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Here We Go

January 8th, 2015

Yesterday I sat down with afternoon coffee and a seed catalog. I’ve been thinking about what I want out of the garden this year and greens are at the top of my list. I always grow lots of lettuce, endive and other greens, but I’m hoping to have a greater variety of greens for a longer season.
seed list 1
seed list 2
As I look through the catalog I’ve been looking through my seed stash. Thank goodness most seed companies put dates on the packages because I’m weeding out seeds that are past their prime. I made this handy guide a few years ago, head on over to this post to download a PDF version for your files.
Shelf life of seeds
Luckily, I don’t need very many seeds this year. I’m really trying to keep my seed purchased to a minimum this year to use up the stock I have on hand. Seeds don’t last forever and I love to use them up when they still have good germination rates. Next year it looks like I’ll have to purchase a lot of seed, most of my stash will be planted this year. It’s a good feeling to use up the old to make way for new!

What’s your seed list look like for this year?

5 Comments to “Here We Go”
  1. Jaye Whitney on January 8, 2015 at 8:54 am

    My seed list is finally (after working on it daily), narrowing down. I think this is one of my favorite parts of the year – deciding on whether to use what’s tried and true and what I’d like to try that’s new.

    With user reviews on the sites, I can view what’s worked for others and where it has worked very easily, which I find very helpful when trying a new item.

    Going through my current seeds as well before ordering…I hate to waste anything that I can use.

    Reply to Jaye Whitney's comment

  2. Nebraska Dave on January 8, 2015 at 9:21 am

    Susy, not many seeds will be ordered through seed catalogs this year. Although I have already received one seed order for the Dill Giant Pumpkin seeds. My seed stash comes from the year end seeds price reduction of 2014. Every year at my daughter’s work, the Burpee seeds are discounted from the usual over $2 price to a quarter a package. I’ve had good luck so far by buying a good portion of the garden and flower seeds for the next garden year. The days are counting down to the beginning of seed starting for this garden year. I getting excited about that.

    Have a great seed ordering day.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

  3. Beth in Ky on January 8, 2015 at 9:49 am

    About growing more greens….. take a look at Mother of a Hubbard. She has a great site about fall & winter gardening with row cover over greens, great pics and planting charts. Our first year trying it and it has worked well. Just don’t over plant like we have! The agrobond fabric & pvc pipe required are cheap. Don’t space 2 beds too close together,,,, leave walking room for getting into your veg.

    Reply to Beth in Ky's comment

  4. Brittany on January 8, 2015 at 12:05 pm

    Your seed chart will be very handy, thank you for creating it. Each year I try to grow more than I grew the previous year. Now, knowing how long seeds last, I have more seeds than I thought I did. Many of them appear to still be good. What a blessing to know they will not go to waste. My garden dreams are unfolding as I too browse and plan with seed catalog in hand.

    Reply to Brittany's comment

  5. Misti on January 8, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    My brother was posting his tomato seedlings on FB one day and I was all “OH YEAH, it’s that time of year.” My head is still in baby land so I don’t think I’ll be doing the main gardening once again this year. I can’t even fathom! I have a suspicion we’ll be buying starts at our local garden center, they usually have great varieties.

    Reply to Misti's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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