As I was watering my garden in the cool of the morning, I thought of all the people I have seen water their garden “wrong”.
With many people across the US facing super-hot days this summer, it is important to give your plants plenty of water to withstand the heat.
You might be asking, what is the best way to water my garden?
It is no secret that plants needs more water when it is hot and dry.
Did you know that most vegetable plants stop growing when the temps get into the 90s? Some do thrive in the heat, like corn and melons, but they need lots of water to do so.
Most vegetable seeds won’t germinate when it gets into the 80s F.
Hot Weather Watering Dos & Don’ts
Some folks put in watering systems to irrigate their garden.
These can be set on a timer which is great if you travel allot or have a busy schedule. They can be expensive to install and maintain if something breaks.
Dos – The Best way to water your garden
Water (or set your timer) either early in the morning , preferably before the sun comes up, or before it gets to be over 75 F in the morning. **or** in the late evening or overnight went temperatures fall.
Water at ground level, avoiding splashing water into the leaves. A major way diseases are transmitted on tomato plants is by water on the leaves.
Soak the ground at the roots of your plants.
If you have had not rain for 3 days and it is 85 F or above. Water each plant for 5 minutes.
If it is 90 F or above and has not rained for a week or more. Water each plant for 10 to 15 minutes.
Keep your soil covered so moisture stays in the soil longer. For annual vegetables, I recommend straw.
Straw not hay – as my Dad taught me, hay is for horses🐴, straw is for gardens.🌿
Don’ts – How not to water your garden
Do not use overhead sprinklers!
As much as 90% of the moisture evaporates. This means your plants are not really getting watered and you are wasting water. The drier and sunnier the day, the more evaporation happens.
Do not water in the middle of the day, in bright sun or when the air temperature is over 75 F.
Do not have your soil uncovered in heat. Your soil can get bleached, and you want to insure you have healthy moist soil.
Hope these garden watering tips cover your plants so they are well watered and thrive.
Have you noticed that time seems to speed up when spring comes? That rush of weeding, building new beds, tending and transplanting seedings.
So much to do, yet this is the fun stuff for us gardeners.
One way to maximize your garden space is to evolve succession planting.
🌿 Have you explored the wonders of succession planting in your garden? If you seek a continual harvest and wish to maximize your yields, this technique could be a game-changer for you.
Succession planting isn’t just about planting once; it’s a strategic approach that keeps your garden brimming with life and produce throughout the year.
By staggering planting times, you ensure a steady supply of your favorite veggies, from carrots to radishes, turnips, beets, and even head lettuce.
Succession planting is a lifesaver for crops vulnerable to sudden weather shifts or diseases, like the delicate zucchini. If you are a canner, succession plant determinate tomatoes.
You can also succession plant bush beans.
If you like to can or freeze bush beans, eat loads fresh or have limited space, if your plants start to peter out, pull them and plant more.
🥕 When it comes to embracing this technique, there are two keys to succession planting abundance.
First is timing – 3 Steps to timing your succession planting
Start with one crop and choose what bed you will plant it in. (we’ll talk varietal choices in a bit). Consider how much of that crop you want to harvest every couple of weeks and designate enough space to cover that amount of plants.
Next, split that bed up into three or four sections. This is especially necessary for root crops. not as critical for fruiting crops.
For root crops, plant each section, of your three or four sections, two weeks after the last section you planted. For fruiting crops, you might remove plants that are no longer producing and replace them with new plants, or you might save space to add plants as the season progresses.
✨ Embrace the simplicity of succession planting, where your garden becomes a symphony of growth and harvest.
Second is varieties – Choosing varieties to succession plant
The varieties you choose make a big difference. So, you want to be sure they will grow and produce in the time you are giving them.
They key here is to choose shorter days-to-maturity varieties as they work best.
Consider these top favorites for your succession planting journey:
Each one of us has special talents as a gardener. I have developed a series of Guides, called Gardener Insights Packets, for gardeners to nurture their main gift as a gardener. The Guides also have loads of valuable gardening information on crops, and how to magnify the use your gift for your gardening success.
