Orcas Seed Library Catalog

No Longer available in Red

Variety Name

Variety description

Growing notes

2021 Germination Rate

Marisa Hendron

Excellent culinary artichoke on beautiful plants with silvery foliage. Plant early indoors and transplant out after last frost.

Marisa Hendron

Classic arugula flavor. Selected for cold-hardiness. Plant early fall or early spring.

Bachelor Button's

Classic farm flower. Grows 2.5-3' tall in full sun.

Cornflower Blue

Classic farm flower. Grows 2.5-3' tall in full sun.

Plump, delicious beans with a complex, chocolate-ey flavor.

Cranberry Red Shelling

Short plants mature early Sept.

dry bean from China via the USDA seedbank, dark yellow seeds

Ms. Jenny Degroot

Twining bean climbs 2-3'.

Katie Wilkins; Phil Heikkinen

dry bean from China via the USDA seedbank, dark yellow seeds

climbs to about 3 feet, some trellising needed, sow mid to late May

Coffelt Yellow Wax

yellow wax bean grown for many years by Sidney Coffelt; wonderful flavor.

pole bean, requres trellising, sow mid to late May

dry bean with big, plump red and cream speckled seeds, delicious

bush bean, plant mid to late May

golden brown bean with darker speckles, flat-ish seed, great flavor, from Vermont

pole bean, requires trellising, sow mid to late May

Oldest known variety of bean grown on Lopez.

Bush habit, plant Mid-May; Matures early Sept.

small, shiny brown seeds with black tiger eye pattern, supremely cute

climbs to 2-3 ft, some trellising needed, sow mid to late May

Twining bush bean doesn't need a trellis. Climbs to 2.5'. Very early and reliable, tastes like a pinto.

Montezuma Red

Twining habit to about 5' tall. Highly productive, early.

Sow mid May to 1st week of June. Harvest September.

Purple Stardust

Jenny DeGroot

Bush bean with beautiful speckled, purple beans. Delicious in the kitchen and delightful in the garden.

Orcas Island Seed Bank

Prolific climbing plants with beautiful purple-flecked pods and beans. Late to mature.

Scarlet Runner

Orcas School Garden

runner bean with bright red/orange blossoms loved by pollinators, great flavor

climbs to about 8 feet, requires trellising, plant mid to late May

Orcas Island Seed Bank

Small, tan and brown patterned beans on lightly twining bush-type plants. Very prolific.

Orcas Island Seed Bank

Prolific twining bean with small, speckled grey seeds.

Orcas School Garden

sorghum bicolor, from the Orcas Public School garden, used for making brooms and decorations

direct seed after last frost, as late as mid-June

Orcas School Garden

Plant in May-mid summer for excellent cover crop, pollinator forage, or grain harvest.

Orcas School Garden

Cheerful self-seeding annual with medicinal flowers. Sow in early spring.

Cheerful self-seeding annual with medicinal flowers. Sow in early spring.

Common Camas

camassia quamash, northwest native edible and ornamental, beautiful blue flowers

Marisa Hendron

Plant fall or early spring. Needs a long growing season to ripen seed.

Orcas School Garden

Exotic-looking plants are beautiful but toxic. Enjoys protection to ripen seed reliably. Oil is medicinal.

Stephen Daoust

Delicious, colorful greens all summer and winter.

Stephen Daoust

Multi-colored stalks and robust, hearty greens. Plant early spring.

Allium schoenoprasum, fun and easy perennial; Cut back to just above ground level, water and fertilize if it starts to look tired.

Prefers full sun, fertile, moist, and well-drained soil. Start seeds as soon as soil is workable in spring.

Orcas School Garden

Allium schoenoprasum, fun and easy perennial; Cut back to just above ground level, water and fertilize if it starts to look tired.

Prefers full sun, fertile, moist, and well-drained soil. Start seeds as soon as soil is workable in spring.

