To help you get your garden started Like A Boss, I created the Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Seeds for Your Garden to help guide you through the thousands of seeds available for the home gardener to help you grow your garden this season.
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Tune in by listening to the podcast or read on to dive into the ultimate guide to choosing the right seeds to grow in your garden:
What Are Seeds?
Seeds are an embryonic or a baby plant encased in a hard coating called the seed coat which protects the plant until it comes into contact with favorable growing conditions of soil and moisture. Within this coating, there is a source of food for the new seedling to use as it starts to grow.
Seeds are produced by plants by reproduction and plants have evolved to reproduce using insect pollination like squashes or wind pollination like corn. Plants have also evolved many ways for their seeds to be dispersed in the environment to spread and populate. Some plants are dispersed by birds eating the fruit and the seeds passing through their digestive system then growing in the soil from the manure, birds eating blackberries are a good example. Other plants, like lettuce or dandelion form a downy seed head which is lifted off the plant and carried by the wind. There are even plants like burdock which have evolved to form hooks on their seed pods which latch on to animal’s fur to move with the animal to another area!
Some plants grow from a tuber, set, clove, corm, slip or a bulb. Potatoes and Jerusalem artichokes grow from a tuber, for potatoes this tuber is often called a seed potato. Sweet potatoes grow from a slip or a sprout from the tuber.
Tulips and daffodils grow from bulbs and gladiolus and dahlias grow from a corm. Onions can be grown from little onion bulbs called a set or they can be grown from seed. Garlic is usually grown from cloves but can also be grown from seeds.
What Type Of Seeds?
There are several types of seed available for home gardeners and it can be quite confusing for new gardeners. There are typically 3 types of seed available: heirloom, hybrid and GMO. Other terms you might hear are:
- open-pollinated
- hand-pollinated
- improved
- F1
- OP
- organic
- non-GMO
- you might also see ® or ™ next to names of the cultivar or variety.
Heirloom Seeds
These seeds often have a story behind them such as they have been handed down generation to generation within a family or they were found in a tin in an old shed or even recovered from clay pots in ancient tombs or caves.
Heirloom seed is seed from a plant that has been passed from one generation to another. They are carefully grown away from other varieties of the same plant and are saved because they are considered valuable for reasons such as superior flavor, high productivity, hardiness or adaptability to the area they are grown. Heirloom seeds have been saved over generations of 50 years or more and are not normally grown in commercial agricultural scales.
Heirlooms are usually true to type meaning they are the same as the parent plants. This is done by careful growing away from similar plants to prevent cross pollination so only the heirloom is pollinated with the heirloom. For example, I have a patch of heirloom peas that are growing and I want to save the seed to grow the same type the next year. I only want the flowers of this heirloom to be pollinated by pollen from this heirloom pea so that the same variety will grow in the saved seed the next year.
Some varieties of heirloom fruit and vegetables you may have heard of are Burbank Tomato, Lemon Cucumber, Blue Curled Scotch Kale, Moon and Stars Watermelon, Amish Paste Tomato and Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean.
Advantages
The benefits of growing heirloom varieties of seed include:
- You can save your own seeds to plant the following year and as long as they did not cross with other varieties, they will grow back with the same characteristics.
- The ability to offer diversity in the garden and the plate with different shapes, sizes, textures, colors and tastes.
- Adaptation to specific soil or climates.
- Preserving history by growing heirloom seeds.
- Able to add to a seed bank or share with others.
- The best flavors available to taste.
- More likely to contain more vitamins and minerals than commercially grown and shipped produce.
- You can localize heirloom seeds by saving the most successful vegetables from your garden year after year.
- They can provide a gradual supply of ripe produce. Many heirlooms do not ripen all at the same time allowing a longer harvest time.
Disadvantages
Heirlooms can be susceptible to disease or pests because the variety was saved for flavor or color or shape and size rather than of pest resistance or ability to resist diseases.
Plants from heirloom seeds can require some pampering to preserve the true variety for seed saving. Since heirloom plants need to be open pollinated great care must be taken to prevent cross contamination. Be prepared to grow a large number of plants if you plan to save the seed to ensure preservation of healthy seeds.
