What makes Island nursery so special?

We offer a small selection of locally propagated specimens that are hard to find elsewhere: 

White sage, Blue-eyed Grass, Hummingbird Sage, Dudleya, Sea Cliff Buckwheat, Lemonade Berry, Monkey Flower and more... 

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The prices for most everything mentioned here are $1.99 apiece and six-packs are from $2.99 to $3.50. Certain Herbs are $2.99 apiece and these are the perennials that will stay in your garden for years to come. 

Anything we don't have or are out of stock can be grown for you if humanly possible...all you need to do is ask. 

Island carries a wide selection of easy to grow, low water-tolerant plants varieties. We can special order most every plant available and pride ourselves on the low price we offer the home-gardener. Whether it be something we can find in the county wholesale or somewhere in the U.S., we are happy to try and get it to you. 

We don't intend to compete with the big stores on sale priced six packs of chemically grown vegetable starts. We carry many species you won't find in big stores. We also carry the knowledge and enthusiasm that is hard to find in the other venues, and we explain the most natural and organic methods ways of caring for your gardens, edible or otherwise. 

Among the independents nurseries in Santa Barbara there is a good amount of sharing and referring. Island believes in helping our customers to the fullest extent possible. 

We are quite simply the source for organics on the South Coast. If you want a plant or product that we don't have or can't get, we will happily refer you to someone in town that does. 

 

 

Island Seed & Feed  Plant Nursery 

 

 


Now in Island nursery for Fall / Winter 2010  
We propagate super-healthy seasonal herb and veggie starts from seed in our on-site greenhouses.

All are organically grown.
For special requests please call 805-967-5262 or email to reserve selections.
vegetables     herbs      natives   oak trees

 

 Herbs & Vegetables
Fall / Winter Selections
singles - $1.00

4-packs - $2.50

6-packs or 4" artichokes - $3.00

Special Tomato Section  (avail. through August)
summer season varieties 
4" singles $2.00
 6-packs $5.00

Vegetables

in alphabetical order

ARTICHOKE, GREEN GLOBE. Perennial plant with flower spikes up to 4 1/2 feet tall. Grow in a moist rich soil with plenty of compost. If planted in the fall or winter, artichokes will yield 3-5 harvestable buds the following spring. Allow several feet of garden space per plant. This is a favorite of gophers, we advise cages.

ARTICHOKE, ROMAGNA These vigorous plants can grow to be 6’ tall. They will grow round to oblong shaped chokes that vary in color from medium green with hints of purple to mostly purple with splotches of green. The chokes are uneven in size and shape and have thick leaves and large hearts. Plant these perennials in a safe place and they will come back year after year. Mulch.

ARUGULA, (Roquette variety). A tangy, nut-like flavored green that is guaranteed to wake up any salad. Plant 4-6 inches apart. Seeds germinate easily and once a plant is allowed to go to seed you will be forever enjoying arugula in your garden.

FAVA BEANS These sturdy legumes grow up to 5 feet tall. Plant 8-10 inches apart. Favas like a rich, moist soil. The beans can be harvested and steamed when young and tender, or harvested later in life and dried so as to be used in soups and stews.

BROCCOLI,CALABRESE 58-90 days. Dark green, 18-30” tall plants produce a tight 3-8” central head, followed by abundant side shoots. Broccoli is easy to grow, requires minimal care and tastes better when homegrown. Eat the heads raw or lightly steamed, An extended harvest can be brought about by continuously picking the developing shoots before they begin to open up and bloom.

BROCCOLI, DI CICCO 48-85 Days. This is a classic Italian broccoli variety that makes up for its small head size by tasting delicioso. We recommend harvesting the main head when it is 3” across. This will encourage a steady and robust growth of 2” side shoots during the following weeks. This compact, dark green plant grows up to 2’ tall, provide 18” between plants and mulch the soil.

BROCCOLI, NUTRI-BUD 60-80 days. Vigorous plants grow to be 24” tall and produce a 4-6” head with plenty of medium sized side shoots. This variety earns its name by being high in glutamine, one of the building blocks of protein. In the cooler months plant these seedlings in a full sun location and into a soil that is rich in organic matter. Allow 24” of space for each plant.