Cilantro/Coriander

Orcas Community Participatory Agriculture

Sow early spring or fall. Easy to grow.

Plant in fall to germinate in spring. Beautiful wildflower.

Orcas School Garden

Excellent cover crop to increase soil nitrogen. Flowers attract beneficial insects and provide an excellent nectar source. Plant early spring or early autumn.

Dyer's Tickseed

Marisa Hendron

Annual with abundant yellow and orange flowers used for dye. Plant indoors in spring, transplant out in May. Prefers full sun, consistent moisture.

Orcas School Garden

Sow in May with full sun and high fertility. This is dry corn to use for popping and making corn flour, not for fresh eating.

Orcas School Garden

Orcas School Garden

3-5' tall, abundant flowers on annual plants. Transplant outside after last frost.

Pink Sensation

3-5' tall, abundant flowers on annual plants. Transplant outside after last frost.

Dragon Tea (Dracocephalum moldovica)

Marisa Hendron

Elecampane, Elf Dock

School Garden

Robust perennial with enormous leaves and small yellow flowers on 6' stalks. Roots used medicinally.

school garden mix

Orcas School Garden

4 varieties grown together, large seeds, light green to brown in color

plant March through mid-April for mature seed in late August-early September

Grown for pretty, edible, medicinal foliage. Will readily self-sow, so plan to plant in a long-term patch.

Orcas School Garden

Beautiful, tender, anise-flavored foliage and pungent seeds. Hardy perennial; will readily self-sow.

vegmo sunny ball

Stephen Daoust

Tanacetum parthenium, bright yellow button-shaped flowers, tender perennial, great cut flower

needs light to germinate, sow 5-7 weeks before transplanting in spring or fall

Orcas School Garden

Linum usitatissimum. Pretty blue flowers. High in omega 3 fatty acids. Grind seeds immediately before eating.

Sow early spring or fall. Easy to grow.

Orcas School Garden

Linum usitatissimum. Pretty blue flowers. High in omega 3 fatty acids. Grind seeds immediately before eating.

Sow early spring or fall. Easy to grow.

Orcas School Garden

Plant in full sun. 6' tall flower stalks bear crepey flowers all summer. Can be used as dye, fresh or dried.

Orcas Island Seed Bank

Beautiful mix of Red Russian kale types selected for performance on Orcas Island. Especially good for winter eating.

Love-in-a-Mist

Marisa Hendron

Dark blue and mixed medium blues, great for cut flowers and dry seedheads

Grown for cullinary and medicinal seeds, which are used in a similar way to cumin.

Mixed varieties

Orcas School garden

Variety of colors bring brightness and pest control to the garden. Plant indoors in April, transplant outside mid-May.

Orange marigold excellent for drying, cut flowers, and pest control.

Mixed varieties

Orcas School garden

Variety of colors bring brightness and pest control to the garden. Plant indoors in April, transplant outside mid-May.

Orcas School Garden

Reddish-brown heads on 6' tall plants. Direct sow in early summer. Watch out for birds!

Orcas School garden

Verbascum, medicinal plant and excellent for birds and pollinators, bright yellow flowers, leaves are perfect for post-apocalypse TP

tolereates drought and low fertility, sow early spring, slow to germinate

Orcas School garden

Verbascum, medicinal plant and excellent for birds and pollinators, bright yellow flowers, leaves are perfect for post-apocalypse TP

Mixed colors (orange, white, yellow, red

Orcas School garden

Trailing. Plant mid spring in sunny location. Flowers and leaves are edible. Pickle seeds for locally-sourced caper-like garnish!

Trailing. Plant mid spring in sunny location. Flowers and leaves are edible. Pickle seeds for locally-sourced caper-like garnish!

Yellow and Sweet

Orcas School garden

Start indoors in January or February; plant outside in late april. Onions produce the edible bulb the first year and produce seeds the second year.

