Seed shortages could imperil home gardens

MSNBC ^ | 2/1/10 | AP

[Daisyjane69]

DES MOINES, Iowa - Dreaming of biting into a garden-fresh cucumber sandwich this summer? Better order your seeds now.

A poor growing season last year and increased orders from Europe could make it difficult for home gardeners to get seeds for the most popular cucumber variety and some vegetables this spring. Farmers, who usually grow different varieties than home gardeners, aren't likely to be affected.

[gardengirl]

Absolutely!

Like I said, shortage of some varieties, but that’s every year. You can’t expect 100% harvest every year on every type of plant. It just doesn’t happen.

We got more cole crops seeded today, and it’s still not going to be enough. One good thing about a bad economy is that EVERYONE wants to plant a garden!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks for shopping with Jung’s! You’re keeping me employed! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Re: Your chat with the ladies...

I’ve been chuckling over a book I sell called “The Moon Sign Book” or something like that. The local Hippies like to buy it to plant by the moon while they’re dancong around nekkid or something...

But then, I READ the darn thing! It was simply amazing. The woman that writes it writes a new one for each year, and she gives all kinds of predictions.

She predicts hard times coming our way. Very. Hard. Times. And it wasn’t through voo-doo or tossing a dead cat over her left shoulder; she’s totally into world politics and when I went to the Library to look up her older editions, she was spot-on!

Of course, I go by what Jimmy The Groundhog says, having grown up in Sun Prairie, WI. (Screw PA Phil, LOL!) and there’s no way around what the bands on a Wooly Bear caterpillar are telling you, as well as the local squirrel behavior, and whether my Basset Hound wants an extra blanket on his bed, LOL!

Oh, it’s all just silly...but sometimes it works! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m just butting in, as I usually do! :)

Short-season tomatoes I’ve grown in the past with great success up here in southern Wisconsin include:

Anna Russian
Black Krim
Black from Tula
Nyagous
Russian Black

All, of course, from Siberia - where I’m totally amazed that they can even GROW tomatoes in their very short season!

I LOVE Juliet for a small salad tomato and she makes the NICEST sun-dried tomatoes to pack into jars with garlic and basil and olive oil. Yum!

Silvery Fir Tree is probably the prettiest tomato you can grow...58 days! It’s determinate, so it’s great for pots or limited space:

“A very unique variety known for its carrot-like foliage with a slight silver tinge. Plants are short and bear heavy crops of medium sized flattish tomatoes with a good flavor. Along with its attractive foliage, this variety is also popular for short or late season tomato growers as it produces in just 58 days. Determinate.”

My VERY favorite short-season tomato is ‘Stupice’ (pronounced “Stoo-PEESH-ka”) which is the most reliable tomato I’ve ever grown.

You can find them all at:

http://www.seedsavers.org (I used to work for them. They’re aces.)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

The thing that cracks me up is this: We offer about 12 different kinds of bush green beans, and people have an absolute FIT if we don’t have the exact vatiety they wanted. These are the same people that will buy cr@p seed from Wal-Mart, Walgreen’s, etc.

Now, puh-leeze. Could you or I (who do this for a living) tell the difference between “Blue Lake 271” and “Provider” beans once planted and tasted?

Yep. I didn’t think so! ;)

[kalee]

ping

[gardengirl]

I do like Blue Lake! LOL For canning.

For fresh, I like Roma’s. Can’t get them to hold their flavor when I can them.

Other than that, a green bean is pretty much a green bean!

We still sell bulk seeds, out of half gallon mason jars that are older than I am. I can’t believe how many people won’t buy them—because they aren’t in a pretty package and don’t cost a lot. Shaking head. You can always tell the Wal-Mart shoppers! The old timers know better, and if my trial germination rates in the greenhouse—of prettily packaged seeds—are any example, their germination rate sucks.

[MattinNJ]

Forgive my ignorance, but I would appreciate some help. I plan on clearing an acre of weed trees in my back yard and starting a big garden-just in case. I am going to have a ton of firewood and compost.

What are heirloom seeds and how long do they keep? Is there a good book/website for learning how to save seeds and learning how to preseve. I assume potatoes pack a lot of calories? Any other suggestions on what to plant on an acre in the North East-we live on a ridge and get a to of precipation-I have heard the soil in my are is awesome.

