Seeds to start indoors

The giant Mammoth sunflower , Helianthus annuus, is one of those companions that transforms the vegetable garden into a true landscape. With its imposing stature and large golden inflorescences, it creates a vertical landmark in the living garden, visible from afar and appreciated by both humans and small wildlife.

Throughout the changing seasons, this sunflower silently follows the light, first offering broad, inviting foliage, then large flower heads adorned with thousands of blossoms that attract pollinators. In late summer, the seed-laden heads become a sought-after food source for birds, extending its beneficial presence in the garden's ecosystem.

Originating in Central Europe , the Red Kalibos red cabbage is distinguished by its elegant conical shape , its intense purplish-red color , and its natural hardiness . Its compact head with thick, finely veined leaves evokes a true garden jewel , bringing structure and brilliance to the heart of autumn crops.

In the garden, Red Kalibos stands out for its upright habit , vigor , and good cold tolerance, making it a reliable ally in cooler climates . It integrates easily into crop rotations and pairs well with other autumn-flowering brassicas.

The Ring of Fire pepper is a Cayenne-type variety known for its intense heat and high reliability in northern climates. It produces glossy, red, relatively short fruits, measuring about 10 cm in length, with thin, very hot flesh.

Selected for its earliness, this cultivar is distinguished by its ability to reach maturity quickly. Even in cool, wet summers, the fruits ripen in about 60 days, making it a reliable choice for gardeners in regions with shorter growing seasons.

The plants are vigorous, well-branched and productive, offering a regular harvest throughout the season. The fruits are harvested green or red depending on the use, but they express their full intensity when fully ripe.

In the ecumene, Ring of Fire is perceived as a variety resulting from human selection work, rooted in the vast genetic heritage of Mesoamerican peppers, but shaped to meet the constraints and needs of contemporary vegetable gardens.

Native to the Great Plains of North America, the sunflower ( Helianthus annuus ) has long been a staple food for people and a companion plant in the fields. In its ornamental mixed variety, the sunflower comes in a mosaic of heights, shapes, and colors ranging from bright yellow to coppery tones, sometimes brick red or soft lemon.

Sown in fertile soil, this mix creates a veritable living tableau throughout the summer. The taller plants stand guard over the vegetable garden, while the more compact varieties weave their way into flowerbeds or along the edge of a quiet corner. The abundant centers of their flower heads attract bees, bumblebees, and other winged visitors, contributing to a harmonious garden rich in biodiversity.

Easy to grow where the season is warm enough, this mixed ornamental sunflower is a reliable plant: an age-old practice of sowing in spring, some careful care at the start, and the reward of a generous flowering that accompanies the cycle of seasons until the first frosts.

Originally from the Americas, the pattypan squash has become a cheerful and generous companion in our vegetable gardens. Its saucer-shaped fruits, often yellow or green, herald summer and its delicious bounty. The pattypan squash, also called "pattypan squash zucchini," is prized for its tender, slightly sweet flesh, which reveals its full finesse in cooking.

In the garden, this variety displays a compact and vigorous habit, thriving in generous sunshine with leaves that are sometimes finely cut. A robust plant, it offers a regular harvest that delights gardeners with its ease of cultivation and abundance.

An ideal companion for organic vegetable gardens, it supports biodiversity by attracting pollinators and beneficial insects, while blending harmoniously with other crops thanks to its protective foliage.

The 'Carmen' marigold belongs to those varieties of Tagetes that naturally find their place in a vibrant garden. Its luminous flowers and compact habit make it a discreet but constant presence throughout the summer, equally at home in the vegetable garden or among flowers.

Easy to sow, it guides the gardener in a respectful approach to cultivation, where each plant contributes to the balance of the space. Whether planted in borders, pots, or flowerbeds, 'Carmen' punctuates the cycle of seasons with its generous and regular blooms, offering a colorful focal point in the heart of the garden.

Native to Mexico , Cosmos 'Sensation' has quickly become a must-have flower in summer gardens , thanks to its abundant blooms , its vibrant palette of pink, red, and white hues , and its easy-to-grow nature . It embodies simple grace and delicate movement , brightening flowerbeds and borders from July to October .

Its light flowers with toothed petals radiate around a vibrant yellow center , and sway with the wind, attracting a host of pollinators : bees, butterflies, but also helpers like the green lacewing , whose larvae are formidable predators of aphids, scale insects and thrips – a valuable asset for gardens using biological pest control .

