Heirloom Vegetable Seeds

[JiveTurkey]

I am planning my garden. I know it's early, but planning will keep me sane through the winter. And that's important. :D

My intent is to have a totally heirloom/organic/non-gmo shindig. I have been browsing, but I want to know if anyone has a favorite on-line spot for heirloom seeds.

Maybe we can all start planning and sharing ideas, to get through this winter poopity-poop.

[pamperedchef]

I can get you the name of the heirloom company that I ordered through this year. They have some fabulous seeds. We planted our garden WAY TOO LATE, but some of the veggies managed to make it well. The green beans and yellow wax beans did well and the spinach and tomatoes were productive.

You are not planning too early. I intended to plan in January so that everything would be ready to go by March, but it didn't happen last year. This year we have got to get on the ball! I want to sustain myself-not rely on the grocery store for everything!

[pamperedchef]

Found it....

http://www.victoryseeds.com/

[Tony]

Interesting read on exactly what heirloom gardening is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heirloom_plant

[KatherineA]

Johnny's Kitchen Garden Seeds - really great lettuce/salad blends and really neat tomatos however I can't grow tomato plants from seeds. But that doesn't stop me from ordering at least one pack a year . . ..

I also love Territory Seeds a lot.

As for non-heirloom and just reg. seeds - I like Jungs Seeds in Wisconsin I have ordered from them for over 25 years.

I have been going through the cataloges and making lists already. :)

And Stark Bros has great fruit trees and berries - some heirloom and some "regular."

[Shasta]

Baker Creek has loads of heirloom seeds. That's all they sell. Google Rare Seeds.

[JiveTurkey]

Oh, I have Googled. I just wanted to ask about experiences.

[sidhe]

The Xmas catalogs quit coming and the mailbox was almost empty but that didn't last long, full of gardening catalogs now. I'm not complaining, we all need a little brightness (and promise of spring) to brighten these short dreary days.

[SeanEpperson]

http://www.freedomseeds.org/

[cjb]

Tis the Season - to start planning your garden! We have 5 Seed Catalog's on the coffee table.

[LFE]

Our neighbors in NY were huge organic farmers and they swore by FEDCO-SEEDS. http://www.fedcoseeds.com/

Look for write ups from Lisa Bloodnick under lettuce from this years catalog... it can be downloaded from here: http://www.fedcoseeds.com/seeds.htm

[OzGirl]

OK about seed gardening...I've always been a little scarred of it.

Do you have to start the seeds inside, or can you just plant them direct in the garden and hope for the best??

[LFE]

OK about seed gardening...I've always been a little scarred of it.

Do you have to start the seeds inside, or can you just plant them direct in the garden and hope for the best??

It depends on the plant type, soil, temps, PH etc and if by inside means that you have a green house :D
We find things like tomatoes easier to just buy (for us, 3 to 4 plants is all we need). The same thing holds true for peppers.

For Gourdes, pumpkins and squashes, we start the seeds indoors.

Letuce, peas, beans, carrots, basil etc. seem to do just fine here by planting the seed right into the soil (once we figured out that the soil here lacks everything that a plant needs to grow).... Big Tom gets some great mixed organic soil. If you can get old chicken crap.... mixing that in works wonders

[OzGirl]

Is anyone planting flowers or other plants in with their veggies?

[JiveTurkey]

I am going to try a couple of trap crops--feed the critters what they love and they'll leave your good stuff alone. I'm looking at mustard and daikon. We'll see if it works.

[LFE]

Is anyone planting flowers or other plants in with their veggies?

Yepper.... lots of em.
And in fact last year we planted a thyme for strawberry edging for one of our gardens.

[cwj]

Interesting read on exactly what heirloom gardening is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heirloom_plant

Thanks for sparing me the embarrassment of asking what heirloom seeds are :)

[rooneymom]

I've tried trap crops. I put radishes in among the cukes to deter cucumber beetles. Also put in nasturtiums and marigolds. They didn't work. BUT that doesn't mean that I don't do it anymore. I love having flowers among the veggies. It really brightens things up and it does attract lots of good bugs. But they don't eliminate the bad ones. Just something I've come to live with because I don't like chemicals on the veggies. The kids have too much fun "grazing".

[JiveTurkey]

I've tried trap crops. I put radishes in among the cukes to deter cucumber beetles. Also put in nasturtiums and marigolds. They didn't work. BUT that doesn't mean that I don't do it anymore. I love having flowers among the veggies. It really brightens things up and it does attract lots of good bugs. But they don't eliminate the bad ones. Just something I've come to live with because I don't like chemicals on the veggies. The kids have too much fun "grazing".
Nasturtiums are so pretty. Do they have a specific function in a veggie garden?

[KatherineA]

Nasturtiums are so pretty. Do they have a specific function in a veggie garden?

You can eat the flowers (pretty in a salad) and use the seeds to make capers.

[OzGirl]

Nasturtiums are so pretty. Do they have a specific function in a veggie garden?

Looks like a great vege companion plant! and as Katherine said they can be eaten...aparently the whole plant!

http://oldfashionedliving.com/nasturtiums.html
Nasturtiums help deter aphids, whiteflies, squash bugs, cucumber beetles and other pests. Plant them with tomatoes, radishes, cabbage, cucumbers, and under fruit trees. They come in vibrant colors, or muted tones-variegated leaves or plain-and some are fairly dwarfed while others can be used as a vine, climbing five foot or more!

[JiveTurkey]

I'm gonna get me some nasturtiums.

And holy crap, capers are nasturtium seeds?

[KatherineA]

I'm gonna get me some nasturtiums.

And holy crap, capers are nasturtium seeds?

No, the nastursium seeds provide a way for you to make a version of capers at home.

Question: What are capers?

What are capers? What do capers taste like?

Answer: Capers are the unripened flower buds of Capparis spinosa, a prickly, perennial plant which is native to the Mediterranean and some parts of Asia. Their use dates back to more than 3000 B.C. where they are mentioned as a food in the Sumerian cuneiform Gilgamesh, an ancient retelling of a great flood and ark legend.

After the buds are harvested, they are dried in the sun, then pickled in vinegar, brine, wine or salt. The curing brings out their tangy lemony flavor, much the same as green olives.

The size of the buds range from tiny (about the size of a baby petite green pea) up to the size of a small olive. The smallest variety from the South of France, called nonpareil, is the most prized and comes with an equally notable price-tag. Larger capers are stronger in flavor and less aromatic.

Much of the expense comes from labor costs since the caper buds are picked by hand. Try making your own Poor Man's Capers at home from nasturtium seeds.

Capers have long been a favorite in the Mediterranean region. The small, green herb buds lend a piquant sour and salty flavor to salads, dressings, sauces, vegetables and a variety of main dishes.

[LFE]

I'm gonna get me some nasturtiums.


Here a pic from our garden this year.... They grow well and seem to attract all kinds of things!

3638

[JiveTurkey]

Here a pic from our garden this year.... They grow well and seem to attract all kinds of things!

3638
Are you serious?!!! That adorable little frog was in your garden? :yahoo:
Or is he a toad? His little nose is toad-like.

[LFE]

We put it on the flower, however it was hiding in the garden.
Here is another pic. I did just assume it was a frog over a toad.

BTW, daylillies are another edible flower you can grow.
Not only are the flower pedals edible, but the roots grow small potatoe type tubers.

3639