Tomatoes, vegetables, fruits, and herbs

Tomatoes and Other Edibles 2026

Interested in tomatoes or other edibles? Buying local? Supporting a local charity? You can do all that and more by supporting our Birthright Plant Sales.* Located in Victoria, BC, we sell tomatoes and other edible plants at our May plant sales and by order for local pick-up. Looking for specific varieties? Feel free to browse this page for your next favourite taste sensation!

We’re taking pre-orders for the 2026 season starting in February! Orders will be ready for pick-up from Peggy’s Langford greenhouse in May or, by arrangement, from one of our spring plant sales (see below for dates). This is the best option for those wanting specific varieties or who are looking to plant earlier than our scheduled plant sale dates.

We’re updating our listings this month. Feel free to check back in February or contact us to get on our wait list.for in-demand plants. You may also notice that some varieties are available by special order only. Please contact us in February (tomatoes and peppers) or early April (cucumbers and squashes) if you’d like us to start any of these plants for you.

We have a few new varieties of tomatoes and other veggies this year, plus the old standards! Take a peek to see what treasures we have in store for you.

Garden Babies for Birthright Plant Sales 2026

We’ll have plant sales at the following locations this coming May. The Langford sale, at Peggy’s greenhouse, offers the greatest selection and variety. If you’ve placed a pre-order and would like to collect it at one of our sales, please be sure to let us know so we can have it ready for you!

• Peggy’s Greenhouse in Langford: Date still to be determined 10AM – 2PM 550 Langvista Drive
• St. Elizabeth’s Church in Sidney: Date still to be determined 9AM – 1PM 10030 3rd Ave
• St. Patrick’s Church in Oak Bay: Date still to be determined 9AM – 1PM 2060 Haultain St.

Most of our sales take place in the spring, but we welcome orders throughout the growing season. Please contact us if you’d like to order plants or arrange a browsing session once the weather warms up.

*Our Garden Babies for Birthright Plant Sales raise valuable funds so that we may continue the pregnancy support service of Birthright Victoria. Offering friendship and support to women experiencing unplanned pregnancy…because we care.

Ordering Info

Please use our contact form to order plants or book a private browsing session once the weather warms. Click on Plant Sales in the drop down menu, include your phone number as a back-up contact, and list the plants you’d like and numbers wanted. We’ll get back to you with an itemized invoice, payment options, and pick-up information.

Please take note that a few varieties on this page will not be available unless pre-ordered. If you see “Seeding by special order only” in the description, you must pre-order in February (or early April for cucumbers and squashes) if you wish us to grow this variety for you.

Edibles: Tomatoes, Veggies, Fruits, and Herbs

On this page, you’ll find growing tips, pictures, and descriptions of all our edibles, including an extensive listing of tomatoes and other vegetables, fruits, and herbs.

You can also see our 2026 Shrubs and Ornamentals listing here. And our complete listing for Perennials, Ground Covers and Rock Plants, Grasses, Basket Stuffers and Annuals here.

Vegetables

Most vegetables are annuals, maturing and bearing fruit all in one growing season before dying off with the arrival of winter.* Unless noted in the description, assume the vegetables below are annuals. Vegetables generally need fertile soil, regular watering, and a sunny location in order to thrive. Feed your plants well in order to gather a plentiful harvest. Amend the soil with compost, manure, or other organic material. Vegetables also benefit from regular fertilizing or slow release formulations.

*A few of our plants, such as Arugula Wildfire, are perennials. Perennials do not die off with winter, instead growing larger over time and producing tasty edibles each spring or summer. Another of our veggies, Perpetual Spinach, is a biennial. Biennials live just two years before setting seed and dying in the second year. Most veggies which go to seed become bitter as a result. We offer young plants to ensure you have a good harvest this year, followed by babies in coming years. Tip: take a picture of biennial plantings so you can recognize young seedlings in future years.

Most vegetables are heat lovers. There are a few exceptions, such as the cool season greens and lettuces. You’ll want to note which plants need warmth for a healthy start. Pay attention to your night-time temps and either avoid planting out too early or arrange protection for early plantings.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are cold-sensitive vegetables. Don’t put them out too early, or you may lose them! Generally, you should wait for night-time temps of 10 degrees C or warmer before planting. Plan on planting out in early to mid June, depending on the weather. Young cucumber plants can also be damaged or even killed by stormy, wet and windy weather. Planting cucumber seedlings under cover using clear plastic domes can provide additional protection.

