Seed Savvy: Keep Track of Your Stash
If you’re like me, as soon as the holiday decorations come down, it’s time to prop up my feet and settle in for an afternoon of browsing through seed catalogs. Just looking at the vibrant pictures of delicious vegetables and fruits and luscious flowers makes me yearn for spring.
After years of market gardening and ordering pounds and pounds of seeds at a time, I’ve acquired quite a selection of plant and seed catalogs from various companies throughout the country. I can always count on the mailman to deliver one or two a week over the next few months, and I keep adding to the stack on the coffee table until it wobbles. Ok, ok, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but you get what I mean.
With so many wonderful seed companies, you can find a handful to supply you with the seeds and plants you want for your garden. Whether it’s heirloom seeds, native plants, cover crops, or hybrid top-producers, you are guaranteed to find what you need.
But before you place an order, making a seed inventory is an easy step worth the time and effort. Not only will having a seed inventory save you money by preventing you from spending too much on similar seeds that you may already have on-hand, but will help you plan your garden if you keep accurate records.
An inventory also benefits me because at the end of the season, I just toss every seed packet I have into a bin. I do keep them somewhat organized by putting seed packets of like-kinds in zipper bags. For example, root vegetables such as radishes and carrots will be in a bag, broccoli and cauliflower in another, and lettuce and leafy greens in another. Rather than having to dig through the bin and bags to find a random seed packet, I simply reach for my inventory, and voila!, I have the information I need.
Make Lists
Now, there are many online spreadsheet templates you can find for free. But for me, I’m an old-fashioned list-maker, using good ol’ pen and paper. And as with any good inventory, you’ll need to come up with a system of information that works for you. What is important to know? What will keep you organized? How will you indicate that you need to purchase more seeds? How will you keep track of what vegetables or flowers produced well for you in your climate?
What About Starts?
I start with basic categories as headers: beans, root vegetables, greens, squash/pumpkins, melons, tomatoes, peppers, herbs, etc. I usually do not keep an inventory of garlic, sweet potatoes, or potatoes, because I’ve already planted the garlic, and I’ll buy my seed potatoes fresh each spring. And I start my own sweet potato slips in late February (you can find out how I do that in my earlier blog post regarding sweet potato slips).
Star What You Need More Of
Under each header, I list each variety, placing a star beside an entry if I need to purchase more. My inventory is fairly simple because if a plant doesn’t perform properly, I usually do not plant it again the following year. If something gives me spotty germination, or it’s too finicky in the garden, I don’t waste space and time trying another season, but that’s something I’ve learned after years of experience.
Note Harvest Dates
I might also write days to maturity in order to ensure I have varieties to extend the season. I want both early- and later-producing vegetables. It’s also a good idea to add the location in which it was planted. If you practice crop rotation, and I highly recommend you do, this will help you remember where not to plant it the following season.
Note Seed Expiration Dates
I would also advise making note of seed expiration dates, which will be printed on the seed packet. While some seeds may retain their viability beyond the expiration date, it could affect germination rates. Kept in a cool, dry location many seeds can be stashed for about three years. There are exceptions, however, so do a little seed research and put that information in your inventory.
Note Special Information
Finally, I make a separate cheat sheet just of the seeds I want or need to purchase. That way, I don’t need to go through my entire inventory to find the few items that need replenished. I may also add names of new varieties I do not have in my collection. I’m eyeing frilly-petalled poppies that would make quite a statement, and I don’t know of any of my gardening friends who have seeds to share.
If you have any suggestions for a seed inventory, I hope you’ll reach out with your ideas either here or on social media. The more information we share, the better gardeners we will all be.
https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/keep-track-of-your-seed-stash-zbcz2101/
(Corinne Gompf is a writer and hobby farmer in Morrow County, Ohio. She is a graduate from the University of Toledo, with a BA in English, creative writing concentration. Along with her husband, Matt, and two children, Fletcher and Emery, Corinne raises poultry, Boer goats, and chemical-free produce.)
Wish you were my neighbor...
Thank you for running this gardening forum.
🙏
My seeds arrived today! The only disappointment was that pictures were not on the packages, just names and starting instructions. I went to the online catalogue and using “print friendly”, made PDFs of all the seeds I’m giving to my ‘greats’. They’ll have pictures and a little description of the seeds they’re getting.
I was in Hobby Lobby, yesterday I think (time is a “blur” these days) and I bought two sets of photo keepers with 6 photo cases. I’ve already put what seeds packets I had from last year in them - looks like they’re going to work well (on sale, too!). Now I have new seed packets to add.
Today was also the first day I had any energy to do anything outside. I got the flat tire off of the golf cart that pulls the trailer we use for hauling garden debris, etc. and took it to the shop. It could be ready as early as Monday. That tire is rotted badly - by this fall, it was only holding air 2-3 days. Mom always hops in the cart and takes off without checking the tire, so we won’t have that issue any more.
I also drained 10 gallons of gas out of the generator so it doesn’t sit and separate into a tank half full of water. The gas will go in the old truck and get used up. I’ll run what’s left out of the generator, then keep a gallon or so of high octane gas in there just for test starts. This should solve a lot of issues.
I’m using old boxes flattened out with either pine needles or wood chips on top to keep the weeds under control in the garden walkways this year. I had saved boxes piled on the porch - they all got moved to the garage and out of the way for now.
It was chilly outside - my hands got cold, but it felt good to get some fresh air. Tomorrow should be sunny and a high of 58 before it goes back to temps in the 40’s and rain next week so maybe I can get out & do a few more things.
I planted a lot of seeds in the past week, but it has been cold (by Florida standards [and mine]) much of the past week in my part of Florida, so it will probably be another week before I know what old seeds will grow.
I haven’t bought any new seeds yet.
My asparagus looks healthy.
If we get lots of rain I should get some tasty spears. Any spear I’ve grown that’s a quarter inch or less in diameter tends to be tough, so I just let the thin ones grow.
Thanks Diana! As always, a great thread!
Most of our garden and flower seeds arrived yesterday.
Come on, sun !
I didn't let any of that slow me down though. Went to STL Saturday and had the new wheels/tires installed on my truck. Didn't get to go visit new granddaughter. She needed some jaundice treatments last week and her momma was worn out and not interested in company.
Did a good bit of putzing in the greenhouse after I got home from STL. The surfactant treatments that I've been applying to the ground beds in there appear to be having the desired effect. The compost is staying nice and moist now. I sowed another bit of mixed green salad seed in the beds. With the heat tape in the ground and the new grow lights maybe something will happen down there now.
Wait, what? Grow lights? Yep, grow lights. I found a six pack of 80w full-spectrum LED fixtures on amazon for a reasonable price so I thought I'd give them a try. Can't hurt, right?
I still need to tidy up all of the electrical cords, and I've kind of decided that all of the ventilation where the side walls meet the roof is too much fresh air during cold weather so I'm pondering how I might close up some of those gaps without making it difficult to re-open them when warmer weather gets here. Mrs. Augie suggested stuffing old towels in the gaps, which is a much simpler solution than anything that I would come up with.
The surfactant treatment has also helped maintain a better moisture level in the starter cells that I've got going. I was having trouble keeping those moist enough, but not too moist. My seeds have responded favorably to that. I've got four cabbage varieties, collards, and two varieties of kale in starter cells now. Simply covering the seeded flats with a piece of clear plastic sheeting also seems to have helped to even out the moisture levels in the starter cells.
It's a bit early yet to be starting peppers/tomatoes/etc., but I've got a couple more 32 cell flats primed and ready to go when the time arrives.