Are you motivated, flexible, organized or ? I have noticed over my 50+ years as gardener, there are six main traits that keep gardeners going. Take this fun quiz to tell my system which one is your primary trait and get this valuable free resource.
🌱 Ready to dive into the world of homegrown lettuce? 🌿
As an organic gardener, you understand the importance of fresh, pesticide-free produce.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the art of seeding lettuce directly in your garden 🏡 and unveil some incredible spring varieties that will elevate your salads to new heights of flavor and nutrition.
Let’s empower ourselves to take control of our food supply and cultivate a vibrant, sustainable garden together! 💪
Three Ways to Grow Lettuce at Home
There are three ways to plant lettuce in spring and they all have their virtues and potential pitfalls.
Starting Indoors
This is the best way to get a faster spring lettuce harvest. You have dozens of varieties to choose from – see below for suggestions 😀.
Depending on your planting zone, you may have already planted lettuces indoors like I have here in zone 7. Yet in zone 4, it is now time to start these tasty greens inside.
By starting indoors you get good sized transplants to put in your garden, so you get lettuce sooner than direct seeding.
Did you know that lettuce, once hardened off (see my last post on hardening off) can take temperatures down to 24F / -4C ? You will want to give your little lovelies a good straw mulch to keep them cozy.
Direct Seeding – Succession Plant Lettuce
If you still want to have the huge selection of varieties you manifest from starting from seed, and missed the time to start indoors, or don’t have indoor seed starting set-up yet, then direct seeding works too!
You won’t get large lettuce head as fast, but you still get an expanded selection of varieties to choose from.
You can choose organic or biodynamic selections and guy from a variety of companies to create an amazing show-stopping display that is a feast for the eyes and well and yummy and nourishing.
Before you start seeding, consider how much space you have in total to grow lettuce. Then divine it in thirds – this does not have to be exact!
Plant one third of your lettuce growing area when the soil has warmed to 40F / 4C. Then two weeks later, plant the second third of your lettuce growing area. Two weeks after that, plant your last third. This is called succession planting.
By succession planting your lettuce you get a continual harvest over a longer more weeks, vs all of your seedlings being ready to harvest all at once.
Buying Plants
You can look for transplants in your local garden center or big box store. This is my absolute last resort as if you can even find them, the selection tends to be very limited and tends to not be organic.
If you know a local organic grower, or small farm, you may be able to get seedlings from them. It is worth asking, plus you could be supporting a small local farm, either by purchasing plants from them, or perhaps getting a few starts in exchange for volunteering your time.
Debby’s Recommended Spring Lettuce Varieties
In the next section, I’ll unveil a small selection of my tried-and-true spring lettuce varieties that are perfect for your home garden. From crisp romaine to delicate butterhead, these varieties promise to add a burst of freshness to your salads. 🥗
To date, I have grown about 90 varieties of lettuce. This is why I am called, in some circles, the “Lettuce Lady”. Some have remained on my “grow list” 🌱 for decades, some are newer bred varieties that are wonderous.
Home grown Romaines, Leaf, Crispheads and Butterheads Varieties
Romaine Lettuce Varieties
Over the years I have become more of a romaine lettuce lover. As with other lettuce varieties, you can have a choice of different sizes and colors.
Valamaine
An amazing green variety from Territorial Seed Company that does well almost all year here in zone 7. It can get large if you want a large romaine head, although you can also enjoy it as a smaller head. Valamaine has become my favorite go-to green romaine.
Spotted Aleppo
I wish more folks carried this variety which far outshines Forellenschluse (also known as Freckles and Flashy Trout’s back) in terms of germination rate and taste. It is also a bit more heat tolerate which is great of you get a snap spring warm spell. Nice large green heads with light red specks. Seeds from Monticello.
