Seed Catalogue 2012

LAUGHING SWAN FARM
.	2012 SEED CATALOG				B: for hanging baskets
.					C: for containers
.					N: native plant
.					P: pollinator plant
.	NAME	NOTES	DETAILS	HT.	FLOWER COLOUR	B/C	N	P	#sds	PRICE
.	ANNUALS
.	Alyssum 'Crystals' white	large flowers	multi-seed pellet	4"	white			P	20	$2.60
.	Amaranthus 'Red tails'	love-lies-bleeding'	showy	32"	brilliant red	C			40	$1.55
.	Ammi majus 'Queen of Africa'	umbel shape flowers	superior variety	48"	white		N	P	25	$1.55
.	Begonia Non-stop mix	large double flowers	pelleted seed	8"	mixed	B/C			10	$2.60
.	Begonia Non-stop 'Mocca' mix	with dark bronze leaf	pelleted seed	8"	mixed	B/C			10	$2.60
.	Bidens 'Golden goddess'	ferny leaves, easy, 24"	trailing	24"	golden yellow	B/C			10	$2.15
.	Calendula	pot marigold		12"	orange				15	$1.55
.	Cerinthe 'Gibralter pride'	lvs blue-green, mottled white	unusual	30"	grape colour, blue bracts			P	6	$3.00
.	Cobaea scandens purple	cup & saucer vine	very unusual	6-10'	purple, bell shape			P	5	$2.60
.	Dusty miller 'Silver dust'	silvery serrated leaf		15"					40	$1.55
.	Hordeum vulgare	variegated cat grass	very unusual	12"		C	N		25	$2.60
.	Marigold cherry gem	1/2" flowers, lacy foliage		10"	cherry red			P	25	$1.55
.	Marigold 'Durango' red	very large flwrs 12"	de-tailed seed	12"	deep scarlet red			P	40	$2.40
.	Marigold Lady 'First'	African, 4" flower	de-tailed seed	18"	bright yellow			P	15	$3.00
.	Marigold Lady 'Gold'	African, 4" flower	de-tailed seed	18"	gold			P	15	$3.00
.	Marigold Lady 'Orange'	African, 4" flower	de-tailed seed	18"	orange			P	15	$3.00
.	Marigold Lady 'Primrose'	African, 4" flower	de-tailed seed	18"	ivory			P	15	$3.00
.	Morning glory 'Kniolas black'	nice trailer or climber	velvety black flower		velvety black	B/C			8	$2.60
.	Petunia EasyWave 'Beachcomber' mix	all colours in one pellet. Easy!	multi-seed pellet	12"	blue + coral reef + shell pink	B/C			6	$4.10
.	Petunia EasyWave 'Plum pudding' mix	all colours in one pellet. Easy!	multi-seed pellet	12"	plum vein + violet	B/C			6	$4.10
.	Petunia ShockWave 'Electric' mix	all colours in one pellet. Easy!	multi-seed pellet	12"	purple + pink vein	B/C			6	$4.10
.	Poppy 'Shirley red'	3-4" flower		18"	fire-engine red			P	25	$1.55
.	Sunflower 'Italian white'	black center		48"	ivory white			P	15	$2.40
.	Sunflower 'Munchkin'	dwarf		24"	yellow			P	10	$3.00
.	Sunflower 'Prado red'	brown center		48"	velvety red			P	10	$3.00
.	Sunflower 'Teddy bear'	full double flower		16"	golden yellow			P	10	$1.85
.	Tithonia 'Yellow torch'	Mexican sunflower		32"	lemon yellow			P	10	$2.15
.	Vendidium 'Orange prince'	5-6" blooms, striking		32"	orange, black eye	C			10	$1.85
.
.	NAME	NOTES	DETAILS	HT.	FLOWER COLOUR	B/C	N	P	#sds	PRICE
.	PERENNIALS
.	Blackberry lily	seed heads like blackberries	unusual, Iris family	36"	orange spotted with red			P	10	$3.00
.	Lavender 'Hidcote superior'	hardy	primed seed	12"	deep violet			P	20	$2.40
.	Lavender 'Munstead'	most planted variety, hardy		16"	purple			P	25	$1.85
.	Poppy 'Tulip poppy'	rare, brilliant scarlet		18"	brilliant scarlet				25	$1.65
.	Soapwort	groundcover & containers		6"	pink	B/C		P	40	$1.65
.	Thyme, mother of	creeping ground cover	not for culinary use	4"	pink to purple			P	20	$1.55
.
.	NAME	NOTES	DETAILS	HT.	LEAF COLOUR	B/C	N	P	#sds	PRICE
.	ORNAMENTAL GRASSES	ANNUALS
.	Carex flagellifera	fine arching bronze leaves	weeping sedge	15"	bronze	C			12	$2.40
