VEGGIES FROM SEED...WHY BOTHER??

The triumph of that first ripe tomato:  the miracle of growing from seed, the challenge of dealing with pests, the joy of the harvest, and ultimately, the reward of each bite!   It is all of these things combined that make vegetable gardening such a wonderful thing to do. 

Growing vegetables from seed has definite advantages:  
First, there is selection!  If you don’t yet have a variety of seed catalogs from which to choose, simply order from one company and you’ll soon get more…I think they reproduce in the mailbox.  (See the resource list for seed companies) 

Second, it is usually less expensive to grow your own, if you consider the quantity of plants versus the price of a packet of seeds.  And third, a feeling of accomplishment when you see your mature plants… you did it yourself!!

Start your gardening year in the winter:  Now that the catalogs are here (and still coming),  is the time to plan your vegetable garden.  Starting a new bed?  It is easiest to prepare one in early fall.  Pick a sunny location.  Using a site that receives less than 6 hours of sun may adversely affect yields, and produce leggy plants.   Deciding what you would like to grow should be a factor in determining how big to make the plot.  For example, tomatoes and squash take up a lot of room, while green beans and peppers are more compact.   Mark the area's boundary with stakes and string.   Have your soil tested for ph and nutrients at your local County Extension center and amend it according to their recommendations.   A generous supply of finished compost,  humus, or well-rotted manure tilled in will really boost the nutrient value and structure of the soil. 

Now sit back and let it snow while you browse through your favorite seed catalogs.  Even if you don't grow from seed, it is a good way to check out the latest hybrids and disease resistant varieties of your favorite vegetables.  Growing from seed is a good way to get what you really want, maybe that extra sweet carrot, that tomato variety Aunt Mabel used to grow, or purple pepper plant that you can't find at the garden center.  Don't be afraid to try something new and unusual!  That's what make's growing your own vegetables so much fun!

Order the seeds you want early, to be sure and get the varieties you want.   When they arrive,  be sure to do a little research on the growing requirements of that plant.

Once you have prepared the soil,  go out and measure the length and width of your growing area.  Then relax in front of the fire and draw a diagram of where you want your plants to go, and how far apart they need to be.   This information will be found on the back of the packet of seeds  (but not where they will go in your diagram!)   In future years, you will want to rotate your crops so that you don't grow the same vegetable in the same spot year after year.  This helps reduce disease and bug problems, and can prevent one type of plant from depleting soil nutrients.