Originating in the warm regions of Asia, the Diamond Eggplant has quickly become a favorite variety among organic gardeners for its glossy, uniform fruit. Its smooth, purple skin is enhanced by an almost diamond-like sheen, hence its evocative name.

In the garden, this bushy variety is distinguished by its generous summer production, offering numerous fruits with tender, sweet flesh. Its cultivation benefits from a soil-friendly approach and careful attention to its warmth requirements, making it a valuable companion in vegetable gardens in warm temperate climates.

The Early Cherry tomato, a determinate cherry variety, has been selected to thrive even in cool and unpredictable climatic conditions . It naturally finds its place in a vibrant garden or a sheltered spot , where warmth is limited and the seasons are short.

Its small, round or slightly oval red fruits ripen very early— as soon as 60 days after sowing —forming an abundant cluster of sweetness . Its slightly lobed foliage, reminiscent of potato leaves, testifies to its hardiness. It grows easily and consistently , whether in the ground or in containers, and is suitable for both novice gardeners and enthusiasts eager to experience the pleasures of vegetable gardening.

Born on the sandy soils of the Île d'Oléron, the Saint Turjan is an ancient and precious onion variety, also known as the "rose of the sands." This evocative name perfectly illustrates its maritime origins and its delicate pinkish-purple skin, which captures the light like a pebble polished by time. Inherited from generations of Breton market gardeners and passed on today thanks to the Kaol Kozh Association, this heritage bulb embodies a living link between the practices of the past and the garden of today.

In the garden, the Saint Turjan embodies the unwavering consistency of a reliable plant. Its growth is steady, its upright foliage signals peaceful maturity, and its fleshy bulbs form readily in light, deep, well-drained soil. It particularly appreciates sunny spots and sandy soils, where it fully develops its potential. Resilient, adaptable, and hardy, it is a dependable companion for gardeners seeking to ground their practices in respectful and deeply rooted cultivation.

Versatile, it is equally suited to growing in bunches for summer harvests and to extended winter storage. Its thin, dry skin ensures excellent preservation after harvest. Cultivating it means contributing to the preservation of a threatened culinary heritage and reviving a variety that combines beauty, memory, and taste.

Originating in Europe, Black Seeded Simpson leaf lettuce is an heirloom variety prized for its finely serrated leaves and rapid growth. It is distinguished by its light green leaves with a delicate texture and its spreading habit, offering an early harvest ideal for temperate climates.

In the garden, this lettuce is generous and easy to grow, perfect for topping salads and fresh plates. Its early maturity and tenderness make it a favorite variety among gardeners looking for delicate flavors right from the start of the season.

Originally from Asia, the lemon cucumber is striking for its round shape and sunny yellow hue , reminiscent of a vibrant fruit fallen from the sky. Less common than its elongated green cousins, it is prized for its sweet and refreshing flavor , without the bitterness found in many classic cucumbers.

In the garden, it truly shines when grown vertically: its vigorous climbing habit benefits from being trained on a trellis, which showcases its round, bright, and easy-to-pick fruit. A generous, playful, and nutritious variety, it finds its place in diverse vegetable gardens, attracting attention and sparking curiosity both on the plate and on the vine .

Born from a passionate project and meticulous selection, the William Prescott variegated pepper embodies the union of expertise, patience, and creativity. This variety, the result of several rigorous crossbreedings and a long stabilization process, is also a living tribute: finalized on the day of little William's birth, it embodies the profound connection between the garden and the life that takes root there.

In an educational vegetable garden or a space that fosters a sense of community, this pepper thrives consistently. Its variegated green and white foliage brightens the rows, while its upright habit, sometimes enhanced by light pruning, adds attractive structure to the space. It appreciates warmth and well-warmed soil, where it develops elongated fruits that are initially green with white stripes, which then turn a vibrant orange adorned with cream stripes.

A plant of trust, it perfectly complements gardening experiences based on observation, respect for the seasonal rhythm and the living transmission of knowledge.

Among the companion perennials in the garden, yarrow 'Summer Pastels' offers a gentle and generous bloom, like a peaceful garden in the heart of summer. Its flat, airy umbels , borne on slender, sturdy stems , come in a range of pastel shades: creamy white, soft yellow, pale salmon, lilac, or pale red … A subtle palette that evolves with the days and the rays of the sun.

Hardy and undemanding, this reliable plant withstands drought, wind, and the harshness of poor soils. Once established, it requires little care, blends naturally into a quiet corner of the garden , along the edge of a flowerbed, or in a naturalistic border , and attracts dozens of butterflies and pollinators . Its finely cut, silvery-green foliage forms a soft, spreading base that remains decorative even when not in bloom.

