This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
For the past few years, varieties of vegetable seeds that are ancestral or adapted to the Quebec climate have been gaining in popularity, and the websites of local seed companies are systematically taken by storm when the time comes for sowing. Did you know that it is possible to stock your vegetable garden only with seeds from Quebec?
The famous tomatoes
What would the vegetable garden be without its queen, the tomato? Available in an impressive variety of sizes and colors, the tomato remains, year after year, the favorite of gardeners. Here are some varieties that deserve their place in the garden or on the balcony:
LITTLE SPARROW TOMATO
Catherine’s ornamental vegetable garden
Cultivated in the 1950s in Quebec, this small red and tasty tomato is delicious to bite into. You will harvest your first fruits about 65 days after planting. Plants that reach 1.5 meters need staking and are more suitable for the vegetable garden.
WHITE CURRANT TOMATO
The core
A small tomato produced in Dunham with a fairly early maturity (80 days) and a whitish yellow flesh that is not at all pasty. This tomato can be adapted to growing in pots with the help of a good stake since the plants are about 1 meter tall.
TOMATO DR. WHYCHES
The Wheelbarrow Gardens
As its name suggests, it is a large yellow beefsteak-type tomato that will delight sandwich lovers. The fruits reach maturity in 80 days and can weigh up to 500 grams each. Staking and a good space are essential.
TOMATO OSCAR GONTHIER
Julie’s Garden
A hidden treasure of Quebec’s seed heritage, the Oscar Gonthier takes its name from its creator, who cultivated it in the Drummondville region. This large fleshy tomato has a texture closer to the Italian tomato and is as suitable for tasting with a simple drizzle of olive oil as for sauces or preserves. Here again, it requires space and a good support to cultivate it.
Pepper or chilli?
Whether you prefer one or the other, these few varieties from here will certainly carve out a place of choice in your vegetable garden:
CHILI AJI CRYSTAL
The seeds of the thresher
This hot pepper with a surprising citrus taste has a pretty waxy skin that turns from green to yellow, then finally to red at the end of the season. Each plant produces approximately 30 peppers which, when ripe (120 days), can be eaten as is in recipes or dehydrated to add to a sauce. Suitable for growing in pots or in the ground.
PEPPER IRACEMA BIQUINHO
Ecumene Gardens
This smoky flavored sweet pepper is as pretty as it tastes. Its exceptional productivity and fairly compact plants make it an ideal candidate for balconies. Maturity is around 85 days. Its spicy finish is surprising.
PEPPER CRIOLLA DI COCINA
Catherine’s ornamental vegetable garden
This red pepper is particularly appreciated for its thin flesh and very fruity flavor. Plants 50 to 75 cm high are grown in pots or in the ground, and maturity is 65 days, which is quite early for a pepper.
Completely cucumber!
Are you crazy about its thirst-quenching side and its sweet or slightly tangy flavor? The cucumber is without a doubt another must-have in our gardens. These few varieties will satisfy you:
CUCUMBER ALEXANDER THE EMPEROR
The core
What a surprising look for this magnificent cucumber that must be left to ripen until it becomes plump and brown! Its taste, between melon and cucumber, is refreshing to perfection. This variety, which will happily climb a fence or trellis, is particularly suited to colder climates. Maturity of 60 days.
SNAKE CUCUMBER
Ecumene Gardens
Its elongated and curved shape as well as its stripes which give it the appearance of a zebra make this cucumber a beautiful curiosity. Its flavor devoid of bitterness and its hairiness (yes, it is fluffy to the touch) fascinate. Be careful, because it takes up a lot of space! Its slow growth reaches maturity at 80 days.
CUCAMELON
Catherine’s ornamental vegetable garden
This little one is not quite a cucumber, not quite a melon. Its tangy flavor makes it the perfect companion for salads, and it is also tasty in a marinade. Ideal for urban agriculture, the cucamelon clings to any support and grows very well on a terrace or balcony. Maturity of 80 days.
Other fabulous discoveries
Why not think outside the box this summer and try other varieties of vegetable beds that are out of the ordinary? These few varieties have something to charm:
RAINBOW TATSOI
Tourne-Sol Cooperative Farm
This beautiful Asian kale surprises with its mauve and green tones. In a salad or in a stir-fry, it is to be adopted. Interestingly, you can sow directly in the ground or in a pot, harvest and sow again. Abundant harvests all summer.
ORANGE CHARD
Portage Seeds
The orange-yellow chard (stem) of this variety contrasts pleasantly with its beautiful soft green leaves. Again, direct seeding is required in the ground or in a pot, and it is possible to re-sow in season for consistent harvests. Can replace spinach in recipes.
FROST FICOID
Promised land
This leafy vegetable has an unusual appearance with its thick leaves that always seem to be covered in a fine dew. To the bite, it’s crunchy with a fresh and tangy flavor. To be sown directly in a pot or in the ground.
AFRICAN EGGPLANT TURKISH ORANGE
Catherine’s ornamental vegetable garden
Its lustrous skin streaked with green and orange and its original round shape are matched only by its rich fragrance free from bitterness. To be grown in pots and in the ground for even more harvests. Maturity of 80 days.
WATERMELON MOON & STARS
The core
With its large fruits weighing up to 30 pounds, the Moon & Stars watermelon is very productive in southern Quebec. Its rich and sweet flavor and the beauty of its fruits are significant attractions. Of course, like any melon, it tends to take its ease in the vegetable garden: it is therefore necessary to reserve a good space for it. Maturity of 100 days.