Purchasing Seeds- Where to Begin?
Seed Characteristics to Consider
It's that time of year when many of us begin dreaming of our spring and summer gardens. Depending on where you live, it may even be the time to start some seeds indoors to transplant outside when the time is right. With so many seed companies out there, it can be overwhelming deciding which ones to support. Here are some things to consider:
How much of one seed type do you want or need? This will depend on how much growing space you have and how many varieties you want to plant. For example, I love sunflowers...for beauty, bird feed and human snacks. I like to grow a lot of varieties. This means I need fewer seeds of each type, but more variety. If I was planting sunflowers for larger food consumption, or as a cover crop, I might prefer a lot more seeds of one particular type.
Do you want heirloom seeds? Heirloom seeds are generally thought of as varieties that existed before WWII. Scientifically speaking, they are seeds that are collected from a parent plant and when planted out, are very similar to the parent plant. Some believe that heirlooms have the best flavors. Others are committed to growing heirlooms in order to keep our food options more diverse. These seeds were, and are, often passed down from family member to another, over many generations. Our neighbor passed some creasy bean seeds on to us that have been grown in our country neighborhood for many generations, and thus thrive in our area.
Do you want to grow hybrid seeds? Hybrid seeds are created through human controlled pollination between two different parent varieties. This first new generation is called F1, and is generally more productive than the two parents. Hybridizing is done for multiple reasons, but one is that you are sure to get a desired trait. Some of these traits include disease resistance, more predictable yields, a particular flavor profile, and uniformity. However, you cannot save seeds from the F1 hybrid, as the particular traits of that plant will not be passed down. If you want to save your own seeds, do not plant hybrids.
Do you want GMO free seeds? GMO seeds are those that are bred in a laboratory. Often, genes are spliced from an organism and inserted into a plant. Genes are mixed between organism that would not naturally occur in nature. We do not know the long term consequences of this practice and many believe it can be dangerous.
Do you want to grow organic seeds? Basically, organic seeds are grown in organic conditions, meaning without the use of harsh pesticides and fertilizers. This also means that the seeds harvested from organic plants might show more resistance to disease and pests because the parent plants were not propped up synthetically. Organic seeds also should not have the chemical residues that conventional seeds may carry.
Over here at YummyYards, we prefer to grow GMO-free organic heirloom seeds, with the occasional hybrid variety. And listed below are some of the companies that we love. Please check them out and learn for yourself which ones you want to try. We usually order from multiple sources. This allows us to see which varieties perform better in our conditions, to support multiple awesome companies, and to expand diversity in our gardens and seed banks.
Seed Companies We Love and Support
Be sure to consider your region and growing zone when picking which company to support. There are a few Asheville, NC companies on this list because it is near where we are located. More importantly, you might pick seeds that are bred in your region. Not all seed companies provide seeds grown in one region. Alternatively, you might try something from afar that does well in your garden.
Seed Savers Exchange- This is a non-profit organization with members working to preserve heirloom seeds and keeping them from going extinct.
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds- This is a family owned business. They collect seeds from all over the world and offer a very large selection.
Sow True Seeds- This Asheville, NC based company has over 500 varieties of open-pollinated and heirloom seeds.
Kids Seed Co- This is truly a family owned and operated business based out of their home in Asheville, NC.
Fedco- This is a cooperative seed business providing hybrid, heirloom and open-pollinated seed varieties.
Southern Exposure Seed Company- They provide over 700 varieties of seeds that do well in the mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
Territorial Seed Company- This large, family owned seed company offers hybrid, organic, open-pollinated and heirloom seeds. Their farms are certified USDA Organic and Biodynamic.
Strictly Medicinal Seeds- This company sells medicinal herb seeds, plants and roots, and vegetable seeds. You can often find medicinal plant seeds that you might not find elsewhere.
Seeds of Change- I remember being disappointed when I learned that they were purchased by Mars Co. However, they do offer 100% organic seeds that are available in major chain stores, making them more available to some that cannot, or do not, shop online.