Seeds

Native to Southern Europe and Turkey, Belle Isle land cress has been prized as a culinary herb in English kitchen gardens since the 17th century. Its glossy green foliage, bushy habit, and yellow spring flowers make it a discreet yet invigorating presence.

A hardy and fast-growing plant, it adapts well to organic gardens, particularly in cooler, wetter areas. It requires cool but well-drained soil, without excess water, making it easier to cultivate than watercress . A gentle companion for the gardener, it enriches the soil and promotes functional diversity in vegetable beds and edible borders.

Native to South America, Brazilian cress (also called brède mafane, Para cress or Electric Daisy) is a compact herbaceous annual (15 to 30 cm) which astonishes with its curious conical yellow flowers without petals and its dark green oval leaves , with a singular crunch.

Introduced to Quebec as an ornamental flower about ten years ago, this plant is now gaining recognition as a valuable condiment and medicinal herb . It is easy to grow: it thrives in well-drained, warm soil and full sun . It grows readily in pots or directly in the ground , making it ideal for small vegetable gardens.

Its dense foliage brings a beautiful plant texture to the vegetable garden, and its unusual flowers are an invitation to sensory curiosity.

The Val-aux-Vents shallot is a heritage, locally grown variety originating in Quebec. It was patiently selected by Richard Favreau , a market gardener and seed producer at Ferme Val-aux-Vents, located in Saint-Valérien, in the Lower St. Lawrence region. Its name is a direct tribute to this vibrant and windswept place where it was developed.

The result of crossbreeding and stabilizing French shallot types (Jersey type), it has established itself as a free alternative to hybrid varieties , with a subtle flavor , good preservation and remarkable adaptability to northern growing conditions .

In the garden, the Val-aux-Vents shallot is distinguished by its tightly packed, elongated bulbs with a thin, reddish skin , and its stable growth . It is resistant to common diseases and performs well in crop rotations . It forms a harmonious companion plant (especially carrots, lettuce, and strawberries), while attracting beneficial microfauna with its discreet umbel-shaped flowers .

Native to the prairies and plains of North America, narrow-leaved coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) is a flagship plant, valued both for its ornamental qualities and its recognized properties in herbal medicine. Its slender silhouette and vibrant pink to purple petals offer a luminous and dynamic display, attracting the eye of an attentive naturalist.

In the garden, it plays a vital role as a resource for pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies, making it a valuable ally in the quest for enhanced biodiversity. Hardy and prolific, this plant brings a wild and authentic touch reminiscent of the open landscapes of North America.

Its traditional use in infusions or decoctions to support the immune system gives it a firmly established reputation in folk medicine, while its late flowering enriches the garden in late summer and early autumn.

Native to the prairies of North America, Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) has become a staple of vibrant gardens. Its large purple corolla and elongated rays evoke the softness of a setting sunbeam, while its bright orange cone-shaped center attracts attention and life.

In the garden, this perennial acts as a sentinel, attracting a myriad of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, which find refuge and nectar on its abundant flowers. Resolutely robust and prolific, it integrates naturally into flowerbeds and wildflower meadows, providing stability and beauty well into autumn.

Akarenso spinach is immediately distinguished by the depth of its color. Its smooth leaves, ranging from burgundy red to dark purple, bring a rare visual intensity to the vegetable garden. From the first cool days of spring or at the end of summer, it attracts the eye and promises a season of nuanced beauty.

Originating in Japan, Akarenso is a traditional variety prized for its colorful foliage and mild flavor. Unlike some hardier spinach varieties, it has a more delicate temperament. Its full potential is realized when conditions are stable and well-controlled.

In the field, our trials have revealed that Akarenso performs best when grown in containers . This method allows for finer control of soil moisture, a key factor for this variety. In tubs or pots, it develops more uniform foliage, more intense color, and consistent growth, sometimes offering surprising results in both appearance and taste.

In open ground, when climatic conditions become variable—alternating rain, drought, or unstable temperatures— Akarenso can be more temperamental. Less robust than other spinach varieties, it then struggles to fully express its distinctive characteristics, both in vigor and color. This is not a weakness in itself, but rather an indication of a sensitive plant that requires an environment consistent with its nature.

Cultivating Akarenso therefore means accepting a more attentive relationship. In return, when offered controlled conditions and living soil, it reveals remarkable beauty and gentleness, transforming a simple container into a true botanical jewel.

Native to the tropical regions of South Asia and India , Malabar spinach , also known as purple basella , is a perennial climbing plant cultivated as an annual in our latitudes. Once a staple in tropical vegetable gardens, it has now become a popular choice for kitchen gardens worldwide thanks to its elegant shape , vigorous growth , and glossy, purple-tinged leaves .

