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Seed Exchange

Information on Seed Exchange for Durham College/Ontario Tech users.

Growing Specifics

Variety/ Crop For Eating Height Spread Sun Plant Depth Spacing Days to Maturity Notes
Growing specifics for edibles
Basil - Sweet Leaves 12-18" 10-14" Full Sun Spring 1/4" 5" 60-90
  • Start  indoors 4 wks before last frost
Bean - Burgundy Fruit 18" 12" Full Sun Spring 1" 12" 60
  • Use inoculant if desired
Bean - Kentucky Wonder Pole Fruit 108" 12" Full Sun Early Spring 1" 3" 70
  • Use inoculant if desired
  • Requires support
Bean - Mascotte Bush Fruit 20" 24" Full Sun Spring 2" 3" 50-55
  • Use inoculant if desired
Bean - Provider Bush Fruit 18" 10" Full Sun Spring 1" 6" 50-60
  • Use inoculant if desired
Bean - Purple Podded Pole Fruit 72" 18" Full Sun Spring 1" 3" 68
  • Use inoculant if desired
  • Young beans are the most tender
  • Requires support
Bean - Red Noodle Pole Fruit 120" 18" Full Sun Spring 1" 3" 85
  • Use inoculant if desired
  • Requires support
Bean - Scarlet Runner Pole Fruit 72-108" 18" Full Sun Spring 1" 3" 70-115
  • Use inoculant if desired
  • Requires support
Bean - Kents' Edamame Fruit 36" 12" Full Sun Spring 1" 6" 90
  • Use inoculant if desired
  • Requires support
Beet - Chioggia Leaves/ Root 8-10" 12 Full Sun Early Spring 1/2" 3" 54
  • Keep well watered
Beet - Early Wonder Tall Top Leaves/ Root 10-12" 5-8" Full Sun Early Spring 1/2" 3" 47
  • Keep well watered
Beet - Rainbow Leaves/  Root 8-24" 4-6" Full Sun Early Spring 1/2" 3" 45-55
  • Keep well watered
Borage (Starflower) Flower 18" 12-24" Full Sun / Part Sun Spring 1/4" 12" 50-80
  • Keep moist until germination
Carrot - Lunar White Root 12-24" 4" Full Sun Spring 1/8" 2-5" 75
  • Likes sandy soil
  • Keep soil moist until germination occurs, can cover area with burlap or a board to assist
Celery - Red Stalk Stem 12" 6" Full Sun Spring 1/2" 8" 90-130
  • Plant in a trench, fill in slowly as plants grow
  • Requires frequent watering
Chard - Fordhook Giant

Leaves

12-16" 8" Full Sun Spring / Summer 1/4" 6" 60
  • Thin to 12" spacing
Cilantro Leaves 12-18" 12" Full Sun Spring 1/4" 12" 50-55
  • Requires high drainage
Collard Leaves 24-36" 12" Full Sun Early Spring 1/2" 6" 60-65
  • Start ASAP after danger of frost is over
  • Keep moist during growing season
Cucumber - English Telegraph Fruit 6-8" 36-48" Full Sun Spring 1/2" 3 seeds/hill 65
  • Soil must be warm for germination
  • Hills 2 ft apart
  • Try growing vertically on a trellis
Cucumber - Marketmore Fruit 6-8" 36-48" Full Sun Spring 1/2" 4-6 seeds/hill 65
  • Soil must be warm for germination
  • Hills 2 ft apart
  • Try growing vertically on a trellis
Cucumber - Salad bush Fruit 6-8" 26" Full Sun Spring 1/2" 4/6 seeds/hill 57
  • Soil must be warm for germination
  • Hills 2 ft apart
  • Try growing vertically on a trellis
Cucumber - Sweet Armenian Fruit 6-8" 48" Full Sun Spring 1/2" 3 seeds/hill 70
  • Soil must be warm for germination
  • Hills 2 ft apart
  • Try growing vertically on a trellis
Dandelion - Italian Leaves 12-18" 12-18" Full Sun Early Spring 1/4" 6" 92
  • Best eaten young
Dill Leaves / Seeds 18-24" 8-12" Full Sun Spring 1/4" 12" 40-60
  • Water at base of plant to prevent rot
Eggplant - Asian Mix Fruit 18-24" 18-24" Full Sun Early Spring Indoors 1/4" 18" 65
  • Transplant outdoors late spring, early summer
Ground Cherry - Goldie Fruit 24" 36" Full Sun Early Spring Indoors 1/4" 18" 75
  • Start indoors 6 wks before last frost
  • Keep moist until emergence
  • Ripe when husk is papery
Kohlrabi - Purple Vienna Root 12-18" 12" Full Sun Spring 1/4" 4" 55
  • Keep moist during growing season
Leafy Green - Darkness Lettuce Leaves 3" 3" Full Sun / Partial Sun Early Spring 1/8" 4" 30
  • Sow every 3 weeks for continuous harvest
  • Rake seeds through soil, too deep, and they won't germinate
Leafy Green - Deer Tongue Lettuce Leaves 6-10" 6-10" Full Sun/ Partial Shade Early Spring 1/4" 4" 65
  • Sow every 3 weeks for continuous harvest
  • Rake seeds through soil, too deep, and they won't germinate
Leafy Green - Mache Leaves 3" 3" Full Sun / Partial Sun Early Spring 1/4" 2" 50
  • Prolific self-seeder
  • Will bolt as soon as summer hits
Leafy Green - Mizuna Leaves 14-16" 12" Full Sun Early Spring 1/2" 12" 30-45
  • Sow every 14 days for continuous harvest
Leafy Green - New Zealand Spinach Leaves 10-12" 12"