Though you can grow cucumbers in the ground, all of the varieties listed here do extraordinarily well in medium-large pots. Give them a fence to climb, and they’ll reward you with straight fruits!

The following varieties, with the exception of Beit Alpha and Tasty Green, are open-pollinated or heirloom. Please see our section under tomatoes for more information on these terms and how they affect seed saving.

We’ve experimented with premium pots in recent years and have been pleasantly surprised with the results. Seedlings grown in these larger, deeper pots are generally bigger, more robust, and able to remain in their pots for longer periods of time before transplanting. We now grow all of our cucumbers and squashes exclusively in premium pots.

All of our cucumbers come two plants to a pot unless otherwise noted. Don’t try to separate them as they are sensitive to root disturbance. They will grow happily together either in the ground or in a medium-large pot. $4 per premium pot.

Greens and Lettuces

Harvest in spring through early summer, and then again in the fall, if you’ve planted a second seeding. Unlike many of the heat-loving veggies, most greens and lettuces prefer cool weather and bolt (go to seed) in hot summer weather. When that happens, they become tough and bitter tasting.

All of our greens and lettuces have a minimum of four plants to a pot unless otherwise noted. Cost is $3 per pot.

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Onions

Biennial or perennial bulbs closely related to garlic and chives. Blue-green hollow leaves emerge from underground bulbs. Both the top growth and the bulbs are edible. Full sun, in loamy, well-drained soil. Although biennial onions are most common, the two varieties listed here are perennial forms.

Peppers

Peppers are another of the cold-tender veggies, preferring night time temps of 12 degrees C or warmer. There are two main types of Peppers: Sweet and Hot. We grow mostly sweet varieties, but have added a few hot peppers for 2025.

All of our peppers come one to a pot and are priced at $6 each unless otherwise noted.

Hot Peppers

This small selection of hot peppers runs the gamut from the mildly hot Anaheim to the fiery Datil. Hot peppers range in size, shape, and colour and are at their sweetest when fully ripe. Many have a complex, often fruity flavour to balance their heat.

Sweet Peppers

Sweet peppers also come in a broad variety of shapes, sizes and colours. Most of ours are not your typical Bell peppers found in the grocery aisle. In our experience, these other varieties are both more productive and easier to grow than Bell types.

Squash

Like cucumbers, squashes are cold-tender and should be treated accordingly. In fact, squash and cucumbers belong to the same plant family. Don’t put them out too early, or you may lose them! Generally, you should wait for night-time temps of 10 degrees C or warmer before transplanting. In our climate, that means planting out in late May to early June, depending on the weather. Young squash plants can also be damaged or even killed by stormy, wet and windy weather. Plant squash seedlings under cover using clear plastic domes to provide protection for early plantings or wicked weather.

Summer Squash

Zucchinis are the most well known of the summer squashes, but there are intriguing other summer squashes. The patty pans, also know as scallopini, provide an abundance of cute little fruits. Patty pans mature more quickly than zucchinis and are more tender and less watery. Steamed and bathed in butter, they make an especially tasty summer treat. Harvest when young up to 5-6 inches. If any get away from you, you also have the option to grow them on as winter squash.

You can grow smaller, well-behaved squashes like the patty pans and lemon squash in large pots, but zucchinis will do better in the open garden.

We’ve experimented with premium pots in recent years and have been pleasantly surprised with the results. Seedlings grown in these larger, deeper pots are generally bigger, more robust, and able to remain in their pots for longer periods of time before transplanting. We now grow all of our cucumbers and squashes exclusively in premium pots.

All of our summer squashes come two plants to a pot unless otherwise noted. Don’t try to separate them as they are sensitive to root disturbance. They will grow happily together either in the ground or a large pot. $4 per premium pot..

Winter Squash

These squashes mature into the fall. Their skin is much tougher and they require more room than the summer squashes. Young winter squashes need the same protection from cold, stormy weather as the summer squashes.

All winter squash seeds are edible. Clean, pat dry, and season with olive oil and salt. Spread the seeds in a single layer, then roast in a 235 degree oven for 15 minutes for a nutritious treat.

We’ve experimented with premium pots in recent years and have been pleasantly surprised with the results. Seedlings grown in these larger, deeper pots are generally bigger, more robust, and able to remain in their pots for longer periods of time before transplanting. We now grow all of our cucumbers and squashes exclusively in premium pots.

Our winter squashes come two plants to a pot unless otherwise noted. Don’t try to separate them as they are sensitive to root disturbance. They will grow happily together. $4 per premium pot.