Mayan Jaguar
Want even more wow in your garden, then grow Mayan Jaguar. This little beauty always turns heads in the garden with deeper green and deeper red speckles than Spotted Aleppo. It is also great if you like smaller sized romaine heads as it is a smaller variety, so can be planted closer together. Get it from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.
Rouge d’Hiver
This pretty bi-color has stayed on my growing list for over three decades because it is a trusted French classic. It won’t like a warm spell as much as the other three on this list – which seems so short compared to what I grow. 😂 Botanical Interests has this one.
Leaf Lettuce Varieties
When I first started growing allot of lettuce, I tended to grow lots of leaf lettuce because I could pick the outer leaves, have the plant keep growing and get more lettuce per plant.
These days, with so much coming and going in the garden all year, and my love of head lettuce, I find I don’t grow as many types, but some lift the spirit with their varied leaf shapes.
Red Sails
This variety is like a comfy old friend in my garden. Perhaps the first leaf lettuce I ever grew. It’s classic frilly lightly pink ends over light green leaves seem timeless, yet always transform my lettuce bed into something lovely. Another one from Territorial Seeds.
Waldman’s Dark Green
My go-to cool spring green leaf lettuce for many years. Once the standard for taste for leave lettuce, large growers have turned to more recent hybrid creations. For us home growers, this one is a must for its juicy deep green leaves that simply dance with luscious lettuce flavor. Get it from High Mowing Organic Seeds.
Bijella – Photo of young seedlings
A new favorite from Adaptive Seeds. Only a couple of years ago I decided to try this one and wowza! 👍 So happy I did as it has become a must have in my leaf lettuce bed. A wavy red-bronze tipped oak leaf type, it is gorgeous and can handle a bit for heat of later spring. Tender leaves too.
Italienishcher
If you want allot of lettuce from one plant, then Italienischer is for you. Tall, upright with long pointy leaves that reach 18” high. You get allot of food from this one. Beautiful vibrant green leaves. Get it from Sow True Seed.
You may have noticed that I buy seeds from several different seed companies as an organic gardener.
I have developed 15 criteria I used to vet a seed company. Get it free below. Then get more lettuce varieties.
Crisp Head Lettuce Varieties
Iceberg lettuce is a crisp head lettuce type. Some people think “iceberg” lettuce has no nutrition or is boring, but folks, neither is the case with these cherished crisp heads.
What many folks don’t’ know is how many varieties of these crisp-head types there are, so allow me to introduce you to some, perhaps new-to-you ones.
Salade de Russie
Hands down my favorite crisphead lettuce, not only because it is downright stunning with its red specks, but it also grows in all but the hottest time of year (when all lettuces give up) and tastes fantastic. It has become a must have in my garden. Another from Adaptive Seeds.
Reine de Glace, or Ice Queen
This is another lettuce I have grown for decades because it is just so darn tasty. Classic French green iceberg type that is best grown in cool spring weather. You’ll get that refreshing crisp crunch that many crave. Get it from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.
Cardinale
Here is a beautiful bi-color that has hardy thick leaves. Several years ago I tried this on a lark as a new variety I was trying as I was testing a potential new seed company for my recommended seed company list. It turned out to fill a spot in my crisp head lettuce bed I didn’t know was missing. More heat tolerant and colorful. Now I get it from Fedco Seeds.
Butterhead Lettuce Varieties
Oh, the soft almost creamy tender leaves of the butter lettuces. Very hard to find commercially, and usually hydroponically grown in water laced with chemicals, I love growing these.
They don’t tend to handle heat well, so are spring and fall grown only. This is part of why they are my most cherished lettuces to grow. The other reason is they are just remarkable to eat.
Here are four for my spring lettuce list.
Buttercrunch
Years ago I grew this one and then it sort of faded away as I tried other varieties, then one year, I came across it again and remembered why is a variety grown by so many people. Soft, green and true to its class, buttery, yet with a little crunch too. Oh so good, from Botanical Interests.
