8 things to know before buying garden seeds
When the season comes to plant your garden, growing your flowers and vegetables from seeds has its advantages: it’s cheaper and you can find a larger variety of seeds than fully-grown plants. You also have the satisfaction of knowing the quality and health of your plants as a result of the hard work you put in. But when it comes to actually buying seeds, here are some things you should first consider.
1. Buy trusted brands
Just like clothes, food, appliances or just about anything else you buy today, you probably have certain brands you trust. This should be no different when it comes to your seeds. Make sure you only buy reputable seed brands with a reputation for good seed quality. Try to avoid no-name seeds when possible; you might save in dollars, but lose in flower/vegetable quality. Not all seeds are made equal.
2. Buy more than you need
If you’re planting a vegetable garden, certain vegetables such as radishes or spinach have a high turnover rate. Rather than leave their space empty, after harvesting your first crop, you can plant more throughout the season. Check the days until harvest estimation on your seed packages for further insight.
3. Do your research
Make sure you read the product label and do your research online before choosing a plant seed. Many flowers require special soil and care or need to be planted indoors to develop before being placed outside. It would be a shame to waste your work and hard-earned dollars due to poor foresight, so know what is needed before you commit to a seed.
4. Don’t over-do it
If you’re looking to start a vegetable garden but you have limited space, choose smaller vegetables such as carrots, radishes, or spinach as opposed to larger vegetables that will take up all of the room. Unless you intend to eat pumpkin exclusively, steer clear of bigger fruit and vegetables until you have room to expand your garden.
5. Think about your seed size
Many smaller seeds need to be planted in small containers initially in order to better control their environment whilst the seedling is fragile. If you want to plant directly into your garden bed to start, try bigger, hardier seeds such as beans and peas, as they do not require the initial step that other varieties might.
6. Know the life of your seeds
Some vegetables, such as leeks, corn and rhubarb have a short bed-life, while others, such as eggplant, beets and melons have been known to survive for over five years. Decide how often you wish to change and replant your garden and take this into consideration when selecting your seeds.
7. Consider diseases
Many types of plants can be prone to diseases, and this can devastate your entire vegetable yield or flower bed population. Check the labels when you purchase, and aim to buy disease-resistant varieties of seed.
8. Check online
Many seeds can be found online for cheaper than you might find in store. By spending a bit of time searching reputable online sellers, you can save time and money and have your seeds show up right at your door.
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