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Seeds & Seedlings

How to Select Good Seeds for Planting & What Bad Seeds to Avoid

Sometimes I think that if I spend time daydreaming about my spring garden, it will somehow conjure warmer weather and send the snowy New England chill packing! Before sketching out the placement for all my herbs, veggies, and fruits, I like to figure out how they will get into the ground in the first place. Deciding whether to plant from seed, seedling, or plant cutting dictates your planting timeline.

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Seeds & Seedlings

How to Store Seeds Long-Term

I had the best tomato plant ever this year. The vine grew tall and strong, and once the plant started producing, it didn’t stop until well beyond when every other summer vegetable had died off. The fruit was absolutely delicious, and it got me thinking about how to store seeds long-term. Nothing against the other […]

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Seeds & Seedlings

How to Source Tropical Fruit Seeds for Your Home Garden

As someone who grew up and lives in New England, tropical fruits hold a special intrigue for me. Apples? I’ve picked hundreds. Strawberries? Every June they glow like red rubies in fields nearby. But passion fruit? Bananas? Oh, to put my hands on those magical tropical fruit seeds! I do have lemon and lime trees, […]

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Seeds & Seedlings

3 Seed Germination Methods That Don’t Require Soil

I’m a big fan of different seed germination methods. Why? A few years ago, I found an old packet of seeds for one of my absolute favorite heirloom tomatoes. I was so excited that I didn’t bother to get any other tomato seeds that season. 

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Seeds & Seedlings

How Often to Water Vegetable Seeds

I see it from the corner of my eye, the telltale green sliver poking up from the potting mix. Victory, thy name is Vegetable Sprout! My pride is brimming as I examine the pot from every angle, admiring my little germinated miracle. All melodrama aside, growing vegetables from seeds is one of the most rewarding gardening experiences because you get to be a part of every step of the growing process. One step that many folks get hung up on is trying to figure out how often to water vegetable seeds.

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Seeds & Seedlings

10 Tips for Saving Heirloom Seeds So They Don’t Spoil

If you think the idea of saving heirloom seeds sounds special, well, that’s because it is. An heirloom conjures the magic of something sacred passed down from one generation to the next. That Persian rug that belonged to your great-grandmother, your grandfather’s military medals, that bureau that’s been in the family since 1674 … these […]

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Seeds & Seedlings

10 Ways to Give Vegetable Seeds as Gifts to Garden Enthusiasts

I know I’m a little biased about gardening and growing your own fruits, herbs, and vegetables, but I love giving vegetable seeds as gifts for holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions. In truth, though, I don’t think my gift giving is that far out of line. A lot of people love the idea of growing […]

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Seeds & Seedlings

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Starting Seeds Outdoors

One would assume that starting seeds outdoors is as simple as putting them in the ground, throwing a bit of dirt on top, and leaving the rest to nature. I won’t say that method never works. It’s great for wildflowers and perhaps some hardy perennial herbs, but I can tell you from experience, if you want your garden to grow, you’ll need to put a little more intention into your efforts. 

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Seeds & Seedlings

5 Tips for Saving Vegetable Seeds for Next Year’s Garden

As a kid, I was committed to saving vegetable seeds from every vegetable on my dinner plate. I loved the idea that food could make more food and in a weird way, vegetables could live forever. My parents had to gently break it to me, however, that cooked vegetable seeds would not fare well in the mini paper dirt cups lining our windowsill.

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Seeds & Seedlings

5 Tips for Surface Sowing Seeds

If you think about it, the idea of surface sowing seeds isn’t that radical. I can guarantee there aren’t many gardeners carefully measuring out the perfect depth to plant dandelion seeds, and yet, they are everywhere. Blown randomly about by the wind, the seeds land in your yard, along well-trodden paths, and thrive in that […]