March 20th is the first day of spring. With dreams of our summer gardens sustaining us through the last of the winter, it is time to start planning! Last year’s seed packets need to be assessed to determine if they are too old to be viable and if more need to be purchased. Now is also a good time to decide if some of last year’s varieties performed well in your garden environment. When you are ready to purchase new seeds, there are a number of sources to choose from that offer organic and heirloom varieties. Choosing organic and/or heirloom seeds helps to preserve diversity in food crops, support seed saving efforts, and keeps potential GMO and chemical hazards out of our gardens. Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah is a local source offering organic and heirloom seeds. They also sell seedlings for those who prefer to start their garden with young plants. Seeds of Change is another company that offers organic and heirloom varieties. Both companies focus on sustainability and the preservation of seed diversity.
If starting from seed, The Iowa Gardner offers some advice. Most seed varieties should be started in March in Iowa. Slower growing varieties can be started even earlier. For a more detailed breakdown of planting times, visit http://www.theiowagardener.com/Planting_Calendar_for_Iowa.html.
Now is the time to break out the catalogs, seed packets, and seed starting kits.
Happy gardening!