelia Trailing Sapphire
A
I
L
Marigold Bonanza Bolero
A
I/O
D
L
Marigold Disco Mix
A
I/O
D
L
Marigold Disco Orange
A
I/O
D
L
Marigold Disco Red
A
I/O
D
L
Marigold Disco Yellow
A
I/O
D
L
Marigold French Jolly Jester
A
I/O
D
L
Marigold Hero Mix F1 Hybrid
A
I/O
D
L
136
C
C
C
I
I
C
C
●
C
C
I/O
L
R
L
DR
L
*
L
X
R
D
L
L
L
*
*
*
*
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
SHORT SEASON
HABIT
I/O
Alyssum
EDIBLE
DROUGHT
GROWING
START SEED
CONTAINER
FLOWERS
LIGHT PREF
TYPE
LOW
DRYING
R E F E R E N C E
CUTTING
Q U I C K
R E F E R E N C E
C H A R T
Mesembryanthemum
A
I/O
L
Nasturtium Primrose Jewel
A
C
O
L
*
Nasturtium Tip Top Lemon
A
C
O
L
*
Nemesia All Spice
A
C
I/O
L
Pansy Black and White
B
C
I
L
Pansy Show Swiss Giant
B
I
L
Petunia Primetime Mix
A
I
L
Petunia Dreams Mix
A
I
L
Phlox Dwarf Beauty Mixture
A
I/O
L
Portulaca
A
I/O
L
Prunella
P
O
L
Rudbecki Spotlight
A
C
I
L
Sedum Voodoo
P
C
I
L
Snapdragon Dwaft Lollipops Mixed
A
I/O
L
Snapdragon Mini Snap Mix
A
I/O
L
Sweet Pea Sugar and Spice
A
O
L
Sweet Violet Queen Charlotte
P
I
L
Vinca Carpet Mix
A
I
L
Viola Aalsmeers Mixed
B
I
L
Viola Helen Mound
B
I
C
C
●
D
EDIBLE
L
DRYING
D
CUTTING
HABIT
I/O
CONTAINER
A
FLOWERS
LIGHT PREF
Marigold Little Hero Spry F1 Hybrid
TYPE
DROUGHT
GROWING
START SEED
LOW
SHORT SEASON
Q U I C K
*
*
L
*
I/O
L
*
HERBS
Basil Purple
A
C
Marjoram Sweet
TP
O
L
*
Bean Pencil Pod Black Wax
A
O
L
*
Bean Royal Burgundy
A
O
L
*
Broccoli Munchkin
A
I
L
*
Bush Bean Borlotto Lingua di Fuoco
A
O
L
*
Celery Green Utah
B
I
L
*
Pepper Mini Bell Mixed
A
V E G E TA B L E S
C
I
*
*
*
137
G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
Growing Techniques For Vegetables
BA S I L
B RO C C O L I
To produce more leaves on your
basil plant, pinch off the growing
tips of the top few branches. Side
shoots will develop along the
remaining stems. Pinching
through the season yields a steady
supply of young tasty leaves and
keeps the plants productive by
discouraging them from bolting.
Olga Gresiuk, North Battleford SK.
BEANS
Start your green beans under a
Remay Blanket. This helps
germinate the seeds faster and
also stops birds, skunks and mice
from digging up the seeds.
Nina Haleta, Sechelt BC.
To hasten sprouting, soak seed in
water overnight before planting.
For the first broccoli harvest cut
just below the head. New side
shoots will continue to appear.
Andre Grenier, Ste. Barbe QC.
C A B BAG E
I find it most helpful using dried
crushed up egg shells mixed well
into the soil when putting out
transplants of any member of the
cabbage family. I have had a
good harvest of these vegetables
using this method.
Marian Braan, Battleford SK.
I use flour with the dusting
powder to make it go further for
dusting cabbage, cauliflower and
broccoli. Put in about half and
half. It works!
Rose Calver, Grandview MB.
Marjorie Merrylees, Unionville ON.
C A R ROT S
Plant soaked bean seeds along
with unsoaked beans. If they are
killed by a late spring frost the
unsoaked seeds will come up later.
If there is no frost, your beans
have an early start.
Mix carrot seeds with old (used
and dried) tea leaves so it is easier
to plant. Also tea leaves in the
row helps to keep worms away.
Eva Dobryden, Regina SK.
Gerry Irwin, Fort Fraser BC.
Before harvesting your carrots,
water them well for a few days
and they'll stay crisp longer.
BEETS
When growing beets, make sure
you keep covering the vegetables
with dirt as they grow out of the
ground. This will prevent them
from becoming woody and
tasteless.
Karan Spoelder, Coleman AB.
Sprinkle sand in the row before
planting. They grow better and
pull out easier.
Cameron Bracken, Cremona AB.
Lorraine Stoesz, Winnipeg MB.
138
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
Place carrot seeds in rows, then
Celery will stay tender if it is not
carefully pour boiling water over
allowed to dry out. I dig two
them. The carrots will grow
trenches, a shallow one to plant it
straight.
in and a deeper one to keep the
Chris Shirran, Leaf Rapids MB.
roots wet. Make the deeper one
like a moat and keep filled with
Soak carrot seeds in hot tea for a
water.
minimum of one hour to speed
Ruth Hehir, Prince George BC.
germination. Place in a bowl
lined with a paper towel or cloth
CORN
for easy draining. Mix with fine
To warm the earth before
dry sand to absorb excess moisture
planting corn, spread black plastic
and to prevent from seeding too
over it for a few days in sunny
thick.
Ernest Sommerfeld, Rockyford AB.
weather.
Sprinkling wood ashes in the row
will eliminate carrot maggots.
Mary Nevocshonoff, Grand Forks BC.
C AU L I F L OW E R
To achieve snow-white cauliflower,
gather the long young leaves
when the cauliflower is no bigger
than a baseball. Tie them
together loosely at the top. Let
the cauliflower grow until
maturity.
Rose Arvi, Tillsonburg ON.
Ruth Longman, Maryfield SK.
I pre-sprout my corn before
planting which helps it come up
much faster especially if it
happens to be a late spring. To
pre-sprout, place the corn seeds
between damp paper towels and
place in a warm spot.
Francine Poulin, Wainwright AB.
I cut the tips off the corn once
they turn brown and have a seedy
texture. This tends to mature the
corn faster.
Eileen Yufrym, Danbury SK.
I put panty hose over my
cauliflower to keep the bugs off.
Just cut off the legs and slip over a
plant and tie it up. Works great!
When planting corn, work crushed
zinc tablets into the row. Corn
grows faster and sweeter.
Jean Friday, Lloydminster SK.
Pollinate the plants by putting on
a jacket and walking through the
patch with arms extended. Leave
for a couple of days. Then cut off
the seed part down to where the
cobs start to form. I find that it
allows all the growth to go into
developing cobs. I always have a
good crop with big, full cobs!
C E L E RY
I usually plant sixteen celery stocks
three inches apart in a square
area. When they are sixteen to
eighteen inches tall put a string
around the whole patch. They
stay tight and it saves holding each
plant separately for blanching.
Myrna Woytuck, Olds AB.
Wilma Will, Star City SK.
C. Bond, Englehart ON.
139
G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
When planting corn make sure
there is not too much peat moss
where you plant it. The moss will
stunt the corn's growth and holds
it back.
Alfred Bernesky, Arborfield SK.
CUCUMBERS
Take a wad of old panty hose and
put it under each cucumber plant
to keep the cucumbers from
rotting or mildewing.
Violet Spendlow, Pincher Creek AB.
I like to plant cucumbers in a circle
around a small hole, which holds a
large margarine container, of
which the bottom has been
perforated with two to nine small
holes. This makes it very easy to
keep them watered, which is most
rewarding after the fruits are set
and doubles the yield without
stem damage.
Violet Copeland, Maidstone SK.