The Blacktail Mountain watermelon, the result of patient selection in a climate of short summers and cool nights, has earned a prime spot in northern vegetable gardens. Bred to ripen where so many other varieties struggle, it offers Quebec gardens a true summer melon, even during cooler seasons.

Its small to medium-sized fruits have a dark green, almost uniform rind that blends into the foliage and protects the flesh from excessive sun. Inside, the red flesh is juicy and sweet. In the garden, it is a creeping plant that spreads close to the ground, creating a carpet of deeply lobed leaves. It consistently accompanies the cycle of the seasons: a discreet presence at first, then a quiet vigor until harvest.

In a well-mulched organic vegetable garden, Blacktail Mountain naturally finds its place as a trusted plant: it covers the ground, shelters small useful fauna and contributes to the nourishing face of the harmonious garden.

Originally from Mexico, the jalapeño has become one of the most popular chili peppers thanks to its moderate heat and versatility in cooking. The Early Jalapeño variety has been selected to ripen more quickly, making it a valuable ally in gardens where summers are short and sometimes unpredictable.

In the kitchen garden, its upright plants bear a beautiful succession of glossy green fruits that turn red when fully ripe. In a vegetable garden in harmony with the cycle of the seasons, this chili pepper naturally finds its place among tomatoes, basil, and other sun-loving vegetables. Its presence contributes to the diversity of shapes and colors, and serves as a daily reminder of the age-old practice of cultivating spicy plants with respect and care.

Native to the Mediterranean region, the pot marigold ( Calendula officinalis ) has become widespread in many gardens as a medicinal, edible, and ornamental flower. In mixed plantings, it offers a warm palette of yellows, oranges, and sometimes softer tones, punctuating the vegetable garden with luminous patches from early summer until the first frosts.

In a garden in harmony with the seasons, mixed marigolds readily self-seed and accompany vegetable beds like a benevolent presence. Their abundant blooms nourish pollinating and beneficial insects, while also providing the gardener with petals to pick for cooking or traditional preparations. Hardy and undemanding, they integrate naturally into a nurturing space where the aim is to cultivate a relationship with nature through respectful gardening and simple practices.

Originating in northern Brittany, France, the Roscoff pink onion has been shaped by sea winds and coastal soils. The 'Keravel' variety, offered in organic farming, continues this story in today's organic vegetable gardens. Its pinkish bulbs, round to slightly flattened, grow in neat rows and color the garden from late summer onwards, like small suns with coppery reflections.

In the garden, it's a reliable plant: upright foliage, consistent growth habit, and easy harvest time when the leaves gently bend. When properly cultivated, it produces good-sized bulbs with pale pink flesh, prized for their sweet and fragrant flavor. In a thriving garden, the onion structures the beds, complements neighboring crops, and contributes to a respectful approach to soil and the natural cycle of the seasons.

The wild pansy, Viola tricolor , is a small companion to meadows, embankments, and natural gardens of temperate Eurasia. It is often found where the soil remains welcoming, neither overworked nor too poor, like a discreet presence accompanying the cycle of the seasons. Its small, tricolored flowers, in shades of violet, yellow, and white depending on the form, give the garden the feel of a tranquil corner where life moves freely.

In a harmonious garden, the wild pansy thrives wherever it's given a little space: at the base of perennials, in natural borders, or in tolerant lawns. It forms low clumps with finely cut foliage and delicate flowers that bloom from spring to autumn, depending on the conditions. It's a reliable plant, unassuming yet tenacious, well-suited to an approach of respectful gardening, where observation precedes action and every little flower plays its part in the ecosystem.

Originating in Italy, Lacinato kale, also known as Tuscan black kale , cavolo nero , or kale palm, is an old variety prized as much for its beauty as for its flavor. Its long, narrow, dark blue-green leaves, deeply textured , give it a unique, serrated appearance that is both rustic and elegant.

In the kitchen, it is prized for its rich, mild flavor , less bitter than that of classic kale, with vegetal notes reminiscent of hazelnut or green tea. It is central to many traditional Tuscan recipes, such as ribollita , and is easy to prepare: sautéed, braised, in soup, or even as crispy oven-baked chips.

In the garden, Lacinato stands out for its remarkable cold hardiness —its leaves become tender and soft after the first frosts. Its upright, narrow rosette growth habit allows for dense plantings, ideal for compact gardens or close rows . Productive, vigorous, and undemanding, it offers a harvest spread over several months , making it a reliable and nourishing ally for cooler seasons and winter gardens.