Tomatilloes

Resembling green or sometimes purple tomatoes, tomatilloes hail from Mexico and are used in savoury dishes such as salsa. They add a spicy zip to sauces and other dishes. Grow in the same conditions as tomatoes. Harvest when fruits fill out and begin to split their papery husks. Vines are vigorous and require staking.

Our Tomatilloes are in gallon size pots for $9 each.

No-Cook Purple Tomatillo Salsa

• 225 grams (8 oz) purple tomatilloes, husked
• 1 large garlic clove, peeled and minced
• 1-2 serrano peppers (or replace with 1 Sugar Rush Peach hot pepper)
• 1⁄2 cup loosely packed roughly chopped coriander (cilantro)
• 1⁄4 cup red shiso (perilla), rough chopped
• sea salt to taste

Thoroughly wash the bitter film off the tomatilloes with warm, almost hot water, then quarter each of them. Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse till semi chunky.

Suggestions for use:

• Mix with mayonnaise or ketchup to use as a dip for french fries
• Stir into scrambled eggs or add to omelets and frittatas
• Replace tomato sauce for a chunky tomato salsa on a homemade pizza
• Add salsa as your secret ingredient to soups, stews or chilis
• Add breadcrumbs and feta cheese to salsa, then stuff into eggplant halves
• Add cucumbers, jalapeños, tomatoes and vegetable stock to salsa. Purée into gazpacho

Tomatoes

Tomatoes Terminology

A bit about tomato terminology. The two big terms in speaking of tomatoes are ‘determinate’ and ‘indeterminate.’ Determinates, also known as ‘bush’ tomatoes, tend to be shorter with less vigorous growth, setting all their fruit early and in a limited time period, meaning the fruit also ripens in the same short time period. Plants often die off by midsummer, freeing space in the garden for other planting. Determinates are ideal for when you need lots of tomatoes for soup or sauce, not as ideal for continuous harvesting throughout the summer. Because of their more compact size, these plants are especially suited to container gardening.

Indeterminates, also known as ‘vine’ tomatoes, continue to grow throughout the summer, resulting in tall, robust, and sometimes unwieldy vines. They set fruit more gradually and have a longer growing season. Although they also can be grown in containers, indeterminates need strong stakes rather than simple tomato cages. These varieties will continue to set fruit until frost kills the vines.

A third and less common category are the Semi-determinates. These plants are more compact than indeterminates while still producing fruit throughout the growing season. Semi-determinates also do well in containers.

Other Terms for Tomatoes

Other terms you may encounter: open-pollinated, heirloom, hybrid (F1), paste, Roma. Open-pollinated seeds are both more variable and adaptable, while still tending to breed true to the parent plant. Heirloom plants are open-pollinated varieties whose seed has been passed down through several family generations to preserve valued characteristics. They are often highly prized for superior flavour. Hybrid plants, often labeled F1, are created by controlled cross-pollination of different varieties to breed for certain qualities, such as increased disease resistance or longer shelf life. Hybrid seeds do not breed true-to-type and often lack the vigour of their hybrid parents. If you wish to save seeds, choose only open-pollinated or heirloom varieties and avoid F1 or hybrid designations.

Paste tomatoes are especially useful in making sauces. They have denser, dryer flesh and fewer seeds, making for a meatier, thicker sauce. Roma tomatoes are a particular variety among the paste tomatoes, with an elongated, egg-like shape. Other paste tomatoes include Amish Paste, Oxheart, San Marzano, and smaller varieties such as Black Vernissage, Principe Borghese, and the pear tomatoes.

Seed Saving: Tomatoes and other Veggies

Most of the tomatoes and other vegetables on this page are heirloom or open-pollinated to enable seed saving. Seed saving is useful both to save money and to have a ready supply of rare or hard to find varieties. In times of pressure on seed houses, such as we experienced in 2022, seed saving has been a godsend!

Saving seeds varies in difficulty. Tomatoes and peppers are among the easiest, while members of the cucumber and squash family are more complicated. This is largely because the latter cross-breed within species, resulting in seed and future fruit very different from the first year’s fruit. In order to save seed from cucumbers or closely related squashes, you must plant them far enough apart to prevent cross-pollination. A practice easier done in larger gardens than in the average home garden!

