Scarlet Runner Bean: Photo by E.O.Pelletier
Great Seeds Make Great Plants
The highlight of our winter is day in early January when we receive our Johnny’s Select Seeds catalog! Here at Little Purple House, we value companies like Johnny’s because we know great seeds make great plants! Sitting on the couch with the wood stove blazing, we cuddle up and rummage through catalog pages. Admiring bold colors and exquisite pictures of veggies, flowers and more! Seeking out the newest, most delicious looking treats while reminiscing over family favorites. Dog-eared pages, post-its overflow with growing list of ‘must have’ seeds and tools with each review. Catalogs paired with a vivid imagination can transform an ordinary winter day with daydreams of picking a ripe harvest on a warm sunny day in summer; a time that feels so far away when surrounded by snow and negative degrees.
Here are 6 characteristics of great seeds that make great plants:
Organic: Organic seeds give us the confidence that the plants that we are nurturing and consuming follow our moral compass with sustainable and chem-free practices.
Heirloom: Any opportunity we can grow a seed that has historical roots, open pollinated, and a strain that has been time tested to be a productive winner, we value! Often unique in color, texture, and flavor, we enjoy sharing our heirloom collection with friends and family!
GMO Free: We have good will towards all, but do not invite Monsanto into our garden! There are seed producers who partner or are owned by Monsanto so we pay close attention to our seed producers. We’re dedicated to purchasing seeds from companies who have ethical practices and products.
Germination: Germination rates are key to the success of your overall crops! Measured in percentages, it is the overall success of your seeds sprouting and growing their full life cycle. Reputable seed houses invest many seasons to determining seed strain reliability to germinate and produce the best quality crops! Investing focus on the age and proper storage of your seeds helps drive successful germination rates.
Quality of the harvest: Taste, taste, taste! Who wants to grow bland, mealy, lackluster vegetables?! Taste is very subjective, but texture, color, and flavor are our goals when growing fruits and vegetables. We suggest trying many different varieties of your favorite vegetables to find what favor profiles you enjoy the most!
If you are in the market for buying seeds or gardening tools, visit Johnny’s Seeds and check out their selection of quality products! http://www.johnnyseeds.com
Blog written by E.O. Pelletier