Taking stock of your saved seeds before ordering.
Greetings fellow gardeners,
On Friday, the first seed catalogue of the season arrived in my mailbox. Ooooooooh yes, a seed catalogue! It is quite easy to get carried away at the beginning of seed catalogue season. Everything looks so tempting; fifty types of carrots and that weird loofa plant that would be cool to try. But rushing out to get everything is not the best way to prepare for the next garden season.
First of all, don’t go getting everything out of one seed catalogue. Check out all the seed catalogues that you would like to try. Most nurseries are online so you can see what they offer, and most will send you a seed catalogue if you ask for it.
Next, make a map or plan of your garden. For example, I have several large pots that sit at the front of my house. The light is wonderful, but the soil is questionable. I know that each pot will have a tomato and I have those seeds carefully saved. Each pot gets marigolds and I have saved those seeds as well. Each pot also gets nasturtiums and I have a friend sharing seeds with me. This means that I do not need to buy any of those seeds. This doesn’t mean I can’t check out the newest cultivars in my seed catalogues and perhaps try a new one.
If you are purchasing from a seed catalogue, you need to be sure that you have room to start those seeds. My tomato seeds need a minimum of four weeks, while the marigolds and nasturtiums can be direct sown. You need to be sure that your seeds will have enough light and heat and water. What kind of soil do you need? So many questions and possibilities.
Somewhere in a cupboard is a box or envelope of last year’s seeds. Now is the time to do an inventory. Seeds will be viable for a number of years. For larger seeds like peas, corn, and beans take a random sampling and place in a shallow pan of water. If they sink, then they are good to go. Another way is to place some of your seeds between two damp paper towels which you put in a sealed plastic bag and place in a warm place. They should sprout in a few days, but give them two weeks to be sure. You will then know that you have good seed for the next growing season and save yourself some money.
Some of the catalogues that I like:
Stokes Seeds (www.stokeseeds.com/ca/) is a long-standing seed catalogue with a large variety of seeds to offer. You can request a catalogue or order online.
Vesey’s (www.veseys.com/ca/) is a catalogue that comes to you several times a year with its tempting offers. I find the seed germination to be good, but the roots and tubers can be fragile; I have very good luck with the bulbs. You can order online as well.
OSC (www.oscseeds.com/) or Ontario Seed Company is my personal favourite. I like that the seeds that I am getting are from Ontario, their prices are reasonable, and germination is excellent. These seeds are also available at your local nurseries. This company will sell out so get your catalogue soon.
Richters (www.richters.com) is a favourite of mine as well. So many herbs!! Every year I try a new sage and a new scented geranium. Their stock is excellent, and germination is very good. Beware! It is hard to resist the pages of amazing herbs. I always spend way too much. (Not sorry).
Rose Skeleton scented geranium from Richters. Harold and the other cats leave it alone.
This is a tiny sampling of what catalogues are available. I will try to add a few more to the mix each week, and please feel free to send me your favourites so I can share them with everyone.
Well, it is time to add another log to the fire and wait for the snowplow company to dig me out. There is a bit more snow than what I was expecting. Enjoy your week and start planning next year’s garden.
Judith (Email: lapisdragonarts@gmail.com)
All Veggie Bites are available at the SGHS website: (https://sites.google.com/site/sghortsoc/)
Bulb week three. Roots continue……
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