Orchard Baby is a dwarf sweet corn variety designed for gardens where summer is short and every sunny day counts. Its low, stocky plants produce small, uniform ears that mature quickly, providing a sweet corn harvest even where larger varieties struggle to reach maturity.

In a kitchen garden , its compact size makes it easy to plant in combination with other plants and allows light to circulate. It participates in the cycle of the seasons as a discreet yet reliable presence: sown when the soil warms up, it quickly grows, flowers, and forms its seed heads in a short time. It is a variety prized for its ability to offer, in a quiet corner of the vegetable garden, the simple pleasure of picking tender young seed heads straight from the living garden.

Small in stature but big on presence, Tom Thumb Popcorn is a dwarf popcorn variety that naturally finds its place in compact vegetable gardens and allotments. Its short plants, topped with small golden ears, evoke the age-old practice of corn cultivation while adapting to the limited spaces and sometimes unpredictable seasons of northern gardens.

In the garden, Tom Thumb forms a small, vibrant thicket , a tranquil corner where the ears of corn soak up the summer sun. Its modest size makes it easy to care for and harvest, allowing it to be integrated harmoniously into a garden, whether planted along a border or mixed with other crops. Dried at the end of the season, it yields golden popcorn with a crunchy texture, transforming the garden harvest into a daily culinary delight.

Companion to a diverse food space, this popcorn corn participates in the cycle of the seasons: sown in spring in welcoming soil, it stands up in summer, then lets itself dry in autumn to offer its grains and seeds to attentive gardeners who wish to continue the rooted approach of preserving varieties.

Originating from old North American vegetable varieties, the Banana melon is one of those heirloom melons that are slowly regaining their place in modern gardens. Long and slender, its shape evokes a tropical fruit rather than a classic melon, while still offering the sweet aromas and mild flavor of sun-ripened cucurbits.

In a supportive vegetable garden with rich, fertile soil, its long, creeping stems spread steadily, covering the ground with abundant foliage. The fruits gradually develop their characteristic hues as the seasons progress. In an ecological garden, it contributes to a diverse and nourishing ecosystem, where each plant finds its place in a respectful relationship with all living things.

The Oka netted melon is a heritage variety deeply rooted in Quebec's agricultural history. In 1893, four Trappist monks settled in the parish of Oka, where they began the patient work of selecting and adapting crops to the local climate. It was from a cross between the famous Montreal netted melon ( Cucumis melo 'Montreal') and the old American cultivar Banana ( Cucumis melo 'Banana') that Trappist Father Athanase obtained the 'Oka' melon.

From this crossbreeding emerged an early-maturing variety, well-suited to relatively short growing seasons, which can be successfully cultivated in most regions of Quebec. The fruits are recognizable by their heavily reticulated, or netted, skin and their thick, beautiful orange flesh. When ripe, the melon releases a characteristic sweet aroma and offers a rich, balanced flavor, highly prized when eaten fresh.

In the garden, the Oka netted melon needs warmth, sun, and rich, well-drained soil. The plants are vigorous and trailing, requiring space to reach their full potential. Its earliness is a significant advantage in northern climates, allowing for a satisfactory harvest even when summers are shorter or unpredictable.

In the local community, this melon is seen as a plant of transmission and patience. It embodies the ingenuity of gardeners and seed producers who have crossbred, observed, and selected varieties capable of sustainably feeding local communities, while offering remarkable taste.

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.

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.

Originating in northern regions, the Sweet Siberian watermelon is one of those heirloom varieties selected for their ability to ripen in relatively short summers. In North America, it made its debut at the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station in 1901. Its medium-sized fruits, with a mottled light green rind, contain sweet, juicy, orange flesh, a surprising characteristic among the typically red watermelons.

In the vegetable garden, this variety of Citrullus lanatus spreads with long, creeping stems, covering the ground with finely cut foliage that protects the bare soil and gently accompanies the cycle of the seasons. In a vibrant, sunny garden with fertile soil, it offers a bountiful summer harvest, in harmony with a respectful and diverse approach to cultivation.

The Noir des Carmes melon is an old French variety that has long been a staple in monastery and parsonage gardens. Its dark green, almost black skin, which cracks and turns slightly yellow when ripe, contrasts with its orange flesh, renowned for its intense aroma. In a thriving garden, it provides a discreet presence at first, then a generous one in the heart of summer, when its round fruits fill the air with their fragrance.

