Download our How To Grow Our Seeds PDF here! 

How To Grow Our Seeds is a collaboration between those of us here at the Methow Valley Seed Collective and Dana Visalli of The Methow Naturalist. Many thanks goes to Dana for his years of work on natural history, organic gardening, and sustainable culture. 

Below is a web version of the content in the PDF. 

 

Directory 

Arugula ~ Basil ~ Beans-Pole ~ Beans-Bush/Dry ~ Beets ~ Broccoli and Caulifower ~ Cabbage ~ Carrots ~ Cilantro ~ Corn ~ Cucumber ~ Eggplant ~ Kale ~ Lettuce ~ Melon ~ Onions ~ Parsley ~ Peas-snap/shell ~ Peppers ~ Spinach ~ Squash-Summer, ~ Squash-Winter ~ Tomatoes ~

 

 

Plant is frost hardy; bolts to flower and seed in heat. Can use flowers in salad. Frequent watering reduces pungency.

Can be started from seed in the garden on June 10 or planted indoors in April. Extremely frost sensitive.

Poles or trellis should be 6’ tall. Keep soil moist in hot weather. Keep beans picked clean for greater production. Treat seed with inoculant for greater production.

Shallow-rooted; be sure soil is moist in hot weather. Keep plants well picked to encourage new blooms and extend season. Treat seed with inoculant for greater production.

Scab can be prevented by 1) making sure that pH level is near 7.0 (or slightly acidic, 6.5), 2) keep 2 years rotation between beets (or potatoes) in same spot, 3) no wood ashes or fresh manure in soil 4) check for adequate Boron

All of the Brassicias (broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, kale) can be direct-seeded in the garden, or started indoors.

Space small headed cabbages plant at 12”, larger storage cabbages at 24” apart. Keep soil moist. Plants can form small secondary heads after the original is cut.

No fresh manure, which causes hairy roots. Can take 3 weeks to germinate—keep the soil moist. Keep up on the early weeds in carrots.

Flowers are edible. Bolts to flower and seed quickly—keep planting. Let it go to seed for coriander.

Plant corn in at least four rows for adequate wind pollination. Corn is a “heavy feeder” and will be more productive if side-dressed with organic fertilizer while growing..

Plant on trellis to save space. If starting indoors plant in peat pots so roots will not be disturbed. Needs fertile, moist soil. Pick regularly.

Originated in India. Fruits will be larger if some late-blooming flowers and terminal growth is pinched off. Harvest before fruits lose their glossy shine.

Kale has the best flavor after a light frost. Kale that has matured in late summer and fall will stay edible through heavy frost.

Lettuce requires plenty of moisture. Will germinate as low as 40d, often will not germinate over 75d. Can be planted close together and cut off 2” above ground when 4-8” tall—it will grow back several times.

Best to start indoors, but don’t let seedlings become root-bound. Plant in warmest part of garden, or up against south side of shed or house.

Best production when planted as starts. Can be started indoors in crowded flats and transplanted.

Germinates best in cool soil, can take up to 30 days to sprout. Soak seed 4-8 hours before planting.

Treat seed with bacterial inoculant for greater production. Mulch plants and water frequently to keep roots cool. Can be planted on either side of a support fence. Keep picked.

Plant seeds indoors 8-10 wks before last frost. Germinates in 14 days at 70 degrees (may need an electric heating pad or wire), grow at 70 d with night temps not falling below 62 d. Fertilize several times when young.

Replant every two weeks for continuing production. Nitrogen supplied during growth greatly increases size of plants.

Start indoors 3 weeks before last frost, or in garden on June 1. All squash are monoecious (bearing separate male and female flowers on the same plant).

Don’t harvest till stems are brown and “corky”, cure for two weeks at 80° F.

Indeterminate varieties need to be staked, determinate types do not. Sow indoors 6-8 wks before planting (March 15). Growing seedlings in full light and cooler temps, 60-70° to prevents legginess. Plant starts up to first leaves; the stems will root.