Wednesday, February 25, 2009

my growing late winter seed collection

more seeds!
old seed box new seed box

I've heard that you shouldn't go grocery shopping when you're hungry. Is there a similar saying for seed shopping in late winter? When you're really tired of snow and really looking forward to green, growing, sun and warm. But you already have seeds for at least seven gardens?

Whole Foods now has a new rack of heirloom seeds (Seeds of Change) back by the meat counter. I went in for kebabs and couldn't resist a few packets. Peas (Cascadia Bush Snap) will go in soon. Peppers (Nardello) looked sweet and red. And I forgot to mail order spinach (Bloomsdale).

My friend Elaine looked at my seed collection the other day and said - Are you going to grow ALL of these? I do have a lot of seeds. But then, I think I'll grow MOST (if not all) of them. I moved my collection tonight to a bigger box. They fit better in it.

15 comments:

dinzie said...

It's an exciting time and full of expectations :O)

Seems like you have a lot more sources of heirloom seeds than we have here ...

D

Daphne Gould said...

Wow that is a lot of seed, but then you have a lot of land to plant. My seed collection fits into a tiny little box. I noticed the seed rack when they were putting it up (at the one close to me). I might end up buying more. I hope not, but unless my snow melts out soon, I know it is going to happen.

Chiot's Run said...

I always say it's better to have too many seeds than not enough!

Anonymous said...

You hit the nail on the head! They should make a "No Seeds" aisle at the store. Like a fashionista at a Jimmy Choo shoe sale, I can't resist either.

Adriana said...

There should be a support group for the seed addicted. I have well over 100 seed packets. If my Whole Foods starts carrying Seeds of Change seeds I’m in deep… you know. I’ve wanted to order from Seeds of Change but can’t get past their shipping rate policy. It’s based on the purchase amount. Blah!

Dan said...

Nice seeds Kathy. I was just looking at the Nardello Peppers in the Seed Savers Exchange catalog. They were brought to the US by a family in Naugatuck, Connecticut in 1887. They came from the Basilicata region in Italy as the catalog says.

Sounds interesting, I may just have to put these in the cart too.

Anonymous said...

Two words:

HOLY CHIT!

You need a farm, Kathy! I know I have the very strong urge to buy more seeds; but I just don't have the space for them. I DO have a big back yard, but I don't think my Mother will let me dig up any more of it! lol.

I was taken aback when I read Dan's last comment. Small world; I'm from Naugatuck! : )

~Dawnie!!

Randy Emmitt said...

Very big box you have there! Our box is 6" x 8" and its full of Territorial Seeds slightly over $100 worth. Meg's daughter gave us some huge seed packs of cosmos, larkspur and bachelor buttons that she didn't plant at the farm last year, they do not fit in the seed box.

Wayne Stratz said...

so much going on, I read this and think... peas, yes peas... start some in the greenhouse

Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener) said...

I always get WAY too much seed. Definitely what you said: don't go food-shopping on an empty stomache, don't select seeds in the middle of Winter!

Your Spring Planting Calendar is a terrific service. I just posted the last Spring frost for Brooklyn - April 21 - and linked to your calendar.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I always buy way too many seeds - I always think my large veg plot is even bigger than it actually is!

Anonymous said...

Kathy, keep your eyes out for Seeds of Change marigolds, I think they carry that variety you liked (many posts ago) or at least something similar- but beware, looking through their flower collection could result in another box expansion! LOL.

kathy said...

I did see their beautiful marigolds - thought I should draw the line somewhere. I have 3 varieties of marigold seeds already. The seeds were kindof expensive (2.99). But just thinking of pretty garden marigolds makes me sigh....

Kevin said...

Its almost spring!! Our local garden shop started carrying Seeds of Change, so I bought a few packets. Germination rate has been real well so far. I am going to pick up a few more packets and then order the rest from Seed Savers.

Anonymous said...

I've grown the Jimmy Nardello sweet italiam frying peppers. They are long and thin like a cayenne, only they are sweet and thin walled. My favorite way to cook these if to chop them up, seeds and all. Saute them lightly and cook with scrambled eggs. The seeds add a nutty crunch.

Nancy