Do order your seeds from a reputable seed company

It is always best to order from popular seed companies. Their popularity is most likely due to good service and high quality seeds. However, even reputable companies run out of favorite verities of seeds; so be sure to order early!
Good seed companies provide colorful catalogs that give detailed information on such things as:

o Expected yield
o When and how to pick your crops
o Individual plants suitability to such conditions as resistance to disease and when to plant in relation to frost, cool temperatures, or summer heat

You should consider all of this information when planning your seed order and choosing a seed company.
You can find the names of good seed companies in gardening magazines, by an internet search, or by asking gardeners who have good results. Order catalogs from several companies and choose the one that looks best to you.

record keeping

You’ll find record keeping very helpful in all phases of gardening. It is very easy to forget the information that you should know for next year’s garden if it isn’t written down.
Planting records are very important in planning your seed order for next year. They should include such things as:

Name of variety
o How satisfied were you?
o Should you reorder this variety or try another?

Amount planted
o Did you plant enough? Too much?
o Is there a variety that claims to produce more?

Results of seeds
o Did they germinate as well as predicted?
o Were the plants resistant to disease?
o How was the flavor?

Don’t forget that some seeds will keep for up to five years. Check your supply before ordering. You may want to try a few new varieties even if you are satisfied with what you have been growing. Some varieties are best when eaten fresh, others are developed to can, freeze, or store well. This information is usually listed in the catalog.

Finding and ideal garden location

A good location is fairly close to the house and within reach of the garden hose. It has good drainage, but it is not excessively steep. It gets about 10 hours of sunlight in midsummer and there is little competition for water and nutrients from trees, hedges or shrubs. Children and pets usually do not play too close to this location.

Some additional planning that will prove enjoyable and rewarding:
• Get you soil tested and find a good source for premium compost
• Choose what to plant
• Decide how, when, and where to place your seeds or plants
• Set up a plan for companion and succession planting.

Winter is a great time to start planning.

Don’t go too big, or too far away

If you are a beginning gardener, you probably do not have the tools or the know-how to tackle a very large plot. If your garden is far away you may not be able to make daily visits to check on such things as insect invasion, weed control, adequate moisture, and picking vegetables at their peak of freshness.
If you are an inexperienced gardener start on a small scale and profit from your mistakes. Follow the basic ideas of soil enrichment, pest control, and raising basic crops. Plant crops that you are sure your family will eat. As your experience increases, so will your yield of vegetables. You will be ready for a larger plot once you have built up some experience, confidence, and gardening tools. When these things are accomplished, your success will be assured and your basement will be well stocked for winter!

Do order seed catalogs from several companies over the winter

Many seed companies give helpful tips on raising vegetables. They may also provide such information as a listing of seeds which are disease resistant. Seeds are usually cheaper in catalogs and on line that if bought by the packet in a store. Catalogs also depict the appearance of crops through brightly colored pictures and drawings.

Do try your luck at gardening

even if you are undecided as to weather to use commercial or organic methods.

There are many advantages to having a home garden. Some of the main advantages include:
o Gardening is an enjoyable family project
o It is relaxing
o It is educational
o The vegetables are fresher and more nutritious that store bought

Organic gardening has additional advantages. It is first of all a way to work “with” nature; chemical work against nature. Instead of pesticides for insect and weed control, organic gardeners use companion planting, healthy plants, and mulching as the means to control these pests.