.	Carex 'Red rooster'	wheat to bronze, curled tip	good in containers	12-14"	wheat to bronze	C			5	$3.00
.	Foxtail barley	long silky awns	good in containers	24"	pale green		N		20	$1.85
.	Love Grass 'Ruby silk'	ruby seed heads	nice dried	16"	green to wheat	C			25	$1.85
.	Mexican feather grass	fine leaves, very graceful		30"	green	C	N		25	$2.40
.	Millet 'Lime spray'	lime green foliage	lime seed heads	36"	lime green	C			20	$1.85
.	Millet 'Purple majesty'	deep purple foliage	big purple seed heads	36"	deep purple	C			10	$1.85
.	Stipa 'Angel hair'	very graceful & elegant	fine leaves	36"	green	C			25	$2.40
.	Stipa 'Pony tails'	very graceful & elegant	fine leaves	18"	green	C			25	$2.40
.	Stipa 'Wind whispers'	very graceful & elegant	very fine leaves	36"	green	C			15	$2.40
.	Wheat 'Mesa desert'	for fresh cut or dried	full awn	36"	green to wheat	C			20	$1.85
.
.	ORNAMENTAL GRASSES	PERENNIALS
.	Buchloe dactyloides (buffalo grass)	dense clump, curly blades	drought tolerant	12"	grey/green		N		50	$2.40
.	Melica 'Red spires'	deep red plumes	bronze leaves	60"	green/bronze		N		10	$2.40
.	Pennisetum 'Redhead' (fountain grass)	reddish foxtail seed heads		36"	green turns to gold	C			10	$3.00
.	Pennisetum 'Tail feathers'	upright, cream seed heads		4-5'	green	C			10	$2.40
.	Pennisetum'Viridescens' (fountain grass)	black foxtail seed heads		36"	green turns to gold	C			10	$3.00
.	Sorghastrum nutans	Indian grass, ok in poor soil	native grass	36"	grey/green turns orange		N		10	$1.65
.	Xerophyllum tenax	Bear grass, zone 5	very unusual	48"	green, white flowers		N		10	$2.15
.
.	NAME	NOTES	DETAILS	DAYS	LEAF COLOUR	B/C	N	P	#sds	PRICE
.	VEGETABLES
.	Broccoli 'Decicco Italian sprouting '	sprouting type	continuous harvest	48				P	20	$1.55
.	Endive 'Marchiere Tres Fine'	frilly, French type	mild, delicious	40	green				15	$1.65
.	Lettuce 'Barbados'	summer crisp	baby leaf	33	green				25	$1.65
.	Lettuce 'Chistera'	baby leaf	fast growing	60	red				25	$1.65
.	Lettuce 'Emerald-ruby duo'	butterhead & frilly mix		60	green & red blend				25	$1.55
.	Lettuce 'Galactic' (organic seed)	leaf, 30 days-baby	58 days-full	30-58	very dark red				25	$1.65
.	Lettuce 'Green ice`'	baby leaf	ruffled	45	sweet, green				25	$1.55
.	Lettuce 'Petite rouge'	romaine-cos	baby leaf	48	wine red				25	$1.55
.	Lettuce 'Salad bowl green'	leaf	sweet, tender	45	brilliant green				25	$1.55
.	Lettuce 'Simpson elite'	leaf	slow-bolting, sweet	48	light green				50	$1.65
.	Lettuce 'Sunset'	leaf	slow-bolting	50	dark red, large				25	$1.55
.	Lettuce 'Vivian'	romaine, 25 days-baby	50 days-full	25-50	dark green				25	$1.55
.	Mache 'Corn salad'	mild	nice in salads	60	green				25	$1.65
.	Mustard 'Green wave'	Asian mustard	slow bolting	30	frilly, green				25	$1.55
.	Mustard 'Mizuna'	Asian mustard	non-pungent	30	narrow, green				25	$1.65
.	Mustard 'Tatsoi' (organic seed)	Asian mustard	mild flavour	45	deep green rosette				25	$1.55
.	Onion 'Candy'	mild, sweet, stores well	white flesh	95					15	$1.85
.	Pepper 'Jalapeno early'	early variety	hot	85					25	$2.05
.	Pepper 'Joe's long'	unusual, 11" long	medium	75					6	$2.60
.	Pepper 'Yankee bell'	medium/large, early	mild	70					12	$2.60
.	Pumpkin 'Cinderella'	French heirloom	best tasting!	95					6	$2.05
.	Pumpkin 'Small sugar pie'	sweet flesh	tasty	100					8	$1.55
.	Squash 'Delicata'	winter squash	sweet	100					10	$2.05
.	Squash 'Early butternut'	winter squash	nutty flavour	85					6	$2.40
