Savor Seed Starting Prep

seedling

Are you a seed lover? If you’ve never grown plants from seeds, make it your resolution to give it a try this year. Growing a plant from seed, nurturing it, transplanting it in the garden, tending it, and enjoying its beautiful blooms or delicious fruit makes you feel like a garden rock star!

While it’s probably too early in your area to start seeds in January, it’s definitely time to get seeds now. Millions of new gardeners discovered the pleasure of growing food and flowers during the pandemic, and the demand for seeds increased enormously. Now’s the time to make sure you have the supplies and seeds you want for your 2022 garden. Visit your local Master Nursery® Garden Center for an extensive selection of seeds, Bumper Crop® Soils and Plant Foods, and all your gardening supplies.

Start by making a list of your favorite veggies, fruits, and flowers. If you plan to start seeds inside, you’ll need trays, humidity domes, grow lights, and Bumper Crop® Potting Soil [Eastern & Midwestern Regions | Western Region]. Visit your local Master Nursery® Garden Center for your gardening supplies.

If you love seeds and want to try new varieties this year, consider participating in National Seed Swap Day, celebrated each year on the last Saturday of January; this year, it’s on January 29, 2022. While many local gardening clubs host in-person seed swaps, you can also find seed swaps online, where participants mail seeds to one another. Seed swaps are a fun, inexpensive way to try new varieties in your garden. Or consider organizing a seed swap with a group of friends in your area. Really, most people don’t need 50 tomato seeds or 200 lettuce seeds. Partner with friends to share the bounty and save some money.

For more inspirational gardening articles click here.


Related Products

Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Organic Potting Soil
Eastern & Midwestern Regions
Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Potting Soil
Western Region

Make a Plan

garden-journalGrab a cup of tea, a notebook or garden journal (if you’re fancy!), and your imagination for a January garden-planning session. One of the best way to accomplish goals is by putting them in writing, then make a concrete plan of action to achieve those goals. (Really, is there anything more satisfying than crossing off tasks on a to-do list?)

Take time to note what worked well in your garden last year—and what fell short. Make a list of the plants you loved—and the plants that turned out to be prima donnas or bullies. Great gardens are constantly revised, amended, expanded, and edited.

If you lack garden space, remember that containers make a perfect option for growing what you love. For patios or balconies, consider adding pretty containers filled with food or flowers to your plans. If you think your balcony or porch is too small to grow food, think again: new compact varieties of tomatoes, peppers, and even squash make growing tasty treats easy.

January is also the perfect time to assess your garden space. Winter unveils what works in the garden—and what’s missing. Is your garden looking barren and drab? Add plants with four seasons of interest to your plans. Does it need more defined beds, paths, or structure? Consider hardscaping to spice up your garden. In southern climates, expand your season of blooms by including plants like hellebores, witch hazel, and edgeworthia in your garden plans, adding color and beauty throughout the winter months.

As you plan your garden, consider incorporating the National Garden Bureau’s “Year Of” plants in your list. Each year, the National Garden Bureau selects one annual, one perennial, one bulb crop, one edible, and one shrub as “Year Of” crops. Plants are chosen because they are popular, easy-to-grow, widely adaptable, genetically diverse, and versatile, making them terrific garden additions.

Whether your garden is young and expanding or well-established, take time to plan: make lists, research plants for pollinators, get estimates for hardscapes, build raised beds, and dream of the pleasure your garden will bring this summer.

For more inspirational gardening articles click here.


Related Products

Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Organic Potting Soil
Eastern & Midwestern Regions
Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Starter Food
Western Region
Eastern & Midwestern Regions
Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Potting Soil
Western Region