Biquinho Red Pepper (Capsicum chinense) is a delightful heirloom pepper from Brazil that has become one of the fastest-growing favorites among home gardeners and gourmet cooks. Its tiny, glossy, bright red fruits feature a distinctive pointed "little beak" shape, giving rise to the Portuguese name Biquinho, meaning "little beak." Unlike many members of the Capsicum chinense family, Biquinho is exceptionally mild, offering a pleasantly sweet, fruity flavor with only a hint of warmth. Its crisp texture and attractive appearance have made it especially popular in fresh salads, appetizer trays, and specialty produce departments.
Compact plants grow approximately 24 to 36 inches tall and become covered with dozens, often hundreds, of dangling peppers throughout the summer. The small fruits ripen from green to brilliant scarlet red, creating an ornamental display that is equally attractive in vegetable gardens, patio containers, and raised beds. Heavy yields continue until frost, making Biquinho Red an excellent producer for gardeners looking for both beauty and productivity.
One of the reasons Biquinho Red has gained tremendous popularity in supermarkets is its versatility in the kitchen. The peppers are delicious eaten fresh right off the plant, but they truly shine as a salad pepper where their crisp texture, vibrant color, and mild sweetness add flavor without overwhelming heat. They are equally excellent for pickling, garnishing charcuterie boards, stuffing with soft cheeses, preserving, or adding whole to stir-fries and vegetable dishes. Their attractive shape and brilliant color also make them a favorite for decorative culinary presentations.
Easy to grow in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil, Biquinho Red performs well in both garden beds and large containers. Plants thrive during warm weather and continue producing heavily with regular harvesting. Gardeners appreciate its dependable yields, ornamental appearance, and unique combination of sweetness, mild flavor, and exceptional versatility. Whether grown for fresh eating, gourmet cooking, or simply as an attractive edible ornamental, Biquinho Red Pepper is quickly becoming one of today's most sought-after specialty peppers.
Specifications:
Botanical Name: Capsicum chinense
Common Name: Biquinho Red Pepper, Little Beak Pepper
Plant Type: Warm-season annual
Days to Maturity: Approximately 85–95 days
Plant Height: 24–36 inches
Fruit Size: About 1 inch long
Fruit Color: Green maturing to bright red
Heat Level: Very mild (approximately 500–1,000 Scoville Heat Units)
Light: Full sun
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil
Uses: Fresh salads, snacking, pickling, stuffing, charcuterie boards, containers, gourmet cooking, ornamental gardens
Disease Resistance:
No specific disease resistance has been documented for this heirloom variety. Healthy plants perform best when grown in well-drained soil with good air circulation and proper crop rotation.
Seedman Notes:
Biquinho Red has become one of the hottest trends in specialty produce markets, largely because of its outstanding qualities as a fresh salad pepper. The tiny fruits deliver sweet, crisp flavor with almost no heat, making them enjoyable for nearly everyone. Combined with tremendous productivity and ornamental beauty, this Brazilian heirloom is an excellent addition to any vegetable garden.
Confetti Rose Hypoestes (Hypoestes phyllostachya), commonly known as the Polka Dot Plant, is a striking foliage variety prized for its deep green leaves generously splashed with vibrant rose-pink markings. The colorful foliage provides continuous ornamental interest from spring until frost, making it an excellent choice for borders, containers, hanging baskets, and indoor displays. Native to Madagascar, this compact plant has become one of the most popular foliage annuals for brightening shaded gardens and interior spaces.
Growing approximately 10 to 18 inches tall with a naturally bushy habit, Confetti Rose produces dense branching covered with colorful leaves that become even more vivid in bright filtered light. Unlike flowering annuals that bloom for only part of the season, this variety maintains its attractive foliage throughout its growing cycle. Occasional small lavender flowers may appear late in the season, but the brilliantly colored leaves remain the plant's greatest ornamental feature.
Confetti Rose performs best in fertile, well-drained soil that remains consistently moist without becoming waterlogged. It thrives in partial shade outdoors where the foliage retains its richest coloration, while indoors it flourishes in bright indirect light as an attractive and easy-care houseplant. Regular pinching encourages fuller branching, resulting in a compact, well-shaped specimen ideal for decorative containers and mixed plantings.
Easy to grow from seed, Confetti Rose quickly develops into an attractive landscape or container plant that pairs beautifully with impatiens, coleus, begonias, caladiums, and other shade-loving ornamentals. Whether used to brighten shaded flower beds, patio planters, hanging baskets, or sunny windows indoors, its cheerful rose-speckled foliage provides dependable season-long color with very little maintenance.