.	Squash 'Queensland blue'	winter squash	tasty, semi-sweet	110					4	$1.55
.	Squash 'Sweet dumpling'	winter squash	sweet, tender	100					10	$2.05
.	Swiss chard 'Rainbow'	colourful	tasty, tender	60					25	$2.05
.	NAME	NOTES	DETAILS	DAYS		B/C	N	P	#sds	PRICE
.	Tomato 'Black Krim'	medium, hvy prod., indet.	heirloom	80		C			20	$2.40
.	Tomato 'Bloody butcher'	medium, early, indet.	heirloom	55		C			10	$2.40
.	Tomato 'Sweet million'	cherry, indet.	sweet, long clusters	70		C			10	$2.40
.	Tomato 'Hillbilly'	med., orange&red, indet.	heirloom	85		C			20	$2.40
.	Tomato 'Italian heirloom'	huge fruit, excellent., indet.	heirloom	75		C			15	$2.60
.	Tomato 'Marmande Paris'	gourmet type, semi-det.	great flavour	62		C			12	$2.15
.	Tomato 'Oregon spring'	medium, early, hardy, det.	heirloom	60		C			20	$2.15
.	Tomato 'Oxheart red'	heartshape, up to 2 lbs. indet.	heirloom	80		C			12	$2.15
.	Tomato 'Sugar lump'	cherry, very sweet, indet.	heirloom	65		C			20	$2.40
.	Watermelon 'Sugar baby'	juicy, sweet, thin rind	small fruit, early	80					8	$1.65
.
.	HERBS	NOTES	DETAILS	HT.	LEAF COLOUR	B/C	N	P	#sds	PRICE
.	Basil 'Genovese'	aka St. Remo	favoured by chefs	21"	dark green				20	$1.55
.	Basil 'Goddess'	compact, slow bolting	very spicy	12"	bright green				20	$1.65
.	Basil 'Holy'	green	gourmet, strong	12"	green				20	$1.55
.	Basil 'Mammoth'	huge, light green	excellent flavour	15"	light green				25	$1.65
.	Basil 'Pistou'	petite, rounded shape	spicy	6"	green	C			20	$1.65
.	Basil 'Red ruby'	3" leaf, vigorous	great flavour	18"	purple				20	$1.65
.	Basil 'Sacred'	best for cool weather	hardiest	12"	green				20	$1.55
.	Basil 'Sweet Dani'	large, olive green	strong lemon flvr	26"	olive green				20	$1.65
.	Basil 'Italian sweet large leaf''	large, bright green	strongly scented	16"	bright green				20	$1.55
.	Basil 'Thai Siam queen'	AAS winner	licorice scent	24"	purple				20	$1.65
.	Borage	sky blue star flowers	edible flwr/leaves	24"	green			P	10	$1.55
.	Catnip	cat grass	cats love it	12"	blue-green	C			100	$1.65
.	Cilantro 'Santo'	large flat green leaf	favourite	24"	green				10	$1.65
.	Dill 'Superdukat'	lots of foliage	high essential oil	30"	green				20	$1.55
.	Parsley 'Italian' (flat leaf)	dark green flat leaf	best flavour	12"	dark green	C			20	$1.55
.	Parsley 'Forest green' (moss curled)	triple curled	good flavour	12"	forest green	C			20	$1.55
.	Sage (garden)	traditional, culinary	best flavour	24"	grey/green			P	10	$1.55
.	Summer savory	easy to grow	for meat/veggies	12"	green/bronze			P	20	$1.55
.	Sweet Marjoram	milder than oregano	good with meats	12"	green			P	20	$1.55
.	Thyme (winter)	English type, hardy	excellent flavour	6-10"	green			P	10	$1.55
.
.	Notes:
.	*'Multi-seed pellet' and 'pelleted seed' have many tiny seeds per pellet, making sowing these seeds very easy,
.	without over-sowing.
.	*Marigold seeds that are 'de-tailed' have had the extra tail removed, reducing the overall size of the seeds, making
.	them much easier to plant.
.	*'Primed seed' has already been stratified (pre-chilled), increasing germination rates.
.
.	PETUNIA 'Beachcomber mix':	(EASY WAVE)
.	blend of blue, coral reef, & shell pink	3-5 seeds per basket
.	PETUNIA 'Plum Pudding mix':	(EASY WAVE)
.	blend of plum vein & violet. very cool	3-5 seeds per basket
.	PETUNIA 'Electric mix':	(ELECTRIC WAVE)
.	blend of purple & pink vein. Electric.	3-5 seeds per basket
.
.	Please contact us for ordering.

