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Germination, GMO's, Heirloom and Organic Seed

Frequently Asked Questions.

Canadian gardeners enjoy the best quality seed available anywhere in the world. This seed security is largely to the credit of seed merchants' enthusiastic support of Canada's stringent agricultural regulations.

Do you control for germination problems?

Seed inventory that is a year-old is required to be tested for germination before it may be sold. Germination tests are subject to rules set by AgricultureCanada. Testing labs must be certified. OSC checks each seed lot for germination to ensure viability using our own facilities.

Are any of the seed you sell genetically modified (GMO)?

OSC does not intentionally buy or sell GMO seed. We offer open-pollinated and traditional hybrid varieties.

Why do you label some of your seeds 'heirloom'?

Some of our varieties we consider to be heirlooms. To us an heirloom variety is one popular enough to be nearly universally known by name. Often these varieties are quite old, perhaps with several hundred years of cultivation. Other heirloom varieties were developed within the last hundred years. All deserve special attention and conservation.

What do you mean by 'organic'?

Our seed labeled organic were produced under the auspices of the California Certified Organic Farmers. If an organic product is not available, we substitute with untreated seed of a similar variety unless when ordering you expressly forbid such substitutions.

Vegetable Planting Guide

Generalized Vegetable Sowing Guide

(Some cultivars require techniques and peculiar sowing instructions not listed here. Consult seed packet for details.) 

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                Seeds or Plants           Inches   Inches    Days      Yield 
                   for each      When to  between  between   until    per 10 ft. 
Vegetables       10 ft of Row    Plant*   Plant    Rows      Edible    of Row 
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Asparagus           7 crowns        1      16-24    36-38   1-2 years   3-4 lb 
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Beans, bush         Large Pkt.    3,4,5     2-3      24       50-70       6 lb 
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Beans, lima         Large Pkt.      4       4-6      24       65-90       2 lb 
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Beans, pole         Large Pkt.      4       4-6      24       45-65     3-4 lb 
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Beets               1 packet     1,2,3,4    2-3     12-18     60-110    6-9 lb 
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Broccoli          5-7 plants       1,5     18-24    24-30     60-80       8 lb
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Cabbage          7-10 plants      1,2,5    18-24    20-28     60-100    6-8 heads 
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Carrots             1 packet     1,2,4,5    2-3     12-18     60-100      9 lb 
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Cauliflower      5-10 plants       1,5     18-24    24-30     60-80      10 lb 
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Celery             20 plants       2,5       6      20-24    120-150   8-13 lb 
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Chinese Cabbage    Large Pkt.      7-10    12-18    20-24     80-100    6-8 heads 
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Corn, sweet        Large Pkt.     3,4,5     8-12    30-36     65-100  11-13 ears 
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Cucumbers           1 packet       4,5     15-18    48-60     50-80      10 lb 
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Eggplant          6-8 packets       4       18      24-30     75-85      20 fruits 
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Endive              1 packet        1        6       12        85         6 lb 
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Kale                1 packet       1,6       4      12-18     60-70     2-5 lb 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kohlrabi            1 packet      1,2,3     4-6     15-24     50-60       8 lb 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lettuce, leaf       1 packet     1,2,3,6    ---      6-15     40-60       5 lb 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Muskmelon           1 packet        4      18-24    48-60     90-120     10 melons 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mustard             1 packet     1,2,3,6     4      12-18     40-60     4-8 lb 
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Okra                1 packet        3       12      18-24     70-90       5 lb 
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Onion seed          1 packet      1,2,3     2-3     12-15    100-140     10 lb 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Onion setts        40-60 setts     1,2      2-3     12-15     90-100     10 lb 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parsley             1 packet      1,2,3      4      12-18     80-100      1 lb 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parsnips            1 packet       1,2       3      18-24    140-160  10-12 lb 
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Peas               large Pkt.      1,2      1-2      6-12     45-90       3 lb 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peppers           5-7 plants        4       18       18       70-75      80 fruit 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Potatoes           10 pieces      1,2,3     12      24-36     140-150    30 lb 
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Pumpkins &                                               
Winter Squash     1-2 hills         4        4      60-72     90-120     40 
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Radishes            1 packet      1,2,6     1-1.5     6-12     25-60      10 bunches 
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Rhubarb             3 crowns        1      36-72    36-60     1 year     12 lb 
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Rutabaga (Swede)    1 packet        1      18-24    24-36     80-100    12 lb 
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Squash (Summer)     1 packet        4        4      24-30     60-75      60 fruit 
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Swiss Chard         8 plants       1,2      6-8     15-18     50-75      12 lb 
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Tomatoes          2-5 plants        4      24-36    24-48     70-100     60 lb 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turnips (Summer)    1 packet       5,6     18-24    18-24     60-90      10 
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Watermelons         1 packet        4      60-84    60-84     90-130   4-10 melons 
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* Planting Time Footnotes:

  1. Plant as soon as soil can be worked without destroying soil structure, mid May.
  2. Approximately 12 days later than footnote 1.
  3. Approximately 24 days later than footnote 1.
  4. After last frost spring date.
  5. Early June plantings of longer season vegetables for fall crops
  6. Late spring & early July planting of shorter season varieties for fall consumption
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