You can spend a lot of time trying to find out when and how to plant vegetables in your garden. You don’t have to look further than your seed packet. Here’s just a few things you can learn from it.
Many seed packets are now labeled Non GMO as an answer to customer’s concerns about planting GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) in their garden. But there are NO GMO seeds available for sale to the home gardener. They are only available to big agriculture for field crops like corn, soy, canola and sugar beets. So rest assured, even if your packet is not marked, it is NON GMO.
USDA Organic assures the gardener that these seeds were grown according to the National Organic programs guidelines. They were grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or genetically engineered seeds.
Heirloom. These are open-pollinated seeds that were grown over 50 years ago and have been passed down through generations. There seeds can be saved to grow again.
Hybrid. Produced by cross-pollinated plants. The best qualities, or the quality you want (such as large fruit) is chosen. Pollen from a father plant with large fruit is used to pollinate flowers on a mother plant. This process, repeated over time results in a plant variety that produces large fruit. Hybrid seeds tend to grow faster, are better adapted to withstand stress, have more disease resistance, grow faster, and tend to produce larger fruit. They are however, less nutritious, and not as tasty as some of the heirlooms.
Pollinator Friendly. Looking for plants for your pollinator garden or as companion plants in your vegetable garden? Some packets are marked pollinator friendly.
Some packets have more information than others. But information on requirements for sun, depth and spacing of seeds, as well as when to sow in your area are on most. Also recommendations for sowing directly outdoors, or starting inside is provided.
Spring is just around the corner, and now is a great time to order your seeds or browse the seed aisle at the nursery. I hope this post helps make all of these labels easier to understand.
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I’d love to see you at my FREE upcoming online class on tips to grow your best garden ever this year. I have two separate classes in case one is not a convenient day or time. You can sign up on event brite. Click on the link below to sign up!
Karen
A Beginners Guide to Vegetable Gardening February 21, 2022 at 7pm. EST
A Beginners Guide to Vegetable Gardening February 27, 2022 at 3pm. EST
