Category = seeds

The King and Queen Winter watermelon is an old, heirloom variety selected for its ability to keep for a long time after harvesting. Unlike classic watermelons that are enjoyed in the heart of summer, this one was developed to extend the pleasure into the cooler months, fitting naturally into the garden's nourishing cycle.

Its round to slightly elongated fruits have a marbled green and yellow rind reminiscent of the changing hues of late summer. The deep orange flesh adds a warm touch to the table when the garden slows down. In a harmonious vegetable garden, it becomes a precious presence, transforming a sunny corner into a vibrant and colorful haven.

When cultivated with care, this melon thrives in warm, fertile soil. It flourishes in a living garden where plants are observed and nurtured throughout the seasons. Its excellent storage qualities make it a valuable ally for gardeners seeking to extend harvests and cultivate a lasting relationship with their growing environment.

Petit moineau is an old variety from the Quebec terroir , cultivated since the 1950s in the Châteauguay region. Originating from the wild species Solanum pimpinellifolium , it has retained a part of untamed vitality which makes it a faithful companion to living and generous gardens .

The plant develops a bushy, flexible, and exuberant habit , reaching approximately 1.5 m in height. To support its growth, it is best placed on a teepee or trellis rather than in a traditional cage.
From the end of July until the first frosts, this variety produces a profusion of small red fruits , barely bigger than a blueberry, which shine in the sun like bursts of light.

Native to Europe, spinach sorrel, also called perennial spinach, embodies the quiet consistency of companion plants in the kitchen garden. It offers dense, deep green foliage, similar to that of spinach, but with a vigorous perennial growth that heralds the first harvests as soon as the snow melts.

Its rapid growth and low-growing habit make it perfectly suited to a variety of spaces, whether planted directly in the ground, in borders, or in containers. In cool, fertile soil, it constantly renews itself, offering tender leaves from spring until autumn. Hardy and reliable, it requires little care, other than removing the flower stalks to prevent excessive self-seeding. Its discreet yet generous presence fits perfectly into a rooted and sustainable approach, at the heart of a vibrant garden.

Originating from Asian horticultural traditions, Chinese Pink Celery displays its delicate pink hues, offering a spectacle that is both visual and gustatory. Its history is intertwined with that of heirloom varieties, reintroduced today for their authenticity and unique charm.

In the garden, this celery grows with an upright habit and fleshy stalks, combining elegance and sturdiness. Its moderate growth, accompanied by dark green foliage, gives it a discreet yet precious character, ideal for enriching the diversity of an ecological garden.

This delicately flavored vegetable makes its way into the kitchen to reveal its sweet, slightly aniseed flavor, bringing freshness and crunch to summer dishes.

Strawberry spinach is a cool-climate annual that thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soil . It can be sown directly in May or August , and the leaf harvest begins about two months later , continuing throughout the season.

From late spring onwards, thin stems that can reach 1 meter bear discreet green flowers , which then transform into edible, decorative and slightly juicy red pseudo-fruits from July to October .

It grows best in full sun , but in warmer climates, partial shade and a good layer of mulch are recommended to prevent water stress. It's ideal for filling gaps in the garden with an edible and unique touch.

Originating from the work of the famous American breeder Calvin Keeney in 1900, Pencil Pod Black is an iconic heritage dwarf bean from the early 20th century. A true gem of North American vegetable gardens, it is distinguished by its thin, glossy yellow pods , resembling fine wax pencils, containing shiny black beans , both visually striking and tasty.

This dwarf bean grows into a compact bush (approximately 35 cm tall), ideal for small spaces or intensive cultivation in raised beds. It offers discreet but abundant flowering, followed by regular and generous harvests , especially if the pods are picked young, every two to three days.

Hardy, productive, and stringless , it represents one of the great classic wax beans, valued in seed catalogs for over a century. It enriches the soil through its ability to fix nitrogen and attracts a good diversity of beneficial garden insects.

With its deep purple, almost black skin when ripe, the Purple Beauty pepper immediately catches the eye in the vegetable garden. Its square, thick-walled fruits stand out against lush green foliage that remains vibrant throughout the summer, creating a lively and colorful corner of the garden. A warm-season variety, it thrives in well-warmed soil and sheltered locations, where it provides a bountiful harvest at the end of summer.

Originating from the large sweet pepper family, this cultivar was selected for its beautiful purple color. In the garden, it's a reliable plant: with its relatively compact growth, it's well-suited to both edible flowerbeds and large containers, provided there's enough warmth. In a harmonious vegetable garden, it naturally combines with flowers and herbs that attract pollinators, contributing to a diverse and nutritious space.