Hybrid Seeds
The hybrid seed is often misrepresented as being GMO but they are not the same thing. A home gardener can create a hybrid seed and plants by crossing the pollen of two similar plants. For example, you take the pollen from one red slicing tomato plant and put it on the female reproductive parts of a yellow cherry tomato plant’s flowers. Those flowers then form fruit and you save those tomato seeds. Those tomato seeds will be a hybrid, a cross between the red slicing tomato and the yellow cherry tomato. Growing those seeds will produce a plant which is a mixture of those two parent’s attributes. You might get yellow slicing tomatoes or an orange cherry tomato.
Hybrids happen when different varieties of the same species or similar species are pollinated. An example of similar species pollinating are melons and squashes cross pollinating each other or winter squash and summer squash pollinating each other by insects.
Sometimes, the crosses which happen are sterile and cannot reproduce and sometimes they do not grow or produce fruit. Other times, the crosses are viable and can reproduce.
Hybridization of seed is a natural process which occurs through random crosses of varieties of a species. When hybridization is done commercially, it is to deliberately breed desired traits. In the seed buying world, hybridization is a controlled method of pollination in which the pollen of two different species or varieties is crossed by human intervention.The seed is usually (but not always) labelled as F1.
What is an F1 Hybrid?
The first generation of a hybridized plant cross is called F1. These tends to grow better and produce higher yields than the parent varieties due to a phenomenon known as ‘hybrid vigor’. F1 hybrid plants are usually patented and/or trademarked. You can see this if there is a ® or ™ after the name of the variety or a patent number.
The F stands for filial or generation. The number after the F indicates the generation after the initial crossing the seed comes from. The further along the generations you go (i.e. the higher the number) the more stable the hybrid is and it is less likely to revert back to one of the parents. Hybrid seeds can be stabilized and become open-pollinated varieties, by growing, selecting, and saving the seed over many years.
To create a hybrid traditional breeding methods or hand pollination are used that involve the cross-pollination of two parent varieties that were selected for specific traits such as disease resistance or they produced early fruit. In the commercial world, hybrid seed must be produced by the seed producer every single year by crossing inbred (or true) plant parents. These parents are used because they express characteristics uniformly, and this uniformity is also seen in the F1 hybrid plants they produce.
The F2 (second generation after the initial cross) plants that are grown from seeds saved from F1 hybrid plants, will not be uniform. These seeds from the F2 are often hugely different as a result of genetic segregation and diversity which may be sterile seed or plants, delicate or inferior plants or strong varieties when grown out later.
Some widely grown hybrid plants and new hybrids available include:
- Sun Gold Tomatoes
- Jedi Peppers
- Bright Lights Swiss Chard
- Polar Bear Pumpkin
- Cabernet Red Onion
- Ripbor Kale
- Teddy Bear Sunflower
- Sugar Cube Melon
Advantages
Hybrid seeds offer some great advantages to home gardeners like:
- Crop insurance, hybrids are more likely to produce a yield.
- Disease resistance. Plant breeders have been able to produce plants which are resistant to blight or mildew.
- Can have great storage qualities.
- Early or late producing.
- Uniform ripening. Produce often ripens at the same time for large harvests.
- High yields.
Disadvantages
The most obvious disadvantage to hybrid seeds is that you cannot save the seed to grow the following year and expect to get the same plant characteristics. You will need to restock your hybrid seeds by purchasing new seed.
Open Pollinated Seeds
The term open pollinated also known as OP is often used hand in hand with heirloom seeds. It is important to know that open pollinated and heirloom are not the same thing. Heirlooms must be open pollinated but not all open pollinated plants are heirlooms.
Open pollination is what allows gardeners to have heirloom plants but it also allows for cross pollination of varieties in the same plant species or of similar plants. Pollination occurs by insect, bird, wind or other natural mechanisms.
