A delightful novelty veggie in my food garden, Cucamelon - aka mouse melon - look like miniature watermelons! Hailing from Mexico and Central America, these distant cucumber cousins have a bright, refreshing taste with a citrus tang. They're totally unique and kids, especially, love them.

Cucamelons rarely make it in the house, as I snack on them while tending my gardens. But when they do, they're sliced in a salad or bring a small to a veggie platter. I preserve them like pickles, too. And just had a customer tell me they put them in cocktails!

Cucamelon vines need a structure to climb as they grow. My favourite way is to guide them along a tomato cage when growing in a container, but any sturdy trellis will work. Once flowers appear, start checking for fruit after a week.

$4 each or 3 for $10 (save $2!)

Type: annual fruit (although eaten as a veggie, like tomato)

Height: plant 1 ft tall, vines up to 10 ft.

Light: full sun

Moisture: well drained, rich warm soil - amend with compost before planting

Watering:  Keep well watered.  Vines will shrivel if they dry out. 

If I could only grow one variety of tomato each year, Candyland would be it. These teeny toms - a currant variety - literally taste like pops of sugar, and are

non-stop, prolific producers. Long after other tomatoes in our gardens are finished, Candyland keep fruiting until the hardest frost kills the plant.

  $6 each or 3 for $15

Type:  Indeterminate, vining variety.  Needs staking. You can read about the difference between Determinate and Indeterminate tomatoes here: Determinate vs. Indeterminate Tomatoes

Height: 5-7 feet

Light: Full sun

Soil: Rich soil. Use good quality compost around plants and mulch well. 

Water: Consistently keeping soil moist, but not wet, will results in good growth and happy tomatoes. Inconsistent moisture can lead to "Blossom End Rot".  Always water tomatoes at the base of the plant never getting water on the leaves.  

Planting:

• Harden off* and then transplant to the garden after all frost danger is gone. 
• Bury them deep!  Plant the whole stem into the ground, not just the roots leaving only a few top leaves showing.  The plant will put out roots from the buried stem, making your plant grow nice and strong!
• Space plants 60-90 cm, 2-3' apart; space rows 3-4' apart. They will grow nicely in containers but will need some kind of support. 
• DO NOT crowd plants.  This leads to poor circulation and disease

Other tips:

Pruning out suckers on your plant will help it put more of it's energy into fruit production.  Suckers appear between the main stem and the branches and can be easily taken out with your fingers. 

Sweet and delightfully stiped cherry tomato made up of yellow, red + orange striations, Sunrise Bumblebees look absolutely stunning on a bed of greens or in a caprese salad. Juicy + lower acid than a standard red tomato, these heirlooms are deliciously sweet with crack-resistant skin. Harvest regularly to keep the plant producing. 

 $6 each or 3 for $15

Type: Indeterminate, vining plants that will need staking. Plants will keep growing and producing until frost. You can read about the difference between Determinate and Indeterminate tomatoes here: Determinate vs. Indeterminate Tomatoes

Height: Indeterminate height. 

Light: Full sun

Soil: Rich soil. Use good quality compost around plants and mulch well.  

Water: Consistently keeping soil moist, but not wet, will result in good growth and happy tomatoes. Inconsistent moisture can lead to "Blossom End Rot".  Always water tomatoes at the base of the plant never getting water on the leaves.  

Planting:

• Harden off* and then transplant to the garden after all frost danger is gone. 
• Bury them deep!  Plant the whole stem into the ground, not just the roots leaving only a few top leaves showing.  The plant will put out roots from the buried stem, making your plant grow nice and strong!
• Space plants 60-90 cm, 2-3' apart; space rows 3-4' apart. They will grow nicely in containers but will need some kind of support. 
• DO NOT crowd plants.  This leads to poor circulation and disease

Harvest: 70 days to maturity (from the day they are planted outside)

* Hardening off refers to the process of gently and gradually acclimatizing indoor grown seedlings to the great outdoors!  Don't throw your new babies straight into the elements!  Over the course of a week, take them outside for a few hours at a time, bringing them back indoors afterwards.  First sit them in the shade and then slowly introduce them to the sun.  Increase the length of time they are outside and are exposed to the sun, until you feel they are ready to face the big outside world!

Other tips:

Pruning out suckers on your plant will help it put more of its energy into fruit production.  Suckers appear between the main stem and the branches and can be easily taken out with your fingers. 

