A lot of people just starting out in the the hobby (I prefer to call it the life-long rewarding art) of gardening, always seem flabbergasted as to where to find the best source for seeds, whether it be hybrid, heirloom, rare, decorative, or edible. Let’s face it, it can be quite overwhelming when you are just starting out in the garden world. So just in case you are one of our “club newbies”, #1, welcome!! #2, here’s some simple tips to follow, that will greatly enhance your gardening experience.
First and foremost, know who you are buying from. This is important to know, because of quality. Just because someone is selling seeds (big or small company, or even individual) doesn’t mean they are of good quality. Obviously if you are just getting started with gardening, ask someone. Join a gardening group, ask friends. I guarantee, anyone who has any experience with seeds will most assuredly give you their list of favorites! For example, what seeds I don’t save, or sell myself, I buy from Baker’s Creek (rareseeds.com). They are an amazing heirloom seed company, great quality, ship time, and very high viability rates.
Second, know the date the seeds were saved from. Most good/decent companies sell seeds that were harvested the previous season/year, and this is exactly what you want. The older the seed, the lower percentage of viability (how many sprout once planted) and the less you are getting for your money. There are some seeds for example that they don’t HAVE to be new, just because they have a long shelf life. For example, pepper seeds. I sell quite a few of those, and prefer to sell the previous season’s harvest, however I will sell them if they are a year older, but add a bunch of extra seeds to the package just in case.
Speaking of viability, know what you’re growing, and how long your seeds are good for, you don’t want to waste your money. You don’t want to buy a 5 lb. of some great seed, and find out it is has little viability the next year! Peppers and tomatoes tend to have the best viability, but I am starting to notice basil does extremely well too!
Follow these few tips, and your seed buying experience should be an enjoyable experience!
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