To give cucumbers a head start,
fold a paper towel in two,
dampen it and lay the seeds on it
spacing evenly. Place another
folded damp paper towel over the
seeds. Slip into a plastic bag. Seal
the bag by folding the open end
under. Place in a warm location.
In a few days the seeds will
sprout. Plant as usual in the
garden and cover with clear
plastic until the seedlings appear.
Spread old leaves and grass
clippings in a low area to absorb
moisture. Add a good six inch
layer of rotted manure, plant the
cucumber seeds, keep the soil
moist and be ready with a lot of
pickling jars!
Anne Judd, Port Elgin ON.
For earlier cucumbers, plant seed
in wide rows or hills, which have
been mounded up a bit, to warm
up the soil. After planting and
watering, cover with black
garbage bags for four or five days
or until the seedlings start to
emerge. Then spread a thin layer
of dry grass clippings around the
plants to retain moisture.
Margaret Davis, Camrose AB.
Water cucumbers the day before
you pick them and they will not
be bitter.
E. Basaraba, Prince George BC.
Pinch off ends of runners on
cucumbers. They produce earlier
and more.
Mrs. B. Anderson, Swift Current SK.
Use tomato cages amongst
cucumbers. It uses much less
space, cucumbers will stay clean
and are much easier to spot and
pick.
Judy Grzybowski, Saskatoon SK.
Anne Senga, Komarno MB.
Sprinkle brown sugar over your
cucumber blossoms to attract
bees. I find that I get a better and
bigger crop of cucumbers.
Bonnie Wells, Eston SK.
When growing cucumbers trim the
shoots back about two or three
inches every three to four days.
You will have an earlier and
heavier crop.
K. Harvey, Halifax NS.
140
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
When the tops of the garlic have
grown to mature length, tie them
very carefully into a knot. Then
your garlic will produce cloves.
In September, using a fork, loosen
onions until some of the roots
break. This will speed up drying
and closing of the onion necks,
therefore, they will not rot in
storage.
Sherry Bomok, Speers SK.
Doris Severyn, Fort Saskatchewan AB.
Plant garlic bulbs in the hardest
soil in your garden. When
weeding, do not soften the soil
around the bulbs. You will grow
larger garlic bulbs and fewer tops.
Make your life easier! There will
be no weeds if you lay down a
mulch of newspaper on onion
beds. Water the mulch
thoroughly and weigh it down
with rocks or lumber to prevent it
from blowing away. Plant onion
sets in holes punched in the
mulch.
GARLIC
Sonya Kobylanski, Rycroft AB.
LETTUCE
When cutting leaf lettuce, do not
cut it below one inch above the
stock. It will re-grow itself many
times.
Linda Enslen, Schuler AB.
I plant my lettuce in October
before the ground freezes. In
springtime we eat lettuce two
weeks before my regular garden.
Mary Kalynowski, North Battleford SK.
If you have trouble with lettuce
during the hot months, drive tall
stakes into the ground and create
a canopy with burlap. It helps to
keep the lettuce from bolting.
C. Keenan, Roblin ON.
ONIONS
Malleen Veroba, Fox Creek AB.
PA R S N I P S
We leave our parsnips in over the
winter, but dig them before they
start to grow in the spring. You
will have parsnips so sweet they
could be used for dessert! Plant in
a part of the garden where they
will not be trampled in the late
fall or early spring.
Keith Law, Saskatoon SK.
We plant our parsnips with some
radish seed. Take care when
pulling the radishes and you will
have a good parsnip crop.
Clifford Johnston, St. Gregor SK.
Bend over the onion stalks before
they form seed pods and the
onions will grow larger and firmer.
PEAS
If you want your onions to grow
big, remove the dirt from around
the onion without disturbing the
roots.
Once the plants are five to six
inches high, I hill the soil on both
sides of the rows. It gives the
plants more support, holds the
moisture better and also makes it
easier for roto-tilling.
Emily Haidey, Melfort SK.
Ruth Ohlde, Coronation AB.
Miriam Gair, Peace River AB.
141
G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
When planting peas, plant two
rows close together (about six
inches apart). When they are up
and about six inches high, pound
in a row of tall wooden pegs
between the two rows and attach
chicken wires to the pegs. It is so
easy to pick the peas when you
stake them this way. No bending
over!
Margaret Youck, Regina SK.
PEPPERS
As bell peppers begin to form,
pinch off all but four or five per
plant. The peppers will be larger,
mature faster and be very sweet.
This is helpful in short growing
season areas.
B. Fahlman, Sioux Lookout ON.
Place a layer of tin foil around the
base of each plant. This reflects
more heat to the plant, keeps the
roots cool and keeps insects away
from the plants.
Lorraine Hargreaves, Brandon MB.
I place a couple of matches, from
a matchbook, in the hole when I
transplant seedlings. I get pestfree and disease-free peppers
from each plant. In twenty years I
have never had a pepper crop
failure.
P. Sidney Irwin, Morrisburg ON.
PUMPKINS
Pinch off the tips of the pumpkin
vines when four to six pumpkins
have appeared. Growth will go
into the pumpkin and not the
leaves and vines.
I plant my peppers inside old tires.
It provides wind protection when
the plants are tiny. It also stores
the heat, during the first cooler
weeks of summer, releasing it at
night when the plants need it
most. My yields have increased
substantially since we started
using this method. It also makes
covering the young plants easy
should there be a sudden cold
snap.
Place boards under developing
pumpkins to help keep them from
rotting. To keep pumpkins round
and evenly colored, lift and turn
them regularly.
Stephanie Hook, Sydenham ON.
Maryann Yarga, Rock Glen SK.
If you want bigger and bug free
peppers, sprinkle epsom salt
around the ground. This is one of
my grandmother's tips many years
ago. It truly works!
To grow pumpkins in colder
climates, plant them on top of a
compost pile. Plants that normally
take one hundred to one hundred
and twenty days to bear fruit, will
do it under sixty days.
Maureen Dombroski, Eganville ON.
Mrs. G. Goldsmith, Prince George BC.
142
Joan Williams, St. Stephen NB.
When pumpkins start to form,
take a ballpoint pen and print
your grandchildren's or special
names on them. The name will
enlarge as the pumpkin grows.
Mrs. L. Freeth, Winnipeg MB.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
G A R D E N I N G
RADISHES
After planting and harvesting your
spinach, plant radishes in the same
row. Your radishes will not have
any worms.
Mrs J. Hermann-Roll, Shelburne
ON.
T I P S
Cut spinach to the ground, in late
fall, leaving the roots in and
mulch them well. It will survive
very cold temperatures and yield
new growth in early spring.
Andre Grenier, Ste Barbe QC.
S QUA S H
Every ten days, I plant new
radishes from the first of May
until well into the summer. This
way we never run out of fresh
salad produce and less goes to
waste.
Build a mound of soil with a
gravel base twelve feet in
diameter and three to four feet in
height to grow squash. Enrich the
soil with well-rotted manure.
Squash can be planted in less
space.
Laurie Hodgins, Pipestone MB.
Harry Lasn, Shabaqua ON.
R H U BA R B
Nitrates lightly raked in around
the soil of your rhubarb patch will
give a bountiful crop. This should
be done between February and
March.
Lili Muise, Yarmouth NS.
Plant on or around manure and
compost piles. Squash like rich
conditions and since they need a
lot of area, they will cover the
unsightly piles and free up
valuable space for other
vegetables.
John Hutton, Norval ON.
RO S E M A RY
S U N F L OW E R S
Grow in clay pots buried just
beneath the surface of your
garden's soil. Doing so facilitates
moving them indoors when the
weather gets cold since they are
temperature sensitive and may
perish if you do not protect them.
Audrey Rooke, Grande Prairie AB.
S P I N AC H
I plant a row of sunflowers on
either end of my windswept
garden. They make a great
windbreak, offer a shady cool spot
for certain vegetables, provide
food for the birds over the winter
and trap snow for extra spring
moisture.
Betty Grech, Mannville AB.
Plant in the fall so you can be
eating spinach from the garden in
the first week of May - even on
the prairies.
