Welcome to the local gardens blog

Pourquoi les semis de tomates échouent-ils souvent ? Comprendre quand semer, planter les tomates et choisir les bonnes variétés pour réussir son potager.

Faire ses semis, c’est un peu comme lancer une mini-aventure : on met une graine au chaud, on surveille chaque petite pousse… et on rêve déjà aux récoltes.

If you have ever browsed a seed catalogue, you have surely seen two main categories: open-pollinated seeds and hybrid (F1) seeds . And then comes the perfectly normal question: "What's the difference... and does it really change anything in my garden?" Short answer: yes . A slightly longer (and much more interesting) answer: we explain it to you simply, from our perspective as seed artisans. Two seed families, two philosophies Open-pollinated (PL) seeds These are varieties reproduced naturally (by wind, insects, self-pollination, etc.) over generations . They are stable : if you harvest the seeds from your plants and sow them again, you get the same type of plant , with similar characteristics. They carry a living genetic diversity : they gradually adapt to your soil, your climate and your practices. 👉 In summary: these are varieties that can be kept alive and developed over time. Hybrid seeds (F1) F1 hybrids are the result of a controlled cross between two parental lines selected to produce a plant with very precise characteristics (uniformity, yield, size, etc.). First generation (F1) : often very vigorous and uniform. Second generation (F2) : if you harvest the seeds of a hybrid and sow them again, you get a lot of variability : different plants, sometimes less productive, sometimes disappointing. 👉 In short: hybrids are made to be bought back every year . Why open-pollinated seeds are (often) a better choice Hybrids can be useful in certain contexts, but for a living, self-sufficient and sustainable garden, PL seeds have major advantages. 1) You can harvest your own seeds It's a simple gesture, but very powerful. You gain autonomy You save You are contributing to the continuity of life And there's something genuinely satisfying about telling yourself: "These tomatoes came from seeds I saved from last year." 2) They preserve diversity in our gardens Biodiversity is not just a nice idea: it is a real guarantee for the future of our food. PL varieties: offer a natural variability allow for gradual adaptation to stresses (drought, diseases, difficult soils…) avoid the standardization of crops The more genetically diverse a variety is, the more resilient it is in a rapidly changing world. 3) They adapt to your local environment A garden is not a factory. Your soil, your weather, your way of watering or mulching… all of this makes your garden unique. PL seeds can: adapt to your local conditions gradually become "your" varieties perform better at home after a few years of in-house selection 4) They protect collective know-how Open-pollinated varieties are the result of generations of gardeners and seed producers who have observed, selected and adapted. Choosing open pollination also means: supporting seed heritage keep varieties accessible to all encourage a human-scale selection process, rooted in the local area Why, in this world, do we only produce (and sell) PL? Our business is seeds. And we made a clear choice: to work only with open-pollinated varieties. Why? Because it corresponds to what we want to nurture: living gardens autonomy for all real biodiversity a fertile future We select our varieties so that they are: adapted to our climates robust tasty and capable of transmitting Every PL seed we produce is a small promise: You can cultivate it, love it, harvest it, and sow it again next year. In summary If you would like a garden: more autonomous, more resilient, richer in biodiversity, and aligned with an ecological approach… 👉 Open-pollinated seeds are a natural choice. And if you want carefully selected seeds, produced by local seed artisans, you know where to find us. 🌱

Starting your own seeds at home is a simple act that opens the door to much more than just a productive garden. It's an experience that unites, supports biodiversity, and cultivates food freedom. At Jardins de l'écoumène, we see sowing seeds as a way to garden differently, with meaning and gentleness, in the spirit of the écoumene approach . Here are 4 good reasons to incorporate seedlings into your ecological gardening project, whether you're a beginner or an enthusiast . 1. Save money while cultivating diversity Buying organic seeds in Quebec is much more economical than buying seedlings at a garden center. A packet sells for around $4.50 for the most common vegetables, fruits, and herbs, and up to $7 for rare varieties. A single plant can cost the same price… but a packet often contains dozens, even hundreds, of seeds . Properly stored, they can be kept for several years, allowing you to plan your harvests for the long term. 💡 Gardening tip: use a light and living organic seed-starting mix to promote vigorous and uniform germination. 2. Share the fun with family and friends Starting seeds at home is an activity that brings all generations together. The youngest love seeing the first sprouts appear, watering them every day and observing their development. But this pleasure also extends to those who enjoy gardening calmly and consistently. Sowing seeds becomes a gentle activity, conducive to the transmission of knowledge, the creation of shared memories, and exchanges between loved ones, regardless of age. 🌿 This is an excellent gardening activity with children or friends, which transforms each seed into a moment of complicity and discovery. 3. Develop food self-sufficiency Starting your own seeds is a concrete step towards food self-sufficiency in your home vegetable garden . By growing your own seedlings, you become less dependent on grocery chains and you choose heirloom, local, and resilient varieties. Sowing seeds is also about learning to observe the life cycle : from germination to harvest, and then to preservation. Over time, we even discover the possibility of saving our seeds, creating a virtuous circle that ensures true food sovereignty on a personal level . 🌸 Every gesture counts: sowing seeds is cultivating your independence while respecting the planet. 4. Take care of yourself by moving at your own pace Sowing seeds requires neither strength nor speed: it involves simple, regular, and rewarding actions. It offers a wonderful opportunity to stay gently active, nurture your connection with nature, and establish a calming routine. Watching the young shoots grow each day brings vitality and serenity. Preparing seed trays then becomes a wellness ritual that stimulates both body and mind, while maintaining contact with nature. 🌿 An ideal activity for those who like to take their time, garden calmly and savor each stage of growth. 🌱 In conclusion: sowing is much more than gardening Sowing seeds saves money, fosters sharing, develops self-sufficiency, and promotes self-care. It's a small gesture accessible to everyone—children, adults, and seniors—that paves the way for ecological gardening that promotes biodiversity and resilience. So why not start your seedlings today? Each little pot of potting soil becomes a promise of abundance, well-being and sharing.