Garden Planning

It's cold and snowy out. This is the time of year that I long for it to be spring so that I can start my garden. Now don't get me wrong, I love Christmas. It's the rest of winter I dislike. Since I can't make time go faster, I spend this time planning out my garden instead. This year we're going to make raised beds (and lots of them because I can and preserve a lot) and being the huge nerd I am (I've been told it's "cute" but I know it's totally dorky but efficient), I made actual plans:

There are several very good seed companies out there. I have ordered from these companies at one point or another:


Burpee

Johnny's Selected Seeds

Horizon Herbs

Gurney's Seed and Nursery Co

 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

I've also heard good things about Southern Exposure Seed Exchange but I haven't had personal experience with them.

For my next garden I've decided to order almost completely from  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Why? Because heirloom seeds are awesome and I've had great experience from this company.
What is an heirloom seed?  Well it's what the name suggest, seeds that have been saved and passed down for generations. Heirloom seeds are awesome because they produce great plants (hence why they keep getting saved) and they allow you to keep saving seeds and continue producing those awesome plants. I plan to do just that and in the long run reduce my costs as I won't keep buying the same seeds year after year.

Hybrid seeds, on the other hand, are artificially cross pollination of two seeds. Therefor, can only be used to grow that one plant. The seeds of those plants will not grow the same altered plant. There is one hybrid seed that I do love from Burpee and that is the Big Mama Roma (it's so nice for canning)...but since it is a hybrid and I'm giving up hybrids...no more Big Mama Roma's for me.

I have lots of work to do for next years garden but it'll be worth the effort. So stay tuned because I will share every step of the way.