Be sure to feed the birds through
the summer. The sunflower seeds
attract birds that eat garden insects.
In five or six years I have also never
seen a potato beetle in my garden.
Bill Ritchie, Edmonton AB.
Jean Nichols, Mitchell ON.
143
G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
When your sunflowers have fully
Shredded paper or newspaper put
bloomed, take onion sacks or nets
in the bottom of the hole when
and wrap the sunflowers. This
planting seems to keep the plants
prevents the birds from eating the
healthier and insect free.
Ardith Speaker, Boswell BC.
seeds when they are fully mature.
Natalie Scherbey, Regina SK.
If you take the bottom leaves of a
sunflower plant off, the heads will
grow larger.
Catherine Sperle, Unity SK.
SWISS CHARD
Do not dig up your swiss chard in
the fall. Just leave "as is" and you
will have a great crop the next year.
Lois Wilson, Toronto ON.
TO M ATO E S
Mix some fresh grass clippings
with the soil, when you plant your
tomatoes. It generates warmth
and the tomatoes thrive.
When transplanting tomatoes,
pinch off all the leaves except the
few on top. Dig a deep hole and
bury the plant to the top leaves.
The transplant will be set back a
little, but the entire stem will
produce roots and the extra
nutrition will give extra fruit
production.
Claire Bruce, Winfield BC.
Plant tomatoes in a sunny
location, in well-drained soil. The
richer the better! Water
frequently when dry periods occur.
Steve Andrusiak, Flin Flon MB.
Marlene Wilkie, Okotoks AB.
I grow my tomatoes right beside
the house over the weeping tile.
There is always good drainage and
they never get water logged.
They also get radiant heat from
the side of the house.
P. Shebaylo, Winnipeg MB.
To enjoy larger tomatoes pinch off
all the flowers that have not started
to form a fruit after the first three
weeks that they started blossoming.
Pruning is also required.
Make a mound around your
tomatoes to keep excess water
away from the roots.
L. Bradbury, Newbridge NB.
In mid August pinch off the
growing tips of your staked
tomatoes. This will encourage the
ones left to develop quickly and
ripen before frost.
D. Peebles, Keswick ON.
To prevent rot on the ends of my
tomatoes, I put milk, that has
soured, on the ground beside the
plants or mix six tablespoons of
powdered skim milk with two
quarts of warm water and pour
this on the soil. Tomatoes love it!
In really hot weather, take large
plastic milk bottles, drill a small
hole into the cap and a small hole
into the bottom. Turn upside
down and put next to the plant
(about one-quarter of the bottle).
Fill with water. This will keep the
roots moist and help the plant.
Annabelle Slattery, Hussar AB.
Yvonne Greenwood, New Sarepta AB.
Roland Proulx, Sudbury ON.
144
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
G A R D E N I N G
When your tomato plants are
safely in the ground and cages
placed over them and one of
those blustery chinook winds hit
everything head on, do not panic.
Raid your husband's closet,
bringing out all his shirts. Button
them around the cages one by
one. The collar drops neatly into
the cages, tie the sleeves in front
and they can ride out a warm
blizzard cozily. When the storm is
over, toss the shirts into the
washing machine. He will never
know!
Eleanor Long, Red Deer AB.
T I P S
steady supply of water, rather
than waiting until they are dry
and giving them a lot of water at
once.
Michelle Dunn, High Prairie AB.
When planting new seedlings into
the garden, use half a milk carton
around the seedling, fill with soft
soil and vegetable or potato
peelings. As it grows fill in
around the plant. It supports and
feeds it producing a superior
strong tomato plant. We lost
"zero" plants last year with this
method!
Glenna Seppala, Chitek Lake SK.
When tying tomatoes to stakes,
use old nylons and they will not
cut the stems of the plants. The
nylon gives in the wind and does
not break the plant plus you are
recycling for the environment.
Lois DeBlois, Willow Bunch SK.
Plant tomatoes in a shallow trench
laying the stems lengthwise in the
trench. Cover with soil, leaving
only the top leaves exposed. No
need to protect plants from wind
and sun exposure.
Pauline Cameron, Carlyle SK.
Wood shavings, around plants
keeps moisture in and keeps the
tomatoes clean and free of slugs.
Anna Bauman, Waterloo ON.
After your tomatoes have blooms,
go out early in the morning when
the dew is still on them and brush
your hand over the blooms. This
pollinates them quicker and they
set tomatoes sooner.
Joy Cockrum, Meadow Lake AB.
Put a package of matches in the
hole when you transplant
tomatoes. The sulphur makes the
tomatoes larger and sweeter.
Excellent!
Margaret Varga, Kelowna BC.
To prevent tomato skins from
splitting, you need to give them a
Last year I had one tomato
seedling left with no place to put
it, so I planted it right in the
compost pile. It had three times
more tomatoes than the ones I
pampered.
Donna Fleet, Woodstock ON.
Water your tomatoes with
lukewarm water. Cold water will
stop them from growing for up to
eight hours. Use green manure to
water them with (one-third parts
green plants, and two-thirds parts
water). Let stand for seven days,
then pour onto plants.
Brenda Volke, Kelowna BC.
Sprinkle baking soda on the soil
around plants to keep pests away.
145
G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
It also cuts back on the tomatoes
acidity.
Bill Jewell, Elnora AB.
WAT E R M E L O N
When enough fruit is fully grown, I
snip eight to ten inches off the vine
ends to encourage faster ripening
of the fruit.
For the sweetest, tastiest
watermelon include the equivalent
of two double handfuls of chicken
manure (well rotted) at planting
time. When July arrives, repeat
and keep plants well watered.
Harvest when ready and enjoy a
dazzling, mouth-watering treat.
Robert Cerna, Port Burwell ON.
Kathy Hildebrand, Halbstadt MB.
Rather than waiting for fully
matured watermelons, pick them
while they are still young and
about two inches in diameter.
Steam them and serve with butter.
Tastes great!
Mrs. S. King, Bengough SK.
For early watermelons use large
plastic garbage bags, puncture
three holes in each and place on
the melon mound. Warm water
will drip from the bag and onto the
plants during cold nights. This
produces early and larger melons.
H. MacDonald, Maryvale NS.
Delightful Flower Tips
A LY S S U M
I like to plant some white alyssum
behind some petunias in my
flower border. It gives the sense
of depth to the flowerbed.
Diane Garrod, Oakbank MB.
BA B Y ' S B R E AT H
To keep baby's breath from falling
down, I cut the bottom out of a
whiskey barrel and placed it
around the plant. I put a red
pump beside it. It looks like a
barrel of sudsy bubbles!
are effective in choking out wild
portulaca and other noxious
weeds.
Kim Tsuji, Raymond AB.
COSMOS
They self-seed very well. Do not
disturb the ground where you
planted them the year before and
soon you will have a lot of plants.
Move to other parts of the garden
or space them in the same spot.
Helen Graham, Trenton NS.
DELPHINIUM
Cheryl Kayter, Moose Jaw SK.
C AC T U S
Place Christmas cactus outdoors, in
the shade, during the summer to
induce Christmas blooming.
Hazel Westwood, Debolt AB.
CALENDULAS
When allowed to self-seed, they
146
I like to put tomato cages over my
delphiniums when they are small
and they grow into it. It protects
them from the wind.
Olive Kunzelman, Morden MB.
GERANIUMS
Cut four layers of paper towel to
fit the bottom of a small
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
G A R D E N I N G
margarine container. Pour in
warm water - drain off the excess.
With tweezers place seeds, ten to
a container, smooth side up. Put
on the lid and place on top of the
fridge. Check daily - some
germinate in as little as twelve
hours. When three-quarters of an
inch high, carefully transplant to a
soil mixture and give them a lot of
light.
Peggy Sheffield, Swan Lake MB.
Spray a mixture of one tablespoon
epsom salts to one gallon of water
on your geraniums to bring out
leaf color and grow larger leaves.
