How and which ones to choose and buy vegetable seeds - instructions from GOST to shelf life
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WHAT TO CHOOSE AND BUY VEGETABLE SEEDS - CRITERIA FOR THE RIGHT CHOICE
A good seed is a guarantee of the quality of the future harvest. Everyone knows this slogan. And, it would seem, today there is nothing easier than to bring it to life, because in any store there is an abundance of seeds for every taste. What's the problem? And to many summer residents, especially from among beginners, it really seems that there is nothing complicated here. Finding a place on the windowsill and choosing a suitable container in the right amount is difficult.
It's like that. But how can one understand this abundance of seed and not buy something that you will later regret? After all, seeds are not cheap now. And time is also money. Of course, many gardeners, having burned themselves on purchased seeds more than once, prefer to grow their own. But it often happens that you still have to resort to trade services. After all, dacha life is so changeable. For example, I mainly collect my seed fund myself, but I also visit shops. But I won't try to teach anyone (maybe I'm doing something wrong myself), so I'll just tell you how I prepare for new crops.
ACCOUNTING AND CONTROL
Where do I start? From a rough preliminary planning of future plantings: I estimate how many and what plants I need, as well as with what maturity dates. Naturally, I am guided by the average yields of the past years and by my real needs in the near future, and to make it easier for me to navigate in this, I have long been accustomed to always accurately fixing seed consumption every year.
So, I defined my needs offhand. What's next? And then I take out the box with the remaining seed, open the electronic notebook in my smartphone and make a copy of the page that lists the seeds of all crops planted last year. And I conduct both analysis and inventory.
What exactly does it all look like? Consider the example of tomatoes. Let's say I had 20 varieties of them last season. I consider the "dossier" for each variety, evaluating the results of its cultivation, yield, taste characteristics and sizes of fruits. All this information is also contained in the electronic notebook.
So those gardeners who do not hesitate to scrupulously write down the names of varieties, the height of the bushes, the weight of the fruits, the yield and all other related parameters are doing the right thing. You just need to be able to derive the greatest benefit from all this.
If I liked the variety, I see if there are any leftover seeds in the factory package. If there is, I leave this variety in the list under the name "Seeds-2021" and indicate the quantity. And I also mark if there are seeds of this variety, collected by me personally, and in what year. If I didn’t like the variety, I’m looking for information, whether it still has any useful and necessary characteristics. If there is, I exclude it from the list of stocks, but in the register under the name "Buy" I note that I need to purchase a certain variety with certain qualities. For example, I need tomatoes that are early ripening or specially designed for canning. If the variety flies by all parameters, I delete it from everywhere, except for the black list.
It also happens that you like the variety, but there are no seeds. Then I include it under my exact name in the "Buy" column. I also put in there the names of the varieties I need, which I learned about from any trusted sources. It is on this list that I will select seeds in stores or order from readers.
See also: How to choose the best seeds for seedlings - advises the SPECIALIST
WHEN FINANCE SING ROMANCE
Such "accounting" may seem boring to someone, but thanks to it I know exactly what I need and what I don’t need (and the latter is even more important in some cases). But all these registries alone are not yet a guarantee of success. Why? But because it is still necessary to have an idea of the "aging" of the seeds available in the stock. After all, fresh sowing material of some crops will not give an optimal yield.
Take at least everyone's favorite cucumbers. If the seeds are planted in the first year after they are harvested, they will produce plants with a predominance of male flowers, from which you do not expect fruit. This means that such seeds must be kept, which I am making notes about in my notes. And for the upcoming summer cottage season, I select, first of all, those that were collected by me the year before last (we are talking about bee-pollinated varieties with which I prefer to deal). In a similar way, I analyze all the remaining bags of seeds from other crops.
And as a result, I get the exact annual need for all the seeds of all plants I need - both in terms of assortment and quantity.
