How to Get a Truly Green Thumb: Heirloom Seeds, Sources, Starting Mix

When you buy your seeds this winter, consider heirloom and native species! Seed biodiversity depends on backyard gardeners like you. Here is why this matters, some of the best do-it-yourself seed starting mixes, a seed glossary, and six heirloom seed catalog recommendations.

Why it Matters to Buy Heirloom Seeds – Plus About Seed-Saving
The loss of genetic seed diversity facing us today may lead to a catastrophe far beyond our imagining.

Take the Seed Savvy Quiz and see how your knowledge stacks up!

Heirloom Seeds – More What and Why?
Vegetable varieties which predate the current seed production and food distribution systems we have in this country are called heirlooms.

When to Start Seedlings
Most gardeners start seedlings too soon. Do you?

Seeds of Life – Seed Glossary
Humans today rely upon just 20 varieties of plants for 90 percent of their food.

Simple Egg-shell Pots for Sprouting Seeds
Here is an imaginative idea for handy seed-starters that makes a pretty decoration: you don’t need to buy trays or pots to start your seeds when you can use eggshells instead!

About Treated Seeds
Some methods of seed treatment are known to be hazardous to the health of the people who use and manufacture them.

January’s Gardener To-Do List

Nine Steps to Starting Seeds

Amy Goldman’s Favorite Squashes

Seed Starting Mix – One
4 parts peat
2 parts perlite
2 parts vermiculite

Seed Starting Mix – Two
1/3 Potting Soil
1/3 Sand
1/3 Garden soil (needs to be well tilled)
Mix all 3 parts together very well

Seed Starting Mix – Three
Just peat

RESOURCES

Heirloom Seeds

Rare Seed Catalog (Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds)
Seed Savers
Seeds Trust

Seeds of Change

Victory Seeds (open pollinated and heirloom seeds)

Read more: Nature, Lawns & Gardens, seed starting mix, seeds

By Annie B. Bond

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jennifer C.

5:09PM PDT on Mar 19, 2012

Thanks for sharing.

send a green star

Rudolf A.

1:50PM PST on Feb 24, 2012

Well done, very good.

Mel M.

1:17PM PST on Feb 24, 2012

Thanks

Kath R.

3:22AM PST on Feb 24, 2012

I only grow heirloom varieties in my garden....its well worth the effort.

DobieMax W.

10:42AM PDT on May 12, 2011

Noted

Jon H.

6:15PM PDT on Apr 20, 2011

This is an awesome article. Thank you.

Linda J.

9:06PM PDT on Apr 19, 2011

I bought a coffee can-sized container of nonMonsanto poisoned veggie seeds for my area and plan to use them in the future when we cannot use our dollars for food to trade for food with farmers in our area. Will be buying another in a few weeks.

Robert O.

3:43PM PDT on Mar 27, 2011

Thank you.

Bon L.

5:15AM PST on Feb 17, 2011

Thanks for the info.

KS G.

6:13AM PDT on Oct 27, 2010

Thanks for the article.