Gardeners get restless as spring approaches. The weather might not be good enough to get out on the vegetable plot, but that gives us time to plan.
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Seed catalogues, websites and new season's stock in garden centres and general stores is there to tempt. Colourful packets promising abundant crops of perfect vegetables are hard to resist.
Of course we know in our heart of hearts that they won't look anything like the pictures on the packets, but that's no obstacle. I'm not trying to put a damper on your enthusiasm, and writing this post is as much for my benefit as yours, but I thought I would outline some considerations before you take advantage of those early bird offers. These are my top tips when buying vegetable seeds.
1. Check what seeds you've gotBefore you buy, check what you've got left from last year. I have a tin on the window ledge in the downstairs loo that is just overflowing with packets. These aren't all old; I actually had a clear out last year. Some have been opened and part used, others are pristine.
First and foremost check the dates. If still in date and unopened they should be fine. If opened and out of date, throw them away and buy new. If opened and in date, things like courgettes (zucchini), French and broad beans, rocket should be OK. Parsnips deteriorate quickly; I would start with new.
2. Plan your vegetable growingPlan what you are going to use before you buy. This is really important. All vegetable growers produce more than they are going to use. This is a waste of time and space unless you enjoy growing it and giving it away. In my experience, what you've got lots of, so has everyone else. Overgrown courgettes and runner beans are never welcomed with open arms.
3. Don't buy all your veg seeds at onceDon't buy too many seeds at the outset. Early season offers can tempt you to buy too many packets that will never get sown. This is just false economy. You are better off buying less than you need and acquiring other as the season progresses. There are plenty of seed suppliers and retailers; shortages during the growing season are rare, especially as there are so many varieties to choose from.
4. Plan your gardenIf you want to have a go at growing something for the first time, consider whether it will work in your growing conditions. More importantly consider how long it takes from sowing to maturity. You can't use that space for anything else if it's a long-term crop. This may sound obvious to the old hands, but new gardeners often underestimate how long things take.
5. Choose the right vegetable varietiesBe selective when choosing varieties. Generally F1 varieties are always a good choice. Seed costs more, but results are likely to be more reliable. Uniform plants, hardier, more vigorous and heavier crops. Don't always just go for older varieties you've heard of.
6. How many seeds in a packet?Check the number of seeds in a packet. Is this likely to produce far more than you need, or is it lots of packaging with attractive branding and few seeds? With things like carrots you need large seed numbers because you are sowing direct and there will be wastage. You probably don't need 60 tomato plants of one variety. Would it be better to buy a few plants later and save yourself the trouble?
7. How you'll grow seedsIt's worth thinking about how you are going to sow and grow things as you buy the seeds. Will you sow direct? Will you start them in cell trays? Have you always failed with a crop, but you still buy the seeds every year? If so should you be trying to grow it at all? I always fail with carrots in the open ground. The soil surface dries out quickly and they fail to germinate. I have the same problem with beetroot. I wasted my time trying every year until I started growing in raised containers of quality growing medium.
8. Don't start too earlyFinally, don't let your early purchase of seeds tempt you into starting too early on the plot. Who knows what the early spring weather will bring. However, even if the weather is warm, it can still turn cold and sometimes it's better to wait for consistently warmer conditions and get things to grow quickly.
There is nothing more fulfilling than successfully growing crops from seeds. Buying vegetable seeds lets you save more money on gardening while also planting a wider variety of crops. Whether you're growing crops for food or profit, gardening becomes infinitely more enjoyable when eagerly waiting to harvest the literal fruits of your labor. And contrary to popular notion, you don't have to be an expert gardener to grow vegetables from seeds. Some crops and herbs can be grown from seed with minimal effort.
Are you thinking about growing your crops from seeds? What crops are the easiest to grow from seeds? Continue reading below to find out!
When to buy vegetable seeds: Timing is everything in gardening and the best time to purchase vegetable and herb seeds is during the winter. Many types of vegetables can be started from seed during the winter months. You have to sow the vegetables indoors and transplant them to the garden once the weather warms up in spring.
When to sow vegetable seeds: Cool-season crops such as broccoli cabbages, kale, and lettuce are best planted indoors, away from the intense heat of the summer season. On the other hand, warm-season crops like tomatoes and bell peppers can be grown under grow lights until they are ready to be transplanted outdoors in the warmer months. Doing this will extend the harvest time for your garden.