Full Sun/ Partial Sun

Spring Indoors 3/4" 12" 70
  • Soak seed to improve germination
  • Needs lots of heat to germinate
  • Not true spinach so wil not bolt
Leafy Green - Orach Leaves 2" 2" Full Sun Spring / Summer 1/4" 4" 35
  • Touted as spinach alternative
Leafy Green - Persian Cress Leaves 2" 2" Full Sun

Early Spring

1/4" 2" 21
  • Microgreen
Leafy Green - Sorrel (Buckler Leaf) Leaves 12-16" 12-16" Full Sun / Part Sun Spring 1/4" 3" 60
  • Lemony perennial
  • The larger it gets the tougher the leaves
Leafy Green - Waldmann's Dark Green Lettuce Leaves 6" 6" Full Sun / Part Sun Early Spring 1/4" 6-10" 28
  • Likes the cold, will bolt or enter thermal dormancy if too hot
Melon - Muskmelon Fruit 15-18" 36-72" Full Sun Spring 1/2" 4-6 seeds/hill 80
  • Soil must be warm for germination
  • Hills 2 ft apart
  • Try growing vertically on a trellis
Melon - Crimson Sweet Watermelon Fruit 15-24" 6-8ft Full Sun Spring 1/2" 4ft 80-85
  • Soil must be warm for germination (can start indoors)
  • Fruit is around 25lbs
Melon - Golden Midget Watermelon Fruit 12-18" 4-6ft Full Sun Spring 1/2" 4ft 70
  • Soil must be warm for germination (can start indoors)
  • Try growing vertically on a trellis (melons may need support)
Okra - Clemson Spineless Fruit 36-48" 36-48" Full Sun

