Growing plants, whether herbs and vegetables to eat or
annuals and perennial flowers grown for pleasure, can be so much more gratifying when
you start them yourself from seed.
Shopping for seedlings at your local big box store or home
improvement center may be convenient and instantly satisfying but it can also
bring you more work and frustration in the long run. Their greenhouse centers seedlings are delivered on a truck and often from places far away. The seedlings are often fed with a lot of nutrients to rush the blooms; they want the plants to sell fast once they reach the stores. While that may make them look amazing and
too irresistible to pass up, soon after planting them they may die while getting used to the changed conditions in your garden. Along with
the flowers you just bought from the garden center, the chances are good that
you also brought home some freeloading pests; spider mites, white fly and aphids.
I have listed below a few of the many online seed companies
you can purchase quality, harder to find varieties of flowers and vegetables. I
have also included a zone chart in case you are not sure of your specific
locations growing zone.
https://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/
This is a small business offering some choice varieties of
annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables. They offer bulk pricings and orders
over $40 are free of additional shipping charges. Personally I love the
varieties of zinnia's they have available for purchase
http://www.johnnyseeds.com/flowers/
Johnny Seeds is a Maine business that is 100% owned by hard working employees
that love what they do. It is so important to support the local growers and breeders as much
as possible! I also love the idea that the seeds I purchase were raised in the
same general zone as mine. The company also supports multiple charitable
organizations and community support efforts.