Laughing Swan Seeds.

                    

Laughing Swan Seeds

Our seed business is remarkably different from any other seed company.

We advocate people to stop wasting seeds!  A family of 4 with a moderate size garden doesn’t need 500 lettuce seeds, or 200 basil seeds, or 100 tomato seeds.  Generally, you will plant some seeds from the packet, and the rest are put away, either in a place not suitable for keeping them fresh, or forgotten about the next year.                   Even though many seeds are viable for more than 1 year, fresher is better.

We believe it’s better to offer seeds in smaller amounts that you will use in a year.  You are better off to buy fresh seed next year.  Also, then you are not stuck with hundreds of seeds of a particular variety.    Experiment – try different varieties!

Many people over-sow their seeds.  Carrots are a good example: people will fill the seed furrow with seeds (partly to use up what they bought), only to have to spend hours thinning out the shoots so the few plants they actually want can grow! Overcrowding is not good for any plants.

We promote sowing fewer seeds, reducing or eliminating pulling them out to thin, thereby not wasting seeds.  The shoots that do germinate and sprout will be healthier without all that competition. 

And you will have more time to enjoy your garden!

“Old gardeners never die, they just go to seed!”

Laughing Swan Seeds, Laughing Swan Farm

On the sunny South Thompson River, Kamloops, BC

visit us @ http://www.laughingswanfarm.com/

Powdery Mildew on Monarda

METHODS OF PREVENTING POWDERY MILDEW ON MONARDA

            Monarda is a valuable plant in my gardens and have grown it for most of my adult life in many different places in B.C., from the wet southern coastal region to here in dry Kamloops.  I enjoy & appreciate many aspects of this plant: the shape and colours of the flowers, the scent of both the leaves and flowers, it attracts pollinating bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, the leaves can be used to make tea, the flowers are deliciously edible, and its overall striking beauty.  Monarda has a lot of value to me, and it makes me smile.