Late Spring

1" 12-24" 55
  • Requires warm soil for germination
  • Soak seeds to accelerate germination
  • Sow in hills of 3, thin to strongest plant
  • Harvest when pods are 2-3" long
Onion - Tokyo Long White All 14-16" 4" Full Sun February Indoors 1/4" 2" 65  
Onion - Welsh All 12-18" 12" Part Sun Spring 1/4" 8-12" 60-70
  • Bunching perennial habit
Parsley - Giant Italian Leaves 36" 24" Full Sun / Part Sun Spring 1/4" 6" 60-90
  • Pinch back flower stalks to increase leaf production
Pea - Blauwschokkers Blue Podded Fruit 6ft 12" Full Sun Early Spring 1" 3-6" 60
  • Flowers also edible
  • Needs trellising or something to climb
Pea - Tom Thumb Dwarf Shelling Fruit 8" 14" Full Sun Early Spring 1" 8-12" 50-55
  • Rare bush pea
Pepper - Chinese 5 Colour Fruit 12-24" 12-24" Full Sun Early Spring 1/4" 12-18" 70
  • Start indoors 8-10wks before last frost
  • Bottom heat will improve germination
  • 50 000 SHU
Pepper - Chocolate Beauty Fruit 20" 18" Full Sun Early Spring Indoors 1/4" 12-18" 74
  • Start indoors 8-10wks before last frost
  • Plant out when soil has warmed
Pepper - Sweet  Jimmy Nardello Fruit 20-24" 20-24" Full Sun Early Spring Indoors 1/4" 12-18" 80-90
  • Start indoors 8-10wks before last frost
  • Plant out when soil has warmed
Pepper - Sweet Red Fruit 20-24" 20-24" Full Sun Early Spring Indoors 1/4" 12-18" 45-70
  • Start indoors 8-10wks before last frost
  • Plant out when soil has warmed
Radish - Cherrybelle Root 5" 3" Full Sun Early Spring 1/2" 2" 20-20
  • Seed pods also edible
Radish - Cincinnati Long Scarlet Root 12" 6" Full Sun Early Spring 1/2" 2" 30
  • Quick crop, can be planted up until summer's end
Radish - French Breakfast Root 4-12" 3" Full Sun Early Spring 1/2" 2" 23
  • Can also grow as microgreens
Romanesco Cauliflower Stem 24-36" 12" Full Sun Early Spring Indoors 1/2" 8" 75-100  
Snow Peas - Golden Sweet Fruit 60-72" 8-12" Full Sun Early Spring 1" 2" 60-70
  • Use inoculant if desired
  • Must be trellised or staked
Spinach Leaves 10-12" 4" Full Sun / Part Sun Early Spring 1/2" 6" 35-40
  • Can also grow as microgreens
Squash - Acorn Fruit 10-12" 4-5ft Full Sun Spring 1" 36" 80
  • Requires warm soil to germinate (can start indoors)
Squash - Climbing Summer Fruit 10" 8ft Full Sun Spring 1" 36" 50-55
  • Requires warm soil to germinate (can start indoors)
  • Can grow vertically on trellis
Squash - Honey Nut Winter (Mini Butternut) Fruit 18" 6ft Full Sun Spring 1/2" 3 seeds/ hill 110
  • Soil must be warm for germination (can start indoors)
  • Hills 2 ft apart
  • Try growing vertically on a trellis
Squash - Hubbard Fruit 48-60" 10-12" Full Sun Spring 1" 36" 115
  • Benefits from pollinator attractant
  • Can be grown vertically, fruit may need to be supported
Sunflower - Mexican Torch N/A 48" 36" Full Sun Spring 1/4" 6" 90
  • Pollinator attractant
Tomatillo - 2 Colour Fiesta Fruit 36-48" 36-48" Full Sun Early Spring Indoors 1/4" 18" 100
  • Start indoors 6 wks before last frost
  • Keep moist until emergence
  • Ripe when husk is papery, may split
Tomato - Beefsteak Fruit 48-60" 36-48" Full Sun Early Spring Indoors 1/4" 18" 80
  • Start indoors 7 wks before last frost
  • Keep moist until emergence
  • When transplanting outdoors, plant deep
  • Needs caging
Tomato - Bogus Fructa Bush Fruit 24" 24" Full Sun Early Spring Indoors 1/4" 15" 65
  • Start indoors 4-5 wks before last frost
  • Keep moist until emergence
  • When transplanting outdoors, plant deep
Tomato - Czech Bush Fruit 24" 24" Full Sun Early Spring Indoors 1/4" 15" 52
  • Start indoors 4-5 wks before last frost
  • Keep moist until emergence
  • When transplanting outdoors, plant deep
  • Needs caging
Tomato - Siberian Red Fruit 48-60" 36-48" Full Sun Early Spring Indoors 1/4" 18" 70
  • Start indoors 7 wks before last frost
  • Keep moist until emergence
  • When transplanting outdoors, plant deep
  • Needs caging
Tomato - Valencia Fruit 48" 36-48" Full Sun Early Spring Indoors 1/4" 18" 90
  • Start indoors 7 wks before last frost
  • Keep moist until emergence
  • When transplanting outdoors, plant deep
  • Needs caging

Harvesting information

 

 

Seed Saving: Easy Annual Vegetables and Flowers

Plant

When to gather seed

Processing

beans and peas

(self-pollinating) 

Leave in pods on plant until they rattle.