BROCCOLI, ROMANESCO 75-100 days. First developed along Italy’s Mediterranean coast, the 5-6”, light green spiraling cauliflower-like heads have a pleasant nut-like crunch to compliment a sweet broccoli-cauliflower flavor. Best when grown in the cooler months of the year. Plant into a rich soil that is generously covered with mulch. Give each plant 18-24” of space.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS (Long Island Improved variety) Grows up to 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide, so give plenty of room. A vigorous plant that is loaded with round, tight dark-green sprouts that are succulent and tender. While these plants will live and be productive for over a year, however, the flavor of the sprouts is best in the fall and winter when the weather is cool. Choose a rich, moist soil with plenty of organic matter. Harvest by breaking off the adjacent leaf and snap off the sprout. These taste 1000% better than store bought.

CABBAGE, CHINESE  An Asian green and stir-fry staple with thick, succulent stalks and dark-green leaves that form a loosely headed rosette.  Plants grow 14-18 inches tall and do well in our cool fall and winter climate.  Plant in a loose, rich soil.

CABBAGE, NAPA  Produces crispy, mild flavored leaves that form a solid cylindrical head 14-20” tall.  Although cabbage will grow in almost any conditions, the real good stuff is grown in fertile, rich soil that receives regular moisture.

CABBAGE, SAVOY  This is an early maturing, medium green, round, 4-5 pound savoyed cabbage.   The crinkly, dark green outer leaves give way to a fine, crisp, yellow tinted interior.  Savoy makes a great cabbage salad and is used in stir-fry dishes as well.

CAULIFLOWER, PURPLE  This is an Italian heirloom variety with bright purple heads and mild flavor.  Healthy minerals give this cauliflower its purple color, when cooked the vegetable turns green.  Plant in a bright sunny area 18-24 inches apart.  Mulch that soil around your plants.

CABBAGE, COPENHAGEN MARKET 65-85 Days from transplant. This is the 100-year anniversary of this Danish original. Ideal for small gardens, this is a compact tightly wrapped cabbage that grows to between 6-8” in diameter and around 3-4 pounds per head. Adaptable to a range of climates, resists splitting and stores well.

CABBAGE, RED ROCK MAMMOTH 95-105 Days. First introduced in 1889, this old favorite produces solid heads that average 8” in diameter and can weigh up to 7 pounds. Red throughout, vigorous and uniform, small to medium core with a fine, crisp flavor. Excellent for cooking, salads and pickling. Plant in a fertile, well-composted bed. Mulch with straw or other suitable mulch and keep soil moist. Can take full sun during most of the year.

CAULIFLOWER,BROCOVERDE 68 days. Is similar to the typical white cauliflower, except that it is green when fresh. Brocoverde cauliflower is sweet and this variety takes spring heat better than the white, so it can be planted later into the spring. Plant seedlings into a rich composted soil, allow 2 feet of space per plant and water deeply when necessary. Serve either raw or slightly steamed.

CAULIFLOWER, SNOWBALL Large, solid, snow-white heads are 6-8 inched across and well protected by the outer leaves. This variety has smooth white curds and is known as being a heavy yielder. Cauliflower likes a fertile and moist patch, give up to 18 inches per plant.

CELERY (Tall Utah variety) Celery is a slow growing, cool weather crop. Though it can be difficult to grow, garden celery is far superior to store-bought. Celery is a heavy feeder and will benefit from a thick layer of mulch and moist conditions.

CELERY, RED STALK 120 Days to maturity. Red stalk is a rare heirloom variety that was brought from England in the 18th century. The crisp, 10-15” stalks are light green and tinged with red. Overall, the plant will reach a height of 18-24” tall and produce an abundance of harvestable stalks. I recommend picking the outer stalks when they are young and tender. Plant in rich soil and mulch.

CHARD, BRIGHT LIGHTS The stems of this chard come in a rainbow of colors- white, orange, pink, yellow, and red. The plants grow up to 2 feet tall and have dark green leaves. Plant 12 inches apart in a deep, rich, moist soil. Needs full sun when grown in the fall and winter.

CHARD, BROADSTEM GREEN This 24 inch tall plant has large green leaves with broad white stems. A strong grower that can be planted year-round. Makes an excellent steamed green, or can be eaten raw in salads.