An exceptional Quebec variety, Rose Aimée is a standard, indeterminate tomato, developed for greenhouse and hydroponic cultivation, but it also thrives in a well-maintained vegetable garden. Its soft, almost powdery pink fruits are distinguished by their uniformity, thin skin, and attractive appearance. Approximately 6.5 cm in diameter and weighing up to 200 g, they produce a harvest that is both aesthetically pleasing and bountiful, on a vigorous and resilient plant.

This rare variety, with its regular foliage and continuous flowering, is highly resistant to cracking and retains its qualities long after harvest. It naturally finds its place in a nurturing, nurturing space, at the heart of a garden where the memory of past practices and seeds still resonates. Born of anonymous yet inspired work, the Rose Aimée is an elegant and enduring presence in a vibrant garden.

Originating in France , the Étampes Red Bright Pumpkin is an iconic heirloom variety , closely linked to the imagery of autumn. Its broad, flattened shape , smooth, vibrant orange-red skin , and impressive size make it a squash that is as decorative as it is nutritious. Once widely cultivated in 19th-century Parisian markets, it has retained its place in contemporary organic gardens thanks to its hardiness, productivity , and mild, slightly sweet flavor .

In the garden, it develops a generous, creeping habit , with large, velvety leaves that cover the ground and protect its rounded fruits from direct sunlight. It adapts well to long crop rotations , thrives in rich soil, and elegantly heralds the arrival of autumn harvests .

In the kitchen, its meltingly tender orange flesh is ideal for soups, purées, gratins, tarts, or jams , bringing warmth and sweetness to seasonal dishes. It's a pumpkin that keeps well in a cellar and provides a consistent and generous source of sustenance during the colder months.

Wild lupin is one of those unassuming presences that transforms a dry bank or depleted soil into a vibrant and colorful corner. With its finely cut palmate leaves and upright spikes of bluish-purple to whitish flowers, it evokes natural meadows and roadsides where the garden still leaves ample room for spontaneity.

In a garden in harmony with the cycle of the seasons, wild lupin establishes itself slowly, extending its deep roots and connecting with the soil. As a true legume, it contributes to fertility by associating nitrogen-fixing bacteria with its roots. Its flowers, growing in vertical clusters, offer a valuable resource for bees and other pollinating insects, making it a trusted companion in a diverse and nourishing environment.

Hardy and undemanding, it prefers poor soils to overly rich ones. It readily complements naturalistic flowerbeds, wildflower meadows, and areas slightly removed from the vegetable garden, where its benevolent presence contributes to biodiversity as much as to the daily pleasure of the observant gardener.

The 'Joan' rutabaga is a robust variety resulting from a cross between a turnip and a kale. Originating in the cool temperate regions of Northern Europe, this root vegetable has earned a prominent place in Quebec gardens under the familiar name of "Siam cabbage." In a well-balanced garden, it thrives calmly and steadily, drawing its strength from the summer sun and the cool autumn air.

Its rounded, smooth, and swollen root forms beneath a rosette of deep green foliage. Joan is distinguished by its excellent uniformity and resistance to clubroot, a valuable asset for gardeners committed to sustainable cultivation. It thrives in welcoming, loose, and rich soils, allowing it to reach its full potential.

In a well-designed growing space, it is sown in summer for a generous autumn harvest. It is a reliable, consistent, and simple plant that nourishes the connection between soil and table with simplicity and efficiency.

Native to the Caribbean, the vegetarian chili pepper – often also called the sweet Caribbean chili – has won over many kitchen gardens with its distinctive aroma, very similar to that of hot chilies, but without the burning sensation. In a vegetable garden in harmony with the seasons, it establishes itself as a reassuring companion: a reliable plant for those who love Creole flavors but want a cuisine accessible to everyone, including children.

Its glossy green foliage forms a neat little bush, adorned all summer long with a multitude of discreet white flowers that give way to drooping fruits, initially green, then reddish-orange depending on the variety. In welcoming, well-warmed soil, it offers a generous and sustained harvest, particularly appreciated in late summer, when kitchens are filled with sauces, stews, and braised dishes. In a deeply rooted and respectful approach to living things, the vegetarian chili pepper integrates naturally into a diverse garden, alongside tomatoes, onions, aromatic herbs, and other essential ingredients of Creole cuisine.

Originating from the rich French terroir, the Muscat tomato is an old variety with a discreet charm and reassuring consistency. Rarely found in our latitudes, it deserves to be rediscovered for its cold hardiness and its ability to produce fruit even after frost , despite our unpredictable summers.

On a determinate plant, it produces medium-sized, round, and uniform red fruits , borne amidst dense foliage. It thrives in well-drained, sunny soil , making it a faithful companion in the vegetable garden, whether planted directly in the ground or in containers. Its growth is steady, undemanding, yet remarkably generous—a truly reliable plant.

Originating from the large stands of Capsicum annuum , the Chocolate pepper has become popular for the unique color of its fruits, which turn chocolate brown when ripe. In a vibrant garden, its warm notes contrast with the green foliage and the reds and yellows of other peppers, like an unexpected touch in the heart of the growing space.

