Pay Attention When Ordering From Seed Catalogs
Nothing says spring like those annual seed catalogs that come in the mail. Remember, though, to use a little caution before placing that order.
By Andrea Nisley, UNL Extension Educator - Family Consumer Science Dawson County
Nothing says spring like those annual seed catalogs that come in the mail. Remember, though, to use a little caution before placing that order.
Seed catalogs are a great way to get a jump on the spring gardening season. The selection of seeds and plants typically is much greater than those available at your local nursery, mainly because the nursery doesn’t have the room to stock all the varieties that a seed catalog will offer.
One of the most important things to remember when using a seed catalog is to buy from a reputable company. That’s the best way to ensure the seeds you buy will be the freshest and of the best quality. Ask your gardening friends to determine the best seed companies and find out what companies have the best products. Or check out "General and Specialty Mail-Order Seed Sources," http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/sendIt/g1895.pdf, for a list of mail-order sources of flower, herb and vegetable seeds, transplants and more.
When selecting seeds, it is important to select those that will grow in your area. Seeds and plants are designated by hardiness zones, indicating in which area of the country and climates they will grow best. Nebraska is zoned four and five, with four being more in the northern part of the state and five being farther south.
It is important, especially with perennials, to choose those that grow in your zone. The need to pay attention to zones is less important when choosing annual plants, because they only grow in the summer anyway.
When you have purchased your seeds, you are ready to get a jumpstart on the planting season. Planting the seeds inside under good fluorescent lighting will allow the plants to complete 6-8 weeks of growth before they are planted outside in May when the threat of frost is gone.
Seeds can also be planted directly in the ground, particularly for fast growing plants like lettuce or those that don't respond well to transplanting, such as sweet corn.
More information on starting seeds inside can be found at http://acreage.unl.edu. Click on the February edition under the acreage e-news link.
© 2008-2012 agNET. All rights reserved
