Organic Garden Seed

When you purchase seeds, whether in bulk or prepackaged sizes, you select the varieties you want to grow and the companies from whom you purchase them, based on your own preferences.

For a seed company to have its seeds certified as organic, it must be inspected by a certifying agency for use of only approved fertilizing and pest controls, along with routine soil testing to show the land has been free of toxic pesticides and fertilizers for a set period of time.

Using organic garden seed assures that the seeds you plant have not been treated with any non-organic pesticides, fungicides or fertilizers.

They are also non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) and the growers must follow organic growing methods in their production.

Due to the extensive testing and stringent practices that must be followed, organic garden seeds can be more expensive than conventional seeds.

But the benefits of starting with organic seeds and gardening organically far outweigh the additional cost.

With pesticide residue being linked to so many health issues, organic food is a better option for everyone.

And growing an organic garden brings access to the freshest produce to your fingertips.

Organic seeds are available in hundreds of varieties, including annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables.

To find the best selection, send for some seed catalogs from organic seed companies and study the varieties you are interested in.

Be sure the seeds offered are untreated, as most conventional seeds are treated with chemical fungicides.

Check the size of the packages being offered, as many seed companies offer small samplings of seeds for home gardeners as well as bulk quantities.

When selecting your seeds, be familiar with the last frost date in your region. The seed catalog or package will tell you the number of days to maturity of each variety of plant.

This number is an average, but will help you select plants that will mature and bear flowers or vegetables within the timeframe of your growing season.

Read all instructions for starting seeds, as many require special treatment in order to germinate.

Some require cracking the hard outer shell of the seed, or scarifying. Others may require soaking for a period of time to remove their hard coats.

There are some that may need to be exposed to cold, a process called stratification, if their native habitat is a cold climate.

In this case, storing them in a refrigerator in a plastic bag of sphagnum moss for a period of time specific to the variety will aid in the process.

Since this time period may be as much as several months, it is necessary to know these details well in advance of planting time.

With the increasing use of toxins in our food, it is becoming more important to grow our vegetables organically for our health.

By starting our vegetable garden with organic seeds, we help ourselves and our families.

And by growing our entire garden with organic garden seeds, we help not only our own environment, but the world's.

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