Specifications:
Botanical Name: Hypoestes phyllostachya
Common Name: Confetti Rose Polka Dot Plant
Plant Type: Tender perennial grown as an annual or houseplant
Height: 10–18 inches
Spread: 10–16 inches
Light: Partial shade to bright indirect light
Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Water Needs: Moderate; keep evenly moist
Bloom Time: Late summer (small lavender flowers)
Foliage: Green leaves heavily spotted with bright rose-pink
Uses: Containers, hanging baskets, borders, houseplants, mixed planters, shaded gardens
Hardiness: USDA Zones 10–11 (grown as an annual elsewhere)
Seedman Notes:
Confetti Rose is one of our brightest foliage selections, producing continuous color even when flowers are absent. Its compact growth, easy maintenance, and brilliantly speckled leaves make it an excellent choice for shaded landscapes, decorative containers, hanging baskets, and indoor displays throughout the growing season.
Nolana Bluebird (Nolana paradoxa) is a breathtaking trailing annual prized for its abundant trumpet-shaped flowers in brilliant sky-blue with luminous white centers. Native to the coastal deserts of Chile, this heat-loving plant thrives in sunny, dry conditions where it quickly forms a spreading carpet of lush green foliage covered with hundreds of cheerful blooms. Its vivid flower color and naturally cascading habit make it one of the finest choices for rock gardens, raised beds, hanging baskets, containers, and sunny borders.
Growing only 4 to 8 inches tall while spreading 18 to 30 inches or more, Bluebird creates an attractive mat of succulent foliage that remains fresh throughout the season. Beginning in late spring and continuing well into summer, the plant produces an endless succession of large, funnel-shaped blossoms that open fully in bright sunshine. The striking blue flowers closely resemble miniature morning glories, creating a brilliant display that attracts bees and other beneficial pollinators while providing continuous color in even the hottest weather.
Bluebird performs best in full sun and well-drained sandy or gravelly soils where excessive moisture is avoided. Once established, it demonstrates excellent drought tolerance and flourishes with surprisingly little care, making it ideal for xeriscapes, rock gardens, retaining walls, and coastal landscapes. Its trailing stems spill gracefully over containers and stone walls, softening edges while producing waves of vivid blue flowers throughout the growing season.
Easy to grow from seed, Nolana Bluebird germinates readily in warm soil and quickly develops into a vigorous flowering groundcover. It combines beautifully with other drought-tolerant annuals and alpine plants while adding brilliant color to difficult sunny locations where many other flowering plants struggle. Whether grown as a spreading groundcover or cascading from hanging baskets and containers, Bluebird provides one of the most spectacular displays of true blue flowers available from seed.
Specifications:
Botanical Name: Nolana paradoxa
Common Name: Nolana Bluebird, Chilean Bellflower
Plant Type: Annual
Height: 4–8 inches
Spread: 18–30 inches
Light: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained sandy, gravelly, or moderately fertile soil
Water Needs: Low once established
Bloom Time: Late spring through summer
Flower Color: Brilliant sky-blue with white centers
Uses: Rock gardens, hanging baskets, containers, groundcover, borders, retaining walls, xeriscapes
Hardiness: Grown as an annual in all USDA zones
Seedman Notes:
Bluebird is one of the finest trailing annuals for sunny gardens, combining exceptional drought tolerance with a remarkable display of brilliant blue flowers. Its cascading growth and long bloom season make it equally valuable in rock gardens, hanging baskets, and containers where its vibrant blossoms provide months of dependable color.
The world's most famous carnivorous plant! The Venus Flytrap is one of nature's most remarkable creations. Native to the bogs of North and South Carolina, this fascinating plant captures insects using specialized leaf traps that snap shut with astonishing speed. Its unique appearance and insect-catching abilities have made it a favorite among plant enthusiasts, collectors, and curious gardeners for generations.
Despite its exotic reputation, the Venus Flytrap can make an excellent houseplant when provided with the proper conditions. Its compact size, unusual growth habit, and interactive nature make it one of the most entertaining plants you can grow indoors.
Why Grow Venus Flytrap?Each trap contains tiny trigger hairs. When an insect touches these hairs twice within a few seconds, the trap rapidly closes. This clever mechanism helps prevent the plant from wasting energy on raindrops, falling debris, or other false alarms.
Once captured, the insect is digested over several days, allowing the plant to obtain nutrients that are scarce in its naturally nutrient-poor bog habitat.
Growing as a HouseplantVenus Flytraps are different from most common houseplants and should not be treated like ordinary potted plants.
Unlike tropical houseplants, Venus Flytraps naturally experience a winter dormancy period. During this time growth slows, some leaves may die back, and the plant rests before resuming vigorous growth in spring. This dormancy helps maintain long-term health and vigor.
Seed GerminationSow seeds on the surface of a moist carnivorous plant mix and do not cover deeply. Provide bright light, high humidity, and consistently moist conditions using distilled, rain, or reverse-osmosis water. Germination generally occurs within several weeks, though patience is often rewarded with stronger seedlings.
Did You Know?Venus Flytraps can count! Research suggests the plant responds differently depending on how many times its trigger hairs are stimulated. This allows it to distinguish between a potential meal and a false alarm, making it one of the most sophisticated plants in the natural world.
