Yesterday I received the seed package in the mail for You Grow Girl’s annual Canadian seed exchange round robin. It’s the piece of mail I look forward to the most every year (except, perhaps my income tax refund, which, let’s face it, usually goes toward seasonal gardening expenses, anyway). I’ve had a bag filled with seeds to contribute to the exchange for a couple of months, now. I was the organizer last year and the package didn’t get back to me until late May, so it was a little bit late to start much from seed, unless direct sowing. Happily this year the package came to me mid-exchange, containing lots of yummy heirloom seeds.

The package contents.


I contributed seeds.


I took seeds, too.

  • Urban Harvest Baby Brassica Greens Mix, “a colourful combo of greens to be harvested when small.”
  • The Cottage Gardener, Eggplant “Little Fingers”, “produces an abundant amount of slim, dark purple fruit in clusters of three or more. They can be harvested when no longer than your little finger (hence the name) or they can be left to grow to 6-8” with no sacrifice in taste. These are great for stir-frying or grilling.”
  • The Cottage Gardener, Oxheart Carrot, “short (5-6”) roots are thick (3-4”) & grow to 1 lb quickly. Excellent taste, stores well. Good for heavy soils.”
  • The Cottage Gardener, Lettuce, “Black-Seeded Simpson”, “loose-leaf heirloom has large, green crinkled leaves. Very flavourful. Slow-bolting; drought, heat and frost tolerant.”
  • The Cottage Gardener, Squash, “Early Yellow Crookneck”, “one of the oldest summer squash, it possesses light yellow fruit with (you guessed it) a crooked neck! White, sweet flesh. Pick when skin can be cut with a fingernail. Delicious!”
  • Corn, “Oaxacan Green”.
  • Tomato, Striped German, an heirloom I haven’t tried.
  • Tomato, purple plum, another one I haven’t tried.
  • Broccoli
  • Richter’s, Sparkler Radish, “Globe shaped root of deep scarlet and pure-white tips. Holds its crisp, mild flavour long after maturing, never becoming hollow at the heart. Delicious when steamed slightly and served drizzled with plain or herb and garlic seasoned butter. Lovely for salads, garnish and appetizers.”
  • Dragon fruit cactus. I’ve never grown cactus, let alone from seed, so this might be interesting.
  • Calendula, mixed. Great cut flowers and attracts beneficial insects.

Comments (3)