In nature, there are no restrictions on the movement of pollen between individual flowers and plants by insects, birds the wind. This means that the resulting open-pollinated plants are more genetically diverse. This diversity causes a greater amount of variation within plant populations, which allows plant genetics to change with each generation and the plants to slowly adapt to local growing conditions and climate each year.
If pollen is not shared between different varieties within the same species, then the seed produced will remain true to type year after year as discussed in the heirloom seed section above.
Advantages
Open pollinated seed means you can save the seed to grow on the next year. The seeds are more genetically diverse and can adapt to local climate and soil.
You could begin seed saving to start your own heirloom seed legacy. New varieties can be discovered and bred even by a home gardener and that seed developed and saved over generations!
Disadvantages
Unfavorable cross pollinations can occur making the new plants sterile or bland in flavor or color.
Great care needed to keep strains pure if wanting to save seed for a particular variety.
Improved Seeds
The word “Improved” may be seen on a seed packet next to the variety name like Long Island Improved Brussels Sprouts. It means that the seed producer took a variety and made it better through cross pollination to provide more dependable results in a trait such as better yield or germination rate.
Organic Seeds
These are seeds which have been grown in organic conditions. They are certified by authorities such as the USDA or the Soil Association. Producers of seeds with the logos or badges of these authorities must meet the stringent guidelines to be an organic producer to acquire the certification.
Organic seeds are often more costly than conventional non-organic seeds and this is usually because of the additional steps they take to be certified.
Biodynamic Seeds
These are seeds which have been grown following biodynamic techniques. Biodynamic growing is organic and uses plant and animal based preparations to promote soil fertility and to combat pests and disease. Plants are tended and sown according to a biodynamic calendar.
Just as organic growers can be certified, biodynamic growers can be certified by Demeter if they are able to meet the standard outlined.
Whilst you do not need biodynamic seed to start growing a biodynamic garden, you may get better results using biodynamic seed.
GMO Seeds
GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism and are produced in a laboratory. They are plants whose genetic makeup has been modified in a laboratory using genetic engineering or transgenic technologies. This type of modification creates combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and virus genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods. GMO plants made using DNA from completely different species and organisms give different traits such as resistance to herbicides and acceptance of chemical fertilizers or fighting pests and disease.
The most common plants which have been genetically modified using these DNA techniques include those used by large scale agriculture like cotton, corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa and sugar beet although there are others. All GMO varieties are protected by trademarks and patents.
At the time of writing this post, GMO seeds and plants are not available to home gardeners. No vegetable plants or seeds that you purchase to grow can be GMO, if you are still concerned, buy seed from reputable retailers who have signed the non-GMO Safe Seed Pledge and find out more at the Non-GMO Project.
Colored Seeds
Sometimes in a seed packet, the seeds are dyed different colors. This does not mean they are GMO or treated unless it states that they are treated on the packet. Seeds which are coated to deter slugs or aid germination are always labeled as treated.
The color on the seed is to aid the seed producer in packaging the varieties, especially if there are mixed varieties in a pack. For example, I bought a packet of scallop squashes which had different colored squash fruit in there. The seeds were dyed red and green to show the green and yellow varieties in the packet.
How To Choose Seed Varieties
Once you know what type of seed you wish to purchase like heirloom or hybrids, you can then start to narrow down the varieties you are going to grow.
You can watch this video or you can read on below to find out how to choose seed varieties to grow.
What Do You Like To Eat?
Sounds like an obvious statement but it is worth remembering when you start looking through the seed catalogs and websites. There is no point to growing fruit or vegetables which you hate, it takes up valuable growing space from those plants which you do love. Make a list of the fruit and vegetables you regularly buy and eat and focus on growing those.
Space
You have to consider the space you have available to grow. Plants need space to grow and to promote health with airflow to reduce disease like mildew and blight. If you have a small garden, look for bush, compact or container varieties to grow.
Calories & Nutrients
If you are wanting to grow to be the main provider of fruit and vegetables for your family, you need to grow both calorie crops and crops which are providing the vitamins and minerals for you and your family.
