We are in the midst of the
inevitable: winter. The short days, gray skies, howling, biting winds, snow,
and ice are all around us. Winter comes every year, but we never get used to
it. For many, the end of this season is the best part. For the home gardener,
this time of year is best suited for planning for spring plantings. The seed
catalogues have already started teasing us in the mailbox.
Whether you are a novice,
thinking of starting your plants for the first time, or an experienced
gardener, January and February are great times to think about what to grow and
ordering seeds. In order to achieve the best results, there are some things to
consider before making a purchase.
Know the USDA hardiness zone.
In 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture updated its hardiness zones. What
this means is, after looking thirty years of records, a more accurate and
precise tool is available to help determine what plants will grow best in your
area. With the enhanced information, you find out by zip code in which zip code
your garden is. For more information go to http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov
Know the garden conditions.
What kind of soil makes up your landscape: loam, clay, sandy? The quality of
the soil will have an impact on the plants rooted in it. Do you have good
drainage, or water pooling after a rain? Some plants thrive moist soils and
other need dryer areas. The amount of sunlight is critical, vegetables need at
least six hours of direct sun to produce a decent crop. But there are a lot of
tender annuals that need shade.
Know the seed packet. Look at
the information listed on the front and back of the seed package. It is too
easy to get lost in the picture, with its promise of a beautiful harvest, but
the information will help you decide if that particular seed is the best choice
for you. Besides the basic description, the label will give you the light and
soil requirements, spacing, plus germination, and maturity days. Germination
days indicates how long before the first sprouts appear, and days to maturity
means how long until the plant is ready to be harvested or in bloom.
Know the kind of seed you
want. “Hybrid” are seeds cross between varieties, usually grown for specific
reasons not found in nature by itself, like color, size or flavor. “Open
pollinated” describes natural pollination, cloning or self pollinated. It can
be a controlled situation though, by using plants with known characteristics.
“Heirlooms” are seed produced through open pollination and grown for many years
to keep their distinctive traits. These plants are not usually disease tolerant
like hybridized seeds. “Treated” means the seed has been coated to protect it
from diseases or insects. Usually, they are colored too, so they won’t be confused
with untreated seeds. “Organic” are seeds grown without the use of synthetic
fertilizers or pesticides. If being organic is important to you, look for the
USDA Organic label on the package. These were once difficult to find but are
becoming common place now.
The benefits of purchasing
your own seeds and starting plants from them are numerous: you will save money,
know the supply chain, the quality of their care, and give you a productive
hobby in the middle of winter. For more information on purchasing and starting
seeds at home the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County have a free
packet of information on this topic. Contact us at 570-963-6842 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu for a copy of “Sowing Seeds at Home.”
Steve Ward
Master
Gardener Coordinator
Penn State
Extension
Lackawanna
County
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