image by WTL photos

Early spring…an emergent time of year when plants wake from winter dormancy to soak up sunlight of longer days.  I walked around the house yesterday searching for signs of spring, finding perennial chives reaching up and up, bobby yellow primrose blooms peeking between downy leaves, and fleshy tulip shoots poking layered leaves through mulch.  I am excited for the spring bulbs especially.  I planted over 70 tulips and my Dad planted more than this in daffodils and crocuses.  When I purchased them last fall, they were on sale, so I got nearly twice as many as I had intended to plant.  I have visions of a sea of spring flowers, it’s almost time.

It’s also the time for checking all those leftover seed packets you may have stored, from last year’s garden. Better to check old seed than waste money buying new.  But are these seeds viable?  Some seeds last many years if stored properly.  Proper storage involves keeping seed dry and away from direct sunlight.  I have stored my seed in small Ziploc bags in the freezer, but now keep them in wine box on a shelf. Others store theirs in shoe boxes in a cool room.

How to test seeds
I have found that lettuce only lasts for two seasons, even though some websites say otherwise, whereas beans, arugula, morning glories, and Swiss chard seem to be indestructible.  Tomato seed is a mid range keeper. You can test the potency of your saved seed by doing a viability test with some paper towels, a gallon size Ziploc bag and about a week’s time. After gathering all seeds to be tested, here’s what to do:

• Place seeds in a double row down the center of a moistened paper towel.  I place about 10 of each variety within a small space on the towel.  I can fit 10 varieties on each towel, 5 in each row.
• Record name and amount of seed as your key.
• Fold edges over seed rows.  They’ll look like French doors.
• Spritz again and seal in a large ziploc bag. Put in dark place.
• Number of days till germination varies, but after about a week, check your seeds.
• Divide the number of seeds germinated by the total number for each variety.  This will give you a percentage of viability
• For seeds with a low percentage, plant thickly, for seed with a high percentage, plant thinly.

Last year I culled a lot of old seed and bought new, trying to be moderate in my seed order.  They’re so enticing, “Of course, I’ll have time and space to plant 8 kinds of lettuce! Sure…” but I don’t have the space, or the time to devote to a full-time garden.  What I do have is experience planting certain vegetables that we eat a lot of or neighbors are happy to accept: lettuce, tomatoes, pole beans and cucumbers.  Last year I successfully planted 4 months worth of lettuce!  I’ll do the same this year.  Lettuce is expensive in the supermarket, and a packet of seed is only 3 bucks!  With water and consistent weeding, homegrown lettuce is tastier and exponentially cheaper than store-bought lettuce. 

Here’s a list of high quality seed catalogs:

• Fedco Seeds: An education on seeds as well as purchasing
• Cook’s Garden: straightforward.  Seeds available throughout the Season
• High Mowing seeds: all organic seed, regionally grown in Vermont
• Path to freedom seed and plant exchange: regardless of the state of our world, our wallets or mood, plants keep on growing, hell bent on the sun!

Are you gearing up to start your garden?  Have some favorite varieties of seed or a helpful resource?  Please share in the comments.