Cover Crop Seed Cool Season Soil Building Mix Growing a cover crop (aka Green Manure) is a wonderful way to build soil organic matter, protect the soil against erosion, fix nitrogen, provide habitat for beneficial insects & pollinators and so much more! We typically plant cool season cover crops after harvesting the last of the summer garden which is typically in October here in Oregon.  Alternately, they can be planted as early in late winter or early spring as possible.   This mixture of cool season varieties is a proven mix that we use here on our farm and in gardens. The cereal grain Oats sprout quickly and provide a vertical scaffold for the peas and vetch to climb. The 2 peas sprout quickly and provides fast growth and coverage and abundant nitrogen fixation.  A cereal grain and legume mix can grow from 2 to 5 tons (!!!) of biomass per acre, that's 40-100 pounds for a 100 square foot area. * We regret that we are unable to ship this product internationally in amounts larger than 1 pound * Seeding rates:   75-150 pounds per acre  1/4-1/2 pound per 100 sq.ft., 5-6# for 1000 sq.ft.  A cereal grain and legume mix can grow from 2 to 5 tons (!!!) of biomass per acre, that's 40-100 pounds for a 100 square foot area. Cool Season Soil Building Mix contains: (Cayuse Oats, Lana Vetch, Magnus Peas, Dundale Peas, Barley, Bunker Triticale) 1/5th each. Roughly 60% legume and 40% grain.  ...

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Milkweed, Swamp  Asclepias incarnata This is a perennial that is native to most of the continental US and parts of Canada.  It is an excellent food source for not only Monarch catapillars, but other butterflies such as Swallowtails. Easy to start from seed, it grows to about 4' tall and spreads to 2-3' wide.  This is a wonderful nectar source for all manner of pollinators late in the season, especially after many other wildflowers have faded.  You will be dazzled with the visitors that you get with these growing in your garden! Packet: (0.5g~95 seeds)  Bulk: 2.5 g. * Growing Tip: Being an undomesticated plant, milkweed benefits from a period of cold stratification to help the seeds "wake up".  To do this, one method is to plant in the fall, as would happen in nature. Or...you can place the seeds on a moist paper towel and put them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for about 30 days.  Check it periodically to see if mold is forming, in which case change the paper towel.  This will greatly improve germination.  ...

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Milkweed, Showy Asclepias speciosa   This is the most common milkweed in western Oregon and the best choice for folks in the Pacific Northwest or similar climates with dry summers to attract and support Monarch butterflies. Tropical, non-native species of milkweeds may not die back as well in the winter as our native species. Theoretically, with non-native milkweed, monarchs could hang around and potentially breed at the wrong time for our climate.  Plant is a drought hardy perennial with fuzzy gray-green leaves and pale pink white flowers that come on in mid summer.  To grow our native showy milkweed from seed, you need patience. It takes about three years from seed to really get going in my experience. Seeds should be planted in the fall, in a pot or flat outdoors, as they need cold and wet to germinate. The first spring after sprouting, native showy milkweed plants are tiny and often die back over the summer. If you want to coax seeds to grow in the summer, put them in a damp paper towel and refrigerate for a couple weeks before planting them. Adult monarchs use many species of flowers for nectar besides milkweed. Goldenrod, aster, coneflower, black-eyed Susans and other open flowers make good nectar plants.  Packet (0.4g~35 seeds) * Growing Tip: Being an undomesticated plant, milkweed benefits from a period of cold stratification to help the seeds "wake up".  To do this, one method is to plant in the fall, as wold happen in nature. Or...you can place the seeds on a moist paper towel and put them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for about 30 days.  Check it periodically to see if mold is forming, in which case change the paper towel.  This will greatly improve germination.  ...

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 Milkweed, Narrow Leaf Aesclepias Fasicularis   A perennial herb native to the Western United States, Narrow Leaf Milkweed is a favorite among Monarch butterflies.  Grows to 3 foot with long, narrow leaves and produces approximately 5-inch white or rose-white flower clusters.  Flowers give way to seed pods which split and reveal seeds and silk when mature.  This milkweed has a broad tolerance for garden conditions, but also manages to survive heavy clay, salty, dry soils, and seasonal flooding.  A great choice for butterfly and pollinator gardens.  Likes sun and readily reseeds. Packet: (.4g~35 seeds) * Growing Tip: Being an undomesticated plant, milkweed benefits from a period of cold stratification to help the seeds "wake up".  To do this, one method is to plant in the fall, as wold happen in nature. Or...you can place the seeds on a moist paper towel and put them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for about 30 days. Check it periodically to see if mold is forming, in which case change the paper towel. This will greatly improve germination....