In the garden, this trailing melon weaves its way between the planting beds and covers the ground with dense foliage. It's a variety prized for its earliness , making it a valuable companion in regions with shorter summers. Grown with respect for the soil and the natural cycles of the seasons, it offers delicious harvests while integrating harmoniously into a diverse and harmonious vegetable garden.

The Superprécoce du Roc melon is an old variety of the "rock melon" type, selected to produce flavorful fruit in regions with shorter summers. Modest in size, with well-defined segments and the reticulated rind typical of cantaloupe melons, it naturally finds its place in a productive vegetable garden that prioritizes early harvests.

In the garden, this variety forms a creeping plant that spreads close to the ground, seeking out warm, welcoming soil. Its round to slightly oval fruits ripen faster than those of many other melons, making it a valuable ally in a gardening approach that respects the natural cycles of the climate. In a harmonious garden, the Superprécoce du Roc pairs well with other cucurbits, contributing to the diversity of the vegetable patch while offering the daily pleasure of fragrant fruit in the heart of summer.

Base's cruciferous mesclun mix brings together several leafy cabbages and close relatives from the large Brassicaceae family, chosen for their tender young leaves and rapid growth. In a corner of the vegetable garden, it forms in a few weeks a carpet of varied greens, with more or less distinct shapes, reminiscent of the age-old act of harvesting a handful of leaves with a knife for the day's cooking.

In the garden, this mix thrives in welcoming, cool soil , where the gardener can observe its consistent regrowth week after week. Harvested young, it provides crisp leaves for salads; a little more mature, it becomes a nourishing bouquet for quick stir-fries. Its diversity strengthens the resilience of the living garden and naturally complements the seasonal cycle in the vegetable patch.

Luxury mesclun is a delicate and flavorful mix that originates from a blend of young leaves from plants in the Brassicaceae family. Native to Europe, this mix is ​​prized for its tender leaves with varied flavors, ranging from mild to peppery, and is often used in gourmet cuisine to add freshness and character.

In the garden, it offers a promise of gustatory and horticultural diversity, boasting dense, often variegated foliage that develops into a modest, bushy habit. It is a valuable ally for attentive gardeners who want to quickly grow a salad full of nuances and encourage biodiversity thanks to its discreet flowers and seeds.

Luxury Mesclun, a blend of delicate young leaves, is a true delight for the senses. Originating from Provençal tradition, this diverse mix of lettuces, arugula, and mustards produces a medley of colors and flavors, offering a varied palette that lends itself to fresh salads and light dishes.

In the garden, this diversity of crisp and tender flavors unfolds with elegance, inviting the gardener to a continuous and generous harvest. It is a variety prized for its moderate hardiness and its ability to extend the enjoyment of the garden until the first frosts.

A partner in colorful tables and gourmet moments, luxury Mesclun is a symbol of diversity and abundance in the vegetable garden, perfectly in line with the écoumene approach.

This mesclun mix of pungent mustards brings together several varieties of leafy mustards to offer, in a single sowing, a palette of textures, shapes, and bold flavors. In the living garden, it quickly forms a carpet of young, finely cut or broader leaves, in shades of soft to deep green, sometimes tinged with red or purple depending on the mix.

An ideal companion for kitchen gardens, this mix thrives in fertile soils and the cool temperatures of spring and autumn. It allows you to practice the age-old practice of harvesting young leaves as needed, respecting the natural cycle of the seasons. Harvests are quick and plentiful, encouraging a daily connection with the vegetable garden: observe, cut, taste, and let things regrow. A simple and vibrant way to forge a close bond with your plot of land.

Native to Japan, Red Mizuna is a brassica that captivates with its finely cut leaves, tinged with dark purple. Born from a refined agricultural tradition, it has long been cultivated in the pure waters of Kyoto, where its name "mizuna" — meaning "water-vegetable" — testifies to its connection with humid and nurturing gardens.

In the garden, it thrives from the first cool days of spring and returns vigorously at the end of summer, thus avoiding the intense heat that would trigger it to go to seed. With its bushy habit, rapid growth, and high cold tolerance (down to -12°C), it stands out as a reliable, simple, and generous plant. It allows for staggered harvests, perfect for extending the green season in harmony with the garden's gentle rhythm.

Native to South America, Balbis nightshade (Solanum sisymbriifolium) is a tender perennial in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), cultivated as an annual in our climates. It displays a striking silhouette, reaching up to 1.4 meters in height, covered in stems, leaves, and calyxes bristling with golden spines. In summer, it offers a remarkable display of large, star-shaped flowers, white to lilac, reminiscent of eggplant.

