The first lettuce and radish seeds can be planted in outdoor gardens in about six weeks, but the period for indoor seed starting has already arrived.
In order to have transplant-sized plants ready to go by late March or early April, it is best to start the seeds of frost-tolerant flowers and vegetables toward the end of January.
Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, onions, calendula, snapdragons, and even some early tomato plants that you want to place under frost guards are included in this.
You might as well order or purchase seeds that you will either start indoors later or plant straight into the ground come spring and summer while you are gathering seeds to start soon.
Additionally, purchasing early increases the likelihood of obtaining the desired types rather than running the risk of later sellouts.
Other things to consider while purchasing seeds:
Examine the remaining stock. The majority of seeds can be kept for two years or longer, particularly if they are kept in a cold, dry location. Certain plants, such cucumbers, melons, radishes, cosmos, nasturtium, snapdragons, and zinnias, can survive for four or five years.
Wrap five or ten seeds in a moist paper towel and store them at room temperature in a sealed plastic bag to test the old before purchasing fresh. It’s time to purchase new seeds if few or none have grown following the germination period specified on the seed packet.
Make your long-term choices. Are there any specific types of seeds you would like to purchase?
In contrast to hybrids, which are frequently either sterile or yield plants with differing characteristics from their preserved seeds, some gardeners prefer heritage or open-pollinated seeds that they may save and cultivate in subsequent years.
Some just do not want to grow genetically modified (GMO) or genetically engineered (GE) kinds. A Safe Seed Pledge has been signed by seed firms who do not purchase or sell genetically modified or GE seeds, although the majority of home-garden seed is not. The distinction is then listed on seed packets, catalogs, and websites of seed companies.
Some gardeners, however, prefer to purchase only organically cultivated seed or seed that has not been treated in any way, including by applying fungicides.
Concentrate on the better types. Size, flavor, productivity, maturation time, resistance to pests and diseases, flower/foliage colors, and other characteristics differ greatly from variation to variety.
Compare the various descriptions and select the qualities that are most essential to you in each option. You can also look up internet reviews of the types you’re thinking about or ask friends and other gardeners for ideas.
The Dave’s Garden website is a great place to find individual plant reviews from actual gardeners.
To a certain extent, shop around.None of your top picks are likely to be found in a single source. To finish your list, you might need to use many businesses or stores.
However, by working with only one or two businesses, you can save expensive shipping costs if you’re purchasing mail-order.
Ordering from the company that carries the majority of your favorites and being willing to take a second or third choice if the company doesn’t have your first pick is a cost-effective compromise.
Examine costs and package dimensions. If the packets contain less seeds than a competitor that appears to be charging more, the lowest pricing might not be the greatest offer.
Small packets might make the most sense if you just use a few seeds and have a small garden. Alternatively, you might be able to give friends access to larger packages.
Gardening with George Weigel