L. Heinrichs, Lorette MB.
Take cuttings off geraniums and
stick them directly into the soil.
This will provide sturdy young
plants to winter over in the house.
William Brownscombe, Winnipeg MB.
When geranium cuttings are
growing nicely, keep pinching out
the middle leaf and soon new
shoots will start along the stems.
Mrs. D. Poulton, Quill Lake SK.
Petals from strong colored
geraniums can be dried and added
to pot pourri. They keep their
color for at least two years.
T I P S
I M PAT I E N S
Freeze your seeds for one week
before planting.
D. M. Smith, Westlock AB.
L AV E T E R A
Plant flowers along the south side
of a building and they will bloom
continuously until freeze-up.
Mrs. C. Heck, Provost AB.
Directly sow seeds along the fence
of your backyard and garden.
They grow quickly and will
produce large flowers all summer
and into the fall.
Phyllis Kalynchuk, Sherwood Park AB.
LUPINS
To germinate lupin seed, freeze
the seed for at least forty-eight
hours, then soak overnight and
they will sprout sooner. Better
yet, sprinkle the seed on the snow
and let nature take its course. I
have had the best results this way!
Annelle Johnstone, Birch Hills SK.
Joyce Scriver, Consecon ON.
H O L LY H O C K S
Plant hollyhocks where they can
be seen from a window. If you
are a bird watcher, you will be
able to enjoy watching the
hummingbirds at these flower all
summer long.
Sandra Ban, Cupar SK.
147
G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
M O R N I N G G L O RY
Plant seeds at the end of February
in pots. Place them in a south
window. You will need a stick or
branch for them to climb up. Pinch
off the tops after the plant
reaches about two feet. They are
beautiful all summer!
Eda Thompson, Lac La Biche AB.
Start morning glories in your
home. They will start to bloom in
the house, giving you spring color.
Transplant and you have a longer
blooming season.
Angie Coombs, Huntsville ON.
M O N A R DA
Attracts hummingbirds. They love
the color and the perfume.
Marion Stewart, Pinawa MB.
N A S T U RT I U M S
For a wonderful pot of flowers or
in old steel tires on your farm,
plant giant nasturtiums. They
grow fast, are plentiful and easy
to look after. They are also
edible!
D. Hagman, Mayerthorpe AB.
PETUNIAS
If petunias get leggy in midsummer, cut back, mulch with
compost, water well and in no
time they will look springtime
fresh again.
Paula Dixon, Belle River ON.
P H L OX
Use a mild solution of baking soda
and water with a little mild
detergent added to combat
mildew.
Jean Little, Barrie ON.
148
S I LV E R M O U N D
Cut back silver mound in early July
and instead of a leggy plant, you
will have a nice mound in a few
weeks.
Matilda Chmielewski, Manning AB.
S N A P D R AG O N S
Pinch out the center flower stalk
after planting. This encourages
the plant to bush out.
Georgina Sorkilmo, High River AB.
If your snapdragons are growing
tall and lanky due to too much
rain and no sun, pinch the plants
back and there will eventually be
numerous flowers.
Adeline Simpson, Calgary AB.
SWEET PEAS
Plant early in the spring while
frost is still in the ground. I have
used a hammer and a spike to
make the holes for the seeds.
Colleen Wolstenholme, Weekes SK.
Sweet Peas seeds can be grown in
a glass with kleenex. Water
regularly and transplant outside
when they are one to two inches
high.
Rachel Coulter, London ON.
Plant sweet peas with gladiolus
against a short trellis. The sweet
peas bloom first and the gladioli
take over as the sweet peas fade
offering beautiful blooms from
spring to fall.
Susan Kingdon, Valleyview AB.
Along the inside of our backyard
fence I plant thirty-five feet of
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
sweet peas. They climb up a seven
VIOLETS
foot garden net creating a colorful
background for the garden.
Mix one teaspoon of epsom salts
Delores Yung, Watrous SK.
in a liter of water and water your
Sweet peas do well if planted as
African
violets with this once a
early as possible (even if there is
month. This will keep them
still a bit of snow around) on the
blooming all summer.
east side of a building or fence.
Irene Jamieson, Boyle AB.
Provide a trellis or wire support as
they may reach eight or nine feet
in height. Pick the blooms
ZINNIAS
frequently. They make one of the
nicest gift bouquets!
To continue seeing your zinnias
Louise Hathaway, Lloydminster AB.
Plunge fresh cut sweet peas into
hot tap water to instantly release
their scent into your home.
bloom throughout the summer,
pinch back the faded flowers. This
causes the nutrients to go the the
remaining blooms.
Heather Parsons, Calgary AB.
G. Corbey, Oak River MB.
Beneficial Companion Planting
Parsley planted among roses
enhances their fragrance and also
discourages pests.
Eva Chernishenko, Virgil ON.
makes harvesting doubly
rewarding!
Leonard Mailloux, Tilbury ON.
Plant a row of flowers in your
vegetable garden to attract the
bees for pollination.
Mix your carrot and radish seeds
when planting. As you pull out
the radishes, you will not have to
thin the carrots.
Katie Deslauriers, Preeceville SK.
Mary Semchuk, Regina SK.
Plant sweet peas with your regular
garden peas. They give a lot of
color and scent when you are
working in the garden. You will
also need only one set of wire for
the climbers.
S. Daigle, 100 Mile House BC.
To save space, sow radish and
lettuce together in the same row.
Radish will mature and get picked
early, leaving the lettuce, which
takes longer, to finish growing
and fill out the row.
Hilda McPhail, Belmont MB.
Plant peas and bush beans in
double rows eight to ten inches
apart with a row of compost in
between. As the plants grow
together, they shade their roots to
retain moisture and prevent
weeds from robbing the nutrients
supplied by the compost. Also
Plant bush beans with potatoes.
Beans help repel the potato beetle
and potatoes repel the bean
beetle. They are best companions
planted in alternate rows.
Gloria Parker, Hazlet SK.
149
G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
I usually plant cucumbers in the
nasturtiums, poppies and
shade of the corn. This way they
marigolds, which attract the
do not wilt in the hot sun. A cloth
insects that eat aphids and other
dipped in a tub of water and
pests.
draped over the edge, acts as a
Richard Wandler, Fox Valley SK.
self-waterer and works well in
Scatter spinach seeds between
hot, dry weather.
Angela Jarvie, Kinosota MB.
cucumbers or between onions.
You will get larger spinach leaves
I plant sweet peas in between my
and you save space.
sunflowers so they can grow up
V. Bizon, Edmonton AB.
the stalk.
We plant lettuce in the shade of
Daniel Braithwaite, Landis SK.
corn. The lettuce still gets the sun
Plant several scarlet runner beans
it needs to grow, but is protected
about twelve inches in from the
stem of a trellised honeysuckle
from the intense sun that makes it
vine. The beans will use the vine
fail to thrive in late summer.
Madeleine Blades, Jordan Falls NS.
branches for support and will
provide blooms when the vine
Plant radishes and parsnips
does not. It also keeps the
together in the same row. The
hummingbirds coming.
Barbara Bolce, Caledon East ON.
radishes come up first and help
break the way for the parsnips.
Marilyn Hoegl, Lloydminster SK.
Seed radishes and beets together.
When the radishes are done, your
I grow poppies in my vegetable
beets are well thinned out.
garden. They come up every year,
Sylvia Woloshyn, Kuroki SK.
and grow throughout the garden.
Plant onions between broccoli and
Alice Willard, North Cobalt ON.
cauliflower to prevent green
worms from attacking the plants.
Plant garlic with tomatoes to repel
Linda Teskey, Sudbury ON.
red spider mites.
Janice Cunningham, Fairview AB.
I plant marigolds among my
potatoes. They keep the bugs
Beets do not mind partial shade.
away and add color to the potato
Grow
them between tall rows of
patch.
Helena Archibald, Glenwood AB.
other crops.
Alvina Sobus, Nokomis SK.
Plant annual poppies in the row
with onions and radishes to
prevent worms in these
vegetables.