Throughout the changing seasons, this variety patiently endures the lengthening days of summer. Its fruits slowly thicken and ripen, yielding a bountiful harvest in late summer and early autumn. A reliable plant that thrives in welcoming, well-drained soil, it naturally finds its place in a supportive vegetable garden, whether in a container on a sunny balcony or planted directly in the ground in a sheltered, quiet spot protected from cool winds.

Originating in Switzerland, the Rose de Berne tomato belongs to those heirloom varieties that have stood the test of time thanks to their remarkable flavor. Its round to slightly flattened fruits, a pinkish-red hue , bring a sweet and warm touch to the vegetable garden. Their thin skin and juicy flesh make them a sought-after ingredient for simple and vibrant cooking.

In the garden, this indeterminate plant steadily climbs its support. It thrives in well-drained, welcoming soil and rewards regular care with a bountiful harvest throughout the summer. In a harmonious garden, it blends easily among other fruiting vegetables and aromatic herbs, contributing to diversity and the daily pleasure of foraging.

Originating in Europe, the Lutz beetroot stands out as an heirloom variety steeped in history. Renowned for its deep red, globular roots, it is also prized for its tender, sweet flesh that delights the palate in cooking.

In the garden, the Lutz beetroot stands out for its hardiness and ease of cultivation. It actively contributes to vegetable diversity and offers a generous harvest at the end of summer, perfect for soups, salads, or naturally colored juices.

This variety embodies the meeting of tradition and simplicity, a reliable ally for the gardener concerned with healthy and tasty production.

Originating from an old vegetable lineage and introduced to Quebec from Maine (USA), the Ice dwarf bean is prized for the elegance of its translucent pastel green pods and its unique growth habit. According to the literature, it is distinguished by its compact size of approximately 30 cm. But at the Jardins de l'écoumène (Gardens of the Ecumene), it reveals a somewhat rebellious, almost wild nature. Although once selected for its dwarf form, it now tends to revert to a freer growth habit, like its ancestors.

Its delicate foliage, discreet flowering, and ability to blend in with neighboring crops make it an ideal companion for small, vibrant vegetable gardens. It naturally enriches the soil by fixing nitrogen, while its regular and stable growth cycle attracts pollinators. A humble-looking but surprisingly vigorous food plant.

Chinese forget-me-not is a particularly floriferous annual, prized for its abundant and prolonged flowering. It produces a multitude of tiny indigo-blue flowers, gathered in airy clusters that rise above soft, discreet grey-green foliage.

The plant has a uniform and well-structured habit, with sturdy stems capable of supporting continuous flowering. It grows rapidly and can exceed 45 cm in height under favorable conditions. This vigor, combined with its great adaptability, makes it an excellent candidate for flower beds, borders, as well as for cultivation in containers and planters.

In the garden, the Chinese forget-me-not is tolerant and adaptable. It thrives in both full sun and partial shade, where it continues to flower profusely. Its blooms extend from spring until the end of summer, providing a constant and colorful presence in landscaping.

In the ecumene, the Chinese forget-me-not is perceived as a plant of continuity and delicacy. It accompanies the season over the long term, attracting pollinators while bringing a touch of lightness and constancy to the flower garden.

Native to the open, sunny prairies of North America, wild bergamot (Monarda fistula) is a native perennial distinguished by its bushy habit, ruffled flowers, and aromatic foliage. Its nectar-rich, lavender-pink to purplish-pink flower clusters attract a profusion of pollinators: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds—all find in it a faithful ally.

Perfectly hardy to zone 3, it thrives in well-drained soils that retain some moisture, while also tolerating occasional drought. Less susceptible to powdery mildew than its cousin Monarda didyma, it is particularly well-suited to sunny, natural spaces where it can flourish freely, whether in a meadow corner or a mixed garden. To prevent it from spreading too vigorously, it is best planted alongside other plants with a strong, assertive character.

Its presence enriches the soil, the view and biodiversity, gracefully embodying the spirit of a culture rooted in the rhythm of life.

Native to Mexico , Cosmos 'Bright Lights' has become a favorite in gardens worldwide thanks to its vibrant blooms and generous nature . This variety bursts forth in a luminous palette of yellows, oranges, and deep oranges , evoking foliage in the sunlight. It flowers from summer until the first frosts and attracts an abundance of bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects , thus enhancing the garden's ecological vitality.

In the garden, Cosmos 'Bright Lights' has a graceful, slender habit , swaying elegantly in the breeze. It is easy to grow : it thrives in poor to moderately fertile soils , requires little maintenance, and thrives on minimal care to provide continuous flowering . Its presence promotes ecological resilience by supporting biodiversity and deterring certain pests.