CHARD, RED RHUBARB A highly ornamental plant with tender, sweet, rhubarb-like red stalks and dark green crumpled leaves. Plant 8-12 inches apart in a deep, rich, moist soil. Needs full sun when grown in the winter.

COLLARDS, GEORGIA SOUTHERN This non-heading member of the cabbage family grows30-34” tall and has huge cabbage-like blue-green slightly crumpled juicy leaves. Often overlooked, collards can grow under adverse conditions and are very tasty when cooked. Plant 12 inches apart and mulch heavily.

KALE, LACINATO Also known as Dinosaur Kale, Black Kale or cavolo nero, this variety is prized by chefs and kale snobs from Tuscany to Tucson. Highly nutritious and quite attractive as an ornamental in the garden, a must for kale enthusiasts. Space 6-10 inches apart.

KALE, RED RUSSIAN This variety is known as the sweetest and most tender of all the kales. The red-veins, wavy margins and foliage that resembles oak leaves makes this an attractive addition to your garden. Plant in rich, moist soil with 6-10 inch spacing, full sun in the winter.

KALE, SIBERIAN Not a true kale, instead this is in the canola family. Hardy, fast growing, with huge, blue-green feather-shaped, slightly curled leaves that form non-heading, 12-16” tall spreading plants. (Hey guys, this is a real popular one with the ladies;)

LEEK, AMERICAN FLAG Leeks prefer a fertile soil, with regular water, for best growth. They are shallow rooted, so keep them well weeded to prevent competition. Leeks have a delightful mild-onion flavor that makes the perfect seasoning for soups and stews. Space plants 4-6” apart.

LETTUCE, GOLETA VALLEY SWEET MIX Our very own blend of seven different organic lettuces. Includes a red and green romaine, a red and green oakleaf, a bi-colored leaf, a red leaf and a green butterhead. Plant lettuces in a sunny location when growing in the fall and winter, and give partial shade in the warmer summer months to avoid bitter, bolting heads.

MESCLUN LETTUCE MIX A unique blend of spicy and sweet lettuces. Includes arugula, red giant mustard, mizuna mustard, curly cress, a red and green romaine, a red and green oakleaf, a bi-colored leaf, a red leaf and a green butterhead. Plant in full sun and keep evenly moist.

MUSTARD, RED GIANT  The unique spicy leaves of this mustard are excellent mixed in salads, wilted like spinach or tossed into a stirfry with ginger and Chinese cabbage.  Plants grow up to 18 inches tall and will provide a continuous harvest of purple hued leaves.

ONION, CIPPOLINI 60-75 days. An Italian heirloom variety, these are common called button onions and are a favorite at farmers markets. Typically harvested when 2” around, the flesh is firm and extremely sweet and best when eaten fresh out of the garden. Once seedlings have been thinned and are established, top with 1-2” of mulch.

ONION, EVERGREEN BUNCHING These are non-bulbing green scallions onions that grow 4-9 inches tall, and have slender silvery shanks. Separate the individual onion from their packs and plant them into a fertile moist soil one inch apart.

ONION, MINI PURPLETTE 60-65 Days from transplant. These are an attractive purple-red skinned mini-onion with delicate, mild flavor. Can be harvested very young as a scallion type onion, or later, when mature as a pearl onion. Flesh turns pink when cooked or pickled. Direct seed between late-March and October. Thin seedlings to 3-4” apart. When weather is cooler, start indoors and transplant out.

ONION, RIVERSIDE 100-110 Days from transplant. A short-to- intermediate day onion that produces a globe- shaped, slightly flattened 3-4” bulb. Yellow-brown skin surrounds firm white flesh with a mildly pungent taste. Before planting onions, prepare their bed with fertilizer and compost. Plant seedlings 7-10” apart, mulch the soil surface with straw or leaves and then keep the soil moist. Harvest when tops begin to brown. Stores well for over 5 months. Pink root resistant.

ONION, ROSSA DI MILANO 100-120 Days from transplant. A very attractive, glossy, red Italian onion with medium-hot flavor. The 3-4” inch onions have a flat top that tapers to a barrel-shaped bottom, they are uniform in shape and make excellent keepers. These are a long to intermediate day type and can tolerate cool climates, so we here in Southern CA can grow this variety year round. Allow 4-6” of space between each onion and mulch the soil with straw or leaves. Moderate water.