In the garden, it grows quickly and climbs enthusiastically on trellises, fences, or vertical supports , forming truly productive vines . It tolerates summer heat admirably and provides a continuous harvest of fleshy, slightly mucilaginous leaves , perfect raw in salads or cooked like spinach . In hot, humid climates, it is a valuable plant for summer crops , where regular spinach struggles to grow.

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.

Giant Winter spinach is a hardy variety known for its high cold tolerance and ability to produce early in spring. It forms large, thick, dark green leaves with a fleshy texture and mild taste, particularly appreciated after cool periods.

Designed for late-season cultivation, this spinach slowly develops its rosette before winter, then resumes vigorous growth as soon as conditions improve. This strategy allows it to offer early harvests at a time when few other leafy vegetables are available.

In the garden, Giant Winter thrives in rich, well-drained soil that is kept consistently moist. It adapts very well to late summer or early autumn sowing, as well as to protected cultivation. Its slow but steady growth promotes thick, well-structured leaves that are less prone to bolting than summer varieties.

Caucasian climbing spinach, Hablitzia tamnoides , is a perennial native to the cool, rocky undergrowth of the Caucasus. Long cultivated as a hardy leafy vegetable in mountain gardens, it naturally finds its place in ecological gardens where the aim is to combine edible abundance with sustainable ground cover.

In the garden, this plant forms a perennial clump from which, in spring, long climbing stems emerge, clinging to a trellis or spreading over a support. Its tender green, elongated heart-shaped leaves offer edible young shoots reminiscent of spinach. In a partially shaded corner, at the foot of a fence or shrub, it creates a discreet yet faithful presence, participating in the garden's cycle by returning each year from its well-established root system.

Thanks to its ability to vertically occupy space in cooler areas, it contributes to a harmonious garden where plant layers complement each other. It's a reliable plant for anyone wishing to create a vibrant and diverse garden, requiring careful cultivation and offering excellent consistency throughout the seasons.

Originating from the temperate regions of Eurasia , Verdil spinach has become a staple in vegetable gardens , for both amateur and professional gardeners. It is prized for its supple, deep green leaves , its mild and delicate flavor , and its natural resistance to cold , making it a choice leafy vegetable as soon as the first frosts arrive .

In the garden, Verdil is a generous and fast-growing plant , perfectly suited to cool climates like that of Quebec . Its low, dense growth habit effectively covers the ground, limiting weeds while promoting biodiversity . Its easy cultivation, requiring no special care, makes it a reliable ally for gardeners seeking simplicity and productivity .

Originating from the Mediterranean region, Fino fennel is a refined variety, renowned for its delicate, aniseed aroma. It is distinguished by its flattened white bulbs and slender silhouette, which adds lightness and elegance to the garden.

Easy to grow in our latitudes, this fennel exhibits good resistance to bolting, making it a reliable choice for climates like Quebec's. Its airy flowers attract numerous pollinating insects, and its fragrant foliage acts as a natural repellent for certain pests, making it a beneficial companion plant. Robust yet graceful, it integrates perfectly into a productive and biodiverse garden, in full sun and loose soil.

The red alpine strawberry is a perennial variety prized for its delicate fruit and intense aroma. Unlike large-fruited strawberry varieties, it produces small, conical, bright red strawberries with a highly fragrant taste reminiscent of wild strawberries. Their flavor is concentrated, sweet, and slightly tart.

The plant forms compact clumps of bright green, toothed leaves that spread gently over the seasons. With little or no vining habit depending on the variety, it devotes its energy to flowering and fruiting rather than producing stolons, making it easy to integrate into vegetable gardens, borders, and container gardening.

In the garden, the red alpine strawberry is robust and adaptable. It thrives in rich, well-drained soil that is kept consistently moist, and prefers a sunny to partially shaded location. Production is extended over a long period, often from early summer until the first cool weather, provided it is harvested regularly.

Native to the mountains of Europe , the alpine strawberry 'Yellow Wonder' is a small botanical marvel that delights with its creamy-yellow fruit , boasting very sweet and fragrant flesh . This alpine variety, which does not produce runners , is prized for its compact, bushy habit , making it perfect for borders, planters , or as a perennial ground cover in eco-friendly gardens.

In the garden, 'Yellow Wonder' proves to be a discreet and generous companion , offering abundant and continuous harvests throughout the season, right up until the first frosts . Its natural hardiness and ability to thrive in light, well-drained, and undemanding soils make it an ideal plant for vibrant and resilient vegetable gardens .

