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3,78 $
Black Crimea, or Black Krim, is a very ancient yet still popular black tomato variety. It was rediscovered in the 90s on the Crimean Peninsula. A beefsteak type of tomato, it grows massive fruits; they are about 10 cm wide. The tomatoes' color is an unique mix of purple, red, black, and red.
Package: 35 seeds
Germination rate: 100%
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3,78 $
Antoine D'Avignon was a ancient vegetable lover. A pioneer in Quebec for heirloom seed saving, he grew, harvested and shared the seeds of numerous varieties that would have otherwise been forgotten by now. Notably, Louis-Marie's Crotte d'ours potato, Suzanne Bourgeois's Ice Grow tomato, Huron wheat, and... this corn.
In an interview in the late 1990s he reached out for help to the public: the Quebec corn that our grandmas used to cultivate has disappeared. Nobody is growing flour corn anymore. After the interview, a lady called the radio station claiming that she did have seeds of a flour corn that had been grown by her family for ages.
This is how she came into contact with Antoine and shared with him her precious treasure. Then, during that summer, Antoine ends up mentioning the corn to a friend, Mrs. France Bouffard. She is really interested and ask for a couple seeds. Reluctant as he as only a few, he ends up giving her 6 seeds. She grew those and multiplied them, enough to make flour for her pancakes. The story could have ended there. Sadly it did not as Antoine died still young and took with him the corn story.
More recently, Mrs. Bouffard reached out to me while I was working for Seeds of Diversity. We chatted, and she ended up mentioning the corn. She then sent me some seeds by the mail. We had a good first harvest from those seeds and, thanks to that, we can now share this variety with you. Luckily, Antoine has also gifted a few to another one of his friends, René Paquet, who has since carefully kept the envelope. On it, a name:
Anita Fournier, from Nicolet.
We are looking for this lady (probably deceased by now) or her offsprings. Please let us know if you know her.
Please note that some of the seeds have been sent to Seeds of Diversity for preservation. With the hopes that you might also contribute to writing a chapter of this story.
For more information, please visit (in French): Antoine d'Avignon (1948-2003), jardinier de la dernière chance"
Please send us pictures of your crops and harvests! We will share them!
Package: 40 seeds
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3,78 $
Dark as the streets of Montreal deep into the night. Early, just as the arrival of winter over Quebec.
Easy, to be grown in the field as well as in a pot on a Plateau balcony.
Born in our field from a cross between 2 varieties, Black Crime and Teton de Venus, this tomato kept the dark colour of the former and the shape and density of the latter. It however yields much earlier than its parents, and produces much more.
The variety is quite stable, but might still display some irregular shapes. We are keeping up our breeding work with the hope of creating a perfect tomato.
The fruits are slightly smaller than a tennis ball. Our team carried a taste test and found a ...steak flavour! The foliage is regular, and the plant is not prone to diseases.
Package: 35 seeds.
Germination rate: 100%
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3,78 $
Semi-Runner/Dry. 100 days to first dry seed.
Viney plants can be grown on the ground like a bush bean, but would probably benefit from growing on some support. Very productive of 4 to 5 inch oval green pods that are lightly streaked with purple. 4 to 6 small seeds per pod.
The origin is unsure but, according to Fruitition Seeds, seeds were traded at the Common Ground Fair in Maine, USA, in 2003. We obtained them from a seed swap in Ontario.
Package: 30 seeds
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3,78 $
This bush bean, meant to be eaten dry, was shared with us by Mr. Vachon at a Seedy Saturday, in 2017.
He told us that his great-grandfather, Champlain Vachon, lived in Abitibi, QC, on Abenaki land. Did he obtain those beans from them? Regardless, the Vachon family has been growing them ever since, handing it down from father to son. Very similar to Early Mohawk beans.
Package: 30 seeds
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3,78 $
The Comtesse de Chambord bean is a very ancient variety, from the 1880's. As its name hints, it comes from the Chambord region, in France.
Its small pods of exceptional quality have a very thin skin contain elongated white beans, making it a highly-valued variety.
Branched plant with late maturity.
Package: 30 seeds
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3,78 $
Ancient corn variety introduced in the U.S. during the 1890s. The plant can reach more than 2 m in height, and produces 2 to 3 cobs of 20 cm. The long and white grains are not organized in rows, but instead in a completely irregular way.
The taste is delicate and sweet. Requires a longer cooking time to fully bring the flavour out. Delicious on the BBQ.
Package: 60 seeds
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3,78 $
Quebec garlic is in, but everyone is growing the same variety! Don't put all your garlic in the same basket, and choose biodiversity instead! This package contains 6 different varieties, which will promptly adapt to your garden and your growing conditions, and will prove hardier to nature's challenges.
For more information on garlic culture, please visit (in French) : http://terrepromise.ca/culture-bulbilles-dail/
Package: Between 75-100 bulbils
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3,78 $
The Ferland Family bean is a yellow, flat, climbing heirloom bean, saved by René Paquet of Seeds of Diversity.
Originating from Saints-Anges, they were handed to Mr. Gérard Parent in 2001 by Mrs. Carmelle Boily Ferland (1916-2015), who received them from her parents, Cleophas Boily et Demerise Turmel. According to Mrs. Paquet, who then received them from Mrs. Parent, they date back to before 1900.
The pods can be harvested fresh, even when pretty ripe, or as dry beans.
For more informations, visit (in French): https://potagersdantan.com/2016/05/13/le-haricot-ferland/
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3,78 $
While sorting the beans, Geneviève slipped and spilled them all! We are now happy to introduce you our best climbing bean varieties, of all colors and tastes: Skunk, True Red Cranberry, Kahnawake Mohawk, Turkey craw, Goose, Mennonite, Mayflower, and Grand-mère.
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3,78 $
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Grosse Blonde Paresseuse lettuce (Large Lazy Blonde Lettuce).
Mentioned in 1904 by Vilmorin, a French seed saver, this ancient variety grows into a large head with crunchy blond green leaves. It is hardy, and doesn't bolt easily. It gave us a nice harvest this summer.
Package: 200 seeds
3,78 $
Hidatsa red beans are semi-climbing, productive, and grow large pods containing between 5 to 7 beans. This variety was originally bred by the Hidatsa tribe in the Missouri River valley, in North Dakota, USA. It was then introduced to the wider public by Oscar Will, a horticulture pioneer, in 1915.
Package: 25 seeds
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