Administrators Pompeii Posted January 6, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 6, 2022 The Seed Catalogs Have Arrived! This season the seed catalogs started pouring in even before Christmas. So now, how do you decide which seeds to choose? Do you look for pictures, hybrids, heirlooms, fancy names, new varieties, F-1, size, productivity, old favorites, price, quantity, germination needs, plant hardiness, structure, growing days, color, juiciness, organic, non-GMO? If you’re buying seeds then it’s safe to guess that you‘ve gardened before successfully. There’s a unique challenge and pleasure in planting a seed, that doesn’t happen when planting a starter plant. There are a multitude of plant choices available in seeds. By choosing your own seed, you’re not limited to whatever someone else chose to grow, and you can plan on the qualities of what you grow yourself. However, nurturing seeds into healthy seedlings takes some serious thought and preparation. Ask a Master Gardener! Do you want seeds to start indoors, or to carefully bury in an outdoor growing area, or would flinging them joyously to the wind be your choice? All methods have their benefits and drawbacks. Planting a garden, whether flowers, vegetables or grains is a regular spring ritual. Check out what grows well locally with neighbors, friends or your county Master Gardener. Do a Penn State soil test for pH and so you know what nutrients are already present in your soil. Dig around a bit to determine the general tilth of the soil where you want to plant. Dusty, dry, rocky soil is sometimes a blessing, but usually a softer, lightly damp soil is better for the average seed. Clay is a problem of its own, and while not a complete loss, it takes some preparation, possibly a year previous, before even thinking of planting in it. If you dig a hole and hit water, back away, you’re in a bog, but yes, that might be just the location for some far-flung native seeds. In the case of seeds for wetter areas, you will probably be dealing with native plants. Be certain that the seed you have chosen will actually grow in your zone. What moisture, sunlight and soil type will they need? Natives rarely have picky soil nutrient demands, but it’s still something to consider. Above all, be sure they aren’t invasive! They are usually cheaper by the pound. Natives grow extremely well in areas where they were historically found because all their needs were met in previous years. Growing conditions do change, and native plants can get harvested too heavily, but odds are, more of the same flower will tickle the heck out of your native pollinators. They benefit your gardens also because they help boost the number of times your blooms will be pollinated, and the more times, the better! They’re fun to sow because once you find a suitable area, you can stand with your back to the wind and toss them where you want them to grow. Hybrids, Fi, heirlooms, open-pollinated and farmed seeds all have their own benefits. Heirloom tomatoes tend to stay close to the same type through many generations of growing but can also change very slightly in the process, especially if grown too close to other tomatoes. Hybrids are sometimes a better choice because they are carefully crossed for flavor, productivity, disease resistance, flavor and other predictable traits. They should not be collected for planting the next season as they can revert back to one or the other of their parents, and it isn’t always good! The current year doesn’t matter, they stay the same but you will have to buy new seeds every year. F1 Hybrids are an OK bet because they have proven to grow without notable changes in the second year. Open pollinated and heirloom are pretty close to the same thing, and those are the garden seeds of choice to collect and save. GMO seeds are usually sold for large farms and commercial purposes, but you may still run across some in an odd catalog. Be aware that these seeds have been genetically altered by man in a laboratory. They are meant to resist liberal spraying of chemicals which kill weeds and insects but do not harm the crop. Corn and beans are the usual GMO crops. They are also very dangerous for pollinators. When choosing which seeds to consider, be sure to check the growing zone first. Are they organic for safe food growing, hybrid for guaranteed qualities, annual or perennial, bush (Patio or non-vining), Determinate meant for canning or a sporadic crop for those huge tomato sandwiches we all drool over in our memories. Are they disease resistant? Any seed with a whole line of initials after the name has been tested to provide natural protection to the diseases indicated. The more, the better. Use an ink pen when going through your seed catalogs and circle everything interesting. Then go back with a highlighter and see which ones are the best and most affordable choices. It makes the actual ordering process a lot easier. Remember that some leftover seeds, carefully stored in an airtight container, in a cool dry environment, can remain viable for years. Corn does not store well, but many others do. Make sealed packets out of waxed paper with the seed name and date purchased written in black marker. Save the original seed packets in a separate container for reference. Don’t forget seeds for winter sowing! Ask a Master Gardener. Master Gardeners are available for group presentations. Contact the office for specifics. Certified Master Gardeners are local volunteers trained by Penn State to answer Horticulture questions with properly researched information. For a “best practices” answer to your question, call Penn State Jefferson County Extension to leave a message at 849-7361, Ext 508, e-mail cjs5618@psu.edu, or mail your question to 186 Main Street, Suite 3, Brookville, PA 15825. Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Jefferson County Cheryl J. Shenkle, Coordinator 186 Main Street Brookville, PA 15825 814-849-7361 Extension 508 cjs5618@psu.edu http://extension.psu.edu/jefferson https://www.facebook.com/JeffCOPAMG https://extension.psu.edu/trees-lawns-and-landscaping/home-gardening(Newsletter) https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SVd6w3IB2Qd4t55T7 (Survey) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now