After that, my soul immediately becomes easier, because I decided on the proposed purchases. Naturally, I immediately conduct an audit of the funds available for this purpose. It's no secret that gardeners are enthusiastic people, they can easily go too far in their desires. And why unnecessary? And a hole in the family budget is, as they say, not good. True, sometimes I specially take seeds with a stock (for example, the same cucumbers) for safety net in case of defective goods. And here I come to another important topic: how not to cheat in the store?
SELECTION OF SEEDS - UNDER HYPNOSIS
First, you need to carefully and slowly familiarize yourself with the assortment and prices in different retail outlets, and then compile an electronic list in order of decreasing attractiveness. In the store, taking the bag in hand, you need to make sure that you need the right seeds. Don't trust pretty pictures! It is better to carefully read the contents of the package on its back.
We have already been taught in stores to pay attention to the expiration dates of the goods, and this, in principle, is correct. But it was no coincidence that I described above the subtleties associated with the "aging" of seeds. Therefore, when I see, for example, an expired package with seed of cucumbers, I take it. And if it's parsnip or celery, I put it aside. It all depends on the specific culture!
But, of course, you need to take a closer look at the other characteristics indicated on the bags: the type of fruits, the timing of their ripening after germination, the weight of the fruits, the height of the plants, the number of seeds in the package, the growing conditions, the timing of sowing and planting seedlings in the ground, the planting scheme, well and, of course, a desirable region for growing plants. You need to learn to perceive all this information.
In addition, when buying seeds, I always take into account the data from the lists that I have already talked about. So sometimes I choose bags with literally scanty amount of seeds.
But in my "warehouse" there is no packing with store products, and the one that is, has the correct expiration date. I'm not saying that at the same time I keep my expenses to a minimum.
I am always amazed at people who pick up a lot of the same type of seeds in attractively colorful packaging. I am also surprised when summer residents refuse to buy seeds in simple nondescript bags that are right there, on the bottom shelf, under the same name, but several times cheaper. People don't even look in their direction, mesmerized by the pictures. And they do not understand that in fact they are actually paying for the cost not of seeds, but of colorful packages. And these "pieces of paper" are several times more expensive than their contents. That's what marketing means!
By the way, last year I was rescued by just such "nondescript" seeds, which I sowed just to test their germination in cups. When the main plants in the garden were eaten by slugs, this surplus came to the rescue. Now about how to choose quality seeds.
CHOOSE SEEDS LONG!
You can, of course, buy them only in specialized stores, but, unfortunately, I have to admit that even in this case it is not possible to protect oneself from fraudsters. We have already written about deceptions with seeds more than once. Once I had a chance to buy wood lice instead of carrots. No one is immune from such purchases, but nevertheless, upon careful examination of the packages, you can notice some signs of fakes. But we do not have time, we are always in a hurry, and this is precisely what the crooks use. So what should be done first of all in the store? That's right, forget about the watch. And now I will try to formulate points that will help not to fall for the bait.
So, in addition to the parameters of seeds discussed above, other interesting information should be indicated on the package - such as the name of the company, its address, telephone, fax, e-mail. The conformity of seeds to the national quality standard must be confirmed by indicating its number: for example, for Russia it is GOST 32592-2013. Another number should alert you, because often scammers indicate either canceled long ago, or not at all related to the seed.
An indication of the batch and expiration date is also important for any thoughtful and careful buyer. Conscientious organizations always apply them with special stamps, and not in a typographic way (only crooks do this), because the packages are printed long before the seeds are packaged, and it is too expensive to produce them for each batch.
See also: How to choose seeds for planting - varieties and hybrids, stability, taste, etc.
NOW ABOUT SEED STORAGE LIFE
In principle, seeds can germinate 7-10 years after harvest, but the guaranteed period with good germination is usually much shorter. Manufacturers are guided by it.
And the approximate and verified dates are as follows:
- parsnips and celery - 1-2 years;
- onions, parsley, dill, fennel, mint, lemon balm, rhubarb and sorrel -
- 2-3 years; peppers, eggplant, lettuce, spinach, basil, mustard, beets and carrots -
- 3 years; cabbage, turnip, radish, radish and asparagus - from 4 to
- 5 years; beans, peas, beans, corn and tomatoes - 5 to
- 6 years; watermelons, melons, zucchini, pumpkin, squash and cucumbers - from 6 to 8 years.
