WHO KNEW It’s Time to Order Seeds for Special Veggies?
Seeds for most common garden plants are now on display in supermarkets – and we can look forward to summer in the veggie patch. Seed catalogues have also arrived, offering seeds for unusual plants you don’t find in supermarkets – for example green zebra tomatoes, Italian summer squash, certain winter squashes like patty pan or unusual Asian cucumbers. You might enjoy studying these catalogs from New England:
Fedco Seed Catalog– this source is in Maine, a co-op enterprise, is a partner in the Open-Source Seed Initiative. And prices are reasonable. Seeds are non-GMO. Some seeds come from Indigenous growers. The Hanover CoOp provides these seeds at bulk prices for members, if the order arrives by February 1.
Johnny’s Selected Seeds – Also in Maine, Johnny’s is an employee owned company that offers a lot of interesting plants not usually found in stores.
Why start seeds inside? In New England we have a short time for growing certain vegetable plants, but we can extend the growing period by starting seeds indoors. For example, starting squash, cucumbers and tomatoes early guarantees plenty of veggies before the first frost in the fall.
To start veggies indoors: You’ll need a special grow light to provide some ultraviolet rays to mimic the sun, a few plant trays, support trays and clear lids to create humidity, some small pots for starting the seeds (a few seeds/pot), and a special heating pad to help speed germination. A seed-starting potting mix will help get them started. The grow lights can be found at Home Depot. The heating mat can be found at Gardeners’ Supply. Once germinated, the clear plastic cover and heating pad can be removed and seedlings can grow under the grow lights until they have a few leaves and the stalk is strong enough to transfer the seedlings to larger pots to place on a window sill (or under grow lights). Re-pot the seedling almost as deep as the lowest leaf.
Of course, we have farms nearby that are starting vegetable seeds early in their greenhouses, and some will be selling starter saplings for unusual plants come spring.