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In Quebec, several varieties from our grandmas’ gardens have disappeared or are not accessible anymore. First Nations have also grown precious varieties; some of them have stood the test of time, but most of them have also gone extinct.

This conference discusses the richness of heirloom varieties and their importance for food security through the history of a few example cases. We will go through an overview of old gardens, looking at forgotten and Quebec historical varieties.

Topics discussed: Historically used varieties within their social contect, Canadien Blanc corn history, Tante Alice cucumber history, fibre flax use and disappearance, lost broad beans from Lac St-Jean and Charlevoix, First Nations and their beans.

In this workshop, you will discover ancient, unknown, or endangered garden plants and learn the basics of seed saving. You will notably learn about harvesting techniques, and how to dry and preserve different types of seeds. Bean, lettuce and tomato seeds, as well as many others won’t hold any secrets for you anymore!

Topics discussed: seed history, pollination, isolation distances, heirloom varieties, harvest, drying, storage, germination tests.

Cucurbita Maxima

This heirloom variety is originally from France. It is sometimes also called "French turban" or "Giraumon" in French. References to this squash are found in documents as old as 1885, but it is older than the 1820s. This squash is adorned by a very typical orange, white and green bump. Described as an ornamental squash, it is nonetheless delicious in soups or roasts. Its orange flesh is especially sweet.

Photo credit : https://www.potagercity.fr/produits/tout-savoir-sur-le-giraumon/1140

Autrice: Lyne Bellemare
Illustrations: Laucolo
Résumé: Au cours du siècle dernier, 75 % des variétés de plantes qui servaient à notre alimentation ont disparu. En ce sens, apprendre à cultiver ses semences constitue plus que jamais un acte militant en faveur du contrôle de notre système alimentaire et contre le monopole de l’industrie.

De l’extraction des graines à l’art de la pollinisation manuelle, en passant par l’entreposage et la conservation des semences artisanales, cet ouvrage vous dévoile littéralement tout ce qu’il y a à savoir pour prélever vos propres semences de la façon la plus optimale possible afin de cultiver vos légumes, fruits et herbes en toute autonomie.
Préface de Mélanie Grégoire.

These giants won’t go unnoticed in your garden!

Indeed, mammoth sunflowers can grow over 3m in height, and they produce gorgeous yellow flowers that can reach more than 30 cm in diameter.
Despite their height, they do not require any tutoring. They can however be a tutor themselves for your other climbing plants such as beans!
Thanks to their fast growth, these sunflowers can also create seasonal plant walls, hedgerows and windbreaks.
The seeds are rich and can be enjoyed by birds as much as by humans!

CARE AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS : Towards the end of September, sunflower seeds start to reach maturity. The stem dries up and the flower starts to bend down. It’s time to harvest! Cut the entire flower heads. Let them dry in a dry space. Check regularly to make sure the sunflowers are not getting moldy. After a few days, the seeds will sound ‘hollow’ and ‘dry’ when running your fingers over them. You then only need to rub over to remove what’s left of the flowers, and scratch with your fingers to detach the seeds.

Sunflower with golden petals and a dark purplish-black center

Popular and very sweet, this watermelon is characterized by its skin that turns really dark when ripe and its juicy flesh with very few seeds. As its name suggests, it produces small fruits weighting between 3 and 4 kg which would be ideal for small gardens.

CARE AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS : Melons require heat to develop properly.

Dyer's coreopsises are originally from the North American prairies. Their bloom is abundant, colorful, and a delight for pollinators. As its name suggests, it is commonly used for natural dyes. Coreopsis gives rich yellows, oranges, and rusty browns. It works especially well on fiber proteins such as wool and silk.

Ancestral variety widely cultivated in the United States in the 19th century. Its skin is white and the aboveground part is bright purple. Its flesh is white, firm and sweet. It produces roots with a width of 7 to 10 cm. Very resistant to cold. The leaves, slightly pungent when young, are delicious pan-fried, steamed or in soups, in addition to being an excellent source of vitamins.

The vast majority of our seeds are produced on our farm. However, if the cultivation of a variety fails or if it is out of stock, we source from other seed companies to ensure an interesting selection. This is the case for this variety.

BOTANICAL INFORMATION
Latin name: Brassica rapa
Common names: Turnip 'white purple globe', Turnip white with purple collar
English: Purple top white globe turnip
Family: Brassicaceae

MAINTENANCE AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Cover the tops of the tubers with mulch to protect them from sunburn.

The classic yellow bean of our gardens

Bright yellow fruits with a mild, sweet flavor and no bitterness

Beautiful bunches of colorful carrots!

Swamp milkweed. is a perennial native to Canada, like its cousin the Syriac milkweed. There both absolutely essential to monarch butterflies in addition to offering beautiful pink/red and fragrant flowers. This is the only plant on which its caterpillars feed. It does not require much maintenance and it can grow very well in poor soil. It is a must for gardeners who want to contribute to biodiversity

CARE AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

This plant requires stratification! For more information, visit our stratification guide in our "Blog" menu.

Flavor alert! This heirloom yellow tomato offers a bold and delicious taste

Family heirloom from Vancouver, carefully cultivated since 1950! With its succulent and juicy flesh, this tomato plant delivers an exceptional yield, stretching from mid-season until the first frost.

Adapted to regions with short growing seasons and/or cool summers, this variety bears witness to the passion and expertise passed down through generations within the Ross family. An enduring love story with the land, spanning over 70 years, is woven into each harvest. A symphony of traditions, care, and bountiful harvests, eternally embedded in the family legacy.

This Chinese broccoli, also called Kai lan, is perfectly adapted to Quebec summers, and tolerates light frosts in the fall.
The great advantage of this vegetable compared to traditional broccoli is its ease of cultivation. Instead of waiting for it to form a ball like the latter, which sometimes never happens, we harvest small, thin and delicate broccoli throughout its flowering. It is extremely prolific, and its taste resembles broccoli with a touch of mustard.

For your gourmet cat: grow cat grass in 7 to 10 days