Seed Sources in Canada

One of my dear friends found a seed resource and seed sources on Facebook. The woman who compiled this list has a wonderful page called ‘How Does your Garden Grow?’ and she details her gardening adventures. I like that there are not only a lot of Canadian options here but local options as well. I thought you might find it interesting.

Greetings fellow gardeners,  

It was twilight when I went out to put the chickens to bed. The sky was a cool lavender, and the air was soft. Icy bits of snow were swirling about reminding me that life is wonderful. I took my time making my way to the chickens, listening to the crunch of snow as I walked, and marveling at all the tracks that scooted off from the path. It is at times like these that I imagine how the gardens will look in the spring. Will the tomatoes do well in this spot? Should I plant my Queensland Blue Hubbard squash at the side, or should it be farther back? So many plans that continue to change.

Deep within my plant compound, the sweet banana pepper has made an appearance. Those slow-to-germinate peppers keep me on my toes. I found some of the canna seeds that I had collected last year and will try potting them up this weekend. If you are wanting to grow canna lilies you should plant the tubers, but the seeds are fun for experimenting. I grew some last year but started them too late, so they did not get very big. My special orchid has continued to grow, and the sweet yellow blooms are like sunshine as I wait for spring. The too-many cats and I continue to do battle as they find new and exciting ways to break through the compound barriers.

Seed Sources

One of my dear friends found a seed resource on Facebook. The woman who compiled this list has a wonderful page called ‘How Does your Garden Grow?’ and she details her gardening adventures. I like that there are not only a lot of Canadian options here but local options as well. I thought you might find it interesting.

Local (Ottawa area) Seed Sources

Gaia Organics – Relatively new, local, regionally adapted organic seed producer.
https://www.gaiaorganics.ca/
Greta Seeds – Local, regionally adapted, organic seed producer
https://www.seeds-organic.com/
Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library – A delightful resource for FREE regionally sourced indigenous wildflower seed. Relevant to edible gardeners for the creation of beneficial and pollinator habitat in your garden.
https://wildflowerseedlibrary.ca/
Beyond the Garden Gate – Eastern Ontario seed producer
https://www.facebook.com/beyondthegardengateottawavalley.ca/
Northern Seeds – Based in Farrellton, Quebec (just north of Wakefield)
https://northernseeds.ca/
The Good Food Garden – Based in Vankleek Hill they carry both High Mowing and West Coat Seeds product lines among others. So great way to order from multiple places but only pay one shipping charge.
www.goodfoodgarden.ca
Bird and Bee – Part of the local Just Food project in Ottawa. Producer of organic local seed
http://www.birdandbee.ca/

Canadian Seed Sources

La Ferme de l’Aube – A Quebec based seed supplier
https://www.lafermedelaube.com/semences.html
Renee’s Garden – Canadian Seed supplier
https://www.reneesgarden.com/
Halifax Seed Company – the name says it all
https://www.halifaxseed.ca/shop
Bear Root Gardens – Producer of regionally adapted seed in Verona, Ontario
https://www.bearrootgardens.com/
Terra Edibles – north of Belleville specializes in heirloom tomatoes, and sells heirloom seeds of beans, other vegetables, herbs and a few flowers.
https://www.terraedibles.ca/
William Dam Seeds – Ontario based seed supplier
https://www.damseeds.com/
Richters – An Ontario based supplier of conventional seeds, herbs and bulbs.
https://www.richters.com
Tournesol – Quebec based, organic seed producer
https://www.fermetournesol.qc.ca
Terre Promise – Quebec based seed producer
https://www.terrepromise.ca/
Semences du Portage – Quebec based seed supplier
https://semencesduportage.com/
Jardin d’Ecomene – Quebec based seed producer
https://www.ecoumene.com/
Jardin de Gaillarde – Quebec based seed supplier
https://www.jardinsdelagaillarde.ca/fr/accueil
Yonder Hill – New, Nova Scotia based, organic seed producer
https://yonderhillfarm.ca/
Heritage Harvest Seed. – Manitoba based supplier of endangered heirloom seed
https://www.heritageharvestseed.com/account/settings
Incredible seeds – Nova Scotia based seed supplier
https://www.incredibleseeds.ca/
Veseys – Another east coast seed supplier
https://www.veseys.com
West Coast Seeds – BC based, organic seed reseller
https://www.westcoastseeds.com/
Butchart Gardens – A west coast botanical garden with a selection of flower seed for building beneficial habitat or pollinator habitat.
https://store.butchartgardens.com/collections/gardening
Atlantic Pepper Seeds – An east coast seed producer
https://pepperseeds.ca/
Rainbow seeds – A New Brunswick seed supplier
https://www.rainbowseeds.ca
Prairie Garden Seeds – specializing in heirlooms and rare beans
https://prairiegardenseeds.ca/
Northern Wild Flower – regionally adapted indigenous wild flower seed supplier for beneficial and pollinator habitat.
https://northernwildflowers.ca/

​ Now that it is March, the weather is going to get even more interesting. We will be balancing between snow and rain with icy bits in-between. The sun is out more and the promise of spring is just around the corner.  Enjoy your week. Judith. 

(Email:  sghorticultural@gmail.com)  Veggie Bites are available at https://sghorticultural.wixsite.com/website or https://gardeningcalendar.ca/articles/veggie-bites/