Return to Yesterday's Garden

As we step into a new gardening year it is time to take stock of my seed supplies and do my ordering. This year, in keeping with my Days of Yore Challenge, I want to stick to veggies and flowers that would have been planted in a late Victorian garden in and around my local area – Calgary, Alberta.

With my goal in mind, I used a copy of the Eaton’s Catalogue 1901 reprint to see what types of seeds a Calgarian would have been able to order. While I believe that many people would have seed saved and thus ended up with a variety of veg that was particular to their location, I also think that many would have ordered seeds. Ordering would have also been necessary if the seed crop the year before had failed.

For the past 15+ years all seeds listed in the catalogue are ones I plant – lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, beans, beets, peas, etc. However, the varieties were likely different. I don’t even know if these varieties of plants are available anymore. The Catalogue did not include the Latin names so there is no way to be sure. The flower seeds listed are also ones that are still commonly available. Not necessarily native but still common -hollyhocks, aster, sweet peas, California poppy, pinks, etc.  

Seeds

I have used many different seed manufacturers over the years, so many I could not name them all. However, as I moved through my Herbalist studies, I learned that where a seed is grown and how it is grown can affect the success of a seed in a particular location or zone. Seeds are very much a product of their environment. A seed grown in Texas is acclimated to Texas and will not necessarily do as well in Edmonton. There is also the issue of GMO seeds which I want to avoid. Be aware that GMO is a different process than selective cultivation. With these ideas in mind, I began a search for a more local supplier of seeds. It also started me on my seed saving journey.

The following is a chart of a few seed brands I have used and what information I could find about them online using their websites.

Manufacturer	Established	Location Grown	Notes
Wildrose Heritage Seed Company	2020?	Alberta	Organic & Heirloom, Non-GMO
Richter’s	1967	Ontario	Non-GMO, Medical and Culinary Herbs
Mckenize Seeds	1896	Manitoba packaging base, seeds grown across Canada	Organic & Heirloom Seeds Available
West Coast Seeds	1983	British Columbia, seeds sourced from around the world	Non-GMO
Renee’s Garden	1998	California, seeds sourced from around the world. However West Coast Seeds is also claiming ownership of this company. It is listed as a sister brand.	Organic and Non-GMO available.
Cornucopia	?	British Columbia? This company appears to be owned by West Coast Seeds but it is very hard to find anything concrete. Listed as a sister brand of West Coast Seeds.	Non-GMO and Organic available.
Fothergill’s	1978	United Kingdom, Canadian branch in Ontario	Organic available

While I have used the brands in the above chart, in the last couple of years I have focused my veggie seed purchasing to Wildrose Heritage Seeds. These heirloom seeds are grown in Lethbridge, Alberta, and this makes them a bit more acclimatized to my location. I have found these seeds to be very reliable. Wildrose also uses reusable packaging to allow you to seed save from your own crops. They are only sold online and currently only shipped within Canada.

For my herbs, Richter’s in Ontario is my go-to. They have a wide selection of herbal seeds, both medicinal and culinary. For an Herbalist who wishes to grow their own medicinal herbal garden you can find seeds here that you can’t find anywhere else. Be aware, that some plants are banned in some provinces due to being classified as invasive. Richter’s does list these restrictions on their site when you click on the variety of seed. They are also non-GMO. You can purchase online.

Lastly, I also use seeds that I have saved. The seed saving process can be a little intimidating at first, but it can also be very rewarding when your garden is planted with all your own seeds and bedding out plants. For reference, I use the book Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth. Although based in the United States, she provides a great deal of information for seed saving. Some of the growing information may not be relevant depending on the zone you are living in.

Bedding Out Plants

For my veggie garden, the only bedding out plants I typically use are ones I have grown myself from seed. These are usually tomatoes and peppers. All my other veggies are directly sown into the garden in May or, if I am running behind, early June. I have always had a crop of some sort by the end of the season (September/October).

It is within the herb garden and my other flower beds that I use bedding out plants the most. For common flowers such as snapdragons, pansies, petunias and geraniums, I will just pop over to my local greenhouse. However, I am also working on a native garden at the back of my yard. For native plants I have found ALCLA Native Plants. They have a great selection of native (Alberta) plants that you can add to your garden. You can order online and pick up or have them shipped to you. I had a great experience with them last year and will head out to see them in a few months to add more natives to my gardens.

The Garden

I posted last year how I plan my garden. I have again used that process for the plan for my 2025 garden set up. I am hoping for the best with respect to water and as such I am just going ahead with what I want to plant this year. I do use rain barrels, although not recommended for veggie gardens, they do work in a pinch if you are careful with how you water.

This year I am planning on including: Tomatoes (2 varieties in garden, one potted), peppers (4 varieties), peas, beans (3 varieties), corn, pumpkins, potatoes (2 varieties), beets (2 varieties), cauliflower, and lettuce. Of course, all plant locations have been rotated.

I have completed my indoor starts and will keep you updated on the garden’s progress. I wish you all a bountiful garden – whether fresh veg, beautiful flowers or both..