Don't wait! It's time to buy seeds

Boozhoo!

It may only be January (Gichi-manidoo-giizisoons), but it seems like it’s been a long cold winter already! Despite the cold temps, it’s time to start thinking about spring. When it comes to seeds, unless you have mastered the art of saving your own, you’ll want to start putting your online orders together as early as December.

Why? Since the Covid pandemic, seed companies have struggled to keep up with demand. Some of your favorite seeds might be sold out by the time you order! Here are some tips on putting together your seed order for summer 2022.

Ask yourself: can you sprout the seeds indoors?

This is an important question for gardeners in places like Red Lake (USDA Zone 3) where we can get frosts as late as June 1 and as early as September 15. The best way to greet a short growing season is by starting your seeds in trays indoors. This is especially important for crops like tomatoes and peppers that do better when they are transplanted from a tray into the ground. Check out the windows in your house -- is there space for a few trays for you to start your plants? If so, buying seeds makes sense. If not, you might be better going to a local garden center like Nature’s Edge Garden Center or Hill’s Country Greenhouse to purchase seedlings instead.

Buying regular vs. organic seeds

You’ve probably heard the word ‘organic’ and know it is supposed to be healthier and better for the Earth (aki). So should you buy organic seeds? That’s really up to you. Organic seeds are more costly, so you’ll need to factor in your budget. However, the best thing about organic seeds is that you know that the ‘parent’ plants were grown organically, with no harsh pesticides or other chemicals. That said, buying seeds that are not organic and then handling them organically on your property is still a good way to keep you and your family safe, since you’re not spraying anything and breathing it in or leaving any residue on the crop itself.

What do “F1,” “Hybrid,” and “Open-pollinated” mean, and which is best for my garden?

When buying your seeds, you’ll want to think about whether or not your goal is to save any seeds at the end of the year. Hybrid seeds, also called F1 seeds, are a cross of two different breeds. It’s like crossing a Labrador with a poodle -- you’re buying Labradoodle, hybrid seeds when you buy F1. There’s nothing wrong with that, but your crops -- the labradoodle offspring -- might not make for good seeds, as the genetics are all mixed up and you don’t know if you’ll get Labrador traits, poodle traits, or both in your next crop. Heirloom seeds, which work just like open-pollinated varieties, are more consistent. They are usually types of seeds that are at least 100 years old, and these seeds are more like buying a purebred dog. If you save the seeds of your tomatoes, the next year’s tomatoes will look just like this year’s crop. Be careful! If you buy heirloom seeds, make sure not to plant them next to any other varieties, or the pollen will mix and you’ll end up with hybrid seeds after all.

How many seeds should I buy?

The best way to decide how many seeds to buy is by measuring your garden space! How many seeds can you fit? By reading about the correct spacing of different plants, you can actually calculate how many rows of tomatoes or beans or carrots will fit in your yard. It might help to even draw it out. We recommend buying two seeds for every one plant you want to see in your garden; if you want to have 10 tomato plants, buy at least 20 seeds, just in case some of them don’t germinate!

Where should I order my seeds?

Companies like Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange, and Eden Brothers all have fun seeds in stock to peruse and purchase. Don’t be afraid to go old school and grab a seed catalog. It always helps to buy or barter for seeds from local growers, too, who will have seeds more adapted to your environment.