The good news is that the days are getting longer!  In mid-winter we gain just over 2 minutes of daylight every day.  Slow but sure, spring in coming.  The other sure sign that spring is coming is the arrival of new seed catalogs. This is a great time of year to begin planning for your new gardening season.  In this last article for 2020 let’s begin thinking about preparations for 2021 with deciding what to plant and some tips about which kind of seed to get, or not. 

You have three basic decisions to make.  1) What do you want to grow?  2) Should you start with seeds or buy plants later? and 3) Where are you going to get your seeds or plants?  The answer to no. 1 should be based on what you like or what you want.  Also, recall what performed best last year?  What yielded the most with the fewest problems.  Think about your favorites that made you feel successful.  You get to choose! 

Seeds or plants?  When you buy plants from a nursery you will be limited to what they have decided to offer and that may not be the best choice for you.  A good local nursery will have a better selection, but most businesses are maximizing profit while reducing their risks.  If you will only want a few plants of a certain vegetable or a special flower then buying those as plants makes sense.  Brand name plants from mass growers in the south may look impressive in their fancy containers and labels but usually are not the best variety and may bring hidden diseases with them.  Home grown seeds take more work and some space (I’ll discuss specifics in a future article) but are always more economical and you will have a better selection.

Next you need to select which varieties to get.  There are hundreds of tomato varieties, lettuces, carrots, and flowers. Your choice depends of what you want and what does well in your garden.  Some people are concerned about whether the seeds are hybrids, heirlooms, organic, or GMO.  Very important. 

GMO plants are genetically modified in a lab by inserting genes from one species into another species in order to give the recipient some “desirable” trait.  In agriculture that trait is nearly always resistance to some herbicide that the seed seller also happens to sell or the built-in production of an insecticide by the plant tissues to control pests.  GMO crops do not offer higher yields or better nutrition. Today most of our commercial field corn and soybeans are produced with GMO technology in the U.S.  Almost none of our vegetables are GMOs so this is generally not a concern for gardeners, yet. 

Hybrids are varieties bred to have “desirable” traits by crossing two parent plant varieties that each have good traits.  This process mimics nature and is usually focused on getting higher yields or disease resistance. Hybrid varieties are designated as “F₁”.  Because of this controlled pollination, the seeds in the plants you grow will not produce plants reliably similar to the parents and so are not saved and used.  Some hybrids are developed for better hardiness in cooler climates (like New England) or earlier production.  Very useful. 

Heirloom plants are varieties selected for superior production or quality and will usually do very well under similar conditions of soil and climate where they were developed.  They are produced by “open pollination” so may vary but their seeds will produce plants that are very similar to the parents.  Seeds from a successful heirloom variety such as tomatoes, beans, or lettuces you grow can be saved and planted.  They often lack the high yields or disease resistance of hybrids but may offer special flavor or appearance.

Organic seeds are produced by plants grown with organic practices.  This means their production has been environmentally friendly but also that they have been selected from plants that respond well to organic practices.  If you plan to garden organically then these seeds will provide an advantage.  Organic seeds can be hybrids or heirlooms but not GMO. Certified organic producers are required to plant only organic seeds.  Most seed companies now offer organic seeds so they are readily available but may cost a little more than non-organic.

Are the higher costs of quality seeds worth it?  YES!  If you are going to invest all your time and effort to grow something then why not give yourself every advantage?  The seeds we select will determine the quality & vigor of the plants we grow.  Seeds are not all the same.  Cheap seeds are cheap for a reason, even if they are the same variety.  Saving a couple dollars on seeds is really nonsense because those inferior plants will require the same care (or more) but cannot yield as well as quality seeds.  Fortunately, we have several excellent seed companies in New England that offer great seeds adapted well to our local conditions and your needs.  Here are the links to a few good ones where you can also request a printed catalog if you prefer:

• High Mowing Seed Company  –  Vermont based, all organic seeds, big selection.

• FEDCO Seeds  –  based in Maine, seeds, supplies, & tools, lower prices

• Johnny’s Selected Seeds  –  based in Maine, organic & non-organic seeds, big selection

• Maine Potato Lady  –  specialize in potatoes & onions

Seed catalogs and websites have become more than just a place to buy seeds. You can research plant varieties and they include extremely useful tables and calculators for gardeners.  They provide practical information including how many seeds to plant in a given area/row, seed to transplant or to harvest times, yield expectations, disease & pest resistance, etc.  This is not a complete list of seed companies, it’s just the ones I know best and use.  If you have other favorites please share your recommendations in the Comments section below.

When to order?  The sooner the better!  Last year (before Covid) seed companies ran out of the most popular varieties in January and by March the most common descriptor was “Out of Stock”.   You don’t want to be forced to accept the leftover, cheap seeds at a big box store so order soon.

Which variety of tomato, cabbage, onion, potato, zinnia, etc. is the best?  Or the worst? You tell me!   In an upcoming article I will post variety recommendations but I want to hear from you first.  What did best for you? Which varieties were you happiest with?  Which were the worst, not worth growing?  (and why)  Send me your list including the plant and variety name using the Comments section below. 

Don’t overlook the possibilities of winter compost for your garden.  Kitchen wastes, wood ash from your wood stove, and old tree leaves make a great compost and can be added to your frozen compost bin or pile all winter!  Remember that “kitchen wastes can include the obvious coffee grounds, tea bags, fruit & veggie peels, spoiled bread or pasta, and crushed eggshells, but also other plant based biodegradables including soiled napkins/paper towels, used kleenix tissues, and shredded newspapers.  No need to carry these valuable materials to the Transfer Station when they can enrich your own gardens, for FREE!   Here’s a new short video to help you get your own compost started.

What did you learn in your garden this year?  What are you going to do differently next year?  Please share your plant recommendations.  Leave a message in the Comments below.