Whether grown for science, curiosity, or pure enjoyment, the Venus Flytrap remains one of the most captivating houseplants ever discovered.
How to make your own Carnivorus Plant Potting Mix.
Fresca Strawberry is an exceptional alpine strawberry prized for its continuous production of small, intensely sweet berries and delightful fragrance. Unlike traditional garden strawberries, Fresca produces charming, bright red fruits throughout the growing season without relying on runners, making it an excellent choice for borders, containers, hanging baskets, window boxes, and small garden spaces. The berries possess an old-fashioned wild strawberry flavor that is remarkably rich and aromatic, making every harvest a special treat for fresh eating and gourmet desserts.
Compact, attractive plants form neat mounds of lush green foliage covered with delicate white blossoms that continually give way to bright red berries from late spring until frost. Because Fresca is a day-neutral alpine type, it flowers and fruits over an extended season rather than producing a single large crop. The plants devote their energy to flowering and fruit production instead of producing runners, resulting in tidy, easy-to-manage plants that remain beautiful throughout the season. The blossoms are also highly attractive to bees and other beneficial pollinators.
Fresca thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Regular watering and mulching help maintain steady production while keeping the berries clean and healthy. Its compact habit makes it especially well suited for patios, balconies, and decorative edible gardens where space is limited. The flavorful berries are naturally rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, manganese, and dietary fiber, providing a healthy harvest over many months.
Whether enjoyed fresh from the plant, sprinkled over cereal, added to desserts, garnished on pastries, or used to make small batches of preserves, Fresca delivers exceptional flavor in every bite. Its continuous harvests, ornamental beauty, and rich woodland strawberry taste make it one of the finest alpine strawberries available for gardeners seeking both beauty and outstanding eating quality.
Botanical Name: Fragaria vesca
Type: Day-Neutral Alpine Strawberry
Days to Harvest: Approximately 90–120 days from seed; continuous harvest thereafter
Berry Size: Small (½–1 inch)
Plant Height: 8–10 inches
Growth Habit: Compact, clump-forming perennial with few or no runners
Primary Uses: Fresh eating, containers, hanging baskets, borders, desserts, gourmet garnishes
Seedman Notes: Fresca is one of the finest alpine strawberries available, producing a continuous harvest of wonderfully aromatic berries with the rich flavor of wild strawberries. Its runnerless habit, compact growth, and season-long production make it an outstanding choice for gardeners with limited space or anyone seeking exceptional flavor from a truly unique strawberry.
Strawberry Foxglove (Digitalis × mertonensis) is one of the most beautiful and distinctive foxglove hybrids ever introduced, combining the vigor of the common foxglove with the rich coloring of rusty foxglove. Tall, stately flower spikes are covered with large, outward-facing, strawberry-rose blossoms that glow with warm coppery undertones and speckled throats. Blooming from late spring into early summer, this remarkable perennial creates an elegant vertical accent in the garden while attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Its unique flower color, exceptional hardiness, and long bloom period have made Strawberry Foxglove a favorite among collectors and cottage gardeners alike.
Garden Uses:
Strawberry Foxglove is an excellent choice for perennial borders, cottage gardens, woodland edges, pollinator gardens, English-style landscapes, and naturalized plantings. The tall flower spikes blend beautifully with delphiniums, lupines, peonies, campanulas, salvia, Shasta daisies, ornamental grasses, and old-fashioned roses. They also make outstanding cut flowers, adding height and elegance to fresh floral arrangements.
Growing Information:
Sow seeds on the surface of moist growing medium, as light aids germination. Maintain temperatures between 65-70°F and keep evenly moist until germination, which generally occurs within 14-21 days. Plants thrive in full sun in cooler climates or light afternoon shade in warmer regions. Rich, moist, well-drained soil produces the strongest plants and tallest flower spikes. Water regularly during dry periods and remove spent flower stalks after blooming unless seed production or natural reseeding is desired. Plants often behave as short-lived perennials but may gently self-seed in favorable locations.
Seedman Notes:
Strawberry Foxglove is one of the most elegant foxgloves we offer and a personal favorite for cottage gardens. The soft strawberry-colored blooms are simply breathtaking when planted in groups, and the plants attract an incredible number of bumblebees throughout the blooming season. For gardeners seeking something beyond the traditional purple foxglove, this remarkable hybrid offers outstanding beauty and dependable performance.
Quick Facts:
| Botanical Name: | Digitalis × mertonensis |
| Common Name: | Strawberry Foxglove |
| Plant Type: | Short-lived hardy perennial |
| Height: | 36-48 inches |
| Spread: | 18-24 inches |
| Bloom Color: | Strawberry rose with warm coppery tones and spotted throats |
| Bloom Season: | Late spring through early summer |
| Light Requirements: | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil Requirements: | Rich, moist, well-drained soil |
| USDA Zones: | 4-8 |
| Uses: | Perennial borders, cottage gardens, woodland gardens, pollinator gardens, cut flowers |
Pistachio is one of the world's oldest and most prized nut trees, valued for its delicious nuts, exceptional drought tolerance, ornamental beauty, and rich cultural history. Native to Central Asia and the Middle East, Pistacia vera has been cultivated for thousands of years and remains one of the most important nut crops in the world today.
