Black Chickpea

Developped in 1912 at MacDonald College, it remains the most common variety grown in Quebec fields today. Originally used to feed livestock, humans quickly discovered its pleasant taste. Enjoys cold climate and can resist low temperatures. Fall crops taste sweeter after frost.

 

Heirloom variety.

Package: 250 seeds

This tomato dates back to 1869 according to some sources. It is an Italian tomato with a very soft taste and only little juice. Large productive plants, bearing 4 to 5 fruits per truss. The tomatoes themselves have a funny shape and a light yellow color, with just a dash pink blush. Ideal for tomato paste, sauces and canning.   Package: 30 seeds

At a Seedy Saturday in 2016, a lady came up to me and told me that her mother-in-law had a tomato variety called Mon Plaisir that stopped being available in seed catalogues for ages, but that she keeps growing year after year. We chat a bit and exchange contact informations. I end up forgetting about it until, a few months later, I receive a letter in the mail. Inside, a beautiful card containing a paper on which a dozen seeds were attached. The seeds of the lost Mon Plaisir tomato. This is what Mrs. Frappier told me when I reached out to her, after receiving her letter: "We use to order our seeds through the WHPerron catalogue, and another company. I think it was called Norseco. We were growing tomatoes in greenhouses in Abitibi, in Matamic close to Lasarre. It was the Frappier greenhouses (serres Frappier) in 1976. We grow a couple seedlings to sell, but it was mostly for vegetable production. I really like those tomatoes, they would make nice long cherry tomato trusses. We stopped producing in the early 2000s, and I had already been saving my own seeds for about 20 to 25 years because we couldn't find the variety in catalogues anymore. I really couldn't find it anywhere. I think it was replaced by either Sweet 100 or Sweet mignonne. I did taste it, but I definitely prefer Mon Plaisir." (Free translation) It is now our turn to share this discovery with you. A huge thanks to the Frappier family for preserving this variety.   Package: 30 seeds

This dark pink tomato comes from the Lower Saint-Lawrence, more specifically from Rivière-du-Loup. The seeds come from Mrs. Francine Mailloux. She gifted some to René Paquet, who gave them to Michel Richard (Potager d'Antan), who then handed them to me. It is now our turn to share them with you! René describes this tomato as hefty and says that the indeterminate plant will have high yields of pink-fleshed red-skinned fruits. They will usually weight between 400 and 850 grams, but could be even heavier in some cases. To know more, please visit the Potager d'antan website (in French): https://potagersdantan.com/2018/10/17/la-tomate-rose-italienne/   Package: 30 seeds

The Tall Telephone pea is a climbing variety that can grow up to 1.8 m in height with support. It grows large and plump pods, each containing 8 to 10 peas, to deliciously enrich your meals. Crunchy and sweet, the pods are the perfect to snack on as you work in your garden. Variety from 1881.   Package: 30 seeds Photo Credit: Veseys

Milkweed is often overlooked as a simple weed. It is however absolutely vital for monarch butterflies and other insects. It is the only plant on which monarch caterpillars can feed. Plus, its pink flowers are adorable, fragrant, and enjoyed by bees and other pollinators. Milkweed requires minimal care and can thrive in poor soils. A must have for gardeners wishing to do their part for biodiversity. Package: 60 seeds To discover more insects that rely on the milkweed plant, visit: https://wimastergardener.org/article/common-milkweed-insects/