Seedlings

Although this weather may not make you think about gardening, now is a great time to dream about your garden and prepare your seed supply. Some seedlings (plants we start inside while it is still chilly outside) like onions and leeks can be started as early as February. Here are four tips for getting a great set of seeds prepared for spring:

1. Sort through your old seeds
   • How old are they? Seeds have varying shelf lives so most seed packets come with a date so you know the seed`s age. Oregon State Extension has a helpful factsheet to guide you.
   • Are they still alive? This website talks about easy ways to check if your seeds will germinate (a fancy word for grow).
2. Make your dream list
   • Do you have space to start seedlings inside for plants like tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, onions, and leeks? If not, plan to purchase those plants as seedlings in the late spring and stick to seeds like zucchini, carrot, and beet which go directly into your garden.
   • Seed catalogues (many are now online) are a great way to get inspiration and learn more about different types and varieties of plants.
3. Attend or plan a seed swap or sale like Seedy Sunday
   

   Seed packet from phonebook

   • On February 24 come to Hamilton Seedy Sunday 2013!
     
   • Host your own eventby setting a place and time for all your friends to bring seeds to swap. Reuse materials such as newspapers and magazines to create your own seed envelopes. Always label them well!
4. Order seeds from a local vendor and plan for saving seeds in the fall
   • Find local seed farmers and vendors through Seed of Diversity resources list. Most offer online ordering options.
   • Open-pollinated or hybrid? Open-pollinated seeds are more stable from generation to generation which means that you can save your own seeds. Hybrid varieties, although often bred with interesting or tolerant traits, develop seeds which won’t grow up to be the same as the plant they grow from.
   • Order in bulk with friends and share the seeds.

Arugula seeds saved in a jar

QUICK Tip:  Store seeds in a cool, dry, dark place. One option is to keepseed packets in the refrigerator in a sealed jar with something like powdered milk or rice that will help to absorb the moisture.