Ishikura long winter green onion

Marisa Hendron

Start indoors in January or February; plant outside in late april. Eat greens when tender and young

Purple Sensation Ornamental Allium

Ornamental Alliums are grown for their showy flowers. Purple Sensation grows 2: high and has 3" round, purple flowers. Start very early spring.

E. Harlow, Orcas School Garden

atriplex hortensis, a great summer green with spinach-y taste, tolerates heat, sun, and wind

sow spring or fall

Dan's Parley Grex

a wide diversity of types grown together and allowed to cross, from Dan Borman, very cold hardy

slow to germinate, sow early to mid spring, easy to grow and self-seeds readily

Curly-leaf parsley, good hardiness.

Orcas Seed Library

tastiest after exposure to cold weather in the fall/winter

direct sow April-May, slow to germinate. Thin to ~6" between plants.

Amplissimo viktoria

Marisa Hendron & Morgan Borman

Tall (~8'); Very productive; fat yellow seeds for use as dry peas.

Dutch soup pea. Compact habit, grows 3'. Slow Food Ark of Taste selection.

Carlin Soup Pea

Marisa Hendron & Morgan Borman

Caruther's purple podded

Marisa Hendron & Morgan Borman

shelling pea with pink/purple flowers and beautiful purple pods, from Northern Ireland

sow February to April, grows to about 7 ft. tall, requires trellising

Colgan Creek Shelling

Annette Bader

Saved 8+ yeaars on Colgan Creek Road, Eastsound.

Marisa Hendron & Morgan Borman

Fast growing to 5'. Pale yellow to tan seeds for soup.

yellow-podded snap pea originally from India, wonderful flavor, good disease resistance

sow March-April, grows to about 6 ft, requires trellising

Purple Pods; grows to 7' tall.

Lincoln/Homesteader Shelling

Marisa Hendron & Morgan Borman

Grows ~3'; needs a short trellis. Good for fresh shellies, canning, and freezing. 4-5" pods.

Marisa Hendron & Morgan Borman

Grows ~5'; Green pods with purple speckles; purple speckled peas.

Murado Alverja

Marisa Hendron & Morgan Borman

Grows to ~5'; Beautiful speckled seeds.

Marisa Hendron & Morgan Borman

Grows ~5'; from Spain

Raisin Capucijiner

Marisa Hendron & Morgan Borman

Grows to ~7', needs a sturdy trellis. Robust-sized soup pea with strong culinary qualities.

Sugar Magnolia

Marisa Hendron & Morgan Borman

Pick young as a snap pea, or let dry for soup.

Grows ~7' tall; needs trellis.

Marisa Hendron & Morgan Borman

Green pods, beautiful golden seeds. Let mature and use for soups and curries.

Walker Family Farm

Purple/magenta bicolor sweet bea. Heat tolerant. Heirloom.

Annette Bader

Grown near other peppers, so may not grow true. Original seeds hybrid.

Plant fall or early spring. 3' tall stalks with beatiful, crepey flowers and seed heads good for drying

Marisa Hendron

Plant fall or early spring. 3' tall stalks with beatiful, crepey flowers and seed heads good for drying

Orcas School Garden

Classic Jack-O-Lantern pumpkins. Plant in March or April, transplant outside into fertile soil after danger of last frost has passed.

Rose Campion

Loved by birds and butterflies. 3' tall perennial with long-blooming pink and magenta flowers.

Orcas School Garden

Plant in early spring and transplant after last frost. Pretty orange flowers in late summer. Good for cut flowers or dye.

Black Dog Farm

Edible grain or high biomass cover crop. Sow early spring or fall. Wind pollinated.

Orcas School Garden

Excellent cover crop and grain for making bread. Grows 4+ feet tall. Plant in autumn for mid-summer harvest the subsequent year.

Orcas School Garden

Excellent cover crop and grain for making bread. Grows 4+ feet tall. Plant in autumn for mid-summer harvest the subsequent year.