Tom Thumb
Want a small single salad butterhead? Maybe one for small spaces, or close planting. They try Tom Thumb. This bright green mini butterhead like the cool weather, so better for cool spring times. Try it from Fedco Seeds.
Alkindus
I confess, that although I love the look of red lettuces, I don’t tend to prefer the flavor of many of them. They also have tended to succumb to heat and go bitter faster. When I tried Alkindus I was pleasantly surprised. It has the sweetness of green butter lettuces, but with gorgeous garnet outer leaves. High Mowing Organic Seeds is where I get it.
Pirat
I might have saved the best for last. If you want an outstanding butterhead, with excellent flavor, some heat tolerance – rare in a butter lettuce – and pretty in your garden sanctuary – go for Pirat. Is it my favorite lettuce – too many to choose just one, but this one is up there. From High Mowing Organic Seeds.
Ah, looking forward to my lettuce harvest.
Join my email list below to get more organic gardening tips and recommended varieties all year.
🌿 Let’s talk about the one thing that’s universal in gardening: the fear of failures. Trust me, I’ve been there.
Every year, something in our gardens might not go as planned. But here’s the magical part: it’s all part of the journey toward organic success!
The thrill of watching those tiny seeds burst into life, the joy of nurturing them, and the anticipation of a bountiful harvest. 🌟 That’s the dream, right? But reality check: not everything will flourish equally, and that’s perfectly okay! 🌱
Why, you ask? Because each setback is a classroom, and each triumph is a celebration. The broccoli might be finicky this year, but oh boy, look at those tomatoes thrive! It’s a beautiful cycle of learning and growth.
I know it’s tough, with our climate throwing curveballs, it’s easy to worry about our garden’s fate.
But here’s a secret: those seeds? They want to grow. They crave the soil, the sunlight, and water. 🌞 And when you trust in their natural desire to thrive, suddenly, those fears start to fade away.
Begin to embrace the uncertainty, dear gardener! 🌿🌼 Think of it as a transformative adventure with nature, where surprises are blessings in disguise. Keep nurturing, keep learning, and watch your garden surprise you with its resilience.
Here are my top 5 ways to overcome vegetable garden failures:
💫Embrace Change: Every year is different these days and this is challenging for all us humans who like things to be more predictable. Thing is, nothing in life is really predictable – this is likely why we crave it sometimes.
If we shift our point-of-view from one of fear of what might happen this year, to lets experiment and see what awesome things happen, then we can lessen the stress.
Remember each year in your garden will likely be different, embrace it, and if you shift with those changes you’ll be a more resilient gardener.
🌿Replace for Rejuvenation: There are times when something we plant just does lousy. Instead of being bummed and trying to nurture what is beyond hope of rejuvenation, replace it with another plant.
Decide if the plant is salvageable. If it is diseased or has a bug predation, then nope, I’d ditch it.
If it simply is not in a good spot, not growing or producing, even if you add a bit of compost around it, then well, replacement is likely the best option.
With the plant that is not doing well, you can compost it, if isn’t diseased or full of bugs. If it is, ditch it.
Either way, when you replace a plant, you rejuvenate your garden, which in turn can rejuvenate you. 😀
🌱 Growth Gratitude: Life is full of lessons and they grow us as a person. When something doesn’t go the way you want it too, a plant doesn’t produce, an experiment you tried felt like a failure, instead of the sense of failure, transform it into a lesson of gratitude. It is one more lesson you can avoid in the future.
By practicing gratitude for our growth lessons, we evolve a way to nourish ourselves.
😂 Remember to Laugh: Are you someone who laughs allot? I confess I don’t think I laugh enough sometimes, yet when I laugh at something I’ve done, bring humor into a situation, it just doesn’t seem to bad.
A story of how this works: I remember a day when I seeded tomatoes and forgot to label them.
I was distracted and I knew they were tomatoes, but which ones? Could have been one of 30 varieties.
It wasn’t until a couple weeks later when I was doing inventory of my seedlings that I discovered my mistake. It was a whole flat of healthy happy tomato seedlings of unknown variety.