This attractive deciduous tree develops a broad, rounded canopy and produces clusters of nuts enclosed in fleshy outer hulls. As the nuts mature, the shells naturally split open, revealing the distinctive green kernel that has made pistachios a favorite snack and culinary ingredient for centuries.
Beyond their outstanding flavor, pistachios are highly nutritious and rich in protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Their combination of taste and nutrition has earned them a place among the world's most popular nuts.
UsesPistachio thrives in regions with hot, dry summers and cool winters. Once established, it is among the most drought-tolerant nut trees available and performs exceptionally well in arid climates.
Nut ProductionPistachio trees are generally either male or female. Female trees produce the nuts, while male trees provide pollen. In commercial orchards, a single male tree is often planted among several female trees to ensure pollination and nut production.
Nutritional BenefitsPistachios are rich in protein, dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, healthy fats, and antioxidants. They are often considered one of the healthiest nuts and are widely recommended as part of a balanced diet.
Special FeaturesMany gardeners are surprised to learn that pistachios are closely adapted to desert-like conditions. In fact, the same hot, dry climates that challenge many fruit and nut trees are often ideal for pistachio production.
Another interesting feature is the natural splitting of the shell as the nut ripens. This characteristic has made pistachios easy to harvest and enjoy for thousands of years and contributes to their popularity worldwide.
Pistachio (Pistacia vera) combines ancient history, exceptional nutrition, drought tolerance, and delicious nuts into one remarkable tree. Whether grown for its harvest, ornamental value, or historical significance, it remains one of the most celebrated nut trees in human history.
Black Chokeberry is a hardy North American native shrub prized for its highly nutritious fruits, beautiful flowers, outstanding fall color, and exceptional wildlife value. Native to eastern North America, Aronia melanocarpa has become increasingly popular among gardeners, health-conscious consumers, and conservationists due to its combination of ornamental beauty and edible harvests.
In spring, plants are covered with clusters of attractive white flowers that attract bees and pollinating insects. By late summer, these blooms develop into glossy clusters of deep purple-black berries that persist well into autumn. The fruits are rich in antioxidants and have attracted significant scientific interest for their nutritional properties.
Autumn brings one final spectacular display as the foliage turns brilliant shades of scarlet, crimson, orange, and burgundy. Few fruiting shrubs can match Black Chokeberry's combination of edible harvest, wildlife value, and ornamental appeal.
UsesBlack Chokeberry is remarkably adaptable and thrives in a wide range of conditions, including wet soils, clay soils, sandy soils, and cold climates. Once established, it is highly reliable and low maintenance.
Fruit CharacteristicsThe berries contain exceptionally high levels of anthocyanins, antioxidants responsible for their deep purple-black color. Although the fruits are somewhat astringent when eaten fresh, they are widely used in juices, syrups, wines, jams, and health products.
Nutritional BenefitsBlack Chokeberry is widely recognized as one of the most antioxidant-rich fruits known. The berries contain significant levels of anthocyanins, flavonoids, vitamin C, and other beneficial plant compounds. This has made Aronia a popular subject of nutritional and agricultural research around the world.
Seedman Growing NoteMany gardeners first plant Black Chokeberry for its edible berries and later discover that its fall color rivals some of the finest ornamental shrubs available. In many landscapes, the brilliant autumn foliage becomes just as valuable as the fruit harvest.
This species is also an outstanding choice for wildlife-friendly gardens, native plant collections, edible landscaping, and conservation projects. Few shrubs offer so many benefits while requiring so little maintenance.
Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is a remarkable native fruit shrub that combines beauty, nutrition, wildlife value, and adaptability. Whether planted for its antioxidant-rich berries, pollinator benefits, or spectacular fall color, it remains one of North America's most rewarding native fruiting plants.
Ficus benghalensis, commonly known as the Banyan Fig or Banyan Tree, is one of the world's most impressive tropical trees and has become increasingly popular as a striking indoor foliage plant. Famous for its massive canopy and aerial roots in nature, this species adapts surprisingly well to container culture, developing into an attractive houseplant with large, leathery leaves and a bold tropical appearance.
When grown indoors, Ficus benghalensis produces broad, glossy green foliage with prominent veins, creating an elegant architectural specimen that instantly transforms a room into a lush indoor oasis. Young plants are especially prized for their vigorous growth, attractive branching habit, and ability to become stunning focal points in sunrooms, offices, atriums, and bright living spaces.
This tropical fig prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate some direct morning sun. It thrives in warm conditions and appreciates consistent moisture while growing. Given sufficient light and room, plants can develop into impressive indoor trees that provide years of beauty and enjoyment.