Well, a few words about storing seeds. Ideally, so that they do not lose their germination, it is recommended to keep them at a temperature of 5 ° and a humidity of 55-60%. I keep them at room temperature in an open plastic box, usually for three to four years.
This applies to almost all major crops, and I have not yet observed major failures in their quality. And now, on the basis of all that has been said and for better assimilation, I will try to create a register of the most common mistakes.
HOW NOT TO BUY "SEEDS IN A BAG"
A trip to the store without a preliminary and clear definition of what exactly needs to be bought.
Selection of seeds according to the picture on the packages without analyzing the information on their back.
Excessive enthusiasm for new products. The huge selection of new varieties and hybrids should not be dizzy. Of course, the garden collections need updating, and there is nothing to argue about. But you shouldn't rely only on "recruits". Your insurance and basis are proven varieties over the years.
Excessive attention to advertising on television, on the Internet and retail chains, where planting material is often offered without taking into account climatic nuances. After all, merchants do not think about you, but about profit, so they offer the widest possible assortment. This is also facilitated by the fashion for individual cultures, including exotic ones.
A selection of varieties with excellent characteristics, but not zoned.
Making random or, better said, spontaneous purchases of seeds in the market or at the kiosks. Some gardeners are especially active at all kinds of sales, when everything is purchased, regardless of need - if only at a discount.
Attempts to obtain seeds from hybrid plants will do nothing good. Of course, you can get them, but you still won't be able to grow full-fledged plants with the expected fruits. You will only waste your time and run the risk of being left without a crop if you stake on them.
I wish good luck to the gardeners in choosing quality seeds and getting decent harvests!
See also: How to properly collect and store seeds. Germination of seeds
WHAT AND HOW MUCH TO PLANT IN THE HOLIDAY PLOT - WHAT VARIETIES AND SEEDS TO CHOOSE?
THE SEASON BEGINS WITH SEEDS
Seeds before the new season are the most popular commodity. Their choice must be approached responsibly. This is especially true of vegetable seeds, because the future harvest directly depends on their quality.
WE DO A REVIEW OF LAST YEAR'S STOCK
Gardeners are passionate people. In winter, when the windows of specialty stores begin to dazzle with colorful bags, most of us are attacked by seed fever: we want to sow and grow everything! But in the spring, hands and time are often not enough, and the next year we are faced with a considerable supply of seeds that have formed at home. Before buying new ones, you need to check last year's stocks.
The ability to maintain germination in seeds of different crops is not the same. It depends not only on the type, but also on the conditions of ripening, preparation for storage and storage itself. At a constant temperature and humidity, in well-ripened and dried seeds, all metabolic processes are greatly inhibited, and the so-called dormancy stage begins. The embryo under such conditions can remain alive for a long time.
The age of the seeds is calculated from the date of collection, and their durability is divided into economic and biological. Gardeners are more interested in economic - the time during which the largest possible percentage of seeds retain the ability to germinate. The average indicators of economic longevity of seeds of some crops are as follows: cucumbers, zucchini, squash, watermelons - 6-8 years; tomatoes, pumpkins, cabbage (different types), basil - 4-5 years; beans, peas, beans, radishes, swedes, turnips - 3-5 years; carrots, beets, chard, peppers, turnips, eggplant, physalis, lettuce, spinach, lovage, catnip, hyssop, oat root - 3-4 years; black onion, parsley, dill, sorrel, cumin - 2-3 years; celery (root, leaf, petiole), parsnip, slime onion - 1-2 years.
After the new Seed Labeling Procedure came into force in 2017, it became easier to calculate their age, as seed producers and packers were required to indicate the year of their harvest and the date of packaging.