Crush the leaves to release the amazing scent of this plant!  The leaves can be used to flavour cooked dishes and drinks. It is also a great pollinator attractor, so plant it with your veggies.  

As it is a member of the mint family (= red flag= exuberant growth) it is best planted in a container. 

$4 each or 3 for $10 (save $2!)

Type: Perennial herb (short lived- 3-4 years) 

Height: 20"

Light: Full sun to very light shade- sun= more flavour

Soil: rich, free draining soil.  Water well and frequently until established. 

Planting: Space them 8-12 inches apart to give them room to grow nice and bushy.  Harden off* before planting outdoors. 

* Hardening off refers to the process of gently and gradually acclimatizing indoor grown seedlings to the great outdoors!  Don't throw your new babies straight into the elements!  Over the course of a week, take them outside for a few hours at a time, bringing them back indoors afterwards.  First sit them in the shade and then slowly introduce them to the sun.  Increase the length of time they are outside and are exposed to the sun, until you feel they are ready to face the big outside world!

Harvest/ Care: Pinch off leaves and use.  Lemon Balm can be cut back and will regrow. 

Developed in the northern Canadian province of Manitoba, these deep red tomatoes withstand cooler temperatures + our shorter growing season. An early producer, maturing in only 60 days. Tangy, sweet + slightly acidic, they make fabulous canned tomato sauce + salsa, and the perfect salad tomato.

Bush variety determinate + requires little staking

$6 each or 3 for $15

Type: Determinate/ bush.  Will grow to a certain size and then produce fruit all at once.  You can read about the difference between Determinate and Indeterminate tomatoes here: Determinate vs. Indeterminate Tomatoes

Height: 38-60 cm (15-24 in)

Light: Full sun

Soil: Rich soil. Use good quality compost around plants and mulch well. 

Water: Consistently keeping soil moist, but not wet, will result in good growth and happy tomatoes. Inconsistent moisture can lead to "Blossom End Rot".  Always water tomatoes at the base of the plant never getting water on the leaves.  

Planting: 

• Harden off* and then transplant to the garden after all frost danger is gone. 
• Bury them deep!  Plant the whole stem into the ground, not just the roots leaving only a few top leaves showing.  The plant will put out roots from the buried stem, making your plant grow nice and strong!
• Space plants 60-90 cm, 2-3' apart; space rows 3-4' apart. They will grow nicely in containers and do not need to be staked. 
• DO NOT crowd plants.  This leads to poor circulation and disease

Harvest: 60 to 65 days to maturity (from the day they are planted outside)

*Hardening off refers to the process of gently and gradually acclimatizing indoor grown seedlings to the great outdoors!  Don't throw your new babies straight into the elements!  Over the course of a week, take them outside for a few hours at a time, bringing them back indoors afterwards.  First sit them in the shade and then slowly introduce them to the sun.  Increase the length of time they are outside and are exposed to the sun, until you feel they are ready to face the big outside world!

Other tips: Pruning out suckers on your plant will help it put more of its energy into fruit production.  Suckers appear between the main stem and the branches and can be easily taken out with your fingers. 

These Black Cherry tomatoes are perfectly rotund, perfectly plump + the biggest we’ve ever grown. Characterized by a deep mahogany hue, they have a rich, smoky flavour that pairs beautifully with BBQ season, particularly grilled romaine salad (trust me).

Type:  Indeterminate.  Needs staking. You can read about the difference between Determinate and Indeterminate tomatoes here: Determinate vs. Indeterminate Tomatoes

Height: Up to 8 feet.  Requires staking. 

Light: Full sun

Soil: Rich soil. Use good quality compost around plants and mulch well. 

Water: Consistently keeping soil moist, but not wet, will results in good growth and happy tomatoes. Inconsistent moisture can lead to "Blossom End Rot".  Always water tomatoes at the base of the plant never getting water on the leaves.  

Harvest: 75 days to maturity (from the day they are planted outside)

Planting:

• Harden off* and then transplant to the garden after all frost danger is gone. 
• Bury them deep!  Plant the whole stem into the ground, not just the roots leaving only a few top leaves showing.  The plant will put out roots from the buried stem, making your plant grow nice and strong!
• Space plants 60-90 cm, 2-3' apart; space rows 3-4' apart. They will grow nicely in containers but will need some kind of support. 
• DO NOT crowd plants.  This leads to poor circulation and disease

Other tips:  Pruning out suckers on your plant will help it put more of it's energy into fruit production.  Suckers appear between the main stem and the branches and can be easily taken out with your fingers. 