An unusual companion plant, it is sometimes used as a trap crop in a soil-friendly approach. It attracts potato cyst nematodes and inhibits their development, thus helping to regenerate the soil through a natural strategy. Robust, it grows without pruning in well-drained soil and full sun, with self-sustaining growth and a structuring effect in the vegetable garden.

Its late flowering and fruiting invite rewarded patience, and its singular presence makes it a prickly guardian of the vegetable garden.

Sunberry nightshade is a unique annual plant, long overlooked, but now appreciated for its abundance and culinary uses. Selected in 1909 by the renowned horticulturist Luther Burbank, it was developed specifically to offer a nightshade with edible fruit , unlike the toxic black nightshade, which it closely resembles.

The plant forms a compact and vigorous bushy habit, growing rapidly to about 50 cm in height. It produces an abundance of small, round, dark bluish-purple fruits with a matte appearance, clustered in bunches. These fruits are only edible when fully ripe , at which stage they develop a sweet and pleasant flavor.

In the garden, Sunberry proves surprisingly adaptable. It grows in most soil types, without any particular requirements, and gets off to a quick start once established. Its production is early and sustained, and the plant can sometimes self-seed when conditions are right.

Native to Europe, Dragon Tongue Mustard is prized for its variegated foliage, a delicate blend of light green and purple, reminiscent of the dragon's tongue from which it takes its name. With flavors reminiscent of classic mustard, it finds its place in exceptional gardens as an elegant, tangy green salad, adding a spicy and colorful touch to spring harvests.

In the garden, its bushy, compact habit makes it easy to plant in borders or mixed with other leafy greens. Its rapid growth and moderate hardiness make it a generous companion for brightening up fresh salads. Dragon Tongue invites culinary exploration while supporting biodiversity thanks to its small yellow flowers that attract pollinating insects.

Originating in Japan, Great Wave Miike mustard embodies the vibrant energy of Asian traditions, where mustard is valued as much for its leaves as for its spicy seeds. Its name evokes the famous woodblock print "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," symbolizing the power, natural beauty, and human courage in the face of the elements.

In the garden, this mustard stands out with its glossy, wavy, almost sculptural green foliage, which adds a graphic and dynamic touch. Perennial or annual depending on the climate, it vigorously complements vegetable crops, acting as a quick green manure and a beneficial companion plant.

Its robust and generous nature warms the senses in salads, stir-fries, or as a condiment thanks to its tangy flavor. A true partner for committed gardeners, it integrates naturally into a nourishing and vibrant garden.

Among the most familiar root vegetables in peasant gardens, the white turnip with a purple collar is one of those unassuming companions that faithfully return with each passing season. Its round, white, and smooth root, topped with a purple collar where it receives sunlight, provides a simple yet firmly rooted presence in the welcoming soil of the vegetable garden.

Originating from a vast Eurasian basin where turnips have been cultivated since antiquity, this bicolored variety has become popular for its rapid growth and tender flesh. In a vibrant and diverse garden, it integrates easily into the edges of planting beds or between longer crops, contributing to the garden's cycle through its roots that loosen the soil and its foliage that covers the ground.

In the garden, it's a reliable plant for cooler seasons: sown early in spring or late summer, it develops round roots within a few weeks, ready to be harvested for simple and nourishing cooking. Its remarkable resilience makes it a valuable ally in an approach to respectful gardening and connection with nature.

The Petrowski turnip is an old variety highly prized by gourmets for the exceptional tenderness and sweetness of its flesh. It is recognizable by its round root with golden-yellow skin, enclosing a fine, creamy-white to very pale yellow flesh , accompanied by a delicately fragrant aftertaste that clearly distinguishes it from other turnips.

Originating in Northern Europe and associated with Berlin, this very hardy variety has proven particularly well-suited to cooler climates. Around 1915, it was being cultivated as far away as Alaska by Russian immigrants, a testament to its robustness and early maturity. It is generally harvested between 1.5 and 2 months after sowing and expresses its best flavor when picked young.

In the garden, Petrowski grows quickly in loose, cool, and well-drained soil. Its steady and reliable growth makes it an excellent choice for northern vegetable gardens and short growing seasons.

In the local world, this turnip is seen as a plant of refined simplicity. It serves as a reminder that certain old varieties, carefully selected and harvested, offer a richness of flavor that far surpasses their apparent modesty.