{"title":"Medicinal","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"calendula","title":"Calendula","description":"\u003cp\u003eThere are many reasons to grow Calendula \u003cem\u003e(Calendula\u003c\/em\u003e officinales) in your garden- this flower is beautiful, edible, and has medicinal properties. It adds a gorgeous splash of orange to your garden right up until the first frost. Calendula will attract pollinators and can self seed the following year if conditions are right. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant Calendula outdoors 2 weeks after the last frost, or grow as seedlings indoors for a headstart. Space plants 8-12 inches apart and water regularly. Calendula can be grown directly in the ground, or in pots of atleast 8 inches depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrown organically with love and tenderness in the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada, in the summer of 2026. Germination tested Fall 2026. Minimum 30 seeds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Franken Farm Seed Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42188114198771,"sku":"SFCA","price":5.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0613\/4104\/0883\/products\/calendula3.jpg?v=1669915193"},{"product_id":"marshmallow","title":"Marshmallow Flower","description":"\u003cp\u003eMarshmallow is an herbaceous perennial plant that produces velvety light pink flowers and a root commonly used by herbalists around the world. It grows from 4 to 7 feet tall and is usually humming with pollinators in the summertime. This plant takes time to establish but will become a garden star with patience. The taproot of marshmallow draws nutrients from deep in the soil to help its neighbour plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMarshmallow seeds like a period of cold before germination (this is called stratification). Scatter your seeds in autumn or late winter and they will come up in spring when the weather turns warm. Don't worry if you are late; they will still germinate, but at a lower rate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, this plant was once used to make the sweet treat marshmallow, though it is almost never used today. You could potentially craft your own (vegan) marshmallows with this plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrown organically with love and tenderness in the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada, in the summer of 2023. Germination tested. Minimum 30 seeds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Franken Farm Seed Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44178780061939,"sku":"","price":4.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0613\/4104\/0883\/files\/IMG_4538.jpg?v=1703705391"},{"product_id":"purple-coneflower-echinacea","title":"Purple Coneflower Echinacea","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis herbal perennial flower is native to the central and eastern United States, but has naturalized across Ontario. It grows comfortably amongst native plants and is often included in semi-native species gardens throughout Canada. According to iNaturalist.ca \"the purple coneflower is thought to be beneficial to pollinators as it is highly attractive to bees and butterflies. It also benefits the birds as flowerheads that are left into the winter provide seeds for birds.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarious indigenous nations traditionally use \u003cem\u003eEchinacea purpurea\u003c\/em\u003e for herbal purposes, including the Choctaw and Delaware people. Roots are chewed or prepared as tea to treat various diseases. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrown organically with love and tenderness in the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada, in the summer of 2024. Germination tested December 2024. Minimum 30 seeds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSources:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNative American Medicinal Plants by Daniel E. Moerman (2009)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehttps:\/\/inaturalist.ca\/posts\/100138-plant-of-the-month-purple-coneflower-echinacea-purpurea\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Franken Farm Seed Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46549311946995,"sku":"","price":4.5,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0613\/4104\/0883\/files\/IMG_9241.jpg?v=1734454448"},{"product_id":"grey-headed-coneflower","title":"Grey-Headed Coneflower","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis simple yet striking perennial wildflower is native to southern Ontario and makes the perfect addition to native species and\/or pollinator gardens. Latin name \u003cem\u003eRatibida\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003epinnata, \u003c\/em\u003ethis member of the Aster family has a wide variety of alternative names you might know it by: Pinnate Prairie Coneflower, Yellow Coneflower, and Grey-Headed Mexican Hat. Seeds require a year to establish and add size; you are rewarded with a big bushy plant that will survive year after year, bursting with delicate yellow blooms that blossom early in the year. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrown organically with love and tenderness in the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada, in the summer of 2025. Germination tested December 2025. Minimum 50 seeds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTIPS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCold stratification is a requirement to get proper germination rates from these seeds. There are many ways to accomplish this- e.g. scattering seeds in the fall before snow, or in late winter once the ground is visible. You can also cold stratify indoors using your fridge. If you are new to cold stratification, it's worth taking a bit of time to research further and find what method works for your growing style.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDon't remove dead or dying flowers from your plant (often called \"deadheading\"); they provide valuable food to birds in fall and winter. Also, allowing native seeds to grow and spread is a small and important step in reestablishing our wildflower population. They are not invasive and will not overrun your garden or the local ecosystem.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlan for this plant to take up a lot of space once established! It grow 3-6 feet and bends out in every direction.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIf you have a large space to work with, you can follow an old adage I learned about wildflower gardening: always start your population with a minimum of 12 properly spaced plants.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Franken Farm Seed Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48344301240563,"sku":null,"price":5.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0613\/4104\/0883\/files\/IMG_2153_1_-Copy.jpg?v=1767804740"},{"product_id":"ashwaghanda","title":"Ashwagandha","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis organic Ashwagandha seed was grown in Ontario, Canada! With some special love and care, this powerful plant can be grown successfully as an annual in cold climates. Latin name \u003cem\u003eWithania somnifera, \u003c\/em\u003eAshwagandha is an herbal plant in the Solanaceae family (the same family as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants). It is native to the Middle East and North Africa, where it grows as a perennial. The entire plant, but in particular the root, can be harvested for its potent medicinal effects. Ashwagandha plants produce small berry-like structures that contain seeds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTips for growing:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e-Start your Ashwagandha seeds indoors in March using grow lights. For optimal germination, start seeds in a warm, humid environment (not under lights yet). They will take about a week to germinate. Once sprouted move them under the grow lights.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e-Transplant your seedlings 2-3 weeks after the last frost, when the temperature is consistently 15 degrees or higher.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e-If possible, grow your Ashwagandha in a greenhouse or under row cover. Even a little shelter on cold nights early in the season can really help plants reach a good size by fall. They are comparable to peppers and melons in their cold sensitivity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrown organically with love and tenderness in the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada, in the summer of 2024. Germination tested January 2026. Minimum 30 seeds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Franken Farm Seed Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48506154746099,"sku":null,"price":5.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0613\/4104\/0883\/files\/IMG_5432.jpg?v=1771011524"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0613\/4104\/0883\/collections\/IMG_9241_169ddd4a-6c15-47da-aeec-dac5478c7b56.jpg?v=1794424516","url":"https:\/\/frankenfarm.ca\/collections\/medicinal.oembed","provider":"Franken Farm Seed Company","version":"1.0","type":"link"}