We are hoping to begin plans for our very first garden in this home. I'm excited! We planted a few things when we lived in Wisconsin in our raised garden beds hubby made and some tomato plant pots, but we are going to attempt to have a decent sized garden this year in our new yard.
My question for all of you veteran gardeners out there....
Where do you get your seeds?
- Does it make a difference?
- Organic or not?
- Store or catalog?
- Local grower or farmer?
- Your own harvested?
Before we invest, I just want to get your opinions of where to get some seeds. I have so much to learn and I'm hoping to study up, but I really appreciate your tried and true recommendations. Thanks for the help!
10 comments:
I get my seeds from the bulk herb store. They are no gmo. I don't know if that matters to you or not. If it doesn't I have found Menards has the best seeds.
I don't consider myself a veteran, but I do like seeds from Burpee and Johnny's. We've had good success with both. Rather than organic, I look for heirloom varieties as they have not been altered but are in their "old-fashioned" state as I understand it!
Gina from Home Joys is doing a series for beginning gardeners and her latest post is where to get seeds. This may be helpful for you and is helpful for me too as I don't know much about this topic!
http://www.homejoys.blogspot.com/2013/02/tips-for-beginning-gardener-seeds.html
Gardening is so exciting! I like ordering my seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds because they are close to where I live and they only have heirloom and non GMO seeds. I've also used heirloom seeds from Walmart and some from a local health food store. I think as long as you stay away from the really cheap seeds (they sometimes aren't what they are labeled) then you should be fine.
Katie,
How exciting! I get a lot of my seeds from the local feed and seed. They usually have bulk or pre-weighted amounts of seeds. I like to buy green beans, carrots and beets this way.
I don't have much space to grow things from seeds so I usually buy cabbage, lettuce, broc, zuke and cuke seedlings. Sometimes from a local greenhouse and sometimes from the big box hardware garden center. I would love to grow everything from seed, but I just don't have the area for it.
I grew up with farming grandparents, gardening parents and have been puttering in my own garden for several years. I still have lots to learn and many times I fail. It is hard work, yet fun and so rewarding when you harvest. Praying you reap a large harvest!
Wendi
I am not a gardener - was born with a "black" thumb! Anyway my husband is the gardener - you'll have to ask him, Katie! Marion
I like to get my seeds at the local farmer's supply store. I try to pick heirloom seed so that I have the option of harvesting the seed myself...plus I like knowing that it's a "natural" seed. If I order seeds from a catalog I stick to heirloom varieties too : )
Hey Katie! I buy my seeds from Garden Expressions, a fabulous little Mom & Pop shop in town. They recommended Lake Valley Seeds which I used and loved! I thought they said they were organic but I don't see them labeled that way on the packaging, so I'm unsure. The funny thing, is that the seed company is from just down the street from where I used to live in Boulder, CO! :) Anyway, I would suggest including the Royal Burgundy Bean in your garden. It's a deep purple but turns green when you cook it - the kids loved that!
Also, I just finished reading "Square Foot Gardening" by Mel Bartholomew. I highly recommend it; just make sure you get the latest edition.
Anyway, I certainly wouldn't consider myself to have a green thumb...just a BIG thumb! ;) Good luck! I can't wait to hear how it turns out!
Jodi
Can't help you since I don't live in the states but I can tell you that I go to the market and buy seedlings, seems a bit easier and it's almost instant gratification.
Btw, I love your blog and I'll be back!
Hi Katie! I do several things. I buy most of my seeds online from Burpee. And I am able to get mostly organic seeds from them. I also buy some at our local tractor supply store as well as our local farmer's market. We also plant some starters (small plants rather than seeds) and we always buy those from our local nursery. I would like to try heirlooms eventually, but I haven't found the time to sit down and really learn about heirlooms.
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