All the varieties I had planned to start were accounted for, something got seeded more than once.
After an initial “oh crap!” I laughed and offered them as “Mystery tomatoes” and people thought it was fun.
It also gave me a story to pass on to my students on the importance of labeling your seedlings well.
🔐 Unlock support: If you’re feeling the fear of some aspect of your organic garden’s journey, let’s chat! 📞 Book a free 15-minute organic garden discovery call with me, Debby Ward, your professional organic coach.
Let’s turn those uncertainties into opportunities for an awe-inspiring garden transformation! 🌿✨
Imagine stepping into your garden and witnessing a vibrant paradise of lush, thriving plants.
The secret?
It all begins beneath the surface, in the rich vibrancy of your soil.
As a professional organic gardener, I’ve witnessed the transformational magic of healthy living soil time and time again. 🌿
Did you know there is more life in living soil than in a coral reef?
Your garden is a reflection of your connection with the earth. Healthy living soil isn’t just dirt; it’s a living ecosystem teeming with vitality and potential. 🌎 It’s the soul of your garden, nurturing every seedling and sustaining every bloom.
But why is healthy living garden soil so crucial?
When we build organic soil, we’re honoring the intricate balance of nature.
A garden reliant on chemicals becomes a cycle of dependency. You pour in more chemicals to compensate for depleted nutrients, only to further degrade the soil’s vitality. It’s a costly loop that leaves your soil lifeless and your plants struggling to thrive.
Chemical-laden alternatives might seem convenient at first, but they come with a hefty price tag—both financially and environmentally. 💸
In addition, there are questions about the health and safety of all those garden chemicals. They have been linked to various health issues.
Considering all these negative factors, using garden chemicals is not worth the risks. Especially because …
There’s a better way!
Building healthy living soil means cultivating an ecosystem that works for you. It’s about harnessing the power of nature’s brilliance to create a self-sustaining haven for your plants. 🌿
Imagine planting seeds that flourish effortlessly, blossoming into robust, resilient plants without constant interventions or added expenses.
I’ve seen this transformation firsthand in countless gardens.
In fact the number one reason I see why people’s gardens are not thriving is because they have not care for their soil.
By nurturing organic, living soil, gardeners unlock a bounty of benefits:
🌱 Enhanced plant resilience against pests and diseases.
🌿 Improved water retention, reducing the need for constant watering.
💧 Reduced environmental impact, supporting a healthier ecosystem.
Do you know what makes up healthy living garden soil?
Quality soil needs air and water to be a home for your plants.
Your soil is the foundation of your garden. We want strong foundations for our homes, so lets give our gardens a healthy foundation too.
I’ve put together an exclusive, free PDF guide: “What Makes Healthy Living Soil,” 👇 with expert tips to nurture your soil into a thriving haven for your plants. 📚
🌟Get your free PDF now 🌟 and start to witness the transformative power of healthy living soil in your garden.👇
“Healthy living soil grow plants for you.” – Debby Ward Professional Organic Gardener
Let’s grow vibrant, sustainable gardens from the ground up—starting with our soil.
Picture this: a garden that not only flourishes but becomes your personal haven, where nature’s symphony orchestrates a beautiful harmony, tailored to your unique strengths and aspirations.
To manifest this wonderful sanctuary you envision, some planning is necessary. I realize some of you are excited by planning, and some, well, not so much.
As a seasoned gardener, my journey has been interwoven with an illuminating understanding of the profoundly positive impact garden planning has on creating the garden of your dreams, be it a small veggie patch, flower bed or your whole yard.
Three Motives for Garden Planning
You don’t miss opportunities by doing a bit of garden planning.
I remember a couple who bought a house and put a shed where they thought it *should* go. Then the following year, when they want to put in some veggies and summer flowers, they realized they had built the shed in the sunniest part of their yard, so they were coming to me to see how to grow tomatoes in the shade!
Actualize your garden goals and dreams – on time.