$6 each or 3 for $15

A must have herb planted with your tomatoes so you have all the making for pesto and bruschetta growing in your garden!  Also good companion plant with tomatoes to keep pests at bay.  

$4 each or 3 for $10 (save $2!)

Type:  Annual Herb

Height: 12-24"

Light: Full sun to light shade

Soil: Rich, moist, well drained.  Amend with compost

Watering: Keep well watered. Basil is not a drought tolerant plant. 

Planting: Space them 8-12 inches apart to give them room to grow nice and bushy.  Harden off* before planting outdoors. 

* Hardening off refers to the process of gently and gradually acclimatizing indoor grown seedlings to the great outdoors!  Don't throw your new babies straight into the elements!  Over the course of a week, take them outside for a few hours at a time, bringing them back indoors afterwards.  First sit them in the shade and then slowly introduce them to the sun.  Increase the length of time they are outside and are exposed to the sun, until you feel they are ready to face the big outside world!

Harvest/ Care: Pinch out flowers and harvest outside and top leaves regularly to keep the plant bushy. 

$6 each or 3 for $15

Bears beautiful, pear shaped tomatoes great for sauce making. Crack resistant

Type: Indeterminate, vining plants that will need staking. Plants will keep growing and producing until frost. You can read about the difference between Determinate and Indeterminate tomatoes here: Determinate vs. Indeterminate Tomatoes

Height: Indeterminate height. 

Light: Full sun

Soil: Rich soil. Use good quality compost around plants and mulch well.  

Water: Consistently keeping soil moist, but not wet, will result in good growth and happy tomatoes. Inconsistent moisture can lead to "Blossom End Rot".  Always water tomatoes at the base of the plant never getting water on the leaves.  

Planting: 

• Harden off* and then transplant to the garden after all frost danger is gone. 
• Bury them deep!  Plant the whole stem into the ground, not just the roots leaving only a few top leaves showing.  The plant will put out roots from the buried stem, making your plant grow nice and strong!
• Space plants 60-90 cm, 2-3' apart; space rows 3-4' apart. They will grow nicely in containers but will need some kind of support. 
• DO NOT crowd plants.  This leads to poor circulation and disease

Harvest: 80 days to maturity (from the day they are planted outside)

* Hardening off refers to the process of gently and gradually acclimatizing indoor grown seedlings to the great outdoors!  Don't throw your new babies straight into the elements!  Over the course of a week, take them outside for a few hours at a time, bringing them back indoors afterwards.  First sit them in the shade and then slowly introduce them to the sun.  Increase the length of time they are outside and are exposed to the sun, until you feel they are ready to face the big outside world!

Other tips:

Pruning out suckers on your plant will help it put more of its energy into fruit production.  Suckers appear between the main stem and the branches and can be easily taken out with your fingers. 

Hungarian Hot Peppers are spicier and hotter than  jalapeños. They are yellow to red in colour.  While they look much like a banana pepper, they are significantly hotter.  Thick walled fruits are good for pickling or stuffing. 

Type: Annual

Planting: After danger of frost. Planting site should be sheltered and warm. 

Growth: 60 to 65 days to maturity. 

Light: Full sun

Watering: keep plants well watered

Pet Safe: no

Harvest/ Care:  Harvest when fruit is yellow or red

$6 each or 3 for $15

A  fantastic cherry tomato, golden yellow and sweet! Fruit is less susceptible to splitting than some.  Great flavour and huge harvest. 

Type: Cherry tomato, Indeterminate, vining plants that will need staking. Plants will keep growing and producing until frost. You can read about the difference between Determinate and Indeterminate tomatoes here: Determinate vs. Indeterminate Tomatoes

Height: Indeterminate height. 

Light: Full sun

Soil: Rich soil. Use good quality compost around plants and mulch well.  

Water: Consistently keeping soil moist, but not wet, will result in good growth and happy tomatoes. Inconsistent moisture can lead to "Blossom End Rot".  Always water tomatoes at the base of the plant never getting water on the leaves.  

Harvest:  60-65 days to maturity (from the day they are planted outside). 