In tropical climates, Banyan Trees are legendary for their enormous size and longevity, often becoming living landmarks. As a houseplant, however, they remain manageable in containers and can be pruned to maintain the desired shape and size. Their exotic appearance and relatively easy care make them a favorite among collectors of unusual tropical plants.
For gardeners and plant enthusiasts seeking a dramatic tropical houseplant, Ficus benghalensis offers the beauty and grandeur of a legendary Banyan Tree in a form suitable for indoor cultivation. Its handsome foliage, vigorous growth, and exotic character make it an outstanding addition to any collection of tropical plants.
Aralia cordata 'Sun King', also known as Golden Japanese Spikenard, is a bold and beautiful shade perennial prized for its glowing golden-yellow to chartreuse foliage. Its large, tropical-looking leaves brighten shady garden spaces and create a dramatic contrast when planted among hostas, ferns, woodland plants, and darker green foliage.
This eye-catching plant forms a full, upright clump and brings a lush, almost shrub-like presence to the garden while still behaving as a hardy perennial. In part sun, the foliage tends to glow brighter yellow, while in deeper shade it takes on rich lime-green to chartreuse tones. Small white flowers may appear in summer, followed by dark berries that add seasonal interest.
'Sun King' is an excellent choice for shade gardens, woodland borders, mixed perennial beds, and large containers. It is valued for its easy-care nature, bold texture, and ability to light up darker corners of the landscape.
Zones: For zones 4-8. Best grown in moist, fertile, humusy, well-drained soils in part shade. Site in locations protected from strong winds to protect the foliage. Aralias often self-sow where the berries drop and are somewhat easy to naturalize into colonies. Seeds need to be cold stratified.
China Doll Plant is one of the most elegant foliage houseplants available, prized for its finely textured, glossy green leaves and graceful tree-like appearance. Known botanically as Radermachera sinica, this beautiful tropical species creates an airy, refined look that brightens homes, offices, sunrooms, and indoor plant collections.
Its delicate, fern-like foliage gives the impression of a miniature indoor tree while maintaining a soft and graceful character. Few houseplants combine such lush tropical beauty with such refined elegance.
An Exotic Beauty from AsiaChina Doll Plant is native to the warm subtropical regions of southern China and Taiwan. In its natural habitat, it grows as a handsome evergreen tree with glossy foliage and occasional fragrant flowers. Indoors, it develops into an attractive small tree that retains the lush appearance of its tropical origins.
The finely divided leaves create a delicate appearance, but the plant itself is surprisingly sturdy once established.
Growing as a HouseplantChina Doll Plants prefer consistency. Once they find a location they like, they often perform beautifully for years. Sudden changes in light, temperature, or watering can sometimes cause temporary leaf drop, but healthy plants generally recover quickly once conditions stabilize.
Regular care and a stable environment are the keys to maintaining a full, lush specimen.
Container CultureChina Doll Plant thrives in containers and can gradually develop into an impressive indoor tree. Decorative pots help showcase its elegant form, while occasional pruning encourages denser branching and a fuller canopy.
Its upright growth habit makes it ideal for corners, entryways, offices, and bright living spaces.
Indoor Decorating ValueThe finely textured foliage of China Doll Plant softens interior spaces and blends beautifully with both tropical and traditional décor. It pairs exceptionally well with larger-leaved houseplants such as Ficus, Philodendrons, and Monsteras, providing an attractive contrast in texture.
Its refined appearance makes it one of the most sophisticated foliage plants available for indoor culture.
Seed GerminationSow seeds in a moist, well-drained seed-starting medium and provide warmth, humidity, and bright indirect light. Keep evenly moist during germination. Seedlings develop steadily and soon produce the attractive divided foliage that characterizes mature plants.
Note: Good King Henry seeds have a tough seed coat and require a cold dormancy period (stratification) to sprout. To successfully germinate them, cold-condition the seeds for 6–10 weeks by storing them in a damp paper towel or sand inside the fridge, followed by surface-sowing in light, moist soil.
Note from Jim: I tried this a few years back. I dried the leaves and mixed in a bit of burley and flavored it with some of our flavoring ( tried vanilla, rum, whiskey, brandy and cherry, loved them all ) and found it to be an excellent pipe tobacco.

Guardian Gold Marigold (Tagetes patula) is a specialized French marigold developed not only for its brilliant golden-yellow flowers, but also for its remarkable ability to help protect gardens from destructive soil pests. Widely recognized as one of the most effective biological controls for root-knot nematodes, Guardian Gold works beneath the soil surface while providing a vibrant display of cheerful blooms above ground. It is an outstanding companion plant for vegetable gardens, raised beds, and sustainable growing systems where reducing pest pressure naturally is a priority.
Garden Uses:
Guardian Gold is ideal for vegetable gardens, raised beds, borders, containers, companion planting, and pollinator gardens. It is especially valuable when planted near tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, beans, cucumbers, melons, and other crops susceptible to nematode damage. The bright flowers also make attractive edging plants while providing season-long color and beneficial insect activity.
