Seed Catalogs - Order now and grow your own!
If you want to grow you own vegetables, now’s the time to start browsing those seed catalogs you’ve been getting in the mail. Spring will be here before you know it, and what a better way to beat the winter blues, than planning your spring garden. Some seed catalogs will send out free to promote their business and gain new customers.
You will find the best seeds from all over world in seed catalogs. Although you can purchase your seeds in a nearby garden center, you may not find many seeds that are available. Some of the different types of seed you might be hard to find there are called Heirloom seeds which are readily available from mail order seed catalogs. These seeds come from plants that have been kept in their original form, before hybrids were developed. Hybrids were developed to change the original species of a plant and its fruit, making their shape, color or content more appealing. Discriminating gardeners still choose a variety of rare heirloom seeds from their seed catalogs, to ensure the survival of the original species.
You can buy either annual or perennial seeds from seed catalogs. Annual seeds can be started easily indoors with the proper containers and potting mix. Perennial seeds are best left to the patient and more mature gardener, since most take longer to germinate. These are better started outdoors.
Herbs can be grown easily in your kitchen window, making fresh herbs available all year round. The most popular cooking herbs are parsley, basil, oregano, thyme and rosemary. These can be raised in small pots and require very little space. Some herbs can make a nice outdoor border or hedge.
Aromatic herbs such as rosemary and lavender can be used and will also do double duty as a bug repellant for your garden. Lavender can be cut late in the season to make beautiful bouquets, sweet smelling sachets, and are a relaxing addition to your bath. This favorite can be hung up to dry to be enjoyed all year round. Once the plants mature, rosemary and lavender prefer sandy, well drained soil and lots of sunshine. You can also hold back on fertilizing most herbs since they will become more aromatic and do better without it.
And don’t forget to order flower seeds from your seed catalogs. Flowers not only come in many beautiful colors and varieties, they are also very beneficial planted in your vegetable garden. Flowers help attract bees and butterflies to your garden to pollinate your crops to yield a better harvest.