Seed Giveaway

2025 Seed Giveaway

An annual gardening initiative aimed towards empowering the Milton community to reconnect with the natural world, learn new skills, and gain awareness on sustainable practices.

 

  1. Visit the library to get free seeds (2025 seeds available from May 16).
  2. Explore the website to learn more about this year’s seeds.
  3. Listen to a short, informative interview with Sustainable Milton about how to get started.
  4. Learn about our 2025 partners.
  5. Participate in related events.

How to Get Started

While planting our flower and vegetable gardens, it is important to note the significance of incorporating native plants as well.
Listen to Sustainable Milton discuss the health benefits of native plants and the healthy bugs that create a sustainable ecosystem.

Transcript coming soon.


Seed Varieties

AVAILABLE AT ALL BRANCHES FROM FRIDAY, MAY 16
A great addition to any herb garden!
Make perfect pesto every time.
Use for canning or for thickening tomato juice or sauce.
Fruits are plum shaped and bright red with few seeds in the flesh.
Best zucchini to grow when pressed for space!
Easy to grow in half whisky-barrel sized containers.
  • do not rush planting
  • basil loves warm soil and warm temperatures; will languish if temperatures are below 15 C (60 F)
  • seed can be started indoors in a soil-less mix 4-6 weeks before last frost date – keep temperature at 21 C (70 F) for the 7-10 day germination period, then grow on at the same temperature before hardening off and transplanting outside after the danger of all frost has passed
  • sow directly outdoors in a sunny site with average soil in late May and June
  • plant seeds 4 mm (3/16″) deep and 6 mm (1/4″) apart
  • thin to 25-30 cm (10-12″) apart in the garden
  • large, 5 cm (2″) long, luscious looking dark green leaves
  • very popular basil variety but quite slow to bolt. 
  • sow seeds indoors
  • temperature of the seeding mix should be 21-24 C (70 – 75 F) for prompt germination
  • when the seedlings are 4 cm (1.75″)high, transplant each into individual peat pots – reducing temperature to 15–18 C (59 – 65 F) until planting in the garden late May
  • after hardening off, transplant into well-drained organic soil
  • plant 60 cm (24″) apart for determinate varieties and 90 cm (36″) apart for indeterminate varieties
  • need warmth, direct sunlight and a steady supply of water
  • keep plants well-watered
  • apply water to the soil rather than showering down over plants
  • bred for resistance to verticillium wilt and fusarium 
  • harvest in approximately 75 days
  • days to harvest are highly variable depending on growing conditions
  • a hot weather crop
  • needs full sun and deep, rich, well drained, organic soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5
  • work in lots of compost before planting
  • seeds can be started indoors 3 weeks before the plant out date
  • plant directly outdoors from late May to mid June
  • plant 2.5 cm (1″) deep in hills 2.4 m (8′) apart with 4-6 seeds per hill
  • thin to 3 plants per hill after germination
  • use paper or fibre pots that can be set directly in the soil as squash do not transplant well
  • protect mature squash from frost and cold temperatures
  • grows 50-100 cm in height
  • harvest fruit for best quality when 25-30 cm (10-12″) long

    Programs and events covering a variety of topics to help you grow your garden. Get your hands dirty!
    Click on the workshop to register.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    The Scoville heat unit (SHU) rating is a guide to the perceived hotness of peppers caused by the active component capsaicin. The scale ranges from 0 (bell peppers) up to 2,693,000 (Pepper X). More information can be found here: here and here.

     


    2025 Partners

    Nancy’s Creations and Seeds

    Green Care Farms

    Welcome to the fun, healthy and eco-conscious world of urban gardening.
    Empowering People with Dementia.

    Nancy’s Creations and Seeds is social enterprise building food sustainability and healthy practices through local urban gardening knowledge and resources. With increasing urban populations, there is a growing need and a desire to learn and build unconventional gardens. We are here to support that change.

    Nancy’s Creations and Seeds believes everyone should have access to fresh, homegrown food in order to improve nutritional habits and to protect Mother Earth.

    Green Care Farms values everything living. It is important for people with dementia to spend time outside in a safe and supportive environment. Their mission is to empower people with dementia through the delivery of therapeutic gardening programs.

    Located on Andrews Farm Market and Winery, a beautiful 165 acre farm, members enjoy specialized seasonal programming in beautiful Sensory Gardens.

    Sustainable Milton

    Environment First, Solution Focused

    Sustainable Milton is a nonprofit, non-partisan environmental advocacy group located in Milton, Ontario. Their goal is to create a sustainable and resilient Milton through initiatives that help reduce the impacts of climate change. Sustainable Milton is all about action, education, and advocacy. Environment First, Solution Focused. That’s the essence of Sustainable Milton.