Any help would be aprreciated.

[gnarledmaw]

My favorite Sandhill Preservation Center

Enough heirlooms to create something uniquely suited to your environment and needs.

You must try the Saxony duck...incredible...

[who knows what evil?]

Mr. Devil...could you please ‘ping’ the garden list to this post to give Matt a hand with his questions? I can answer some of them; but the more input; the merrier.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thanks for the ping.

I know some areas were already short on seeds, from people contacting me.

[nw_arizona_granny]

I had faith that you would thaw out one of these days and contact us.

LOL, glad to hear from you, thanks for the ping.

[nw_arizona_granny]

My favorite Sandhill Preservation Center<<<

Yes, they are one of the best seed sellers on the market, be sure to order early.

Wonderful collection of the old tomatoes.

[who knows what evil?]

Even if you are not starting from seed this year; get yourself a copy of the catalog from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds by following this link . It's FREE, and it is stunning. You can order the BEST book on seed saving from them (although you can probably find it at any major bookseller)...it is called 'Seed to Seed' by Suzanne Ashworth. Do a search on 'seed shelf life', and you will get several sites that list the 'shelf life' of various seeds. Potatoes would do quite well in your area, geographically speaking...I do well with them, and I am north of you. Since I am in a short-season area like you and I specialize in hot peppers; I do a lot of 'container gardening'. There will be plenty of Freepers who maintain traditional gardens along with their input shortly; I'm sure. Everyone is always happy to help new gardeners...best of luck!

[Red_Devil 232]

Hey Matt, I will be posting the Weekly Garden Thread tomorrow morning, do you mind if I post your questions on the thread?

[Black Agnes]

LOL. I’ve already placed and gotten two orders so far. Might go for another one later in the season.

I was looking specifically for very short season winter squashes. Since you’re a ‘northern’ company you guys had a lot of those. I’m going to try planting them to avoid their blooming before our last run of SVB’s of the season. We have two seasons of SVB’s, aren’t we lucky? I’m hoping with short season squashes and planting late, maybe using some frost cloth and/or plastic tarp I can extend my season and actually GET some winter squash. Last year the SVB’s got them all. btds.

I got some heirloom tomatoes too. Y’all are competitive (very) on pricing than Baker Creek for the heirlooms you have. Jere is kind of proud of some of his stuff. I get the ones I can from y’all and the rest of them from him.

BTW, you gave some VERY good advice for my lettuce growing last fall. My lettuce was absolutely gorgeous. I grew it in one of my raised beds and used 2 layers of frost cloth and plastic tarp. I had fresh lettuce till the night we got below 10. That did it in! Chickens got it after that. I’ll replant it sometime next week, have to look at the almanac (I’m one of those wackos).

Oh, and the SSE link was great. My hubby is going to hide the CC before long!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Glad you’re having so much success!

I’m planning a large salad garden for spring. Normally I just grow lettuces, but I’m going to add spinach, radishes, baby carrots, spring onions, pok choi and a few other greens I can’t think of right now.

The area where I normally grown annual herbs and edible flowers will be salad fixin’s first, then the herbs & flowers, with more salad stuff when fall rolls around again.

I’m getting excited! :)

[Black Agnes]

Chinese cabbage (michilihi(sp?)) worked out great too. It was wonderful in stir fry and made a really neat salad green also. I’d never tried a fall/winter garden here before and we really loved it. So many ideas for next year too. Might even give the petulant Romanesco broccoflower stuff a try. We had fresh veggies till the first weekend of Jan this year in 8a. Now I’m hoping the garden fairies will find a greenhouse for me.

Hubby got my plant lights set up in the garage yesterday afternoon so I’m set to start little peppers and tomatoes next weekend. He’s as big a pepper fiend as I am a tomato fiend. I’ve promised him, barring weather events beyond my control (hurricane, insane drought/heat), that I’ll put up as many pint jars of jalapeno and cayenne slices as I can fit in the pantry. He’s thinking about new shelving in there to make more room now *chortle*.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’ve found that when I want something done around here it’s really important to:

a. Make him think it’s HIS idea...

b. Stand back and stay out of the way!

LOL! :)

[Califreak]

Maybe not, but is the government media complex laying some sort of evil groundwork for the crisis of an artificial shortage created by government?