2026 Seed Inventory — Start Indoors: Feb

Leeks - Key Growing Information
CULTURE:
Leeks are heavy feeders and require fertile soil (pH of 6.2-6.8) for best results.
DAYS TO MATURITY:
From transplanting; add 20-30 days if direct seeding.
TRANSPLANTING:
Sow in flats 10-12 weeks before last frost at 1/4" apart, 1/4" deep or start in plug flats, thinning to one plant per cell. Beginning in late spring, when approx. 8" tall and pencil-thick, transplant 6" apart in rows at least 12" apart in holes dibbled 6" deep. Only 2-3" of leaves need to extend above the soil surface. Do not firm soil - allow irrigation or rain to fill in the dibble hole.
DIRECT SEEDING:
Sow in early spring, 6 seeds/ft., 1/4- 1/2" deep, in rows 24" apart. Thin to 6".
AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE:
1,000 seeds/165', 1 oz./1,650', 11 oz. or 105M/acre at 6 seeds/ft. in rows 30" apart.
BLANCHING:
During the growing period hill the plants with soil 2 or 3 times, higher with each hilling. This forces the leaves higher up the plant resulting in extra-long blanched stalks and a much longer edible portion. When using the "dibble method," hilling is reduced or eliminated.
DISEASE:
All Johnny's leek plants are tested and certified free from the presence of white rot and parasitic nematodes.
HARVEST:
When plants reach desired size, loosen with a spading fork and lift plant.
STORAGE:
Clean leeks and store several weeks at near freezing in a humid cooler in boxes, or store in a root cellar with roots in moist soil/sand/peat mix.

Peas - Key Growing Information
CULTURE:
Peas are a cool-weather crop. Midsummer pickings are not as prolific as earlier harvests. For best yields ensure adequate fertility and a pH of 6.5-6.8. Adjust pH with ground limestone or wood ashes, ideally in the fall prior to spring planting. Inoculate peas to encourage formation of nitrogen-producing nodules on the plant roots. This enriches the soil, results in larger plants, and increases yield.
DAYS TO MATURITY:
From date of direct seeding.
DIRECT SEEDING:
Spring crop: In early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, sow 1 1/2-2" apart in rows 18-36" apart, 1/2-1" deep. Do not thin. Varieties under 3' tall can be sown without support in rows 12-18" apart. For taller varieties, use crop supports such as a trellis net or chicken wire to keep vines upright, easy to pick and off the ground where they are less likely to rot if rainy weather coincides with harvest. Suspend the bottom of the trellis or chicken wire just above the young plants. The best time to install a trellis is at planting time. Normal row spacing is 4-6' for trellised peas. Fall crop: Variety selection is key. Choose powdery mildew-resistant varieties and early maturing varieties that will still flower in diminishing daylight. Sow about 2 months before frost. Keep seeds well-watered to encourage good germination.
AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE:
1 lb. per 80', 13 lb./1,000', 272 lb./acre at 25 seeds/ft., in rows 24" apart.
DISEASE:
A common disease is pea root rot (Fusarium sp. or Aphanomyces euteiches) which causes yellowing and die-back of foliage from the ground up. The best control is to ensure well-drained soil and to rotate crops out of legumes for at least three years. Powdery mildew causes white, powdery mold on the leaves, stems, and pods in hot weather. Choose resistant varieties.
HARVEST:
Pick when peas enlarge in the pods.

Spinach - Key Growing Information
CULTURE:
Spinach grows in a wide range of soils if moist and fertile but is sensitive to acidity; pH should be at least 6.0, preferably 6.5–7.5. Spinach germinates best in cool soil. Begin sowing in early spring as soon as the ground can be worked. Summer sowing in soil over 85°F (30°C) risks low or erratic germination. If sowing must be done during warmer weather, irrigating can help cool the soil and improve germination. Sow in mid-to-late summer for a fall harvest. Spinach can also be planted from late summer through the winter in protected structures for fall, winter, and spring harvest, though growth rates are much slower. Using floating row covers offers additional winter protection.
DAYS TO MATURITY:
From date of direct seeding.
TRANSPLANTING:
While direct seeding is customary, some growers choose to transplant their spinach, especially using the Paperpot Transplanter. Transplanting can help ensure full stands if germination has been difficult, either because of warm soil temperatures or diseases like damping off.
DIRECT SEEDING:
For baby leaf: Sow 3–5 seeds/inch in rows at least 2" apart. For bunching and full size: Sow 10 seeds/ft., 1/2" deep, in rows 12–18" apart.
AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE:
For baby leaf: 1M/25', 5M/125', 1,200M/acre at 40 seeds/ft. in rows at least 2" apart. For full-size leaves: 10M/1,000', 290M/acre at 10 seeds/ft. in rows 12–18" apart.
SUCCESSION PLANTING:
For a continuous supply, sow every 7–10 days.
HARVEST:
For baby leaf: Harvest when leaves reach desired size in 3–5 weeks, depending on time of year and speed of growth, making sure to cut above the basal plate for cut-and-come-again harvests. A second cut is possible by choosing appropriate varieties in all the seasonal slots. Triple-rinse leaves, sort out cut and broken leaves, and package. For full size: Harvest the long stems just above the basal plate, or, by cutting just below the basal plate for whole-plant harvest. When growing winter spinach, harvest largest leaves and allow the smaller ones to size-up for later harvests. Full-size spinach can be sold as loose leaves or bunched.
STORAGE:
Store at 32°F (0°C) and 95% relative humidity for 10–14 days.