If the time of seed collection is unknown, then it is advisable to check their germination by sending them for germination in warm and humid conditions. But it may happen that there will not be enough seeds for such a preliminary procedure for some crops. In this case, they should be sent for germination on a damp napkin a little earlier than the usual sowing dates. In viable seeds, for example, tomatoes, sprouts will appear in 3-4 days. Sprouted seeds can be sown in the soil and continue to grow further for seedlings. Those that did not show sprouts on the 7-10th day may sprout later, but their plants planted in the garden will always be lagging behind.
At the same time, it should be borne in mind that each culture has its own time frame: for eggplant, seedlings may appear on the 8-10th day, for sweet pepper - on the 8-15th, for celery root - for 15-18g, for pumpkin crops - on the 10th-17th day, in black onion - on the 10th day.
HOW TO CHECK THE GERMINATION OF SEEDS
- Place a couple of layers of paper towels in a flat plastic container and dampen them.
- Arrange the seeds in a single layer so that they lie apart from each other.
- Cover the container so that air can freely enter inside, and moisture does not quickly evaporate.
- Put the container in a place with a temperature of 2-25°C, this is suitable for the germination of most seeds.
- Check and aerate the seeds every day. They should always be wet (but not drown in water). And keep track of when tiny sprouts appear.
WE AVOID HARD PURCHASES
Before buying seeds, it is more practical to first sketch out a sowing plan and, based on it and the available stock, decide on a list of those crops that need to be bought for the new season. Going to the store to buy seeds, we immediately set ourselves up that it is impossible to expand the list, you can only change one variety for another.
When planning crops, do not forget about crop rotation and crop biodiversity. The simplest crop rotation scheme assumes that none of the crops grown should return to their original place for at least two years in a row, and if possible, more. Crop biodiversity in turn helps prevent pest and disease problems and soil degradation. Therefore, it is desirable to include green manure crops in the crop rotation: peas, vetch, annual lupine, phacelia, clover, rapeseed, white and gray mustard, oil radish, rye, oats ...
EVERY SEED WILL SAVE A RUBLE
Despite the seeming cheapness of a single bag, a significant part of the budget is spent on acquiring everything necessary for growing your own crop. Let's look at possible ways to save money.
BEFORE YOU BUY - PRICE.
Few vegetable growers know that in the price of a bag of seeds, only a third of the amount is their own, everything else is the cost of the package, and for some it is also the brand. This means that we choose seeds that are not in the brightest packaging, without screaming inscriptions like “Leader of sales” or promising a 200% increase in yield. Most likely, they will be of the same quality, and perhaps even better.
Sometimes on bags of seeds you can read that they are of the elite or super-elite class. But the elite is not a class, but a category showing the number of generations of seeds. The first generation that breeders receive are the original seeds. The second and third belong to the category of superelite and elite. Subsequent generations are reproductive seeds (1st and 2nd reproductions).
Superelite and elite are obtained in special farms and only for further seed production. And now the first reproduction, obtained after the reproduction of the elite, goes into trade. So if “elite” or “super-elite” is written on the seed bags, then this is just an advertising ploy.
When buying seeds, pay attention to the ratio of their quantity in the package and the price.
Sometimes seeds of the same variety, but from different companies, are adjacent to the stands of the store, and on one package the price is indicated per piece, and on the other - per gram. Feel free to feel them with your hands. As practice shows, in those bags where the seeds are poured with a more generous hand, they turn out to be much better in quality.
The situation is worse if the quality is lowered. The consumer can notice this only after two or three months, when the seeds do not sprout. But even if he tries to make claims, there is only one answer: they ruined it themselves, soaked it in the wrong place or sowed it in the wrong way. In this case, it remains to rely only on the reputation of the company.
WE DO NOT PUT OFF THE PURCHASE FOR LATER
It is better to go for seeds at the beginning of the year. Firstly, at this time, fresh ones are already starting to go on sale, there are leftovers from last season in stock. It also makes sense to purchase them, especially if any variety or hybrid showed an excellent result on your site last year. In fresh receipts, these may no longer be, and they are cheaper. This is especially true for all pumpkin crops, tomatoes, eggplant, beets, cabbage. It is likely that you will be able to purchase them from the same batch and the same quality. Just be aware of the expiration dates.
