As I write this it is threatening to snow outside.  If it’s snowing then why in the world would I be interested in getting my vegetable garden started?  Well, a good vegetable garden takes more than throwing some seeds in the soil and hoping for the best.  It takes a little planning.  Now you could be like some gardeners and spend the fall and winter planning every square inch of your garden beds.  I had good intentions of being that kind of gardener, but life got in the way and that didn’t happen.  In fact, I just pulled out last years tomato plants 2 weeks ago.  It just goes to show that someone as lazy as me can have a beautiful vegetable garden.

Since it is snowing and we’d rather be outside working in the garden than on the garden what do we do?  Seed catalogs.  There is a large selection of seed racks in every store you enter at this time of year.  Going to pick up your prescriptions at Walgreens?  Pick up some cucumber seeds while you are at it.  Actually don’t.

I am a big supporter of organic is better, but heirloom is best.  Odds are that the seeds on that drugstore rack aren’t heirloom or organic.  In fact they are likely to be genetically modified.

Many home gardeners first turn to Territorial Seed Company for their purchases.  Territorial seeds are found in most garden centers and they have a wide variety of seeds to choose from.  Territorial was also started by none other than Steve Solomon.  Better yet, it is a Northwest company located in Cottage Grove, OR.  I purchased my seeds from Territorial for years, but a few years ago I had issues with germination so I gave another company a try.  This isn’t to say I discourage purchases from Territorial.  I highly encourage them.

I buy my seeds from Heirloom Seeds.  In general heirloom seeds (the actual seed, not the company) are seeds produced from open pollination.  This means they are not genetically modified, and were not created in a lab somewhere.  I buy heirloom seeds because with open pollination of my own I can harvest seed from my plants and buy less the next year.  Of course tell that to the employees at Heirloom Seeds who just processed my $37 order for the year.  Trouble is that they are a very small company run by a family and their turn around time is about 40 days right now.  This does not bode well for my impatient 4 year old.  So a package of Territorial Seeds might be in our future next week.

Whichever company you decide to purchase from, I suggest you study their catalog thoroughly.  Make sure they have the seeds you are looking for.  I find it a nuisance to have to order from 12 different companies because they don’t have 1 variety I’m searching for.

Ideally, you will want to order your seeds in December so they arrive in time for planting, but seeing as I just ordered mine last week we’ll let that slide.  Just be aware that you’ll want to get your peas in the ground by President’s day so you may have to visit your local garden center in the mean time.

This week we’ll discuss what to do with those seeds while you are waiting for them to arrive and what to do with them once they do arrive.