Sami Grover
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Every gardener does it. November rolls around, and we breathe a sigh of relief that we can put our feet up, have a cup of tea, and think about something other than gardening for a while. And then the seed catalogs arrive...
I don't know about you, but every time I tell myself that I'll only order what I need, I won't be too ambitious, and this year it is going to be different. And every year I end up with 15 varieties of rare tomato that will almost certainly never get planted.
So, in the proud tradition of making gardening easy on yourself, and avoiding unnecessary gardening failures, I offer up these humble tips for resisting the allure of the seed catalog—or at least on indulging your addiction in moderation.
5 Tips for Avoiding Seed Catalog Overspend
1. Buy With Friends: Nobody needs 50 tomato plants in their backyard, so why not get together with friends and purchase as a group. You'll have the added benefit of being able to order a wider variety of seeds, and split the packets. But be careful that peer pressure doesn't get the better of you. "Oh, go on. Just one packet of scarlet nantes..."
2. Look for Seed Swaps: Many gardening clubs will organize seed swaps, so go along and see if you can exchange unwanted seeds for something more desirable. You'll have the added benefit of meeting fellow gardeners, and you may even score some heirloom varieties handed down from generation to generation.
3. Check Your Old Seeds: I can't remember the number of times I've ordered a packet of lettuce seeds, only to find another half empty packet in the back of the shed. Even if you have seeds that have been hanging around for years, they may still be viable. Why not conduct a germination test? Just wrap the seeds in damp cotton wool or tissue, sprinkle with water every few days, and keep them somewhere warm and dark. Within a week you should be able to see what has sprouted and what has not.
4. Know Your Garden: It sounds obvious, but try to be realistic about the amount of space you have available. If you have a small backyard, it makes little sense to plan a crop rotation more suitable for a mini-farm. Figure out plant spacings, and purchase seeds accordingly. And favor seeds that give you a lot in a small space—carrots, lettuce, onions and tomatoes are all a good bet. Corn, not so much.
5. Consider Buying Plants: I know seeds are cheaper, but if you really are only going to plant one or two eggplants, or a single squash, you'll save yourself a lot of time and trouble by buying starts instead. That's especially true for crops that need starting indoors. Of course, your average garden center will have limited variety of starts, but check out your local farmers market—I was amazed at the selection of tomatoes and peppers on offer this year. And with a new baby to deal with, I can categorically say that I will not be starting seeds indoors next Spring.
See Ed Begley's Every Day Tips: Planting a Tree
Related Links
Organic Gardening 101: Take it Easy on Yourself
Organic Gardening 101: Be OK With Failures
Principles of Permaculture: Zoning
5 Essential Tools for Organic Gardening
Need proof that it's possible to balance being green and still be a supportive partner and parent? See how Ed Begley, Jr. does it on Planet Green TV's Living with Ed.
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