It is clear that the main source of quality products is specialized stores. This also includes online stores, especially firms engaged in the production of seeds. Such establishments are distinguished by increased quality control of products, as well as the necessary conditions for its storage. In addition, when buying seeds in online stores, it is possible to save not only time, but also money. There are no queues in online stores. Plus, the seeds are cheaper and at the same time the gardener has the opportunity to compare prices for the same product from different companies. There is a completely logical explanation for this: online stores do not need to spend money on maintaining a considerable number of staff, renting a large room, they have significantly lower costs. Hence the lower seed prices.
When buying, always keep the receipt, and after landing, do not lose the bags. If you do not get the expected shoots, following all the recommendations indicated on the manufacturer's packaging, contact the seller.
STUDYING VARIETIES
If you plan to sow any new variety on the site (and they now appear on sale every year not even in tens, but in hundreds), be sure to study its characteristics. Wanting to attract buyers, sellers and manufacturers often deliberately embellish the properties of the proposed seeds. Judging by their descriptions and pictures, you need to take everything without hesitation.
It is advisable to study the characteristics of varieties long before going to the store, and try to find exactly objective information. Alas, available in advertising catalogs produced by sellers, you can not always trust. However, often even a novice vegetable grower is alarmed by the abundance of enthusiastic words about literally every new product: “the best hybrid in the world”, “a unique combination of quality and keeping quality”, “a harmonious combination of quality and early maturity”, “the most delicious tomato”, “50-60 fruits in each inflorescence" ...
So, for example, when choosing tomatoes, proceed from the fact that their average yield in unheated greenhouses in the middle lane is 4-6 kg per 1 sq.m, and in open ground - 2-3 kg per 1 sq.m. The larger the fruits, the less they are on the bushes. The tomato fruit, which is usually advertised as not requiring pinching, is small and not as tasty as cherry tomatoes.
The average yield of cucumbers in open ground is 3-4 kg per 1 sq.m. And even if you choose beam hybrids that are now fashionable for planting, it is unlikely that you will be able to get a more significant harvest. All of them are intended for growing on a high agricultural background, with an abundance of heat and light. And if this is not ensured, then one green will grow from the beam.
Read customer reviews, talk to other growers and gardeners, make your own list of seed companies you trust.
Regardless of the crop in question, there are general criteria for choosing varieties that should be followed. Most often, the packaging focuses on the yield of the variety. It should be borne in mind that high-yielding varieties are more demanding on growing conditions. And if it is difficult to create them, then it is better to give preference to less prolific, but not so whimsical.
As for taste, everyone decides for himself what the fruits should be in terms of sweetness, fleshiness, juiciness and color. Many of these characteristics are indicated on the seed packaging.
When choosing a variety, one should take into account the intended purpose of the future harvest: for preparing summer salads, pickling, pickling, canning or long-term storage. As a rule, fruits intended for processing and long-term storage do not have an excellent taste and have a dense skin.
When choosing varieties that are similar in parameters, preference should be given to those that are characterized by increased resistance to the most common diseases. The characteristic should be written exactly like this: “it is characterized by increased resistance” or “moderately resistant to such and such a disease”. If, for example, it is indicated that a tomato is completely free from phytophthora, then all other parameters of this variety given in the description should also be called into question: such tomatoes have not yet been bred.
Another criterion is regionalization. It shows how the variety is adapted to the climatic conditions in the place of cultivation. It is clear that zoned varieties under equal growing conditions will give a higher yield. However, if there is a desire to grow something more thermophilic or exotic, then you should simply keep in mind that its harvest will not be as plentiful as in the south.
WE SAVE SPACE AT THE SITE AT THE EXPENSE OF HARVESTING
Each family has its own needs for vegetables grown with its own hands on the site, but even such averaged calculations will help to understand how much to plant vegetables on a standard six hundred square meters for fresh food and for harvesting.