Vera Chambers, Wabamun AB.
To have healthy tomatoes, seed
helpful partners such as
150
We plant dwarf nasturtium seeds
around the base of corn. The
nasturtiums provide a great source
of water retention for the corn
and an abundant display of color.
Cheryl Whittle, Edmonton AB.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
I use old peas and beans to help
replenish my rock gardens. Toss
the seeds between perennials.
When they germinate, they grow
long before the regular flowers.
Then I snip them down to add
valuable compost to my rock
garden.
borage, with my tomatoes. It is
amazing to see the number of
bees that this attractive herb
brings to our garden. We have
noticed an increase in our tomato
crops as well as the cucumbers and
anything else which benefits from
bee pollination.
Bonny Hagen, Prince George BC.
M. Lessmeister, Lake Lenore SK.
Plant four to six radish seeds in the
middle of each mound of squash,
pumpkin, zucchini or cucumber. Let
the radishes bloom. The striped
cucumber beetles have stayed away
from my crops.
Maureen Pardy, Bear River NS.
Plant thyme as a companion for
dill. Aphids do not like it.
M. Koshelanyk, Paradise Hill SK.
My husband and I grow a large
patch of tomatoes each year. I
have been growing the herb,
Plant onions and mint together to
discourage root maggots in the
onions.
B. Davis, Livelong SK.
Sunflowers planted among the
corn help to keep away the "corn
borer" which attacks the corn.
Mary MacKenzie, Meagher's Grant NS.
Plant sunflowers beside your
potatoes. The potato bugs go to
the sunflower plants instead of
your potatoes. There is no need
to dust your plants.
Linda Main, Richer MB.
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G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
I plant garlic beside each of my
rose bushes. A very effective way
to keep my rose bushes insect free.
Pat Bolen, Salmon Arm BC.
If you have a small garden area,
plant vegetables and flowers in
different "plots" of various
geometric designs. This makes for
a higher yield as well as a very
interesting conversation piece.
Leona Wall, Vermilion Bay ON.
discourage tomato hornworm.
Florence Fawcett, Stratford ON.
If gardening space is limited, I
plant carrots in my flowerbed.
The fern-like tops make a nice
backdrop for the colorful blooms.
M. Fedoryshyn, Falcon Lake MB.
Plant garlic in your row of onions
and you will not have onion
maggots.
Debbie Ash, Glentworth SK.
I plant scarlet runner beans
around my apple tree. No harm
to the tree and the bees love it.
Anne Lenko, Sangudo AB.
Mix parsley seeds with parsnip and
carrot seeds. The parsley and
parsnips seem to germinate better
in the same row with carrots.
Stella Sloboda, Henribourg SK.
Plant herbs in flowerbeds near the
house. They add attractive foliage
and aromas.
I always plant marigolds between
cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower
to deter bugs. A row crop cover
ensures protection to young
plants.
Linda Franklin, Chetwynd BC.
Transplant head lettuce or
romaine between broccoli plants.
They appreciate the shade and are
usually harvested before the
broccoli heads are up.
Lorraine Falcioni, North Augusta ON.
You will not have worms in your
onions if you plant onions and
carrots together or plant a row of
carrots close to the onions.
We grow our pumpkins under our
old apple tree and train the vines
to grow up the branches of the
tree. In the fall, you see yellow
fruit hanging down or sitting on
the tree branches.
Laura Thompson, Lloydminster SK.
Mrs. I. Maslanko, Fruitvale BC.
Barbara Plett, Landmark MB.
I plant early spinach and squash in
the same bed. The spinach is
harvested by the time the squash
plants are taking up space. A
handful of zinnia seeds in
amongst the squash is also nice.
They pop up through the tangled
vines and look very pretty.
Devina Brookman, Chemainus BC.
Plant calendula flowers on both
sides of tomato plants to
152
I plant pumpkins and squash
among my daffodils. By the time
the plants are up, the daffodils
have finished their spring show
and I save space.
Ruth Chorney, Rose Valley SK.
Plant tomatoes between
asparagus and you will have
virtually no asparagus beetles.
Marie Mcintosh, Brussels ON.
If you do not have room for a
vegetable garden, plant bronze
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G A R D E N I N G
leaf lettuce in your border and a
tomato plant between your
flowers and chives as an edging.
Plant sugar snap peas and pole
beans with your morning glories
and sweet peas.
Sonja Pawliw, Yorkton SK.
To all organic gardeners!! Did you
ever try creating a wild vegetable
& flower garden? Mix tomatoes,
okra, carrots, cabbages,
T I P S
strawberries, peppers, onions,
garlic, herbs, pansies, nasturtiums,
etc. (whatever you want, but
make sure every plant gets
sufficient sunlight). When the
plants mature, you will notice
there are less diseases and
unwelcomed bugs but most of all
you will have healthy, organic
vegetables & flowers!
Niko Mejia, Calgary AB.
Wholesome Storage Methods
BEANS
When cooking green or yellow
beans (fresh or frozen) I always
use one small to medium onion
(diced, sliced or whole). For those
who do not like onions, use the
whole onion and discard it when
the beans are cooked. It takes the
"rawness" taste out of the beans.
Shirley Halpape, Calgary AB.
BEETS
Dry beet greens, crumble them
and add to soups and stews for a
better flavor and nutrition.
Nancy Timm, Wildwood AB.
B RO C C O L I
To get rid of worms, soak heads of
broccoli in warm water with a
drop of vinegar for 15 minutes.
Christine Adler, Port Carling ON.
B RU S S E L S S P RO U T S
To have brussels sprouts far into
the winter, cut stalks at the soil
level after first frost. Remove
leaves and lower sprouts and
keeps stalks in buckets, with a bit
of water, in a cold shed or garage.
Sprouts keep fresh for several
months.
Elizabeth L'Windt, Eastern Passage NS.
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G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
C A R ROT S
When carrots are cleaned and
stored in plastic bags in the fridge
crisper, they will keep as fresh as
from the garden for three to four
months. Excellent!
Leslie Rutledge, Dawson Creek BC.
To keep carrots, cut off the tops
and bottoms (so there is no
chance of them growing) and
layer them in a container with
peat moss.
Olive Macrae, Eastend SK.
For longer storage of carrots put
semi-moist garden soil on the top
of a pail that is three-quarters full
of carrots (cut tops off and do not
wash the carrots). Store in a cool
place. Carrots will last until
spring.
Marcus Sannerud, Battleford SK.
In the fall, I purchase a few
inexpensive laundry bags of meshlike fabric. I rinse the carrots, cut
off the tops and place them
loosely in the bags. Put them in
the washing machine, on gentle
cycle, using cold water wash and
rinse. The carrots are ready for
pickling, cooking or eating. A
great time saver!
Gail Meir, Dauphin MB.
CORN
After picking corn on the cob,
immerse it immediately in cold
water. It will be sweeter when
cooked or prepared for the
freezer.
Carol Oelke, Leduc AB.
For fresh tasting corn, freeze it
without blanching. Husk corn,
154
remove silks, then wrap cob in the
husks and cover with plastic wrap.
Store in a brown paper bag, then
in a plastic bag and place in the
freezer.
M. Kerber, Saskatoon SK.
CUCUMBERS
Before pickling, never soak the
cucumbers in water. They will fill
up with water, which prevents the
brine from soaking in. This is the
reason for most pickle failures.
Gloria Mock, Medicine Hat AB.
HERBS
Bring delicate herbs, such as
rosemary, in for the winter and replant them in the spring.
Lori Lane, Red Deer AB.
When herbs are ready to dry, pull
the plant out, gently wash the
entire plant and pin the plant root
to the clothesline. They dry very
well.
Eva Digney, Raymore SK.
After harvest, hang herbs in
bunches to dry. The best place to
hang them is someplace dark,
with good ventilation, low
humidity and soft breezes (e.g. a
dry attic or loft). When dry, store
in jars away from light and heat.
Lenora McDonald, Brandon MB.
