Welcome to 2024! I hope everyone had a joyous holiday season, and that your excitement is growing as anticipate everything the new year and gardening season has to offer. While January often brings unpredictable gardening weather, one guarantee is a slew of seed catalogs arriving in my mailbox. I love browsing through the pages on rainy days and circling everything I hope to plant. If you’re new to gardening, seed catalogs are also an excellent source of knowledge. In my early 20s, when I was planting my first patio garden, it helped me learn plant names and families, the history of particular varieties, growing tips, and much more. Over the years, I’ve received dozens of catalogs, but my two favorites are Baker Creek Seeds and Territorial Seed Co.
If you were lucky enough before the pandemic to attend the Heirloom Festival at the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds, then you are well acquainted with Baker Creek. They hosted this fabulous event and also have a small seed store in Petaluma with a selection of their most popular varieties. While their catalog costs $10, it’s more than just a catalog; it’s a gorgeous publication of fruits and veggies that will inspire you throughout the year. I keep mine on the coffee table and have even caught my kids picking it up occasionally. If that’s not a selling point, I don’t know what is! If you are new to this company, check out their website at www.rareseeds.com and treat yourself in 2024 with a catalog.
Territorial Seed is another excellent company I’ve been buying from for over 15 years. Like Baker Creek, they trial their seeds, so what makes it to the catalog has been tested for various characteristics such as disease resistance, seasonal performance, fruit production, etc.
Now, if you took my advice in the fall, it’s time to consult the notes you made on what to plant. Trust yourself and follow your advice. My notes strictly instruct me not to grow more than five lemon cucumber plants. Last year, my first crop failed, so I bought a seed packet, and because I desperately wanted a crisp cucumber, I completely overdid it and sowed the whole pack. Before I knew it, I had so many bright yellow balls hanging from my hog-wire trellises that they started resembling string lights all tangled together. Towards the end of the season, even the bunnies and chickens started turning their noses up at them.
By mid-January, start formulating a list of what you want to purchase and place the order by the end of the month. Some companies quickly run out of the newer and often limited stock varieties.
If you are new to seed, I encourage you to try some this year. I can’t squeeze all my tips and tricks into these short articles, so if you want more info, please reach out through my community garden email: russianrivergardens@gmail.com. The best part of owning the gardens is discussing gardening with various people, and I am always excited to receive questions. Happy gardening!