5 Favorite Seeds for the Vegetable Garden
Plant what you like, eat what you grow! Before you start your spring garden it’s important to have a game plan in mind. The first step is to decide which vegetables your family likes best. Then, do the research on when to sow your seeds in your garden or give them an early start indoors. Crops like beans and squash germinate quickly when seeds are sown directly in the soil. Root vegetables like carrot and radishes should always be sown directly into the growing location. Many seeds varieties can be started early indoors so that healthy plants can be transplanted into the garden after frost and harvest can occur more quickly. The average last frost date in our area of North Carolina is April 15. The back of a seed packet contains plenty of useful information about each crop. Here are a few of our favorites for the spring garden:
5. Lettuce – Parris Island Romaine
This Romaine lettuce is named for Parris Island off of the coast of South Carolina. This is hands down our favorite lettuce to grow. The heads are sweet, crisp and delicious every time! Romaine lettuce seeds can be sown 2 to 4 weeks before the average last frost in mid Spring. Lettuce is a cool season crop and does not germinate well in the heat of the summer.
4. Pickling Cucumbers – Homemade Pickles
This small, crisp cucumber is our favorite for making pickles. They are solid with relatively few seeds which also make them great to add a crunch to salads. Cucumber seeds can be started indoors in the winter in early to mid March or sown directly in the garden at least one week after last frost date.
3. Edamame BeSweet 2001
These seeds produce a small, easy to grow bush with will be loaded with bean pods. Each Edamame pod can contain 2-3 beans. They are the perfect snack and an excellent source of protein. It is recommended to sow Edamame seeds directly into the garden after the last average frost date has passed.
2. Carrot Baby – Little Finger
This is actually a true mini carrot! An easy to grow heirloom carrot that can be grown from Spring through late Summer. It has a sweet flavor and tender core. These seeds can be sown outdoors early, 2-4 weeks before the average last frost date.
1. Royal Burgundy Bush Beans
These beans are perfectly fun plants for kids and adults! Royal Burgundy Beans grow as a compact bush with high yields, so no trellis needed. Purple flowers give way to purple beans that magically turn green when cooked! Sow directly into garden after last frost. These beans are great in more moderate temperatures and do not perform well in the heat of the summer.
These are just a few of our new favorite veggie seeds varieties. We carry hundreds of varieties of seeds, bulbs and starter plants so you can choose the best food for your family and garden!