Growing Information:
Sow seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost or directly outdoors after frost danger has passed. Cover seeds lightly with soil and maintain temperatures of 70-75°F. Germination generally occurs within 5 to 10 days. Plants thrive in full sun and well-drained soil and tolerate summer heat exceptionally well. For maximum nematode suppression, plant generously throughout vegetable beds rather than using only a few isolated plants.
Natural Pest Control Benefits:
Guardian Gold is renowned for its superior effectiveness against harmful root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne species), microscopic soil pests that attack plant roots and reduce crop production. Extensive trials have demonstrated nematode reduction rates approaching 99% when used as part of a proper garden management program. The plant's roots naturally produce bioactive compounds, including thiophenes, that are toxic to many species of harmful nematodes and can significantly reduce both active populations and egg production in the soil.
Unlike chemical nematicides that may require repeated applications, Guardian Gold works naturally as the roots grow throughout the season. Many gardeners and commercial growers use it as a cover crop or companion planting strategy to improve soil health while reducing pest pressure. In numerous situations, it has proven more effective than many traditional chemical control methods.
Early Warning System for Thrips:
Guardian Gold also serves as an effective indicator or "trap plant" for thrips populations. Research has shown that thrips are often attracted to marigolds up to two weeks earlier than they are detected on standard sticky traps. This allows gardeners and growers to identify potential infestations sooner and take corrective action before economically important crops are affected.
Pollinator and Beneficial Insect Value:
While protecting roots below ground, Guardian Gold simultaneously supports beneficial insects above ground. The bright flowers attract bees, butterflies, hoverflies, ladybugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps, and other beneficial predators that help control aphids, whiteflies, caterpillars, and additional garden pests. This dual role makes Guardian Gold one of the most useful companion plants available for organic and sustainable gardening.
Historical Significance:
French marigolds have been used in companion planting programs for decades. Scientific research into their pest-control abilities began in earnest during the twentieth century, leading to the identification of specific varieties with superior nematode-suppressing capabilities. Guardian Gold represents one of the most advanced examples of this breeding effort.
Interesting Facts:
Unlike many companion planting claims that rely primarily on folklore, the nematode-suppressing abilities of French marigolds are supported by extensive scientific research. The roots actively produce compounds that help reduce harmful nematode populations while leaving most beneficial soil organisms unharmed. Few ornamental flowers offer such a powerful combination of beauty and practical garden utility.
Seedman Notes:
Guardian Gold is one of the most valuable companion plants a gardener can grow. Its bright golden blooms provide excellent ornamental value, but its true strength lies beneath the soil. We strongly recommend planting it throughout vegetable gardens where nematodes have been a problem or where preventative protection is desired. Few flowers work harder for the gardener than Guardian Gold.
Quick Facts:
Botanical Name: Tagetes patula
Common Name: Guardian Gold Marigold
Plant Type: Annual
Height: 10-14 inches
Spread: 10-12 inches
Bloom Color: Golden yellow
Light: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained
Bloom Season: Summer until frost
Pollinator Friendly: Excellent
Companion Plant: Outstanding
Nematode Control: Up to 99% reduction in trials
Thrips Monitoring: Excellent trap plant
Heat Tolerance: Excellent
Difficulty: Easy
Rating: ★★★★★

Kiwi Fruit is one of the world's most popular exotic fruits, prized for its sweet-tart flavor, vibrant emerald-green flesh, and exceptional nutritional value. Native to China and later popularized in New Zealand, this vigorous climbing vine produces the familiar fuzzy brown fruits found in grocery stores worldwide. With proper support and care, kiwi vines can become long-lived, highly productive plants that provide abundant harvests for decades.
In spring, kiwi vines are adorned with fragrant creamy-white flowers that attract pollinators and add ornamental beauty to the landscape. By late summer and autumn, clusters of delicious fruits develop, packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, potassium, and dietary fiber. The unique tropical flavor is often described as a blend of strawberry, melon, banana, and citrus.
Kiwi vines are excellent choices for arbors, pergolas, fences, trellises, and edible landscapes. Their large, lush leaves create dense shade during the growing season while producing impressive crops of nutritious fruit.
UsesKiwi vines require sturdy support structures such as trellises, pergolas, or arbors. Plants are generally dioecious, meaning separate male and female plants are needed for reliable fruit production. Seed-grown plants will produce a mix of male and female vines, making multiple seedlings desirable.
Special FeaturesKiwi fruit is considered a nutritional powerhouse, containing more vitamin C per serving than many citrus fruits. It is also rich in potassium, vitamin E, vitamin K, folate, antioxidants, and dietary fiber. Regular consumption is often associated with digestive health, immune support, and overall wellness.
Kiwi Fruit (Actinidia chinensis) combines ornamental beauty, vigorous growth, and delicious nutrient-rich fruit into one remarkable plant. Whether grown for its attractive foliage, fragrant flowers, or abundant harvests, this classic fruiting vine remains a favorite among gardeners and fruit enthusiasts worldwide.