Calorie crops are vegetables and grains such as potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, wheat, quinoa, oats, winter squash and beans.
Crops which maybe a rich source of vitamins and minerals are leafy greens like chard, spinach, kale, cabbage, onions and garlic, beets, carrots and squashes.
Learn more about how you can start planning a self sufficient garden in this post Planning A Garden For Self Sufficiency.
What Grows In Your Region?
There are many varieties of fruit and vegetables which grow particularly well in certain regions. Sometimes, they have the region in their name like North Georgia Candy Roaster Squash or Catskills Brussels Sprouts. Others have information in their description in the catalog as being ideal for a certain area like Painted Mountain Corn which is great for high altitude growing.
Many local extension offices have information about varieties which grow well in the area and there are also many local seed companies which provide seeds adapted to the region available. Locally organized seed swaps are also a great way to get locally adapted seeds.
You can also check the USDA website to find out your growing zone. Many online seed suppliers allow you to search their seeds and plants based on your growing zone.
How Long Is Your Growing Season?
Another point to consider is how long your growing season is. Your warm weather crops like tomatoes, peppers, squash, okra and eggplant need long growing season with the warmth of the summer to produce fruit. You can find out how long your growing season is by finding your last average frost date in spring and counting the days to your first average frost date in the fall.
You can do a quick internet search to find these dates and your local extension office usually has this information available on the internet.
Once you know how long your season is, you can check the Days to Maturity listed in the catalog or on the seed packet to see if your season is long enough to grow a variety. For example, if your growing season is 90 days you probably want to skip trying to grow some peppers which take 120 days to mature and look for northern or short season varieties which mature in around 80 days.
I love the Old Farmer’s Almanac Frost Dates tool to figure out how long my growing season is, it makes it really easy to help plant the garden and seed sowing!
Pest or Disease Resistance
If you know that there are certain problems in your area with pests or diseases in certain plants, then you might want to consider growing varieties which are resistant to those problems. Some common problems you may want to consider when selecting seeds to grow are:
- Powdery mildew
- Downy mildew
- Blight
- Rust
- Aphids
- Corn worm
- Mosaic virus
Diversity
Growing multiple types of plants increases diversity in the garden. Lots of different plants together mimics natural ecosystems and can support pest control by attracting beneficial insects to the garden or masking crops from the pests.
What Can You Care For?
Consider the time you have available to grow a garden, if your plant variety needs to be started indoors with heat mats and lights, needs support and tying in every few days then this might not be ideal to grow if you only have an hour or two to spare for the whole garden each week.
Many seed suppliers indicate easy to grow/easy to care for varieties or those which are ideal for beginners. Purchasing the best sellers or staff favorites is a reliable bet that the seed is popular and many gardeners have had success with it.
Try Something New
I encourage new gardeners to try something new in the garden. This might be something which sounds or looks freaking sweet or a new variety released or recommended to you. We grew some veggies just because they had space themed names one year.
By trying something new you might find a variety which you prefer to eat or it grows much better in your garden. You won’t know unless you try!
Where To Buy Seeds
Locally adapted seeds will always be best for your garden as they are more likely to grow in your climate. You can buy seeds online easily and some great suppliers include:
- Seed Savers Exchange
- High Mowing Seeds
- Southern Exposure Seeds
- Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
- Territorial Seeds
- Johnny’s Seeds
- Burpee Seeds
- Restoration Seeds
- Adaptive Seeds
- Turtle Tree Seeds
You can also do a search online to find seeds produced locally, go to a local seed swap or head to the local nursery and skip the big box store. Two of my local garden nurseries produce their own seeds so I know I’m able to get locally adapted seeds.
Finally
Have fun choosing the seeds you will grow in your garden!
Don’t be afraid to select something with F1 or a trademark in the name if it has the qualities you are looking for. Growing your own food is the important step, less so on if the seeds are heirloom or hybrid. Grow what you love to eat and regularly buy to save money and avoid having to grow it at the grocery store. You can learn more about starting a garden in 6 Steps To Starting A Garden.
What are you excited to grow this season? Let me know in the comments!
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