By Linda Wiggen Kraft, Healthy Planet Green & Growing Editor
2021 is a year of new beginnings and hope as we start to leave behind the horrors of Covid, political unrest and so much more. January is traditionally the time of envisioning what we want to come into being. This January we can let gardens inspire us as we plan for new beginnings.
Our gardens begin in the cold darkness of winter when we plan and imagine. We imagine brighter greener days. Our hopes and dreams are like the seeds of a garden. There beginnings are small, but with proper nurturing they will take form and grow. Gardeners need to know under what conditions seeds thrive. There is the work of preparing soil, weeding, watering and dealing with pests and disease. Without knowledge and work gardens won’t thrive, just like bringing intentions into being.
In January of this year, choose your hopes and dreams wisely. Similarly choose garden seeds and plants that will thrive and grow. Gardens were super popular in 2020. It is expected that this year they will be as popular, maybe more. Gardens provided food, flowers, solace and comfort during a very hard year. Seed companies and nurseries sold more in 2020 than any year in their history, often running out of what they offered. IN anticipation of more gardens this year, January is a good time to buy seeds.
Planting from seed, either in the ground or inside before planting outdoors, offers hundreds of flowers and vegetables that aren’t available as bedding plants. There are many plants grown from seed that thrive in our climate with both its cool and hot growing seasons.
Cool weather veggie seeds can be planted outside starting in mid to late March. Even if it snows and stays above 25 degrees they will survive. These plants also grow well into late fall when again planted in early September. For fall, cool season seeds do best when started inside a cooler house in August. Common cool season veggies include arugula, beets, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, peas, radishes and spinach.
Our long hot summers means some flowers and vegetables can be directly sown into the garden after danger of frost has passed and the soil is warmed. Some annual flowers and veggies that love the heat include beans, cucumbers, celosia, gourds, marigolds, melons, sweet potatoes, sunflowers, okra, peppers, zinnias. and zucchini.
Seeds can easily be ordered online from all the seed companies. Many have catalogs with beautiful photos that make gardeners want to grow way more than space allows. Missouri’s own Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds has perhaps the most beautiful catalog. Other favorite catalogs are Select Seeds that carries an extensive line of annual flower seeds. High Mowing Organic Seeds has a large selection of organically grown vegetable seeds. Pinetree Garden Seeds sells packages of fewer seeds than other companies, but plenty for home gardens. My favorite seeds to give as gifts come from Hudson Valley Seeds. Many of their seeds are in specially art commissioned packages with clever artwork about the particular plant. Our local Seeds Geeks sells online and in local independent garden centers.
These are just a few of the seed companies that are committed to keeping ownership of seeds in the hands of those who grow them. They are small, often family, businesses. They are committed to sustainability grown non-GMO seeds. Choose seeds for your garden wisely and support the seed companies that are helping us bring about a greener and better year.
Linda Wiggen Kraft is a landscape designer who creates holistic and organic gardens. She offers Creativity Journeys, Mandala and Nature Journey workshops. More info is at her website and blog at: www.CreativityForTheSoul.com Call her at 314 504-4266.