Planting:

• Harden off* and then transplant to the garden after all frost danger is gone. 
• Bury them deep!  Plant the whole stem into the ground, not just the roots leaving only a few top leaves showing.  The plant will put out roots from the buried stem, making your plant grow nice and strong!
• Space plants 60-90 cm, 2-3' apart; space rows 3-4' apart. They will grow nicely in containers but will need some kind of support. 
• DO NOT crowd plants.  This leads to poor circulation and disease

Other tips:

Pruning out suckers on your plant will help it put more of its energy into fruit production.  Suckers appear between the main stem and the branches and can be easily taken out with your fingers. 

Spicy Globe Basil 

Scientific Name: 

Type:  Perennial herb

Growth:

Light:

Watering: 

Pet Safe: 

Harvest/ Care:

High yielding plants.  Bright red, 4" long Peppers are extremely hot.  Nice dried for chili flakes or used to make sauces. The fruit is very attractive on the plant. 

Type: Annual

Planting: After danger of frost. Planting site should be sheltered and warm. 

Growth: 60 to 85 days to maturity. 

Light: Full sun

Watering: keep plants well watered

Pet Safe: no

Harvest/ Care:  Harvest when fruit is red 

Sage is a lovey herb for the garden.  It has lovely grey/ silvery foliage. Plant where you can run your hands through it for a whiff of it's wonderful scent. 

Scientific Name: Salvia officinalis

Type:  Perennial Herb

Growth: 12-14"

Light: Full sun

Watering: Planting site should be well drained as Sage will not tolerate soggy soil.  Very drought tolerant. 

Pet Safe: yes

Harvest/ Care: Harvest minimally in the first year.  Leaves are tastiest before the plant flowers. Pick leaves off individually or pick a whole stem.  Use fresh or hang to dry. Crumble dried leaves into a container for storage. 

$6 each or 3 for $15

Produces prolific pretty orange, heart shaped fruit.  Sweet and meaty, great on sandwiches, salads and for sauce. 

Type: Indeterminate, vining plants that will need staking. Plants will keep growing and producing until frost. You can read about the difference between Determinate and Indeterminate tomatoes here: Determinate vs. Indeterminate Tomatoes

Height: Indeterminate height. 

Light: Full sun

Soil: Rich soil. Use good quality compost around plants and mulch well.  

Water: Consistently keeping soil moist, but not wet, will result in good growth and happy tomatoes. Inconsistent moisture can lead to "Blossom End Rot".  Always water tomatoes at the base of the plant never getting water on the leaves.  

Planting: 

• Harden off* and then transplant to the garden after all frost danger is gone. 
• Bury them deep!  Plant the whole stem into the ground, not just the roots leaving only a few top leaves showing.  The plant will put out roots from the buried stem, making your plant grow nice and strong!
• Space plants 60-90 cm, 2-3' apart; space rows 3-4' apart. They will grow nicely in containers but will need some kind of support. 
• DO NOT crowd plants.  This leads to poor circulation and disease

Harvest: 65-70 days to maturity (from the day they are planted outside)

* Hardening off refers to the process of gently and gradually acclimatizing indoor grown seedlings to the great outdoors!  Don't throw your new babies straight into the elements!  Over the course of a week, take them outside for a few hours at a time, bringing them back indoors afterwards.  First sit them in the shade and then slowly introduce them to the sun.  Increase the length of time they are outside and are exposed to the sun, until you feel they are ready to face the big outside world!

Other tips:

Pruning out suckers on your plant will help it put more of its energy into fruit production.  Suckers appear between the main stem and the branches and can be easily taken out with your fingers. 

Parsley is a wonderful herb to have on hand to flavour dishes.  Leaves can be added to soups, rice dishes etc. 

Scientific Name: Petroselinum crispum

Growth: 6" tall
Light: Full sun (6+ hours)
Watering:  Keep soil moist
Pet Safe: Yes
Care: Easy
Harvesting: Cut leaves from the outer stems

This plant produces high yields of moderately hot and very flavourful, tapered red peppers. 

Type: Annual vegetable

Planting: After danger of frost. Planting site should be sheltered and warm. 

Growth: 60 to 65 days to maturity. 

Light: Full sun

Watering: keep plants well watered

Pet Safe: no

Harvest/ Care:  Harvest when fruit is red