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Check the hardiness zone: Knowing what kinds of crops thrive in your local climate is essential. Otherwise, your gardening efforts will be wasted. Consult the USDA plant hardiness zone map online before buying any vegetable seeds. Observe your local climate; see if it's shady or sunny most days and for how long. Many crops prefer a bright spot, but others thrive in partly shady growing environments. For example, carrots, beets, lettuce, etc., love shaded areas, while tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers are best grown in a sunny spot.
Consider your gardening experience: If you're new to growing crops from seeds, opt for fast-growing, quick-yielding, hard-to-kill crops and avoid finicky vegetables that take some babying to grow. Herbs, in particular, like mint, basil, thyme, and rosemary, are incredibly easy to grow from seeds. These aromatic plants only take a few weeks to grow and are pretty resilient, so they're perfect for beginners. Save the sensitive crops once you've had more experience to ensure the plants won't die on you.
Lettuce: Lettuce is one of the easiest vegetables to sow directly into the soil or indoors for transplanting. We suggest planting lettuce seeds in a partly shady area during summer. It will take some time to sprout, but the seedlings will be quick to grow after. You can also plant lettuce seeds as the winter approaches, and it thrives in a cooler climate.
Green Beans: Yummy green beans will thrive in the poorest soils and are effortless to grow from seeds. For the summer, we suggest growing lima beans, asparagus beans, and southern peas and in the cooler months, opt for snap beans. All varieties of green beans thrive in moist, warm soils.
Peas: Peas are a terrific addition to the garden because they're versatile. Use it to add color to salads or make heartier, healthier soups and stews. Planting pea seeds is easy, and you can sow different varieties every two weeks to enjoy a continuous supply even in the off-season. Stop sowing by mid-June, and you'll have plenty of peas to store for later use.
Radish: In just as little as 24 days, you can grow and enjoy radishes grown from seeds in your own backyard. Radish is easy to sow from seeds, quick to grow, and incredibly resilient. As soon as the warmth of spring softens the soil, you can sow radish seeds and enjoy your harvest within a few weeks. Best of all, radishes can be grown alongside root crops like carrots so that you can look forward to a rewarding harvest.
Carrot: Like radish, carrots are easy to grow from seeds. This root crop loves loose sandy soils and a cool climate. Carrots are surprisingly resilient; they can tolerate frost and cold weather. Avoid growing carrots in rocky soils because this can stunt their growth. Use well-draining soils because carrots hate standing water. Also, thin the carrot seedlings and give each one room to grow to avoid overcrowding and stunted growth.
Choose a trusted brand: There could be thousands of brands that sell herb kits and seed packets, so be very selective. Check the reviews, see which brands are consistently selling good seeds and avoid those with an overwhelming number of negative feedback.
Check the seed age: The age of the seeds matters. While some seeds will be fine to use even if they're several years old, some must only be a year old or less; otherwise, they won't germinate. Seeds like parsnips and carrots, for example, won't germinate if they are several years old. The seeds have to be purchased every year to ensure high germination rates.
Check the label: Every seed pack has instructions on the label, including the scientific name of the plant and an image of the matured plant. Read the label carefully to know all about the plant's growing information, including the sun and water requirements, mature height, and germination days. More importantly, the label will indicate the zones ideal for this specific plant to grow.
When shopping for seed packets and herb kits, you will come across these important terms:
Open-pollinated: These are plants that are identical to their parent plant and are pollinated by bees, birds, the wind, and other natural methods. Most open-pollinated crops can be saved yearly, so you don't have to buy new seeds every growing season.
Heirlooms: These are seeds from plants with a documented heritage of at least 50 years old. All heirloom plants are open-pollinated, but not all seeds are heirloom seeds.
Hybrid: These are seeds from plants purposely crossed-pollinated from two different plants to create a unique plant variety with desirable traits. The desirable characteristics could be greater yield, better resistance to diseases or pests, and higher produce quality.
GMOs are biologically engineered in a lab through gene-splicing to alter a plant's DNA. Hybrids are only cross-pollinated, and no gene splicing is executed to change the plant DNA. Gene splicing is controversial because the entire process is done in a lab, which is the opposite of natural, organic farming. GMOs are limited to corn, soybeans, sugarbeets, alfalfa, papaya, zucchini, summer squash, canola, cotton, potato, and apples.
Organic: These are seeds from organically produced plants. No chemicals are used to grow the crops. The growing and farming methods meet the standards of the US Department of Agriculture certification program.