Garden Planning: A Guide To Good Seed Selection

It’s time to think about your next gardening season and the seeds you’d like to buy. A word to the wise: don’t wait. If you put off seed shopping until spring, you might miss out on some varieties you love, like that time I couldn’t find my kids’ favorite Dragon’s Tongue beans. Don’t remind me! Most garden centers and online seed companies are fully stocked for the upcoming season, and it’s always nice to have first dibs. Before you shop, here are a few things to consider. Happy growing! 

What do you like to eat?

The first rule of edible gardening is growing what you like to eat. What’s the point of wasting space, time, and energy on a crop you and the family aren’t crazy about? If you love tomatoes, experiment with different varieties. Do your kids love cucumbers, beans, and snap peas? Load up! Growing what you like to eat ensures nothing will go to waste and leads to a fun and successful growing season. Remember, incorporate multiple crops and flowers to help with integrated pest management, attracting pollinators, and boosting yields.

How much space do you have?

I am always guilty of over-ordering seeds! We get so excited about the upcoming growing season, and we let our plans get a little out of control. In the end, we have overcrowded gardens or packets of seeds that never get opened, and that’s just plain sad. Map out your garden and be realistic about the space you have available. Consider incorporating a trellis for climbers or fabric grow bags and containers for the perimeter of your garden so you can squeeze in a little more! Plenty of seed varieties, like bush beans, patio tomatoes, container corn, and other micro-size crops, cater to small spaces. To avoid over-or-under-ordering, check the seed packets for the total projected yield to know how many to buy.

What’s going where?

After choosing what you like to eat and determining what you have the space for, figuring out if your selections are good companions is essential. Many crops can hinder or boost the growth rate of another plant. Knowing what works well together in advance will help you with your ordering process.

What kind of seeds do you want?

Consider what matters most to you; do you prefer to grow only organic seeds? It’s as easy to find organic as it is nonorganic at big box stores and plant nurseries today. Open-pollinated seeds are also popular as they depend on nature for pollination. Hybrid seeds allow for crosses of different species and varieties. Whatever you decide to go with, research and find a source that aligns with your values as a gardener. Local seeds are always worth a second look! Don’t forget to look at how old the seeds are. Sometimes, nurseries will offer discounts on ‘expired’ seeds. Most packets have a recommended planting date. Seeds that have passed that date lose viability, but that’s not to say they won’t sprout. 

What do your seeds need before planting?

Always check if a specific seed you’re buying requires any special treatment before planting. Seed scarification, for example, means you need to scratch at the seed’s coating to allow for better water absorption and germination rates. Some seeds need to sit in some water for 24 hours before planting. Others require a period of cold stratification to sprout successfully. Don’t assume you can just throw the seeds into the ground; being prepared will help you succeed in your growing ventures!