ONION, TORPEDO RED BOTTLE 105-130 Days from transplant. This is a rare, short to intermediate day variety that has a spicy, hot flavor. These unique, irregularly shaped bulbs are 6-8” long and up to 3” wide. Direct seed in the warmer months, thin to 4-5” apart. When cooler start indoors and transplant into your garden when seedlings are 5” tall. When both seeds and transplants are established, mulch around the plants and keep the soil moderately wet. Keeps moderately well.

ONION, VALENCIA 105-130 Days from transplant. Large, 4-6” globes have a warm yellow and brown kin and can weigh up to 1 pound. This is a Utah strain of Yellow Sweet Spanish onion, is mild-flavored and keeps moderately well. Grows well in both short and long day zones. Makes an excellent bunching onion when young. We have the best results when we start the seeds indoors and then transplant out into the ground when they are 5-6” tall. Allow 8-10” between seedlings.

ONION, WALLA WALLA A large, sweet Spanish onion with light brown skin and mild white flesh. Not a storage onion. Transplant to 6-8 inches apart. Harvest when the green tops begin to fall over. Plant in a moist and fertile bed, avoid too much water, as the onions will rot.

PEA,MAMMOTH MELTING 65-75 DAYS. Wilt resistant 4-5 ft vines, can grow to 7’ and should be trellised. Thick , stringless pods are early and abundant and are great when eaten fresh, out in the garden.

PEA, OREGON SNOW POD This is a dwarf variety of pea that only grows to 30 inches tall, as a result, trellising is not required. Plant peas in full sun and give them plenty of water, spacing 2-4 inches apart. These peas are delicious raw, steamed,stir fried or frozen.

PEA, SUGAR SNAP This variety, known as Amish Snap, produces 3-4 inch long, plump, stringless pods on wilt resistant vines that can grow to be 6 feet tall. Peas like to be planted in a sunny location, and will need to be trellised in order to keep the pods off of the ground. Mulch

PEAS, SUTTON’S HARBINGER 52-60 Days. These are short, bushy vines that are heavy producers of excellent eating quality shelling peas. While the plants only grow 28-32” tall ,they will need to be trellised or supported in some way in order to maximize harvest yields.

PAK CHOI  The succulent leaves of this vegetable have a mild swiss chard-like flavor.  Used  in stir frys, soups and steamed like spinach, pak choi is very tender and tasty.  Also called White Mustard Cabbage or Bok Choy.  Grows 6-8 inches tall in under 55 days.  

SPINACH, BLOOMSDALE  Bloomsdale is an old time favorite in the garden.  It is quick to produce bunches of crinkle-leaved rosettes that are packed with vitamins and minerals.   Plant 2-4 inches apart and pick the outer leaves as you go to sustain a longer harvest period.

SPINACH,AMERICA 43-55 days. This is a long standing Bloomsdale type that grows to 8” and produces thick, deep-green savoyed leaves. The plants are slow growing, slow bolting and heat and drought resistant. With America spinach it is possible to have a year round harvest if you plant in a location that has mid-day shade during the heat of the summer.

TATSOI (Rosette Bok Choy) Tatsoi has tender, sweet spoon-shaped leaves that are chock full of minerals and stuff.   We’ve got  here a much stronger flavor than bok choy, yet those who know their shit say that the flavor is far more ruling. So, ergo, you need to buy this.

newly delivered potatoes, onions, garlic -- just add soil...

 

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TOMATOES (in season through August – we leave them here online for next season planning)


4" Singles $2.00    6 Packs $5.00

 

The following is a list of the tomatoes that we here at Island Seed & Feed will be growing this summer. The variety of options can be a little overwhelming, so please ask for assistance. Indeterminate means that the plant will bear fruit over a long season and are generally large, vine-like structures that will usually need to be supported, either against a fence or with a trellis. Determinate tomatoes will set and ripen their entire crop at one time on compact plants that may need to be staked. The range of days that are listed with each variety is the number of days that it will take for your tomatoes to produce fruit from the day of transplant.

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Cherry / Small Tomatoes

Red Pear- Indeterminate, heirloom, 70-80 days.  Clusters of pretty pear-shaped, glistening red 1” long fruits drape from these vigorously virile plants.  Each bite is a delight! So, pop one in, and savor the flavor.

