BUYING SEEDS FOR YOUR GARDEN
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| credit: Swallowtail Garden Seeds |
Question: Which plant produces the world’s largest seed? (Answer found at the end of blog.)
In January or February, I start to think about what kind of seeds I want to order for this year’s garden. The first thing I do is list the left over seed packets from the previous season, and the seeds saved from the previous year’s garden. I'm careful to throw old seeds out because seeds do go bad. They do not remain viable forever. Most seeds will still be good for around 3 years when stored properly in a cool, dry, dark place. After three years, the germination rate starts to drop.
Some seeds remain viable for less than three years. Lettuce, corn, peppers, okra, spinach, onion and okra have a reputation for not remaining viable for very long. When you Google “seed viability chart”, you will find some variation in the number of years seed remains viable. It’s good to remember that seed viability is an estimation.
Don’t sow seed that is too old. You work diligently growing seedlings and preparing your garden soil so you definitely want most of your seeds to germinate.
credit:BioDivLibrary
There are many seed companies that offer seed for sale to home gardeners. When I order seeds, I’m keeping a few things in mind: Do they sell organic seeds? Do they sell heirloom varieties? How are their prices? Do they carry unique varieties?.
By ordering organic seeds, I know that the seeds are not GMO and they have been produced without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Companies that offer organic seeds are oftentimes smaller operations that are more closely connected to small farms. Some seed companies will actually grow their own seed on a limited basis. This is almost always a good sign. Some of the larger seed companies have started selling organic seeds too.
The large seed companies, which you are probably most familiar with, obtain their seeds from large seed wholesalers. In other words, most seed companies that you buy from are just seed retailers. They package seeds, advertise and ship seeds to growers. Seed farmers in the US, Europe and Asia specialize in growing specific varieties of vegetable seed. Then they will sell their special variety directly to the wholesaler. If you get the picture, garden seed production is a very large, global operation. It’s sort of like the auto companies getting car parts from other countries and then assembling the cars in the US.
More and more, I am growing heirloom varieties of vegetables. The big advantage of heirloom varieties is that you can save the seed from year to year and expect to produce the same plant with the same qualities. Also, when you are shopping for heirloom seed, you will notice there is a greater variety of seeds offered for sale. The disadvantage of growing heirloom varieties, instead of hybrid varieties, is that heirlooms are sometimes more susceptible to disease.
I will buy some hybrid seed every year. Hybrid seed has been bred to have specific traits. For example, I buy some hybrid tomato seed, along with heirloom tomato seed every year, because I want to be protected in case it is a bad year for Verticillium or Fusarium disease. The heirloom tomatoes may die, but I will still be able to harvest some disease resistant hybrid fruit.
Some hybrid vegetables are bred to produce earlier in the season or to be sweeter. I do buy some of the sweet, hybrid varieties of snap peas because they taste good. The main trouble with hybrid seed is that you can’t save the seed and expect to produce the same plants the following year. Hybrid seed is generally produced by large companies that have invested money in research to develop the new hybrid varieties.
Many seed retailers offer the exact same hybrid variety of seed. Recognize that a specific hybrid variety is produced by one company that holds the patent for that hybrid variety. In the US, the Plant Protection Act of 1970, allows the developing company to have exclusive rights, on the sale of the hybrid seed they have developed, for 25 years. Basically, the government wanted to ensure that the seed developers could earn a financial return on their research, and thus encourage more seed development research. This act was passed before the arrival of genetic engineering. Today, there are patents for GMO seeds as well.
This leads to price. Most of us want the lowest price. From one seed catalogue to another, you’ll find that most of the seed prices are fairly similar. You’ll find this consistency most often with hybrid seed that the retailers are buying from the big wholesalers. Some companies will give you less seed per packet and can consequently offer you a lower price per seed packet. You will generally pay a premium for organic seed. The smaller, more specialized seed companies, will often charge a little more for their seeds, especially if they are producing seed on their own farm.
Some years, I want to find an unusual variety to grow. There are many seed companies that are specialized to offer unique seeds. Totally Tomatoes is a company that, as you would expect, has a large offering of tomato varieties. Vermont Bean and Seed Company offers lots of different beans. Both of these companies do sell other seeds besides their specialty.
Even more interesting are the seed companies that offer unusual varieties from other parts of the world - plants I’ve never eaten, but want to try. Kitazawa, in Oakland, California, is a seed company that specializes in Asian vegetables. Seeds from Italy Co. has been in business since 1783. They currently operate out of Lawrence, Kansas. If you take a look, you’ll find some very interesting vegetables.
Ultimately, if you have time and motivation, it is a good idea to save some of your heirloom seed you’ve grown and harvested. The basic idea is to let the plant fully mature, then harvest the seed. Make sure the seed has completely dried out before you package the seed. Then store the seed over the winter in a cool, dark, dry location free from any vermin. You might want to store your seed packages in a tightly sealed metal or plastic container so not even moths or weevils can get into the container and destroy your seeds.
There are many seed companies you can examine - just Google “vegetable seed catalogues”. Most companies prefer that you order online, but I still receive some seed catalogues. I enjoy looking at them when the snow falls. Here are some seed companies you might like to check out to begin your search:
Peaceful Valley Farm Supply - organic seeds, heirlooms, and a great source of organic gardening products and information
Seed Savers Exchange - a non-profit in Iowa, working to save heirloom varieties. 8,000 members grow heirloom varieties in the US.
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds - a family-owned business in Missouri, providing the largest selection of heirloom varieties in the US
Fedco - a cooperative business in Maine, a great variety of organic seeds and supplies
Jung Seed Co. - An older seed company that now offers a nice variety of organic seeds
If you are buying seeds at a mainstream hardware or lumber supply store, you can now find “Seeds of Change” packets of seeds. Seeds of Change was a smaller company bought by a giant company. Their seeds are organically grown and, with new ownership, are now more widely distributed so you can more readily purchase organic seeds.
Seed companies do occasionally run out of certain seed varieties so it is a good idea to start ordering your seeds early. There is such an amazing variety of seeds out there. You might want to search the seed catalogues all year long, writing down notes on new varieties you might want to try in the following season. Buying seeds is only the beginning of the adventure.
credit: Jason Rojas
About the Author
Edwin McLeod has been gardening for 45 years. He studied Botany at the University of Michigan, receiving a Bachelors Degree. After graduating, he worked for Dr. Lloyd Andres at the USDA Biological Control of Weeds Laboratory in Albany California. During this time, he conducted a survey of 20 organic farms in California to find out how they control weeds without using herbicides. Shortly thereafter, he managed a small farm owned by Benjamin Berg. In the early 80s, he worked for Amigo Bob Cantisano at Peaceful Valley Farm Supply. Edwin McLeod is the author of “Feed the Soil” - a book about how to improve soil fertility through natural methods and green manuring. He has taught high school students Biology and Physics for the past 30 years. “Organic Gardening for Beginners and Students” is an outgrowth from his Biology of Food class at the Center for Advanced Studies and the Arts in Oak Park, Michigan.
I doubt you remember me, but I was a physics student of yours many years back. A friend gifted me your book on amazon this week as a surprise. I haven't read it all yet, but I look forward to applying it to my home garden this spring. I'm a big fan of heirloom veggies, especially tomatoes. I always leave a few to rot in my beds at the end of the season. Every spring I get a few surprise plants at no extra work or cost.
ReplyDeleteOf course I remember you Erik. You were one of my star students. Thanks for writing. I hope my blog helps.
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