New gardeners don’t tend to think about gardening until it is past time for the spring garden, to build garden beds or start seeds. This means they start their learning curve late, if they start at all.
And, just because seasoned gardeners know the schedule, that doesn’t mean they always make it – plus – I have found they tend to get in a rut with their garden, which begins degrading their garden over time, and minimized their yield.
You save money.
In case you don’t know, you spend way more money buying plants than if you start from seed, even with an initial investment in seed starting equipment.
In addition, trying to build a garden quickly to get in a summer garden, means you spend money on inputs like soil, than if you planned ahead and let nature do the work for you.
Garden Planning Styles Vary
Gardeners approach planning their annual vegetable garden differently.
Some meticulous plan everything to the smallest detail, while some grab a few plants from a parking-lot seller as an afterthought on their way back to the car. Most are somewhere in between.
I love planning my garden, but I have gardened long enough to know that some crops will fail every year, that some ideas turn out to be brilliant, some unexpected and some a disaster, which makes for a good lesson I can pass on to you.
Over the decades I have gardened, I have honed my garden planning into systems tosimplify garden planning processes.
For those who love to plan, it quickens their process.
For those who don’t dig planning, it allows them a short-cut to start planning to actualize their garden goals and dreams.
First Step to Garden Planning
The first step in garden planning is observation, because it is here where you set the stage for the bounty that is to come.
Observe:
How much sun and shade you have in each area of your potential growing area.
If you have critters. Look for both those who might be helpful for your garden, such as pollinators, or harmful ones such as deer. (Unless you are going for a wildlife garden)
What is it that grows in your climate that you and your household like to eat.
The amount of time you have to garden. This allows you to make wise choices on how much space to garden in what way – annuals vs. perennials – containers vs. in-ground.
Imagine embarking on a journey where your garden becomes an extension of your being—a canvas for your creativity and a haven for tranquility.
What truly distinguishes my system is the fusion of creativity and precision. I possess the uncanny ability to dance between these two realms effortlessly. For you, this means the opportunity to have support in manifesting a garden that transcends the mundane, while being grounded in simple, tested systems that ensures your garden flourishes organically.
My support isn’t just about planting seeds; it’s about nurturing your dreams and empowering you with the tools to watch them bloom into vibrant realities.
Why Choose My Garden Planning System?
Illuminating Guidance: Personalized support that aligns with your unique strengths.
Artistic Vision: Assist you in manifesting gardens that reflect your unique style and approach.
Simplified Systems: Streamlined processes that make organic gardening a joyous endeavor.
Let’s embark on this journey together, where your garden becomes a testament to your inner creativity and a sanctuary of natural harmony.
Uncover amazing collaboration and take the leap toward an organic garden that not only thrives but becomes a living, breathing masterpiece—a reflection of your unique spirit and my innovative approach to organic gardening.
Book a15-minute Free Discovery Call today, and let’s unveil the true potential of your organic garden.
Together, we’ll transform it into the oasis you’ve always envisioned. I’m here to guide, inspire, and witness your garden flourish into a testament of your organic journey.
In the aspiration of an abundant and thriving garden, indoor seed starting emerges as a pragmatic and economically viable approach.
It offers a myriad of benefits that cater to discerning organic gardeners like you.
By germinating seeds indoors, we embrace a fun time-honored method rooted in science and efficiency, optimizing the growth cycle and enhancing our return on investment (ROI) for our gardening endeavors.
Scientifically, indoor seed starting capitalizes on the principles of germination, leveraging controlled environments to provide the optimal conditions for seedling development.
This method harnesses psychological insights, recognizing the impact of environmental cues on plant growth.
Studies in cognitive science underline the importance of consistent stimuli for fostering robust growth, a phenomenon parallel to the controlled settings of indoor seed starting.
Furthermore, the economic advantages of indoor seed starting are important for most gardeners. Through the reduction of external dependencies on store-bought seedlings, economies of scale manifest themselves, enabling gardeners to maximize their yield at a fraction of the cost. 💰
This practice aligns with the principles of sustainability and fiscal prudence, offering a means to harness resources efficiently and reduce unnecessary expenditures, a sentiment cherished by every organic gardener.