When saving tomato and tomatillo seeds, harvest only from ripe fruits on healthy plants. Separate the seeds from the pulp and wash well to remove sticky juices. Tip: place seeds in a small strainer, add a drop of dish-washing fluid, and gently mash with your thumb or fingers. Rinse often and add additional fluid as needed. When the seeds are clean and no longer sticky, spread them to dry in paper towel-lined, shallow containers. Label and store fully-dried seeds in paper packets in a cool, dry place. For pepper seeds, follow the same procedure, but you won’t need to wash off sticky juices. (Make sure to wear gloves when handling the seeds of hot varieties as contact with face or eyes can lead to intense irritation.)

Although you can grow your own tomato and pepper plants from seed, we recommend you start these heat-loving summer annuals early and under lights in order to have large, well-formed plants ready for planting out in May.

Tomato Growing Conditions

Tomatoes are another of the cold-tender veggies. Depending on the variety, they should not be planted out until night time temps are reliably above 7-10 degrees C. Look for words like ‘early,’ ‘cool season,’ or ‘cool climate,’ to select the most cold tolerant varieties.

Our Tomatoes are in gallon size pots for $9 each.

Please take note that a few tomatoes on this page will not be available unless pre-ordered. If you see “Seeding by special order only” in the description, you must pre-order in February if you wish us to grow this variety for you.

Cherry Tomatoes

Small sweet fruits best suited to eating out of hand or adding to salads.

Small to Medium Tomatoes

A mix of small to medium fruits well suited to salads. Many are early, cold-hardy varieties. This listing also Includes some smaller but prolific paste varieties!

Large tomatoes

Beefsteaks, sandwich slicers, and paste tomatoes. Most are main season.

Fruits

Most fruits are perennial, growing more productive over time or, as in the case of strawberries, needing replacement every 3-4 years. Available fruits vary from year to year, depending on what plant donations come in. For 2026, please check back periodically. We’re adding more fruits as we hear about them.

Herbs

Herbs have served us since ancient times. In the kitchen especially, but they have also been used in healing remedies, making fragrances, and for their appearance and scent in the garden. Most herbs are strongly scented and attract pollinators, a plus for the vegetable gardener. Some have attractive flowers. Others are used today in modern and folk medicines. For the home gardener, fresh herbs add a surprisingly flavourful punch to home cooking. As an added benefit, the strong scent of most herbs makes them unattractive to foraging deer!

Herbs grow in a range of conditions, from shade to full sun, and rich soil to poor. The mint family in particular makes up a large group known for their invasive habit. Some are shade lovers, while others thrive in sun. Many herbs are perennial, but others are annuals, and still others biennials. Please see our Vegetables section for more information on these terms.

Basils

A staple of the Mediterranean garden. These heat-loving annuals are cold-tender, so site them in full sun once the temperature warms up. Basil’s spicy flavour is the main ingredient in Italian Pesto, but it has many other uses in the kitchen. For an extra zip, try adding basil to soups, sauces, and salads.

All of our basils have multiple plants per pot and are priced at $6 each unless otherwise noted.

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Mints

Mints are typically used as garnish or to flavour teas and sweet drinks, but they also complement meats such as lamb. We use our mints to make a flavourful jelly. All mints are invasive, so watch where you plant them or grow in large pots. This perennial herb needs shade. Deer resistant.

Our mints are in 4 inch pots and priced from $3-$4.

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Oreganos

Oregano has a spicy scent well suited to both meats and pasta sauces. In fact, Oregano may be the most commonly used kitchen herb. Oreganos are sun-loving members of the mint family, so be warned: they’re invasive. If you don’t want them to take over your garden, grow in a pot either above ground or sunk into the soil. Perennial.

We’re still assessing this year’s Oreganos. Stay tuned for pricing and final numbers!

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Rosemary

Pairs well with meat, especially lamb or chicken. Rosemaries are somewhat tender in our climate, so site them where they have some shelter from cold winter weather. A protected slope out of the wind will provide winter shelter while preventing vulnerable roots from sitting in water.

We’re still assessing this year’s Rosemary. Stay tuned for price and final numbers!

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Sages

Another group of savoury kitchen herbs, but unlike the Rosemaries, these ones are reliably hardy. Sages prefer well-drained – even poor – soil in sun.

Thymes

Small leafed herbs used to season savoury dishes. Essential herb in boquet garni, together with rosemary, sage, and marjoram. Thymes are tough perennials for full sun and poor soil. They also belong to the mint family, but are only moderately invasive. All thymes are drought and deer tolerant.

Look for our other thymes such as Mother-of-Thyme and Wooly Thyme with ground covers and rock plants on the Perennials page.