Selecting Seeds For The Home Garden

Selecting Seeds For The Home Garden 

If you plan to produce your own SEEDLINGS you will need SEEDS. You can either purchase seeds from a reputable garden shop, that is well frequented, well-kept and well stocked or produce your own.

Factors To Consider When Purchasing Your Seeds

Discuss the following questions with more experienced gardeners, or your extension officer, before you purchase seeds:

• Will this variety do well in my area?
• Will it produce small or large plants?
• Is it a early-maturing or late-maturing variety?
• Is it resistant to the pest or disease that normally attack? 
• Is it right variety for the season? 
• Does it vine or bush?

Guidelines In Purchasing Seeds

When purchasing seeds:

• Purchase seeds in properly labeled packages
• Never buy seeds if their is insufficient information about the variety 
• Never buy seeds from display racks that are exposed to the sun! Never buy seeds sold in unlabeled, faded or old packets.
• Always look for date of test, lot #, variety and germination percentage!
• Do not purchase seeds that have expired.

REMEMBER!!

• Seeds are treated with chemicals
• Seeds should not be use as food for pets or humans
• Never let seeds come into contact with food
• Always wash your hands after handling seeds

Selecting Seeds From Home-Grown Crops

• Crops which perform poorly are not

  recommended for use as seed material.
• Only extract seeds from mature, healthy fruits.
• Select the larger, plumper, brighter looking seeds.
• Reject cracked or broken seeds.
• Immature fruits yield immature seeds, which could become shriveled after drying.
• Some diseases are transmitted through the seed. If seeds are extracted from diseased fruits, it is possible that those seeds will also be diseased.
• Storage of seed material may pose a problem if seeds are improperly handled, because they will lose their viability and vigor.

Storing Seeds

Seeds should be stored in air tight containers. Place in the vegetable crisper compartment of the refrigerator.

Seeds stored in the refrigerator must be removed at least 24 hours before sowing. This will allow the seeds to reach room temperature.

The success of your home gardening efforts depends heavily on the quality of the seeds you sow.