This all translates to our opportunities:
To provide seedlings with ideal environments from which to grow and
Allows us to grow the varieties we want so we have
More diversity in our garden, both for our food harvests and the beauty of our flowers and
Saves us money.
Contrary voices may raise concerns regarding the initial investments in indoor seed starting setups, positing that the costs may outweigh the benefits. However, a comprehensive analysis reveals the long-term gains eclipsing these initial expenses, especially if you build a seed starting rack yourself.
The ability to nurture and monitor seedlings from their inception enables precision gardening, empowering gardeners to select the healthiest seedling for transplantation, ultimately contributing to the garden’s overall vitality.
It also often gives us the opportunity to gift 🎁 others in our community with any extra plants, thus building positive cooperative relationships.
The rationale behind indoor seed starting stands fortified by the amalgamation of scientific understanding, economic prudence, and sustainability consciousness.
For the organic gardener seeking to optimize yields and foster a flourishing garden, embracing indoor seed starting proves not only logical but also economically astute.
Plus, folks, it is a fun activity 😀 in winter to nurture your seedlings as they bring you the renewing joy of spring.
By delving into the scientific principles and economic sensibilities underpinning indoor seed starting for your spring and summer garden, gardeners can manifest a bountiful and gratifying harvest, underscoring the inherent value of this meticulous, strategic and empowering approach.
Illuminate Your Seed Starting with my Free Seed Starting Checklist.
In the thriving landscape of organic gardening, the selection of seed companies stands as a pivotal decision that profoundly influences the quality, diversity, and sustainability of your garden.
Choosing your seed provider shapes the future of not only your garden but also what seeds we have available.
Many years ago I started to realize that there were seed companies beyond the one that was in my local big box store.
As I began to gain knowledge of seeds companies and their differences, I embarked on extensive research into them.
There are different kinds of seed companies, I didn’t know that 40 years ago.
Understanding the nuances of seed quality and the philosophies upheld by different companies became essential for me as a gardener.
Scientific studies in fields like psychology and cognitive science consistently illustrate the link between the quality of inputs—seeds in this case—and the outputs—the crops harvested.
Delving into various providers empowers gardeners to make informed decisions that resonate with their values.
Consumer spending on seeds for home gardens in the United States showcases a substantial investment, reflecting the significance of this choice.
We, as gardeners get to shape the future of gardening by our choices.
This financial commitment underscores the responsibility to conscientiously select seed companies that align with one’s principles and aspirations.
As you likely know, the market is reactive; our choices drive the offerings made available to us. When we support ethical and diverse seed providers, we contribute to a richer pool of options, promoting biodiversity and resilience in our gardens.
Beyond the economic dimension, the choice of seed companies profoundly impacts your food supply.
By opting for reputable organic seed sources, individuals assume control over their sustenance, safeguarding against potential health hazards associated with pesticides and genetically modified organisms.
This proactive awareness not only fosters a more wholesome diet for you and your family, but also serves as a substantial savings of time and money, circumventing potential health issues.
It’s imperative to acknowledge dissenting opinions that argue against the gravity of seed company selection. Some may contend that all seeds, regardless of the source, will yield similar results if cultivated under identical conditions. While this argument carries weight, evidence highlights the importance of the variance in genetic diversity and the potential long-term consequences of monoculture practices, emphasizing the relevance of diversified seed sources.
And dear gardeners, there are some incredible folks out there breeding new varieties specifically for organic growers and considering our changing climate.
Going back to my research on seed companies.
What I found out was remarkable, sometimes scary and disheartening, sometimes uplifting and inspirational.
I uncovered some companies grow all their own seed, while others buy seed and redistribute it. Those companies are seed distributors.
Some companies spend lots of money on genetic modification of seeds and pass on those costs to the consumer.
Yet others source their seeds from small family farms.