KO H L R A B I
A nice addition to cucumber,
tomato, and lettuce salads is cut
up sticks of kohlrabi. Wrapped in
plastic wrap, kohlrabi will keep in
the refrigerator for months.
Irene Boehm, Hodgeville SK.
ONIONS
To dry onions, put them in a nylon
stocking. Tie the stocking after
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
G A R D E N I N G
each one, so if one spoils, it will
not affect the rest. Fill the stocking
and hang it on the clothesline until
the onions are dried. When you
want an onion, just cut the
stocking below the knot.
T I P S
out the stems and place the
tomatoes in plastic bags. Once you
take them from the freezer, dip
them in hot water and the skins
come off easily.
Thelma Smith, Dryden ON.
Eileen Winters, Frontier SK.
PEAS
A time saving tip when canning
peas: blanch them for three
minutes in hot (not boiling) water.
Dip them out with a wire sieve and
into cold water, saving the hot
water for the next batch. While
still warm, shell the blanched peas.
Annie Penner, Altona MB.
PEPPERS
Plant a few pepper plants in pots
and sink them in the garden. Then
in the fall they will produce
indoors for many weeks.
TURNIPS
To keep turnips fresh for weeks,
wash them and put them in a large
plastic bag with small holes
punched in it to allow them to
"breathe". Small whole turnips
can be washed, then put in the
freezer for soups or stews. When
you take them out of the freezer,
put them in cold water for just a
few minutes (do not let them
thaw). Peel and cut them when
the flesh part is still frozen. They
are very sweet.
Joyce Gauthier, Cochrane ON.
Kristina Altun, Kelowna BC.
ZUCCHINI
PUMPKINS
Freeze pumpkin in one or two cup
packages to be in required
quantities commonly used in
recipes.
Dorothy Nelson, High Bluff MB.
TO M ATO E S
When the growing season for
tomatoes has ended, pick the vines
(roots and all) containing the
unripened tomatoes. Bunch the vines
together and tie them. Hang them
upside down and store them in a
cool, dark place. This will provide you
with fresh tomatoes for an extra few
months during the winter season.
Zucchini can take the place of
cucumbers in mustard pickles and
no one will know the difference.
J. Mercer, Hinton AB.
OT H E R
Reserve combined summer veggie
bits (almost any combination
except beets). Dice (if required),
steam, blanch or dehydrate and
store in air tight jars. Add to
leftover meat, fowl juices or
broths. Simmer with half a cup of
rice, barley or pasta. Season and
serve. Makes an excellent soup!
K. Lindstrom, Halifax NS.
Selina Fry, Brigus NF.
When freezing whole tomatoes cut
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G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
"No-Nonsense" Pest Control
Used coffee grounds will get rid of
ants in the garden and in the
house.
Louise Rice, Terrace BC.
Hot pepper spray for aphids: mix
half a cup of finely chopped hot
pepper with one pint of water. Let
stand for twenty-four hours and
then simmer for a short time. Cool
and strain. Add a small amount of
soap solution to coat the plant. It
kills the aphids on contact.
Madeline Gibson, St. Stephen NB.
Boil one garlic bulb and some
rhubarb leaves together for ten
minutes. Strain and cool. Add
three tablespoons of dish
detergent. Mix thoroughly and
use as a spray for aphids and
other bugs on plants.
Ruby Milligen, Didsbury AB.
Boil rhubarb leaves, old hand soap
bars and garlic. Spray on fruit
trees to kill aphids and other
bugs. Environmentally friendly!
Elizabeth Stewart, Invermere BC.
A truly organic spray for aphids
and many other pests: juice or
grind three large onions, six large
garlic cloves and two tablespoons
of tabasco sauce. Strain through
an old nylon stocking and add to
one gallon of water and one
teaspoon of dish soap. Put in a
sprayer. Use only after natural
pollination time.
spray with a solution of dish
detergent and water.
Marie Petrie, New Waterford NS.
To control bugs on fruit trees,
crush a clove of garlic, mix with
water and spray on the tree.
Rosalie Gardezi, Sault Ste. Marie ON.
If you want to have your radishes
free of bugs, just sprinkle a thin
layer of garlic powder in the row,
plant your seeds and cover with
soil.
W. Forstbauer, Fort Steele BC.
To keep bugs away from rose
bushes and flowering plants, use
this natural formula: to one gallon
of water, add one onion and a
clove of garlic (peeled). Leave for
twenty-four hours and spray on
the bushes.
Helen Belisle, Kerrobert SK.
Sage scattered on cabbage family
plants, repels the cabbage
butterflies.
V. Ford, Calgary AB.
Vega Johnson, Kaslo BC.
An inexpensive and effective way
to rid houseplants and garden
plants of aphids and other pests,
156
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G A R D E N I N G
To prevent aphids in the garden or
flowerbeds, plant chives, garlic or
herbs among your plants.
R. Huber, Regina SK.
Spread old, sheer curtains over
your cabbages and no cabbage
butterflies can get in. Hold the
curtains down with rocks or
stakes.
Patricia Suhan, St. Lina AB.
Place a chunk of rhubarb in the
hole when transplanting
cauliflower, broccoli or cabbage.
This helps to keep the root weevil
beetles away.
Wendy Rocco, Duncan BC.
Drizzle cabbage plants with a
mixture of vinegar and icing sugar
to stop cabbage butterflies.
M. Patterson, Ottawa ON.
To keep ants away in the summer
when children often spill sweet
drinks, keep a fresh piece of
cucumber (preferably the end, it
lasts longer) under the sink.
Christina Holtby, Surrey BC.
Sprinkling boric acid or baking
soda under the kitchen sink will
rid your house of cockroaches.
When they get back to their
hiding places, they will lick their
feet and die.
Mrs. B. Wuorijarvi, Thunder Bay ON.
T I P S
Sprinkle corn meal on your
cabbages to eliminate worms.
L. Ford, Nepean ON.
When planting cabbage plants
into the garden, wrap the stem
with a piece of wax paper to
prevent cutworm damage.
Dora Bzowy, Dauphin MB.
To stop cutworms from cutting off
your bedding plants, sprinkle
yellow cornmeal around the base
of the plants.
Alva Albers, Christopher Lake SK.
To rid your garden of certain pests
and insects, sprinkle garlic salt on
the ground around peas, beans, etc.
Louise Gauthier, Val Gagne ON.
In early spring, slice a grapefruit
and put it around the trunk and
base of peach trees. Earwigs, etc.
will not bother the tree or the
fruit.
R. McNiven, Nanaimo BC.
To keep the earwig population
down, I use the following mixture:
fill a five gallon watering can with
hot water, add half a tablespoon
of liquid dish detergent and mix
thoroughly. Pour into the cracks
of fences, trellises and around the
foundation of the house. This is
most effective in late spring when
the earwigs are still young.
L. Carson, Vancouver BC.
A used dryer sheet placed around
new bedding and vegetable plants
prevents cutworms. The dryer
sheet eventually rots in the
ground.
C. Poole, Calgary AB.
To catch and kill earwigs, mix one
tablespoon of molasses, one
tablespoon of oil, one teaspoon of
yeast and one cup of water. Set
out in cans.
Carol MacNeil, Tantallon NS.
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G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
To get rid of aphids, mix a few
soap flakes and one teaspoon of
baking soda in one liter of water.
Spray on the plants. Test one or
two plants first to make sure the
soda does not burn the infested
plant.
Mrs. A. Seaman, Hanna AB.
A safe way to cure fire blight in
fruit trees is to mix equal amounts
of apple cider vinegar and water.
Spray it on the trees early in the
spring and through the growing
season if needed.
For bug spray, mix together one
gallon of water, one tablespoon of
tabasco sauce, one tablespoon of
liquid dishwashing detergent and
one quart of rubbing alcohol. I
spray all my flowers and shrubs
with this mixture before entering
them in the fair and all the bugs
are off my plants. It can be sprayed
on the garden and yard too.
