Brian Minter: Celebrating Canada’s continuing love affair with seeds

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I’m continually amazed and delighted by Canadians’ continuing love affair with seeds.

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We’re fortunate to have a large number of great seed companies in Canada, as well as many suppliers across the country that are now well-stocked with a very good selection of vegetable, flower, perennial and ornamental seeds, all ready to provide food and colour this gardening season.

The seeds we buy originate in many different parts of the world, often in areas that have warmer climates and longer growing seasons, which allows for more continual harvesting. Some seed crops are grown closer to home, such as beets and squash in La Conner, Wash., and over 100,000 acres of chickpea seeds are grown on the Canadian Prairies. B.C. and Ontario also produce large quantities of seeds. Because of climate change, some suppliers are relocating their seed growing operations to ensure their seed production is more secure.

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Many seed companies purchase seed from the same specialized seed producers, so in reality many different companies are selling the same seed. As for the quality of our seed supply, Canada has a certification standard to ensure that all seeds meet the minimum requirements. The ‘Canada No. 1’ certification means the seed meets the requirements for purity, quality and percentage of germination. Virtually all Canadian seed companies exceed the minimum standards. So, the seeds we buy are some of the highest quality in the world. However, ensuring that those seeds thrive depends largely on us employing good germination techniques and excellent care in growing.

Seed catalogues are available from most seed companies, and they’re some of the very best guides for information on how many seeds are in a packet, the timing of when to plant and the number of days before harvest or a show of colour. They also provide important tips on special germination needs, growing requirements and harvesting hints. I recommend saving them to use as a reliable source of great information.

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Garden stores of all types are a convenient place to pick up your seeds. Many provide a wide selection by carrying seeds from a number of different companies, and their racks are usually restocked on a regular basis. They also carry a few larger-sized packages of peas, beans and corn for folks who wish to plant large crops. As a rule of thumb, most traditional seed packages provide enough seed for an average family. Depending on what you’re growing, it’s wise to save any extra seed. With tomatoes, peppers and squash, most people usually need just a few plants to grow enough produce. Starting a smaller number of seeds at regular intervals will give you a succession of crops, instead of having everything mature at once. Many seed varieties have become quite expensive, especially some of the new hybrids, so don’t be too surprised if there are just a few seeds in some packages.

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There is a growing selection of organic seed, but our traditional open-pollinated and hybrid varieties are easy to grow organically. There are very few, if any, GMO seeds in home and garden seed sources.

Most seed companies recommend keeping their seeds in a fridge, but we have kept tens-of-thousands of seeds in our freezer for years. Keeping them frozen helps stratify the seed, and when planted, we find it helps boost the percentage of germination. We freeze all our seeds, except for any tropical varieties.

Timing when to plant our seeds is a very important issue. Most seed catalogues provide suggested planting dates for each type of seed. Over the years, I have always had better results by starting seeds a little later than recommended. For the best outcomes, any seeds started in our homes or small greenhouses must transition smoothly through a series of stages: from germination to developing true leaves; to becoming strong seedlings; to moving from indoors to a protective cold frame outside; and finally, to being planted in our gardens. If we start too early or we get inclement weather, our seedlings will tend to stretch and become leggy, often making them unusable. With a later start, we seldom run into this situation.

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Every day, as we move closer to spring, we get longer hours of daylight and a slow increase in both daytime and nighttime temperatures. Once ‘day’ temperatures warm up to 10 C, many early seeds, like peas, broad beans and brassicas, can be sowed directly in the garden. Many heat-loving seeds, like beans, squash and corn, should be planted in the garden only when ‘night’ temperatures are consistently 10 C.

By using transplants of long-season crops, like tomatoes, peppers, squash and onions, you will reduce the production time upwards of a month. For most people, the goal is to enjoy their own fresh crops as early as possible and as late in the season as possible. I find using seeds, in combination with purchased transplants, is the best way to go for early, mid- and late-season production. It’s often wise to let an experienced professional grow transplants for those difficult-to-grow varieties. Remember, too, that onion sets, seed potatoes and garlic are faster to harvest than starts from seeds.

It’s the beginning of a new gardening season, and with that comes the chance to enjoy healthy, delicious and nutritious food from our own gardens. Seeds play a huge role in home gardening, and a little wisdom and patience on your part will ensure success.