Seed catalogs arriving

Cherry Kelly · Post by **Cherry Kelly** » 01-12-2009 04:26 PM

With the cold winter, what a delight to receive the spring catalogs!

Taking advantage of early ordering is the project this month. Getting together with neighbors and setting up a mini type co-op as our growing conditions do vary. One has more shade which will help with the peas and beans that seem to grow better around here with shadier and cooler conditions. So that neighbor will dedicate more area to those. Another neighbor has an area that is more conducive to growing melons and similar vining type plants so will dedicate more area for that. Etc.

Purchasing in larger quantities and then dividing seeds is another of our projects that should help cut costs as well.

What are your hopes and plans for gardens this year?
What seed catalogs do you prefer?

eagle · Post by **eagle** » 01-13-2009 01:06 AM

Where do you get your seed catalogs?

Cherry Kelly · Post by **Cherry Kelly** » 01-13-2009 09:14 AM

I prefer my Gurneys seed catalogs which arrive in the mail. I also get ones from Burgess and a couple other places. I prefer gurneys seeds the best.

Joolz · Post by **Joolz** » 01-13-2009 03:18 PM

I ordered a bunch of garden catalogs a few days ago... looking forward to their arrival.

Joolz · Post by **Joolz** » 01-13-2009 03:26 PM

Oh... I'll try to remember some... from Burpee, Gurney, Johnny's Select Seeds, Park, Spring Hill, Burgess, Breck's, Michigan Bulb, and a bunch more.

Here's a good site to find lots of catalogs to order. They have them listed by category in the drop-down menu on the upper left of the page.

http://www.mailordergardening.com/index.cfm

Cherry Kelly · Post by **Cherry Kelly** » 01-14-2009 11:56 AM

Good site Joolz --

Mine just arrive every year. I have purchased from different companies over the decades, so they arrive without me having to request them.

There are several new improved seeds on the market this year...both flowers and vegetables.

Looking at them sure breaks the winter doldrums!

Joolz · Post by **Joolz** » 01-14-2009 03:08 PM

I used to get them automatically, too. I had to re-order my catalogs this season because we moved last summer. The site I posted was quite useful in that endeavor. I ordered a few other catalogs that looked interesting (garden decor and home decor stuff) while I was at it. I look forward to them arriving in my mailbox.

Cherry Kelly · Post by **Cherry Kelly** » 01-15-2009 11:04 AM

I have mainly purchased seeds from Gurneys, though I will often pick up some of the cheap flower packs locally (annuals) - such as marigolds and zinnias - for fill in areas. The germination from Gurney's has been the best overall.

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Just a reminder for those who start their own tomatoes and peppers - you need to be thinking about obtaining those seeds within the next month - as they need to be started several weeks before planting time for your area. 6-8 weeks for tomatoes and 6-14 weeks for peppers.

Joolz · Post by **Joolz** » 01-15-2009 05:45 PM

I've always liked Burpee's. I've bought from Gurney's and others, too, but Burpee has a variety of lettuce called "Green Ice" that I'm particularly fond of, and no one else has it. It's great stuff.

Cherry Kelly · Post by **Cherry Kelly** » 01-16-2009 11:55 AM

Gurneys has Green Ice too and yes that is a good leaf lettuce. I also like the black seeded simpson leaf lettuce.

You can actually do leaf lettuce indoors in the winter - though it prefers cooler temps to grow. Same with spinach leaf.

Joolz · Post by **Joolz** » 01-16-2009 08:18 PM

Yes, they may have it now. But it was Burpee who developed Green Ice, and it was exclusive with them for many years. I really love it. It's easy to grow, is drought, heat, and disease resistant, and tastes yummy (not bitter).

badspell · Post by **badspell** » 01-16-2009 09:50 PM

Gurneys, Stark Bro’s ( Apparently Stark Brothers new name), and Burgess have arrived so far.
It’s almost as exciting as spring.

eagle · Post by **eagle** » 02-23-2009 02:49 AM

After getting some of these catalogs I ordered some seed and have some plants coming up already. I got a little anxious and wanted to try the set up I made to see how well it would work and it did pretty good. Some plants came up in 4-5 days and waiting for others to come up. Now I just need to order some liquid fertilizer, has anyone used sea magic before and if so does it work well? I've seen reviews on it saying how well it works but I don't always trust reviews.

Cherry Kelly · Post by **Cherry Kelly** » 02-23-2009 11:30 AM

Eagle -- I use two types of liquid fertilizer - miracle grow and fish emulsion. BUT if you used good brand of potting soil - you should not require any fertilizer for several weeks. I do not fertilize too much as I use good potting soil that has fertilizer in it. I have also used pond water or fish tank water (but I don't have fish tanks any more so just use a filtered pond water - filtered through cheese cloth to get rid of excess debris in the water).

This year I purchased the miracle grow seed starter soil and just started pepper seeds this weekend. They take longer to sprout and grow to the size for planting outdoors. 8-10 weeks for tomatoes and at least another full week to 10 days for peppers. That is the recommended time, but I often add another week to either group and it has worked well for decades.

Psychicwolf · Post by **Psychicwolf** » 02-23-2009 01:59 PM

I only order heirloom or open pollinated seed. No GM please.

I have an order in at Victory Seeds, for peppers, tomatoes (sauce/catsup), spinach and cooking/medicinal herbs.
http://www.victoryseeds.com/catalog/index.html

I've got my beets, carrots and slicing tomato seeds started from seeds I saved last year.

Most of the rest I get locally.