No matter where you live, you are probably not thinking about
your spring garden, but you should be. Seed companies send out their new
spring seed catalogs December into January. Why should you buy now?
There are a number of reasons you should order early. What kind of seeds
should you buy? That depends on what you are looking for.
Seeds are in Limited Supply
The current economy has encouraged people to grow their own food. That
is a good thing. However, there are limited resources for seed growing,
and many varieties sell out fast. If you want the best selection, it's
best to order seeds early.
Seed Catalogs have more Varieties
Even if you could find seeds in the stores right now, chances are they
are either last year's seeds or are varieties not necessarily suited to
your climate. Seed company catalogs have a much wider selection of
vegetables, and it pays to be picky. Your local Cooperative Extension
Service will have a list of what varieties do best in your climate. If
you have a local gardening club, they can help too.
One thing to
be aware of is newly developed cultivars tend to be very expensive. If
you just have to try that new melon, that's fine. Just remember the
tried and true are often a better buy. Not only are they less expensive
per packet, but there are usually a larger quantity of seeds inside.
Once you find a variety that does quite well for you, sometimes it's
best to stick with what works.
Should you go with Organic Seeds?
An organic garden is always preferable to using chemical pesticides and herbicides. What about organic seeds?
The difference between organic and non-organic seed is organic seeds
are not treated with chemicals. Treated seeds have a better germination
rate because of anti-fungal and other disease prevention coatings.
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) seeds are altered genetically.
Whether or not GMO seeds are dangerous is unknown, but treated seeds can
be. If you want a truly organic garden, buy organic seeds. Just be
prepared for a lower germination rate.
Plants or Seeds?
If you are trying to decide if it is worth it to start your garden
indoors, the answer is maybe. If you have a very small garden, it is
probably not worth starting six tomato plants. However, if you are
planning a large garden, starting your plants indoors is by far cheaper.
Plus, you get the bonus of picking exactly which tomato varieties you
want, and do not have to rely on the nursery having what you are looking
for.
While post-holiday blues strike many people, what better
way to bypass those feelings by opening up a garden catalog and dream
about your garden? Get those seeds ordered early so you are ready when
planting weather arrives.
While post-holiday blues strike
many people, what better way to bypass those feelings by opening up a
garden catalog and plan your garden? Get those seeds ordered early so
you are ready when planting weather arrives.
