The typical Nai-Pe-Tsai type pak choy, semiupright plant produces thick, white stems and deep green leaves. Good for warm areas as it is heat tolerant. This Chinese non-heading leaf type has clusters of 8 to 12" wide white celery-like stalks with large, nearly round, smooth, glossy leaves. The mild, mustard-y flavor is not bitter. The young leaves make a wonderful addition to soups, noodle dishes, and stir-fry.

Packet: 9-10 grams of seed

Fire Smart Type

Common Names: licorice root, licorice, liquorice, sweet root, gan cao, gan zao, Chinese licorice

Latin Names: Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Glycyrrhiza inflata

Background

Licorice root is cultivated throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. It is used as a flavoring in candy, other foods, beverages, and tobacco products.

Licorice root has a long history of use, going back to ancient Assyrian, Egyptian, Chinese, and Indian cultures. It was used traditionally for treating a variety of conditions, including lung, liver, circulatory, and kidney diseases.

Today, licorice root is promoted as a dietary supplement for conditions such as digestive problems, menopausal symptoms, cough, and bacterial and viral infections. Licorice gargles or lozenges have been used to try to prevent or reduce the sore throat that sometimes occurs after surgery. Licorice is also an ingredient in some products for topical use (application to the skin).

Perennial (zones 7-10)

14-20 days

Well-drained

Part shade to full sun

12-36" apart

Licorice has long been appreciated as a flavoring in confections, liqueurs and other creations. It's use as a flavorful tea goes back even farther. Licorice tea does not taste exactly like the black licorice sticks you might remember from childhood. That's because most licorice candy is usually flavored with anise.

Largely used in Indian and Mexican foods. It can be used to season chili, soups, sausage, and cheese.

Cuminum cyminum, commonly known as cumin, is a spice derived from the dried seeds of a small, slender annual herb in the parsley family (Apiaceae), native to the Mediterranean and parts of Asia. The seeds are small, oblong, and yellow-brown, measuring about 0.5 cm in length, while the plant itself bears delicate white to pale pink flowers. Cumin is prized for its earthy, warm, nutty flavor with subtle bitterness and occasional citrus notes, paired with a strong, slightly smoky aroma that becomes more intense when the seeds are lightly toasted. A cornerstone of Indian, Mexican, and Middle Eastern cuisines, cumin is essential in curry powders and spice blends and is widely used in chili, stews, marinades, soups, rice dishes, and grilled meats such as lamb and chicken. It is available whole or ground, with whole seeds often toasted to release their aromatic oils, including compounds like cuminaldehyde that give cumin its distinctive character and depth of flavor.

Growing ash gourd (also known as winter melon or white gourd) in Canada, especially in cooler regions, requires starting seeds indoors and using heat-loving techniques. Ash gourd needs a long growing season and thrives in warm, sunny conditions, so starting seeds early and providing a greenhouse or warm environment is crucial for success. 

Start indoors 4 weeks before last frost or sow directly outdoors after last frost.

Sow seeds 1 cm deep. Days to Germinate: 5-6 days.

Days to Maturity: 55-60 days.

Diamond Eggplant is a high-yielding, Ukrainian heirloom variety known for its slender, dark purple, 6-8 inch long fruits that grow in clusters. It's an early-maturing, open-pollinated plant with excellent disease resistance, making it suitable for climates with short, cool, or northern growing seasons. The firm, non-bitter, and sweet flesh is versatile for grilling, roasting, and other culinary uses.  

Yield: High-yielding and prolific, producing a steady stream of fruits. 

Fruit: Slender, dark purple, and oblong, typically 6-8 inches long and smooth-skinned. 

Flavor: Firm flesh with a sweet flavor and no bitterness. 

Maturity: Early maturing, making it well-suited for regions with short growing seasons. 

Plant: Reaches about 2 feet in height and is known for good disease resistance and overall hardiness.