Please note: seed-grown kiwis will produce both male and female plants and that several plants should be grown to ensure future pollination and fruit production.
Arctic Kiwi, also known as Siberian Gooseberry, is one of the most cold-hardy fruiting vines available, producing abundant crops of smooth-skinned, grape-sized kiwi fruits that can be eaten whole without peeling. Native to northern regions of Asia, this vigorous climbing vine combines ornamental beauty with delicious fruit, making it an excellent addition to home gardens, edible landscapes, trellises, fences, and arbors. Unlike the fuzzy supermarket kiwis, Arctic Kiwi fruits have smooth, tender skin and a sweet, tropical flavor often described as a blend of kiwi, pineapple, melon, and strawberry. The vines produce fragrant white flowers in spring, followed by clusters of green fruits that ripen in late summer or early fall. Mature plants can become highly productive, yielding impressive harvests year after year. In addition to its fruiting qualities, Arctic Kiwi is an attractive landscape plant. The lush green foliage quickly covers trellises and structures, creating a beautiful living screen while providing shade and visual interest throughout the growing season. Arctic Kiwi seeds benefit from cold stratification to improve germination rates. Arctic Kiwi vines require sturdy support such as a trellis, fence, arbor, or pergola. Most seedlings will be either male or female plants, and both sexes are generally needed for fruit production. Once established, vines are long-lived and can provide decades of harvests with proper care. Arctic Kiwi (Actinidia arguta) offers gardeners the rare combination of ornamental beauty, extreme cold hardiness, and delicious tropical-tasting fruit. Whether grown on an arbor, fence, or trellis, this remarkable vine rewards growers with abundant harvests and years of landscape enjoyment.
Buckwheat can be helpful in managing Verticillium wilt, a soil borne fungal disease, by enhancing soil health through its ability to scavenge phosphorus and add nitrogen. A study on potatoes showed that treating soil with nitrogen and phosphorus multiple times can significantly reduce Verticillium wilt, and buckwheat excels in this regard. Additionally, buckwheat can act as a green mulch when it's no longer needed.
Germination Instructions
Growing Information
Kiwis require special training and pruning to produce good
crops. When planted, the vines should be pruned back to 4 or 5
buds. From these a main stem should be selected and staked to
grow to the top of the arbor or trellis, usually 6-7’
high. The trellis should be strong to support the heavy future
fruit loads.
Kiwis are beautiful vines. Their vigorous spring growth is a
spectacular sight. Excellent for a privacy screen, they will
rapidly cover a fence and with support will cover a wall or
steep slope. Kiwis grow in a manner similar to grapes but more
rapidly. They are very high in Vitamin C. (Ten times as much as
lemons.) They are excellent for eating fresh and are a tasty
addition to salads and desserts. Ice cream, pies, jam and wine
are other ways to use kiwis.
Features showy, daisy-like flowers with vibrant yellow-orange petals (rays) and dark brown to black centers (disks). These blooms, typically 2-3 inches wide, are prolific from June to September. Grows in an upright, clump-forming habit, reaching 2-3 feet in height and 1-2 feet in width.
Uses: Floriferous compact summer bloomer for borders, cottage gardens, city gardens, rain gardens, foundations or meadows. Groups or mass plantings. Containers. Good cut flower.
Cute and compact! Radiant golden blooms, densely floriferous mounding habit, no PGR needed, 1 plug/4-5" pot, perfect for patio and gifting. Only grows about 10 inches tall, will spread about 16 inches.
Large, 2" blooms have golden yellow petals that surround a dark center disc. Attractive flowers profusely cover plants above the foliage creating quite a dramatic display. Plants naturally remain compact and do not require PGRs or pinching to manage branching or height, however, they may be used to manage flower timing. Great as a gift pot item, as an indoor plant or outdoors in containers. Low maintenance.
Our Lilliput Mix invites butterflies and bees with its vibrant hues. These zinnia seeds serve as a colorful pollinator attractant, fostering biodiversity and adding lively energy to any garden.
Weeping Bottlebrush is an evergreen tree or shrub native to Australia, characterized by its gracefully drooping branches and vibrant red, brush-like flowers. It typically reaches a height of 15 to 20 feet with a similar spread, though some varieties can be smaller. The tree's narrow, light green leaves are concentrated at the ends of the branches, enhancing the weeping effect.
Plant in neutral to acid, moderately fertile soil in full sun. This plant is tough and makes and excellent hedge. Regular pruning is not necessary. If you do prune, immediately after flowering is best. Does very well in containers.
Zone 8-11 outside, grow in containers and bring inside for cooler zones.