Sungold- Indeterminate, 75 days.  These golden orange fruits are one of the best treats that you can pull out of your garden.  The hard part of growing these tomatoes is getting them into your house.  If given support, this plant will ramble out 6 feet.

Sweetie- Indeterminate, 60-75 days. Sparkling red, cherry sized, has a nice, not-too-sweet taste and is highly productive and vigorous in growth.  These proud gems dangle from the vigorous vine in a colorful cascade.

Yellow Pear-Indeterminate, heirloom, 70-80 days.  1” long pear-shaped, bright yellow  fruits hang by the handfuls from this very large plant. Sweet, mild lemony flavor, low in acid produces into the fall months.  Can grow up to 8 feet with trellising.

Salad / Sauce Tomatoes

Principe Borghese- Determinate, heirloom, 60 days. Traditionally grown in the south of Italy for sauces and sun drying.  Small egg-shaped fruits average 1” in diameter, borne in heavy clusters.  Graet fresh and in salads as well.

Roma- Determinate, 75 days.  Roma is one of the best known paste tomatoes.  It produces an abundant crop of deep red, meaty fruits with few seeds.  This variety is highly versatile and can be used both fresh, in salads and sauces, or canned and saved for later.

San Marzano- Indeterminate 80 days. Early, large classic Italian variety. The tall vines of this plant produce heavy yields of long oval fruits.  Delicious, balanced acidic flavor and meaty flesh makes for good sauce. Fruits avg 5-6 oz.  Cooking brings out flavor.  In 2003, local plant nut Wayne Chapman had 10 plants produce 400 pounds of San Marzano tomatoes.

Tomatillo, Green- Determinate, 65 days. A relative of the tomato family, globe shaped, 2 oz, medium firm fruits inside of a papery husk.  More vining and sprawling than tomatoes, they are great for sauces and salsas. Tomatillos are a staple in Mexican and Southwest food.

Slicing Tomatoes

Ace 55- Determinate, 80 days. Vigorous medium large plants, good foliage cover.  Red thick-walled flattened globes, 5 x 6” diameter, 7 oz fruit.  Appreciated by home gardeners for its tasty balance of sugars and acid and for its superior disease resistance.

Amana Orange- Indeterminate, 85-90 days.   Amana Orange is typically one of the earliest and tastiest of the Beefsteak variety tomatoes.  This mild flavored beauty is originally from Iowa.

Arkansas Traveler- Indeterminate, heirloom, 76 days. Rose pink, 6-8 oz, flattened globe tomatoes that are mild and juicy.  This pink heirloom has truly traveled because of its dependability.  Is crack and disease resistant as well as heat tolerant.  Medium sized vines.

Beefsteak- Indeterminate 95 days.  These vines are so vigorous that they will definitely need to be staked.  Flat, solid, meaty and juicy, the fruits are bright red and average 10oz, however occasionally tomatoes can weigh in at 2 lbs.  An old favorite of those who like large tomatoes for slicing and putting on sandwiches or burgers.

Black Krim- Indeterminate 70-90 days.  This is a large growing plant that will reach upwards of 6-8 feet, so long poles are recommended for staking. An old heirloom from the Crimean peninsula that heavily produces flattened globe shaped, 8-12 oz, dark red-purple fruits with a delicate skin.  Will take all of the sun and heat that you can give it. Our best tasting tomato?

Brandiwine- Indeterminate, 80 days.  An old Amish heirloom dating back to 1885.  Large vines, deep red fruits and excellent flavor.  This wonderful heirloom beats most other tomatoes with its truly luscious flavor that is described as “rich, loud and spicy”.  Not a great producer here in Goleta, but people say that the great flavor more than makes up for the limited production.

Burbank Slicer- Determinate, heirloom, 70 days.  Stocky, 18-36” tall bushes produce many  6-8 oz red fruits that have the highest total free amino acids of any tomato.  Developed around 1915 by plant genius, Luther Burbank.  Fares well in drier climates.

Carmello- Indeterminate, 70 days. Bred in France especially for fresh eating. Plump Carmellos will satisfy all your tomato fantasies.  The round juicy fruits have the perfect sweet to acid balance that translates to exquisite taste.  Big 4-5” fruits are borne in abundance.