R. Olson, Toronto ON.
To keep maggots out of onions,
plant spruce needles with the
onion seeds or sets.
Peggy Ewacha, Zhoda MB.
Clare Carlson, Camrose AB.
Basil repels flies and mosquitoes.
I use cayenne pepper and garlic
powder around my onions. It
seems to keep the bugs away.
Kim Jespersen, Pickardville AB.
After seeding turnips, cover with
old sheer curtains to protect the
seedlings from flea beetles. The
seedlings will lift the curtains
while growing and will still get
plenty of light as well as rain.
K. Klassen, Burlington ON.
Try planting a variety of aromatic
plants such as chives, dill, basil and
garlic in the garden to help
control pests.
Marian Malowany, Regina SK.
Anne Plummer, Saskatoon SK.
Take a gallon of water and one
cup of vinegar. Pour it into a row
and plant your onion bulbs and
watch them grow. No maggots!
Anne Woytiuk, Krydor SK.
We had trouble with radishes
getting worms in them so we
sprinkled sulphur in the row with
the seeds. No more worms!
Christina Brechin, Bruce Mines ON.
When planting my radishes and
carrots in the same row, I scatter a
few black tea leaves in the soil. It
seems to keep the pests away
from the radishes.
Spreading bulk bran flakes around
hostas will deter slugs. This also
works on cutworms when planting
beans.
Dorothy Loffler, Salmon Arm BC.
Nancy Gill, Vernon River PE.
Citronella plants help to keep
mosquitoes away. Put two or three
on your deck, lightly brush the
foliage and it will discharge a lemony
scent that mosquitoes do not like.
To keep potato beetles away, roll
the potato seed in bone meal and
let dry overnight before planting.
I have done this for two years and
have not had any potato bugs.
Sharon Pearson, Golden BC.
Glennis Hopkins, Clanwilliam MB.
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G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
Clever Animal Tactics
BEARS
A bright light on a motion sensor
keeps bears out of the compost
pile.
Doug Pederson, Hagensborg BC.
BIRDS
To keep the birds from eating
your lettuce, strawberries, etc. put
a string between two stakes over
your rows and hang aluminum foil
"bows" from the string.
Dorothy McDonald, Assiniboia SK.
I hang aluminum tart shell cups in
my saskatoon trees to repel the
birds.
Dawn Holmlund, Wetaskiwin AB.
To keep birds from raiding your
berry bushes, cut up orange
garbage bags into strips and tie
them to your bushes. The orange
strips seem to confuse the birds
and they will leave your berries
alone.
Helen Machura, Vilna AB.
For easy to make scarecrows that
keep birds away, spray paint
aluminum pie plates yellow. Hang
them in the garden. You can also
coat your foil pan scarecrows with
cooking oil. The yellow sticky
surface attracts and traps many
damaging insects.
Eileen Telawsky, New Sarepta AB.
C AT S
To prevent our saskatoons from
being eaten by robins, I sewed a
tent made of nylon sheer. We
used bricks to hold it down. It lets
in light but not the birds.
Sprinkle used coffee grounds in
your flower beds to prevent cats
from digging in them.
Anne Wilkie, Regina SK.
Surround your vegetable and
flower garden with marigolds. It
keeps cats from digging there and
encourages bees for pollination.
Slip small rubber bands over corn
ears to keep the birds from eating
them.
Audrie Seidl, Biggar SK.
Joy Edmonds, Brandon MB.
Mrs. L. Stanley, Gainsborough SK.
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G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
To keep cats and dogs out of your
flowerbeds, sprinkle liberally with
black pepper. The animals dislike
the smell.
Mary Highmoor, Glenavon SK.
along the east edge of the
garden. Even the slightest breezes
created a continuous motion and
whirring sound. I also left trailing
tape (three feet long) at each
stake, which the breezes could
whip about.
Lay wire decorative fence
segments in your flowerbed to
keep cats away. You can plant in
between the wires and the cats
will stay away because they do
not like scratching against the
wire bars.
To keep deer out of my garden, I
hang Irish Spring hand soap on
four foot stakes every twenty to
thirty feet.
Janice Gattinger, Neudorf SK.
Charles Levean, Whitney ON.
To deter cats from digging in the
garden or flowerbeds, sprinkle
crushed chili pepper or any strong
odoured spice on top of the soil
around plants. Repeat after a rain
or watering.
To repel deer, save your old tea
bags and coffee grounds. Scatter
them around your plants, etc. Deer
hate it and it is good for the soil.
Gale Biloski, Thunder Bay ON.
C OW S
I live on a farm and the cows
reach through the fence into the
garden. Instead of leaving a two
foot empty space, I plant
marigolds along the fence. The
cows will not reach over the
marigolds to get at anything else.
M. Simulik, Edmonton AB.
Margaret Engler, Qualicum Beach BC.
We have not had any deer in our
garden since we hung yellow
plastic bags on posts in and
around the garden.
Boyd Nicolson, Shaunavon SK.
DOGS
Spread coffee grounds around the
base of your fruit trees to
discourage free running dogs.
D.Watson, The Pas MB.
Kate Wittman, Vibank SK.
MICE
DEER
After years of deer feeding in my
garden, I finally solved my
problem simply, inexpensively and
effectively. I pounded two, four
foot wooden stakes into the
ground fifty feet apart, centered
along the south garden edge.
Using "Birds Away" tape (one-half
inch wide, shiny) I tied it to the
tops of the stakes after twirling it.
I repeated the same procedure
160
Cayenne pepper sprinkled around
your trees and shrubs discourages
mice from chewing on them over
the winter.
D. Gonet, Haines Junction YT.
To deter mice we place natural
blood meal on our asparagus bed.
The mice stay away from the
animal odor and blood meal is
also a good fertilizer.
Ingeborg Olund, Abbotsford BC.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
G A R D E N I N G
MOLES
T I P S
RO D E N T S
If you are having problems with
moles in your garden, chew up
some gum and lay it near the
mole holes.
To keep small rodents away from
your plants, sprinkle blood meal
around them. It also nourishes
the plants.
Marvin Parker, Listowel ON.
Louise Elstad, Stratton ON.
MOOSE
I make small bags out of rags, fill
them with mothballs and hang
them from the trees. It keeps the
moose from eating the fruit trees.
Philip Gaultois, Stephenville NF.
RABBITS
Plant onions around the perimeter
of your garden to discourage
rabbits.
Jennifer Duncan, Glen Robertson ON.
R AC C O O N S
To discourage raccoons from
getting at your corn, plant squash
among the corn. The raccoons do
not like getting tangled in the
sharp vines.
Lloyd Jackson, St. Stephen NB.
When planting rows of corn, I
leave room in between the seeds
of corn to plant cucumbers.
Raccoons, who love corn, will stay
away because the cucumber plants
become tangled up in their low
straddle. The cucumber plants
also appreciate the shade of the
corn in the hot sun.
Plant tansy at frequent intervals
(in containers to prevent
spreading) in the garden. It keeps
squirrels, mice, rabbits and
raccoons out.
Audre Andrews, Gananoque QC.
S QU I R R E L S
Save orange and lemon peels in
the freezer. In the spring, bury
the peels just below the surface of
your soil. It will deter squirrels
from digging in your garden.
Louisa Reed, Grand Forks BC.
WO O D P E C K E R S
Do you have trouble with
woodpeckers attacking your
buildings and trees? Make a paste
of cooked jalapeno peppers and
spread with a brush over the
surfaces to deter the pests. Be
sure to wear gloves when
handling peppers.
Shari Howe, Foam Lake SK.
Evangie Michalenko, Hafford SK.
Sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes
in flower beds where raccoons
and other animals dig for grubs
and worms.
Dan Diebolt, Fergus ON.
161
G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
"Fun And Rewarding" Tips
Use your lawn mower to chop up
your potato and tomato vines, if
you do not have a shredder, when
preparing your garden for the fall.
It is easy to roto-till them into the
soil.
