This Year Will Be Different, Part I: A Thoughtful Approach to Seed Shopping

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished,” Lao Tzu reminds us. And yet, each year, I find myself in a frenzy, feeling behind before spring has even begun. In this unsteady state, as seed catalogs pile up and nursery inventory swells, it is easy to descend the slippery slope of impulse purchases.

This year, I was determined to take a different approach. Below are a few guidelines I’m using to keep myself on the rails this spring—I hope they save you time, money, and frustration as you plan for the season ahead. As James Clear puts it, “We don’t rise to the level of our goals; we fall to the level of our systems.” If this sounds rigid, remember that nature already operates within its own harmoniously organized systems. We do well to follow suit.

Step 1: Take inventory.

Before you buy anything new, take stock of what you already have. Many seeds remain viable for multiple seasons, especially if stored properly in a cool, dry place. Check expiration dates and—when in doubt—germination rates by testing a few older seeds in a damp paper towel.

Step 2: Plan your layout.

Sketch out your garden (I like to use graph paper) and determine how much room you have for planting. Factor in companion planting, crop rotation, and succession planting to maximize your available space (more on this to come.) This will help you gauge exactly how many seeds, seedlings, plugs, and bulbs you will need.

Step 3: Establish priorities.

This is where it gets personal—what are your goals for the garden? Are you growing cut flowers? Planting a pollinator garden? Hoping to grow all your own vegetables for the season? If so, what does your family actually eat?

When planning a vegetable garden, it’s best to reverse-engineer based on what you eat most often while leaving some space to experiment with new varieties. Seed catalogs are tempting, and it’s easy to want to grow everything. But it can be frustrating to find yourself buying carrots in the middle of the season because you dedicated too much space to the wax beans that no one is eating.

Ask me how I know.

Step 4: Consider your climate, region, and growing conditions.

Choose varieties well-suited to your specific climate and the length of your growing season. To do this you will need to know your USDA Hardiness Zone (or international equivalent) and your projected first and last frost date. Some plants require long growing periods or specific conditions that may not work well in your region.

Gardening with regionally adapted seeds is another way to increase your chances of success and abundance. In the northeastern US, Hudson Valley Seed Co., True Love Seeds, Row 7 Seeds, and Turtle Tree Seeds are all great options. A quick Google search can guide you to seed companies in your region.

Growing conditions include factors such as soil type, average rainfall, the amount of sunlight your garden will receive. Getting your soil tested through a local cooperative extension gives you a detailed analysis of soil pH and mineral composition. (UConn, Cornell, and Rutgers all offer soil testing to the public.) You can also perform a simple soil jar test at home to determine the texture of your soil—whether it’s sandy, clay, loam, etc.

Step 5: Share and swap seeds and seedlings.

Consider hosting or attending a seed exchange, establishing a seed library, or swapping with friends. This allows you to try new varieties without overcommitting and reduces waste.

Step 6: Stay organized.

Keeping seeds organized helps avoid overbuying. I use this simple galvanized organizer but have been eyeing this larger one. I like to keep washi tape in my organizer to reseal open seed packets, extra envelopes to collect my own seeds, and a permanent marker to label things.

Making a mood board of what you intend to grow and a bloom cycle chart can help you get an overall feel for what the garden will look like, what will be blooming at the same time, and where you might need to add a little more seasonal interest.

Step 7: Keep a journal.

This has been the hardest for me because, as my friend Sunnie says, it’s easy to forget to keep records when you're in the fog of war. However, you can learn a lot about your garden by taking good notes on what thrived, what failed, and what you want to change from year to year. If you prefer putting pen to paper, NYBG sells a 5-year gardener’s log book. This is a lovely 10-year version, this would make a great gift, and this is so completely over the top that I just had to include it.

Although it’s far less romantic, I tend to use Google Sheets to organize myself because there’s no threat of me losing it.

Speaking of Sunnie and Google Sheets, I had the pleasure of sitting with her this morning as she explained her methods for organizing the ordering, sowing, harvesting, and maintenance schedules on her flower farm. While most of us aren’t growing on the scale that Sunnie is, even residential gardeners can benefit from the systems used by larger growers— kind of like how Escoffier applied his military background to organize the kitchen brigade system. Maybe it’s overkill, but if it works for her, it will surely work for us. I look forward to sharing Sunnie’s advice in an upcoming post.