Some gals can’t resist chocolate or shoes or stray dogs… I just cannot resist those colorful seed packet displays at the garden center. Usually, I know what seed I want to buy in advance, but the images and exciting descriptions tempt me and then end up with more seed than I have time or space to plant.
One thing I always do before buying is read the package.
Did you know there are seed laws to protect consumers who buy seed? States differ in specifics, but general information must be available on the package. It is valuable and worth the time to take a look.
SEED KIND: this tells you what fruit, vegetable, or flower is in the packet. For example: tomato, petunia, or marigold seeds.
VARIETY/HYBRID: If the seed kind is being sold as a cultivar, variety, or hybrid, that name will be listed. For example, ‘Big Boy’ tomatoes, ‘’Green Comet” broccoli, or “Silver Queen” corn.
TEST DATE: A year is usually printed on the back of the package. Buy only seed “packed for” the current year. Old seed generally does not perform as well as fresh seed because it may not have been stored properly to maintain viability.
GERMINATION: If a germination percentage is listed on the package, this indicates how many seeds you can expect to germinate and grow under ideal conditions. Some states have a minimum required germination (FYI – it can be as low as 60%) and this value may not be printed on the envelope.
Other information you can find printed on seed packets:
TYPE: Seed kinds are usually identified as annuals, biennials, or perennials. Most vegetables and bedding plants are annuals, which grow, flower, and die in one growing season. Biennials produce a plant in year 1 and flower in year 2 (and die after that). Perennials come back and flower each year. Tender perennials may come back each year or may not survive in your area, depending on the growing conditions.
DESCRIPTION: A basic description of the plant is not required but is quite valuable. This can include: plant growth habit (i.e. bush or pole bean); fruit characteristics (i.e. shape, size, flavor); and, disease resistance. Look for traits most desirable to you (size, color, height, yield, for example). If the packet does not state organic, you can assume it is not.
CULTURAL DETAILS: This can include how and when to plant, days to germinate, days to harvest, spacing, height, width, and other considerations. This is particularly valuable when you are buying seed away from your local area. Some desirable flower and vegetable varieties may not be suited to your location, so always take a look at the hardiness zone information.
SEED COUNT: Small packets can contain just a few or many seed. For example, large-seeded crops like pumpkins or gourds may only have a few seeds in a pack compared to a package of lettuce or spinach which will have many seeds.
Get to it!
- Create a planting plan to know approximately how much seed you need of each crop. Consider succession plantings and alternate season crops when estimating. (Highly desirable varieties and hybrids may need to be ordered or purchased early to have on hand when it is time to plant.)
- Evaluate package information before buying at retail locations.
- Store seed in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant.
- Review cultural requirements before planting and follow closely to ensure production of healthy, vigorous seedlings.
- Store any excess seed in a cool, dry place. If you transfer seed to another package, label it clearly with the kind, variety, and year purchased for future reference. Some seed kinds do not store well and will lose viability and vigor when carried over to the next season.
Running the Numbers
Growing plants from seed is an economical way to populate your garden or landscape and some crops perform best when direct-sown into the growing site. Additionally, there may be heirlooms, cultivars, or hybrids you want to grow that simply are not available as transplants where you live.
Depending on the seed kind and package size, seeds can range in price from a few cents to several dollars each. Pricing is generally determined by how difficult it is to raise the seed crop and the available supply of specific varieties and hybrids. Generally, organic seeds are more expensive than conventionally-raised seeds due to increased management needed to raise organic seed crops. Compare the number of seeds in a package by seed count or by package weight to determine the best value. Also, consider the time, effort, and availability of transplants in your area.
Notes on saving seeds: Some families have been growing heirloom crops for several generations – harvesting, storing, and planting seeds each year. This can be easily done with open pollinated, or OP, varieties. Hybrids, however, are developed by crossing specific parents and the F1 or F2 generation seed is sold commercially. Hybrids are valuable for producing desired traits – bigger kernels, more vigorous plants, unique flower colors – and do not come “true” from seed. Buy these new each year because if you try to harvest, store, and replant seeds from hybrid plants, you may be very disappointed when the next generation looks very different or performs poorly.
I thought I went through my stash and culled out all the old seed and unlabeled packets last year. It seems, however that I may have missed some… (to be honest, I stopped counting at 40 packs). This year, I’m going to stick to my plan, buying only what I need. At least that is what I keep reminding myself. I can keep to the plan… until I crack open a seed catalog or walk into the garden center and am enticed by the lure of those colorful seed packets. Who needs to buy chocolate when you can buy seed?