Put your seeds in the deep freezer
for a week before planting. Plant
them as soon as you take them
out and watch the germination
rate improve.
Kathy Sarrazin, Salmon Arm BC.
Pat Thibault, Saskatoon SK.
When you are mixing powders to
use in your sprayer, add two
tablespoons of lemon juice to
three gallons of spray. It helps to
dissolve the powder and does not
clog the sprayer. Mix well.
Place three pennies in your vase
for cut flowers. The flowers will
last twice as long.
James Griffin, Chilliwack BC.
Place foam in the bottom of your
hanging planters. If you are away
for a few days, the water will soak
into the foam and your plants will
stay moist.
Margaret Ellis, Sylvania SK.
Use your old electric frying pan to
warm "heat loving seeds". Place a
folded towel in the bottom and
place pots of tomato, squash, etc.
seeds on the towel. Cover with
the lid and with the vent open.
Set the temperature control to
ultra low. Check seeds two or
three times every day. Remove the
pots when seeds have sprouted.
Maureen Evans, Chatsworth ON.
Delores Karbon, Carrot Creek AB.
Mrs. Charles Dodge, Cabri SK.
Line plant pots with paper coffee
filters to keep the potting soil in
the pot. The used coffee grounds
can also be salvaged and used in
trenches while planting onions
and other maggot prone seeds.
Anita Ring, Pilot Butter SK.
Instead of chemical powders, I use
flour mixed with black pepper
(one teaspoon pepper to one cup
flour). Sprinkle this on all
vegetables and flowers. It is good
for beetles, worms, moths, etc. It
is cheaper and organic!
Saras Naidoo, Battleford SK.
Conserve water: leave a couple of
buckets or any container out in
the rain. During dry periods, use
that water for plants and shrubs.
Ivo Arena, Nepean ON.
Water patio plants with cooled
potato water for more lush leaves
and flowers.
Helen Dunbar, Drumheller AB.
Recycle small soap pieces. Put
them in a mesh onion bag and tie
it to your outdoor tap. It serves as
a good scrubber when washing
your hands.
162
For organic gardeners: When
starting seed indoors, a strong
chamomile tea solution misted on
young plants will help prevent
damping off. Brew it as you
would for drinking but let it steep
overnight, then strain.
B. Scharf, McLeese Lake BC.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
G A R D E N I N G
For growing seedlings on a
window sill, place a mirror behind
the pots so the light is reflected
back on the seedlings.
Jackie Souliers, St. John's NF.
If you have no composter, bury
kitchen waste (peelings, coffee
grounds, tea bags, etc.) between
your rows in the garden. Dig it in
to improve your soil.
E. Rusnak, Prince George BC.
Do not be afraid to try new
vegetables and flowers. It
enhances the pleasure of home
gardening.
Aina Miltins, Calgary AB.
Collect clear plastic shower caps
and punch holes in them. Put
over seedlings. The caps work as a
small greenhouse.
K. Hall, Sherwood Park AB.
To give a bouquet of cut flowers
longer life try this homemade
preservative: two tablespoons of
freshly squeezed lemon juice, one
tablespoon of sugar, one and a
half teaspoons of bleach and one
quart of water. Mix the
ingredients and add half a cup to
the container of flowers.
D. Horvey, Cabri SK.
T I P S
Mix handfuls of regular flour with
your small seeds. As you sow the
seeds, the amount of flour on the
soil will show where seed
coverage is especially light or
heavy.
Florence Melnyk, Vegreville AB.
For northern climate composts, try
running your vegetable waste
through a blender first, before
adding it to the compost pile. You
will find a much faster decaying
time and a more useable soil the
next spring.
Chris Wild, Grande Prairie AB.
Save the plastic holders, from six
packs of pop, to make great
trellises for climbing plants by
attaching them together with
twist ties. The holders are very
strong and invisible for when the
plants grow up them. You will
help save the birds and fish from
getting caught in them when they
are left on the beach or in
campgrounds.
Anne Hebel, St. Laurent MB.
Plant seeds into dampened tea
bags. They will germinate well.
Doris Cholowski, Radway AB.
To enjoy your fresh cut flowers
longer, place them in a vase with
regular 7-UP or Sprite.
To speed up slow germinating
seeds such as carrots, leek and
parsnips, soak them in hot tea for
a few hours. Use one tea bag per
cup of boiling water and add a
drop of dishwashing detergent. I
soak most of my seeds in
lukewarm water overnight.
When transplanting your plants,
add a shake or two of cinnamon
to the soil. This is a natural
fungicide and will help protect
young or damaged roots.
Helen Isaackson, Saskatoon SK.
Neville MacKay, Tantallon NS.
Cheryl Merkley, Sioux Lookout ON.
163
G A R D E N I N G
T I P S
Recycle used styrofoam cups and
plates by crushing them and using
them in the bottom of planters
and pots instead of rocks.
is a good place to put your garden
tools, gloves, etc. They will always
be handy and stay dry.
Mrs. N. Chernish, Athabasca AB.
Sheena Read, Nanton AB.
Mark plant locations with labelled
popsicle sticks to prevent
accidental destruction. Also make
a diagram, cut and paste
catalogue pictures and write-ups.
Instant recall about size, needs,
leaf appearance, height, blooming
times, etc!
If you usually root your cuttings in
water, use a plastic cottage cheese
container. Cut holes into the lid
and put a plant through each
hole. The lid will hold the cutting
in place. Later lift the lid and cut
it to free the rooted plants.
J. Loepelmann, Edmonton AB.
Margaret Coben, Perdue SK.
When starting plants indoors or
out, mix a small amount of plain
gelatin with the fine seeds. The
tint of the gelatin makes the seeds
easy to see and also nourishes
them.
Place a mailbox in your garden. It
Celine Catellier, Dufrost MB.
G. Kowal, Russell MB.
Use a pair of tweezers to
transplant small seedlings like
petunias, lobelia, etc.
164
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
G A R D E N I N G
As an additional seed starter tray, I
use foam egg trays.
Ethel Rushton, Edmonton AB.
I transplant cabbage, tomatoes,
etc. into styrofoam cups. When it
is time to plant them in the
garden, the bottom half is cut off
and the top half serves as a collar
against cutworms.
Michael Klym, Ste. Anne MB.
The plastic containers that cakes
come in (the domed kind) make
ideal rooting terrariums. They let
the light in and keep moisture in.
Judy Clark, Regina SK.
To kill sod without heavy digging,
I mulch with layers of newspaper
and follow with two to three
inches of topsoil. Seeds can then
be planted on top. The
newspapers will decompose.
Margery Coons, Schomberg ON.
Put water in black drums so the
sun takes the chill out of it. Never
water plants using ice cold water.
Lou Rocher, Yellowknife YT.
To make the most of your garden
space, at one end of your garden
plant two rows of early maturing
vegetables. In the third row plant
vines and allow them to spread
into the now empty rows.
T I P S
Save your water from cooking
vegetables. Let it cool and pour
onto herbs, salad greens and
flowers. In the winter, use the
water for houseplants.
Diane Federkiewicz, Atmore AB.
When blooms or leaves become
brown snip them off to where
they start being brown. This will
let the nutrients get to the
healthier parts of your plants.
Tracey Yuzik, Prince Albert SK.
To keep fresh cut flowers lasting
longer, cut them early in the
morning. In a vase with water
add one tablespoon of clear corn
syrup and a pinch of bleach. They
will last beautifully for a week.
Lisa Harper, Aurora ON.
Make sure to water your garden
in the morning while the soil is
cool.
M. Robinson, Parksville BC.
My favorite garden clean up tip is
to run the lawnmower over the
dried pea and bean plants. There
is very little time spent in vine
cleanup.
M. Mehler, Tisdale SK.
Lea Dissette, Killarney MB.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
165
THE McKENZIE DIFFERENCE
Net
Wt.
1.5 g
BROCCOLI • CAVOLO
BROCCOLO •
CHOU BROCOLI
RAMOSO CALABRESE
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