Remove seeds from pods and spread them out to dry.

pepper

(self- or insect-pollinated)

Gather from a mature pepper (if possible, one that is fully red).

Scrape out seeds and spread them out to dry. They're ready to store when they break rather than bend.

tomato

(self-pollinating)

Harvest when fruits are fully ripe. Seeds have a gelatinous coating to prevent them from sprouting inside the fruit. Squeeze seeds into a bowl when tomatoes are fully ripe.

Ferment mixture by adding water and letting it stand at room temperature for 3 to 4 days, stirring a few times a day to prevent mold. The good seeds will sink to the bottom and can be spread out to dry.

eggplant

(self- or insect-pollinated)

Leave fruit on vine until it's hard, dull, and off-colored.

Cut the fruit in half and pull flesh away from seed area. Wash and rinse seeds before spreading them out to dry. If seeds are hard to remove, grate or blend the bottom part of the fruit (with the ripest seeds), put the pulp in a bowl of water, and squeeze the gratings with your fingers. Good seeds will sink to the bottom.

cucumbers

(insect-pollinated)

Seed is ready once fruits have turned golden/orange and are getting mushy.

Cut fruit in half, scrape seeds into a bowl, and remove their slimy coating by rubbing them in a sieve with water. Rinse before spreading out to dry. (Some recommend using the same treatment as listed for tomatoes.)

summer squash

(insect-pollinated)

Seed is ready once fruits are hard (cannot dent with a fingernail). This may be after frost. 

Cut open and scrape seeds into a bowl; wash and rinse them before spreading them out to dry.

watermelon

(insect-pollinated)

Harvest seeds from ripe fruit.

Before drying, rinse seeds in a strainer using a drop of dish soap to remove sugar.

lettuce

(self-pollinating)

Gather seeds once the plant sends up a stalk and half of the flowers have turned white with fluff. (If you wait too long, the seeds may fly away.)

Rub out and separate seeds from seedheads. Shake the seeds up and down on a tray or screen and gently blow away the lighter chaff.

annual flowers (calendula, cleome, cosmos, impatiens, marigold, morning glory,

sunflower, sweet pea, zinnia) 

Gather seeds once these flowers have wilted and seed capsules or pods appear dry.

Separate chaff by hand or by shaking on screen, as above. 

*Special Note

Although you can easily save and replant many types of garden seeds without a lot of background knowledge, it is important to know whether a plant is a hybrid variety. 

Although there are naturally occurring hybrid plants, the term is usually used to refer to varieties that are created when plant breeders cross two specific parent lines to create a new variety. For example, one parent line might produce a tomato with thick skin (a good trait for shipping and storage) but the fruits are small. The other parent line might produce especially large fruits (desirable on supermarket shelves), but with thin skin that’s prone to splitting. By crossing these two parent lines, a breeder might create a new, hybrid variety that features the desirable traits of the two parents: large, thick-skinned fruit.

However, if you save seeds from this new hybrid tomato and grow them out, the results are unpredictable. The plant might produce similar tomatoes, or the fruits might express less-desirable traits that harken back to one of the parent lines. Some of the seeds might even be sterile and won’t germinate. So don't plan to save seeds from hybrid plants unless you are doing so as part of an experiment. 

You can’t tell from looking at a plant if it’s a hybrid; however, seed catalogs and packets will tell you if seed is hybrid. 

The term open-pollinated simply refers to plants that aren’t the result of hybridization by plant breeders. These plants either transfer pollen internally, within a flower or between flowers on the same plant (called self-pollinating), or their pollen is transferred by wind or insects. 

Seeds of self-pollinating plants generally produce offspring that closely resemble the parents. Plants pollinated by wind (such as corn and spinach) and those pollinated by insects (such as squash and cucumbers) may produce a next generation that resembles a parent, or they may cross with other varieties to turn up something entirely unique. 

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