Caro Rich- Indetermine, 75-80 days. An old variety with rich deep orange, 4-6 oz fruits that contain a high level of beta carotene. A low acid type with a delicious, sweet flavor.  These short, 18-24”plants produce well in cooler climates. A good grower here in our coastal climate.

Celebrity- Determinate 72 days.   Possibly the most common fresh market tomato grown today.  Productive plants yield high quality, large smooth fruit with outstanding flavor.  A vigorous grower that produces 8 oz fruit. Resistant to verticilium and fusarium wilts.

Cherokee Purple- Indeterminate, heirloom, 80 days. This variety has relatively short vines, yet produces copious amounts of 10-12 oz fruits.  The flesh is a unique red brick color with a rose-purple skin color.  A flavorful heirloom variety that hails from Tennessee.

Costoluto Genovese- Indeterminate, 80-90 days. An old, unimproved Italian variety that produces an abundance of lumpy, flattish, convoluted fruits, which while not the prettiest of tomatoes, continually rank high in customer taste tests. Fruits are red and grow to be 6-8 oz. A good producer in the heat of summer, that keeps on going when the weather gets nippy.

Double Rich- Indeterminate, 65-70 days.  Solid, meaty, medium sized, deep red globes with a sweet, slightly tart flavor with more than twice the vitamin C of other tomatoes.(as much as oranges) A mid-season tomato that is blight and wilt resistant.

Early Girl- Indeterminate, 55-65 days. This is a popular variety with backyard gardeners because of its excellent flavor and ability to keep producing throughout the growing season.  Yields masses of 4-6 oz red fruit.

Early Red Chief- Indeterminate, 65-70 days.  These are stocky bush plants that bear huge crops of early, 10 oz slicing fruits.  Pendulous, globe shaped fruits are red, firm and bountiful.

Green Zebra- Determinate, 75-90 days.  Yellow-green, 2-3” fruits with dark vertical stripes, emerald green flesh with mild but not bland flavor, very productive. Developed in 1985 by tomato husbandry expert Tom Wagner. (…Yeah, exactly, who da @#%$ is that?)

Marvel Striped- Indeterminate, heirloom, 90-110 days. A luscious, extra golden fruited tomato with a deep orange marbled interior.  Fruits may reach 2 pounds, and the flavor just never stops coming.

Moskvich- Indeterminate, heirloom, 60 days.  Extra early variety that produces well in cool climates. This is a good selection for coastal and/or late season plantings.  Smooth globe shaped fruits with small stem scar.  Nice texture, rich taste, from eastern Siberia.

Nyagous- Indeterminate 80 days.  Great black tomato with baseball-sized fruits that are borne in clusters of up to 6.  Excellent full tomato flavor.  Very productive vines will want to be supported.

Oregon Spring- Determinate, 55-80 days. This variety is a short, 18-24” plant that does not need staking and produces 3-4 oz fruits. Great for large, early tomatoes with great flavor and few seeds.   Bright red, flattened globes are produced even when nights are cold.

Pineapple- Interderminate 85-95 days.  These are huge, 10-16 oz, yellow beefsteak type tomatoes that typically have red streaks throughout the interior.  Very sweet, fruity flavor with low acidity.  Vines will need to be supported, wants to be in a hot location.

Stupice- Indeterminate, 60-70 days. Early, prolific variety with good taste. Sweet and juicy, 3-6 oz, fruits grow on compact, 4 foot, vines that do not need to be trellised.  Produces well in cooler weather, so good for our cool area.  Introduced from Czechoslovakia.

Super Queen Bush-  Determinate, 75 days.  This is a hybrid tomato that has been developed to grow in a small space or in a patio container and still offer an abundant harvest. The 2-3’ tall bushes produce juicy, heavy fruits with a great tomato flavor.   Use a small tomato cage for support.

Tigerella- Indeterminate, 55-65 days.  These highly productive vines bear huge crops of medium to small fruits about 1.5” in diameter  The reddish-orange tomatoes are striped with greenish-yellow and have a great, tangy flavor. This was the 2003 tomato of the year here at Island Seed & Feed.  Disease resistant.

Yellow Perfection- Indeterminate, 70-75 days.  This has been a favorite in England for over 150 years.   The juicy, thin skinned, 3-5 oz fruits are perfectly round, and will ripen well in both cool or hot weather.  Vining habit that will want to be trellised.