The self-seeding plants produce compact edible flowers perfect for USDA Zones 3-10. These nasturtium seeds for planting outdoors thrive in full sun, reaching 12-16 inches tall with a mix, of mahogany, yellow, and cherry blooms from mid-summer through fall. They grow well in well-drained soil and are deer-proof. With an average germination time of 7-10 days at 68°F, they are ideal for borders, pots, hanging baskets, and window boxes
Buckwheat is a plant of many uses. Though frequently used culinarily as a cereal grain, buckwheat is actually a seed—it’s also a great source of fiber, vitamin B6, and minerals such as magnesuim and zinc. It is naturally gluten-free and can be purchased roasted, as unroasted groats, as noodles, or in flour form. It has been eaten in Asian and Eastern European countries for centuries, but is now becoming increasingly popular in the west due to its many health benefits.
Buckwheat has a deep earthy and nutty flavor. In its unroasted form it is pale green and usually sprouted, and it is labeled as "groats." When you see buckwheat in its light tan form, it has been roasted. Roasted buckwheat, commonly known as "kasha," is tender and grain-like, and it works well in porridge. Despite having "wheat" in the name, buckwheat is in fact gluten-free.
Summer annual which can be used as a green manure crop. An early maturing wheat suitable for almost any type soil. Seeds remain on stalk after ripening, providing food over extended period of time. Buckwheat has a short growing season, maturing in 10 to 12 weeks. It is quickly killed by frost.
Benefits of Buckwheat Cover Crops: Quick cover. Few cover crops establish as rapidly and as easily as buckwheat. Its rounded pyramid- shaped seeds germinate in just three to five days. Leaves up to 3 inches wide can develop within two weeks to create a relatively dense, soil shading canopy. Buckwheat typically produces only 2 to 3 tons of dry matter per acre, but it does so quickly—in just six to eight weeks. Buckwheat residue also decomposes quickly, releasing nutrients to the next crop.
Weed suppressor. Buckwheat’s strong weed suppressing ability makes it ideal for smothering warm-season annual weeds. It’s also planted after intensive, weed-weakening tillage to crowd out perennials. A mix of tillage and successive dense seedings of buckwheat can effectively suppress Canada thistle, sowthistle, creeping jenny, leafy spurge, Russian knapweed and perennial peppergrass. While living buckwheat may have an allelopathic weed-suppressing effect, its primary impact on weeds is through shading and competition.
Phosphorus scavenger. Buckwheat takes up phosphorus and some minor nutrients (possibly including calcium) that are otherwise unavailable to crops, then releasing these nutrients to later crops as the residue breaks down. The roots of the plants produce mild acids that release nutrients from the soil. These acids also activate slow-releasing organic fertilizers, such as rock phosphate. Buckwheat’s dense, fibrous roots cluster in the top 10 inches of soil, providing an extensive root surface area for nutrient uptake.
Thrives in poor soils. Buckwheat performs better than cereal grains on low-fertility soils and soils with high levels of decaying organic matter. That’s why it was often the first crop planted on cleared land during the settlement of woodland areas and is still a good first crop for rejuvenating over-farmed soils. However, buckwheat does not do well in compacted, droughty or excessively wet soils.
Quick regrowth. Buckwheat will regrow after mowing if cut before it reaches 25 percent bloom. It also can be lightly tilled after the midpoint of its long flowering period to reseed a second crop. Some growers bring new land into production by raising three successive buckwheat crops this way.
Soil conditioner. Buckwheat’s abundant, fine roots leave topsoil loose and friable after only minimal tillage, making it a great mid-summer soil conditioner preceding fall crops in temperate areas.
Nectar source. Buckwheat’s shallow white blossoms attract beneficial insects that attack or parasitize aphids, mites and other pests. These beneficials include hover flies (Syrphidae), predatory wasps, minute pirate bugs, insidious flower bugs, tachinid flies and lady beetles. Flowering may start within three weeks of planting and continue for up to 10 weeks.
Produces medium-early, 7 ounce fruits that are oblate, bright red, with green shoulders and good interior color. Sets fruit well under unfavorable conditions, with tolerance to cracking and strong disease resistance. Determinate. 69 days.
Disease resistance:Alternaria Stem Canker, Fusarium Wilt, Verticillium Wilt.
Resistant to FW1, FW2, AN1 & AN3, and matures in 85 days.
Crimson Sweet melons, because of their extremely high sugar content and wonderful flavor, are favored in southern gardens; they also adapt well to other climates, making them by far the most popular watermelon in the United States. This melon comes from a cross between Miles/Peacock and Charleston Gray watermelons. Crimson Sweet won the prestigious AAS Award in 1964.
As it stands in the weather, it loses tannic acid and becomes more and more palatable through the fall. This sorghum makes excellent seed for all game birds, including quail, turkey, pheasants, doves and ducks. Deer will also feed heavily on the grain in fall and winter. The WGF Sorghum has a life cycle of 90-120 days.
WGF Sorghum has good early seeding vigor and is easy to establish. This seed can be mixed with other seeds such as Millets or Sunflowers for a diverse food plot for game birds or can be mixed with summer peas for a diverse deer plot.