            There are a few problems that can be associated with growing Monarda: powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum fungus), rust, invasiveness, and crown die-out. Here in Kamloops our dry climate helps eliminate most of these.  Powdery mildew is the most common issue, which I am addressing here.  It starts early in the growing season.  White fungal threads produce spores, which germinate, penetrate the leaves, and absorb nutrients.  The grayish-white fungal patches develop on the upper surfaces of the leaves; eventually the leaves will yellow and die.  It can be most severe in late summer and fall.  The fungus can overwinter on plant debris and in buds, releasing spores the next spring to continue the cycle.  The solutions are not complicated.  With proper care and attention, and simple adjustments, the grower can continue to grow and enjoy it with greater success.  There are also disease resistant varieties to choose from.

            What factors can cause or exacerbate powdery mildew? 

A) Poor ventilation (plants are too close or too thick).

            Spacing the plant is a priority, allowing space for air to move around and through it.  Don’t have any other plants too close, and if necessary, thin the stems growing from the crown to increase air circulation.           

B) Water on the leaves caused by overhead watering.

            Eliminate overhead watering.  Install drip irrigation if possible.  If hand watering, use a wand extension to get water directly onto the soil and water early in the day so any water on the leaves can dry quickly.  Watering late in the day promotes the problem, as the temperature drop at night increases the humidity, which increases spore development.

C) Heat stress and high relative humidity.

            They are not tolerant of dry soils or shade.  Protect it from hot winds, and ensure it is near an adequate water supply and not out of reach of the watering system.  Plant it where it will get at least 6-8 hours of sun a day.  There is higher relative humidity in the shade, partly due to lower temperatures, both during the day and at night.  The lack of sunshine also doesn’t allow moisture on the leaves to dry quickly.

D) Diseased parts (leaves, stems, flowers) remaining on or near the plants.

            Proper hygiene is imperative.  Inspect the plant frequently – early diagnosis is key.  Promptly remove all diseased or dead parts and dispose of in the garbage.  Never compost!  Also sterilize any tools used, to prevent transferring the spores.

            There is an option for spraying affected areas with fungicide.  Personally, I will not use chemical fungicides.  Other options are to spray with a baking soda mix (1.5 tablespoons baking soda per gallon of water) weekly, or a weak milk solution (1 cup milk to 9 cups of water) every 2 weeks.  Some people will use a horticultural oil (3 tablespoons per gallon of water), spraying every 2 weeks.  I have never used any sprays.

            In conclusion, knowing Monarda’s ideal growing conditions and creating a healthy environment has made healthy plants which are resistant to disease.  I have already addressed the stresses that can affect this plant, put best practices into use, and have eliminated powdery mildew from my Monarda.

This article also appears on the Laughing Swan Website @ www.laughingswanfarm.com

Mothers blanket

Mother nature showed up with a blanket last night. She gently tucked in her little green people so they would be warm for the cold air she about to bring in to the interior region.
It is amazing to me that snow nearly always comes before cold. If it doesn't then plants will die and things are not as they should be. If you have zone 5 plants the limit they can tolerate is around -24C, and this only for a limited amount of time. The zone system is only a guide, so don't think in absolute terms.
This is something Brian Minter(http://www.gardeningbc.com/page/minter.html ) also stresses so just figure that if you have a zone 5 plant it's going to be OK in Kamloops if you live at river bottom. Further up the hill it goes into zone 4, and in places like Juniper, zone 3, all just rough guides to your plants survivability rates. Even gardeners on the lower mainland can have zones 3 and 4 if they are in the path of outflow winds that begin this time of year.
With lows going down to -20C on Wednesday we will be taking care of some of our borderline plants by making sure they either have enough snow cover or have a frost blanket placed over them.
Visit us @ http://www.laughingswanfarm.com/

Who put the win in winter.

Another strangely beautiful January day. Tonite the temp is supposed to dip down to -10 or more, so don't put the parka away just yet.
The little green people out in the field must have some communication skills that humans either lost or never had. They just hang out, grow buds if it's warm, stand like sticks if it's cold, I never hear a word of complaint, only silent expiry in the spring. We humans could and do learn so much from our silent friends, without them there would be no us, but we have either forgotten that or have yet to learn it.
So, carry on, enjoy this crazy weather and let's hope for an early spring and lots of summer.
Visit http://www.laughingswanfarm.com/