Almost everyone has grown something from seed. If not in your backyard or balcony, in some science class or with a parent or grandparent. The good old method of dig a hole, put in seed, cover seed with soil, water; seems so easy. Once you get started with seed starting, it doesn’t seem so simple.
For example, most solanums (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant) need heated soil to germinate. So, in the PNW, if you wait until the soil is hot enough for these plants to germinate, they wont have enough time to mature before the cold weather sets in during fall. This is why these plants are bought as starts instead of seeds.
However, other plants, such as greens, carrots, onions, kale, herbs…the list goes on and on…are so simple to start from seed, it makes much more sense financially to go this route. You can have fresh lettuce, salad greens, onions in storage, and basil coming out your ears, for pennies on the dollar. Take a look at the amount you spend on produce each trip to the store. If you took out some of the things you could grow from seed, would you have more money for other yummy foods? Or would you be able to start putting that money elsewhere?
Lettuce seed packet: $3.00
Number of seeds per packet (Territorial Seed Co.): 800
Number of lettuce heads from a single seed packet, accounting for thinning and some die-off: 75
Usual seed life: 3 years
Savings in 3 years with one seed packet ($1.99 for organic lettuce, 25 heads per year, one head every other week): $150
Price per lettuce head: $0.04
Now try this calculation for other vegetables you buy. How often do you use these? Would you eat them more often if you could afford it? If you had more money, would you purchase a variety of organic fruits regularly? Or maybe go out to dinner more often?
- Onions
- Shallots
- Carrots
- Kale
- Chard
- Spinach
- Beets (fresh and pickled)
- Radishes
- Heirloom tomatoes (fresh and canned)
- Bell Peppers
- Hot Peppers (fresh and dried)
- Green beans
- Cucumber
- Zucchini
- Winter Squash
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Peas
- Cauliflower
- Eggplant
- Leek
- Melon
- Herbs (basil, parsley, thyme, etc)
- Root crops (turnips, rutabagas, parsnips)
- Scallions/Green Onions
Okay, I understand, this list is overwhelming. Can you pick three things you eat a TON of? Or three things you wish you could buy regularly?
Granted, seed starting does take more work. But once you make it a weekly or every-other-week habit, it gets a lot easier. I’ve been able to get seeds started in my grow area in 20 minutes. The payoff will come by the bushel! Not to mention how fresh produce tastes!
Next week I will detail how I start seeds – stay tuned!
I love this entry and can’t wait to see your seed starting post. Loving it so far! Especially the cost comparison. What an eye opener. Great blog!