Its nectar-rich white flowers attract numerous pollinating insects , enhancing local biodiversity. When ripe, the fruits fall to the ground on their own, signaling their peak flavor — but they must be eaten or processed quickly , as their fragility is also part of their refinement.

'Yellow Wonder' embodies a form of wild and rare indulgence , inviting contemplation, careful gathering, and wonder at simple gardens.

Native to the prairies and plains of North America , Gaillardia aristaea embodies warmth and resilience . A hardy perennial, it is distinguished by its flowers in flamboyant hues – red, orange and yellow – evoking the vibrant light of wild summers.

Its upright habit , long flowering period, and ability to adapt to poor, dry, and well-drained soils make it an indispensable ally for low-maintenance, natural gardens . Highly valued for its drought tolerance , it blooms from June to September and attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators .

It integrates easily into borders, rock gardens, or wildflower beds , bringing color, structure, and movement. It is a decidedly free-spirited, graphic, and joyful plant that gracefully navigates the summer season.

Native to the tropical regions of America , this luminous annual captivates with its bright orange, spherical flower heads , reminiscent of tropical sunsets . Borne on upright, branching stems , it forms a compact and dynamic plant that brings warmth, structure, and contrast to flowerbeds, borders, or container plantings.

Its long and continuous flowering period , from summer until the first frosts, attracts numerous pollinators , particularly bees and butterflies . Highly heat-resistant and undemanding, it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It sometimes self-seeds when conditions are favorable.

With its robustness, simplicity and brilliance, it naturally finds its place in ecological and living gardens , where botanical diversity is celebrated.

Born from the millennia-old agricultural heritage of the Andes and adapted to the needs of modern gardeners, the Henderson Bush Lima Bean embodies the alliance between nourishing tradition and ease of cultivation. Its compact, bushy shape, requiring no staking, makes it an ideal choice for small gardens, container gardening, or urban vegetable patches.

This old cultivar, introduced to North America in the late 19th century, is prized for its hardiness, drought tolerance, and continuous production. It thrives in light, well-drained soils under ample sunshine, where it forms a dense ground cover that protects the soil. Its inconspicuous flowers herald full pods, each containing up to four plump, melt-in-your-mouth seeds.

An ideal companion plant, it enriches the soil with nitrogen, promotes microbial biodiversity, and embodies a form of sustainable and resilient food crop, perfectly integrated into a nourishing ecological garden.

Native to central and eastern North America, the ground-climbing bean, also called bracteole amphicarpus , is a graceful and unique plant belonging to the Fabaceae family.

A perennial with flexible growth and twining stems, it clings to natural structures or neighboring plants in the garden, rising with a confident lightness. It is perfectly at home in shady corners, damp edges, or transitional gardens, where it integrates effortlessly into the cycle of life.

Its unique botanical feature lies in its dual fruiting: inedible aerial pods and edible underground seeds resembling small peas. It enriches the soil with nitrogen and promotes a thriving root system. A perfect partner for permaculture, it combines discretion, hardiness, and resilience, while supporting valuable biodiversity.

The Grandma Dinel climbing bean embodies much more than a simple vegetable variety: it is a living testament to a family legacy passed down with care and affection. Its story begins in 1907, when Maximilienne Corbeil Dinel received, as a wedding gift, a packet of beans she affectionately called "her runners." She immediately adopted them, sowing them every year in her vegetable garden in Chénéville, in the Outaouais region. Even at over 94 years old, she continued to cultivate them with the same unwavering dedication, faithful to a silent but tenacious tradition.

It was her granddaughter, Judith David, who in 2008 took up the mantle of preserving this memory by entrusting these seeds to the Jardins de l'écoumène (Gardens of the Ecumene), concerned that they would not be forgotten. Despite research carried out in collaboration with the Potagers d'antan (Vegetable Gardens of Yesteryear ), the exact origin of this variety remains a mystery. It is therefore in homage to Maximilienne that this bean now bears the name Grand-maman Dinel (Grandma Dinel ).

In the garden, this climbing or trellising variety displays delightful vigor. The stems quickly rise to form a living web, an arch of memories to climb, flowering relentlessly until the first frosts. The long, pale yellow, flattened pods spread gracefully, containing plump berries to be harvested just before they are fully ripe—a key moment to avoid a mushy texture.

This hardy and generous bean naturally finds its place in a heritage vegetable garden. It loves to climb, reaching for the light, as if to tell its story again and again, season after season.