I finished ordering all my seeds for this season last night. Altogether I purchased…
Well, a gardener never tells!
However, it appears that to date I haven’t purchased as many seeds as I did last year.
But there is still snow on the ground and plenty of time to buy more seeds. When, or I suppose if, I decide I need more seeds, I think I’ll buy them at one of the local garden centers.
I do need to make a list of all the seeds I have and carry it with it at all times. Then when, or if, I’m suddenly overcome with the urge to buy more sweet pea seeds, for example, I can check my list and see that I’ve purchased four, oops, five varieties of sweet peas already.
Which reminds me! Dog gone it. I didn’t order any cantaloupe seeds. Last season I had a great harvest from two cantaloupe plants that I bought on impulse to fill in one last spot in the garden. Since I generally think it is pointless to buy a plant for something you can easily start from seed, I decided to buy some seeds for cantaloupe this year.
Oh wait, check that. I did buy cantaloupe seeds. I purchased ‘Hearts of Gold’ from Nature’s Crossroads. They describe it as, “this classic Midwest melon ruled the markets of the 1930’s. Fruit has a small seed cavity with aromatic juicy sweet flesh. Fruit normally weights 2 – 3 lbs with two or three per vine.”
They had me at “ruled the markets of the 1930’s”. It immediately conjured up images of my Dad and uncles growing up on a southwestern Indiana farm, where surely the kitchen garden had several hills of melons.
They also noted on the package that it contains at least 25 seeds with a 90% germination rate which means that I have more melon seeds than I need for my garden. I wonder if I have a sister or two who would like a few seeds to grow some old fashioned melons in their gardens?
I really do need to make up that seed list so that I know what I have for this season.
Reminder… don’t forget to leave a comment on yesterday’s post to enter the drawing to win six packets of seeds from Botanical Interests and the book, Homegrown Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs
by Jim Wilson. You have until Friday, February 12, 2010 at 9 pm EST to enter! Hurry! See yesterday’s post for all the details.
Don't you just love those descriptions? I'm totally a sucker for that.
Dear Carol, One of the advantages of a very small garden is that there is very little room for the raising of plants from seed. Although, like you, I have to admit to a love of sweet peas – such good flowers for cutting for the house.
Thank you for your comment on my latest posting to which I have replied.
Some of the descriptions do pull at your heart strings…
Great idea to carry a list at all times. Last year I over did the peppers and ended up with so many that even friends and family weren't interested in more peppers. I'm only planting flower seed, I don't grow enough vegetables to warrant buying seed, but how I wish I could.
seed catalogs, seed shopping, selection, and organizing are among winter's pleasures.
I concur with Teresa – great idea to carry a list Carol!
I have a seed list but you are ahead of me, I haven't actually ordered anything yet and I need to get on that.
Where in Indiana did you grow up? I'm from a farm in Shelbyville. I loved growing up there – it's such a great place to learn gardening.
Part of the anticipation about the gardening season, for me, is always trying a few "new" varieties, which, as you note, often may be old ones. It's such fun to see if they live up to their descriptions — melons, sadly, often don't, but much depends on the weather. And when you discover a real gem, you want to shout and tell everyone about it. And you can't do it if you don't start with those humble little seeds.
A gardener can never have too many: gloves, garden gadgets, plants, seeds and good gardening books! If this one's a keeper, sign me up. 🙂
Well I just came back from Guyana where I collected tons of seeds from fruits, plants and trees and planted out some last weekend-sapodilla, caimite, 6 different kinds of palms, sunflower, royal poinciana, Pride of Barbados etc.
A list would be a great thing-as in I don't have that one or that one or… And now you can find so many varieties in the garden center. And I love that they are starting to carry seeds from some of the very small growers.
I always go off the list! It's so bad… but that's kind of the fun of seed shopping.
I think gardening can be listed as an addictive behavior. It is so easy to get caught up in when we are all so anxious to get started.
I don't grow melons, Carol–everyone here prefers to buy the tastier INDIANA melons:) Believe it or not, I had to make lists of what seeds I had ordered this year, too. I found myself looking at the same varieties in every catalog otherwise. Based on the number of seeds I've ordered and the ones still to come in a seed exchange, I may have to order a lot more grow lights for this spring!
Darn, I missed the deadline for the book and seed giveaway! I'm just too distracted these days… Yes, I think if you had a list with you AT ALL TIMES, you'd probably save yourself some money in the long run. 🙂
I am also going to have to make a master list of seed I have already ordered. Every year I end up with four packets of the same variety because I forgot I already had it. Think I have ordered way too much AGAIN anyway. I have seven different varieties of Melons…is that too many? LOL..can't be, there are never too many seeds…
I know darned well you aren't done buying seeds, and you know it too! Have you ever checked out Swallowtail Garden Seeds or Annie's Annuals? I think you need to do so!
Hi Carol, all of my seed info comes from you and a few others who have shown such a 'weakness' for them;-) I still don't feel really 'at home' growing things from seed, but I plan to try a couple of things this spring. I haven't started indoors yet and am not sure if I'm going to do that part of it. I wanted to ask you again to participate in my garden bloggers sustainable living project that i'm having, I'd really love you to join in because I know you have a lot to offer. It doesn't involve much, other than a tiny post on some of the things you do to contribute to a 'green' lifestyle. Jan
Here's a direct link:
http://thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/p/garden-bloggers-sustainable-living.html
Oooh, I can't wait to see what grows from all of those seeds my friend. I'm looking forward to this gardening year.~~Dee