It is that time of year when the seed catalogs have piled up and they beckon from the sidetable. With the seed catalogs comes all the possibilities of the new year and the new garden. It is the opportunity to dream of striped tomatoes, speckled lettuces, and red and white ringed beets.
It is also the time to start planning the garden. Beware the lure of the seed catalog, $2.00 here and $3.oo there quickly adds up to a mountain of seeds and no place to put them. Here are a few tips when starting your seed list for this year that will save you time, money, and will better focus your garden for the year ahead.
* Sort through your seeds from last year removing empty packages and those that have gotten moist. Keep in mind that most seed is viable for 3-10 years when stored properly.
* Write a list of what you like to eat and in what quantities.
* Draw a basic garden plan or review your plan from last year; start rotating your crops and dedicating spaces to certain vegetables allowing you to know how much seed you will need.
* Ask yourself some basic questions while looking through the catalogs – How often do you eat salads and greens? Are root vegetables a must? What do you plan on canning, freezing, and drying? How much squash do you really need?
* Know your seed skill level. It is easy to get frustrated when you start seeds with the greatest of intentions but have lackluster results. Easy seeds to start in the ground for spring include lettuces and greens, radishes, peas, cilantro, and green onions. The most common tricky germinators are parsnips and woody herbs such as lavender and rosemary.
* Order regional seeds if you can. Most large seed companies are based in the Mid-west and their seeds’ germination times, yields, and maturity rates have all been tested for that climate and soil. Regional seeds are tested in your area with similar weather, pest, and soil conditions.
* Order seeds with friends. You can buy larger quantities at a lower price and pay only one shipping fee.
* Take a Garden Planning class or schedule a consultation. We are here to help when it comes to figuring out what goes where, how to maximize the space you have, and keep the maintenance at a minimum.
January and February are a great time to take the time and plan your garden. By taking a few hours during the dark days of winter when fresh tomatoes are nothing but a memory coming out of a jar you will save yourself time, energy, and money in the coming gardening months. Knowing what you are going to plant, in what quantity, and where allows you to prepare the garden and yourself appropriately.
