With only 23 days remaining in summer, gardeners all over Canada are excited about a new growing season! And we all know that with a new season comes a lot of work cleaning, pulling, storing and planning, of course! If your plans include adding something unique, you’re in the right place. In this week’s blog, we’re here to share a few of our unique vegetable seeds that will spark interest!
1.) Eggplant Ornamental Pumpkin-on-a-stick
Also commonly known as Pumpkin Tree, Pumpkin Bush or Mock Tomato. Pumpkin-on-a-stick has a mild, slightly bitter taste when green, turning peppery as it matures into orange skin. Although it isn’t quite a pumpkin, Pumpkin-on-a-stick is an eggplant that looks just like a pumpkin and is ready just in time for the pumpkin festivities! When planted in the spring, you can expect unique spiky pumpkin sticks to add to beautiful fall displays and bouquets when dried!
To grow your own Pumpkin-on-a-stick, sow your seeds or plant them directly in the Spring. These fast growers are ready to harvest in only 70 days and work well in containers, indoors or outdoors! In well-drained, loamy soil these annuals bloom from summer until fall when grown in full sun. Be careful, these unique vegetables are toxic to pets when consumed.
Tip: For beautiful arrangements that last years, cut your stems from the bottom of the plant and hang them upside down in a warm, dry place until the skin turns pumpkin-like orange!
2.) Carrot Purple Sun
With an amazingly sweet and crisp flavour, Carrot Purple Sun is fantastic when eaten raw or cooked! Noticeable deep purple hues with bright yellow-sun centers create a unique garden addition that is sizeable and full of antioxidants!
In well-worked soil, Carrot Purple Sun prefers full sun in zones 4-8. In Spring, sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1/2 inch apart. Plant again, three months first expected fall frost for a late crop. Germination can be expected in just 10-20 days with harvest in only 73 days!
Tip: For best-growing results, patiently allow your Carrot Purple Sun to mature fully in size and colour before harvesting – your taste buds will thank you! Pair well with dill, tarragon, chives, mint, or cilantro!
3. Pepper Mad Hatter
“You’re entirely bonkers, but I’ll tell you a secret. All the best ones are.” – Alice in Wonderland. There is no guessing why we’ve chosen Pepper Mad Hatter as one of the most unique vegetable seeds! These award-winning peppers are a variety of hybrid Bishop’s Cap peppers. With flattened hat-shaped pods that are perfect for snacking, the Pepper Mad Hatter is crisp and crunchy with a sweet-mild flavour that heats up around the seeds.
When grown in container or garden beds, you can expect an impressive yield in just 65-70 days for green peppers and 85-90 days for red. Just start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Transplant outdoors when the nighttime low is above 12C. Plant in full sun and pair with compatible neighbours like basil, carrots, rosemary, swiss chard, endives and more!
Tip: Allow your Pepper Mad Hatter to mature in colour for the most packed vitamin C content!
4.) Tomato Green Zebra
A tangy tomato with zebra-like markings and crazy green colour! These conversation starters are perfect for slicing and eating raw or cooked. Producing uniformly round, high yields, you’d never believe tomatoes like these could be so sweet!
Start seeds indoors with bottom heat and plenty of sunlight. Transplant your seedlings into pots when plants become rootbound. Once temperatures are above 10C transplant them into rows 50-75cm apart. Germination takes only 7-14 days and 75 days from transplanting!
Tip: Plant in well-drained soil with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day!
5.) Armenian Cucumber
Glow-in-the-dark green skin with crispy, juicy texture! Also known as “yard-long Cucumbers” with few seeds and thin skin, you don’t need to peel it! These garden wonders are not only tasty but decorative when sliced. Armenian Cucumbers are high in vitamins C, A, K and potassium.
Sow in average, well-drained soil in full sun in Spring after the danger of frost has passed. Keep evenly moist and seedlings will start to emerge in just 7-14 days! Great for trellises and garden beds!
Tip: Best for eating when 12 inches long and 2.5 inches thick.
Looking for more unique seeds? Check out a few of our staff favourites for sowing over the winter season below!