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HAWTHORNE, Common Crataegus monogyna - PERENNIAL. Shrub in the rosaceae family which can grow to 15-40’. Dark green obovate deeply-lobed leaves that bloom with small pinkish white flowers in May. Small sweet, but mealy red berry-like fruits called haws, rich in anti-oxidants, are collected in winter and can be used for jams, jellies, wine or tea. The leaf, flower and haw are used medicinally as a heart tonic in extract or tea. Can take up to a year to germinate so please be patient! Minimally thorny. SSF. Packet (12 seeds) ...

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Look no further for the perfect gift for your green-thumbed friend! Give them the gift of seeds so they can choose to grow beautiful flowers or sunkissed veggies. Give the gift of a blooming garden!  We offer gift certificates in $25, $40, $50, $100 or $200 values. Just click on the appropriate one to get started.  Thank you! Wishing you all the best, Siskiyou Seeds ON SHIPPING: *Please note this is a physical gift certificate, sent in the mail and as such may take up to 5 business days for order fulfillment. If you wish to purchase an online gift card code sent via email please select the Siskiyou Seeds Digital Gift Card   ...

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Hawthorn, Washington Crataegus phaenopyrum – PERENNIAL Tree like Shrub in the Rosaceae family which can grow to 10-30’ with 1-2” long sharp thorns on branches. Dark green obovate deeply-lobed leaves that bloom with clusters of white flowers in May. Small and shiny orange are sweeter and smaller than the common hawthorne berry-like fruits called haws, rich in anti-oxidants, are collected in winter and can be used for jams, jellies, wine or tea. Use the leaf, flower and haw medicinally as a heart tonic in extract or tea. Excellent hedgerow plant and wildlife food. Can take up to a year to germinate so please be patient! (0.3g) SSF. Packet (1.3g~15 seeds) ...

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Kenaf, Ming Hong aka Annual Hibiscus Hibiscus cannabinus Kenaf is an annual herbaceous plant from Malvaceae family which includes marshmallow, hibiscus, and okra. It is a fast growing plant that can be harvested after 3–4 months. Kenaf is among the oldest domesticated crops in the world, known in cultivation since at least 4000 years ago. It is believed to originate in Africa (possibly in Sudan). It was used in ancient Egypt (for cordage, clothes, bags, even ship-sails). Its primary use has probably always been as a fiber crop for cordage, but it also has edible leaves (a food in India, known as gongura, especially popular as the base for a hot pickled condiment) and oil-rich edible seeds.  In current times it is primarily grown for making paper from the tall stalks.  It can easily grow to 6-7 feet tall. Plants are unbranched an be block planted like corn. The flowers are large (3-5") white 5 petaled wonders that open in a dramatic display. It is among the most commented on plants we have growing on the farm, during farm tours. Kenaf is a frost sensitive annual that flowers at about 80-100 days. The flowers dry down into hibiscus like seed pods containing 1 mm wedge shaped seeds. Can be direct seeded or started indoors and transplanted after the risk of frost has passed.  This hibiscus beat out hundreds of other plants in a USDA study seeking to identify the best alternatives to pine pulp for making newsprint paper. Kenaf won because it makes very fine paper, with 20% less energy than wood pulp requires, and with no clear-cutting of forests. It was recently used in Japan to make the world's thinnest paper.  Packet= 1g ~35 seeds...

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Beet, Russian Sugar  (60-65 days)  Beta vulgaris This white sugar beet called Nesvizhskaya, from Belarus Tests 0% for Genetically Modified Organisms. It has a 17-18% brix sugar content and is vigorous and productive. Classically used as fodder for animals, as well as production of sugar. LKF. Packet: (1.5 g. ≈ 200 seeds) Bulk: 1 oz...

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Fast Food Bundle From the Garden Don't let the thought of a long wait before your first harvest deter you from starting a garden. The 8 varieties in this collection will all be ready to harvest for consumption in about 30 days from planting from seed. Perfect for a container garden or raised beds. Also works well to plant between crops that take longer to size up - thereby efficiently utilizing space between squash, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli and the like. Includes 1 packet each of the following: (you can click each to read up more) Arugula, Tuscan Cress, Wrinkled, Crinkled, Crumpled Lettuce, Diversity Mix Mesclun Mix Mild Mustard, Frilled Dragon Magma Mix Mustard, Komatsuna (aka Spinach Mustard) Mustard, Ruby Streaks Radish, French Breakfast Bundle and save 10% off the individual packet price!  ...

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