Zapotec Pleated- Indeterminate, heirloom, 80-85 days. This variety produces large pink fruits that are ruffled or pleated like a dress.  They can be stuffed and baked like a bell pepper, or eaten in the raw.   Named for its creators, the Zapotec people of Oaxaca, Mexico.

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vegetables      herbs     natives    oak trees

Natives and Drought Tolerant

The UCSB Restoration Club and Island are in partnership consignment-wise with multiple varieties of local Goleta Valley native species. The club will receive funds from the sales of these easy to grow natives...they are so easy because they live here! 

From the bluffs above the beaches we have some Sea Cliff Buckwheat, a hardy perennial. 

Dudleya, a local succulent, flowers on six inch yellow spikes in spring.

Blue-eyed grass, an iris actually, that opens its flowers with the sun and closes in the eves. Purple colored like its relative the douglasii, blue-eyed grass is well-suited for the poorest soils and grows to a height of about 10 inches. 

Hummingbird sage, Salvia spathacea, has tall spikes of magenta flowers whose blooming is the call sign for hummingbirds. A Salvia, it likes a moist environment, but will do well anywhere in your garden that gets a bit of water 

Hooker's Evening Primrose, is named with the surname of a botanist, not a red-light district connotation. This tall yellow flowered spike opens with or without regular water - very hardy, it will grow in all conditions. 

California Fuchsia, Zauschernia californica, is a major attractant for hummingbirds with its very bright scarlet flowers blooming in later summer and into fall. Happy with little water it will spread out rather thickly and act as an effective barrier against most weeds by blocking out light underneath. 
 

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vegetables      herbs     natives    oak trees

Oak Trees

We also have several Quercus Agrifolia, or coastal Live Oaks that are labled from the watershed that they came from. Grown from acorns collected in Carpenteria, Sycamore Canyon, San Jose Creek, Mission Canyon and elsewhere in the local region, these potted oaks are a great addition to most any yard. Because oaks send down a deep tap root, these potted versions will likely start slow, though many an oak will explode with growth in its first several years. Concientious gardeners would want to see oaks planted locally from the watershed they have come from. There are many angles to this argument and regardless the opinion, all agree that to plant an oak rather than a pine, euclalyptus or otherwise is a giant step in the right direction. 

Island also offers services for planting an oak or oaks in your yard. 

Coming soon to the nursery will be Lemonade Berry, or Rhus which can be easily manicured to desired ends. It also is a great hedge or fenceline plant. Its berries are sweet and desirable to local birds. The Chumash used the berries for teas and edibles. There are many great stands of it in our area. The entire cliffs at the end of Mesa Lane, or 1,000 steps on the Mesa in SB, are covered with Lemonade Berry. Another location is at Picasso Road and Camino del Sur in Isla Vista. At this small barrier park there is a 15 foot wide and high veritable tree of the stuff. Some folks in the area are happy to use it instead of the overused Eugenia that we see everywhere. 

Saltbrush, or Atriplex, is a fantastic erosion-control plant. It grows on the cliffs of the South Coast where the salts of the ocean do nothing to slow its rapid and steady growth. 

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
A great location to see all of these natives is the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road, SB 93105, 805-682-4726. A fantastic collection of plants and trees, the Botanic Garden is a must-see for anyone who is interested in gardening. 

Isla Vista Parks District
Another location where all the aforementioned can be found is in Perfect Park, Isla Vista, at the bottom of the loop where Embarcadero del Norte and Embarcadero del Mar become one street. Perfect Park has been transformed over the last four years from an open field of weeds to a great selection of plants and trees set in and amongst hills and pathways. Weekends are good times to visit. An on- site parking lot is is often full during weekdays while school is in session. Many of the specimens are signed so that the viewer can learn a bit about each one of them. 

The entire IV Park District system of parks uses no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. These parks are worth viewing for any gardener or landscaper who wants to see an organic program in effect. The IVPD plants many locally native plants and trees and offers a nice guide to the parks at it office, 951 Embarcadero del Mar. Call them at 968-2017, or check out their website at  www.silcom.com/~ivpark to learn about this unique County Special District. 

An organic policy is a sound policy, and can be an inspiration to other organizations or individuals. Island's owners worked at the Park District for a total of 14 years and are proud supporters of its policies and programs.

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