Some live the ethics of organic growing and some only use it to attract customers but don’t enact sustainability and preservation for anything other than their financial bottom line.
The result of all this research was the creation of my creating 15 criteria to vet seed companies. I have used and taught these criteria for over 10 years to hundreds of people.
Get my FREE 15 Criteria to Vet Seed Companies below.
For each criteria you’ll find out what it is and why it matters.
Around the new year, many of us take some time to reflect on the past year.
It can be fun to read about the famous people we have lost and revel in their contributions – a kind of celebration.
Reflecting on our year, on lessons we have learned and what we have to be grateful for in our lives leads to a useful consideration of what to leave behind in the new year. This can create space for something else we want to call in for the new year.
As gardeners, reflecting on our gardening year is part of this consideration.
In the past year in my garden:
We had a bumper crop of spring peas, but not as much lettuce as usual.
The tomatoes did fantastic, the eggplant and peppers not so much.
We had a bummer crop of bush beans, but almost no sweet potatoes.
And we got bags of fennel seeds – as well as baby fennel plants!
The lavender was lovely, yet the parsley died.
Again the tall zinnias were a show stopper as was the fennel.
This is how gardening goes. Every year some plants do great, some not so much.
Looking forward to 2024, I want to build a raised bed for the winter squash. The weeds have been creeping in more and more, so it is time to rehab that area.
May your 2024 garden year be your best yet! – Debby
Debby Ward, professional organic gardening coach, back with Part 2 of my 2023 vegetable trials.
I’ve been digging in the dirt, nurturing my little green babies, and today, I’m thrilled to share more insights on what thrived and what didn’t quite make the cut in my garden this year.
Let’s start with some winners, shall we?
JadeBush Beans were a smashing success, offering bountiful harvests and a crisp, tender bite.
We got so much harvest, I have bags in the freezer for winter!
These have become a standard go-to-green bean for three years now.
My garden was blessed with an abundance of Pirat Butter Lettuce, a personal favorite, which stayed sweet and crispy even as the weather started to heat up.
I plant this is both spring and fall and have some over-winter in a hoop-house.
It is beautiful and delicious.
And the Red Chieftain potato once again simply *rocked*, giving us so many potatoes to enjoy all winter.
I keep thinking of trying other potatoes, but I get **so much** harvest, I keep growing this one. It does well in our heavy clay soils, and even better in high quality living garden soil Want to know more about great soil, get my soil freebee.
These varieties are definite keepers for any vegetable gardener!
Now, onto the less fortunate varieties.
The Velour Purple Bush Beans struggled to keep up with their Jade cousins, producing smaller yields with tiny pods that never got big enough to bother with or harvest. This was year two and I’m on to something else – stay tuned!
Brandywine Tomatoes, while delicious, required more attention and care than I had time for. They are a classic heirloom, but I keep finding them falling short. Even if they taste great, I want more harvest from each plant than these give before they succumb to disease in my humid summer weather.
Likewise with the Amish Paste tomatoes. Again, great flavor, with the few you get. If you don’t want allot of tomatoes, then both of these are fine. If you want a paste tomato for processing, then look elsewhere.
And the Trident Poblano peppers, that were supposed to be extra big, turned out to be extra small and not worth the time or space they took up. The plant was huge, but the largest pepper I got was 3” vs the advertised as 6-7”. They didn’t measure up to the hype.
But hey, that’s what gardening adventures are all about, right?
But here’s the real secret to a successful garden: staying organized and prepared.
This course will be your trusty guide to streamline your seed storage and keep track of your garden’s treasure trove. Simplify your gardening life and make room for the magic to happen!
So, my fellow vegetable gardeners, let’s make the most of our gardening journey and embrace the ups and downs.
I hope these insights from my trials help you choose the perfect veggies for your garden.
And remember, with the Seed Organization Mini Course, you’ll have the key to an organized, stress-free garden that will truly bring abundance. Happy gardening, my friends! 🌱🌿