I read that, according to nutritionists, an adult needs 120 kg of vegetables per year, and this figure does not include potatoes.
My advice will help novice gardeners save space on their 6 acres without losing crops.
So, if you want to save on space without losing crops, choose tall varieties of tomatoes. One bush gives an average of 3-4 kg of fruit per season, which means that 30 bushes will yield about 100 kg, but most likely more.
The yield of cucumbers is more difficult to calculate, but experienced summer residents define it as follows: a three-meter garden bed with a standard width of 4 cm is more than enough for a family of 70 people. Average yield of cucumbers: from 1 sq. m you can collect 8-10 kg of fruit.
Some pumpkin varieties (Titan, Goliath, King Mammoth) yield up to 50-100 kg from 1 bush, so if you preferred them when planting, 1 bush will be enough for the whole family.
Yielding zucchini (for example, Gribovskie) give an average of 12-15 kg of fruit per season per season, so 2-3 plants will generously provide seven zucchini for fresh food and for harvesting.
Cabbage - at least 20 heads of cabbage, a little early (for example, the Yulskaya variety for fresh food), and the rest - late varieties for harvesting.
Beets and carrots - 50 kg of each root crop, this amount is enough for fresh food, and for preparations, and for a small stock for the winter.
Good harvests to you on your 6 acres!
© Author: Nikolay Ermikov, g. Bryansk
WHAT IS NAPSIAN ON THE PACKAGING WITH SEEDS? ABOUT MARKING
So the sowing began. Which bag of seeds to choose and what should be written on it? After all, no matter how elegant the design is, you cannot do without the necessary information. Often they indicate only the variety, if there is a failure, and there is no one to ask.
This question, at the request of the editors, is answered by the head of the State Seed Inspectorate of the Russian Federation, Kokina Tatyana Petrovna.
Currently, the following minimum information is set on bags of seeds entering the retail trade, namely:
- the name, address and telephone number of the company selling the seeds;
- name of culture, variety;
- designation of the standard for varietal and sowing qualities of seeds;
- batch number;
- weight (g) or number (in pieces) of seeds in a bag;
- implementation period.
The implementation period is set: for seeds packed in paper single bags, from the date of packaging of the current year to the end of the next year; for seeds packed in double packaging and only with the use of foil and other airtight materials, from the date of packaging of the current year until the end of the second year of sale.
For example:
11.99/2000 (on paper bag) ; 09.99/2001 (on bag with foil insert).
GOST 28676.9-90 is indicated on onion seeds (for seeds of vegetable crops of the onion and asparagus families). For tomato seeds - GOST 26876.3-90 (for seeds of vegetable crops of the nightshade family).
HOW TO CHOOSE SEEDS FOR SEEDLING - VIDEO
© Author: Boris Ivanovich POSTOBALOV. Moscow
Below other entries on the topic "Dacha and garden - with their own hands"
- How to increase the size of garlic and onion bulbs - simple and effective tricks
- Propagation by root cuttings - which plants are possible and how?
- Garden - dig up or not (Part 3)
- Preparing fruit trees for winter
- What brush cutter to buy at the dacha-choose an automatic brush cutter
- Do-it-yourself dacha, garden and vegetable garden - folk advice: collection No. 46
- How to preserve annual flowers until spring (wintering annuals)
- Siberian catnip and feline (photo) cultivation, reproduction and benefits
- Warming of the cottage, country house with their own hands. Kinds of materials and quotations for them
- Reproduction by spores (fern, etc.)
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Seed traders act cunningly, so it is difficult to track price increases. The price may remain the same or rise by a few rubles, but the number of seeds inside may be less. For example, 10 years ago one packet of parsley seeds was enough for a large bed about two meters long, but last year it was barely enough for 70 cm of the same bed.
In December I bought Betalux tomato seeds. In the store they cost 28 rubles, and on the Internet the same bag was sold for 80 rubles.
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Last year, in Smolensk specialized stores, five seeds of the ultra-early tomato Jack were priced at 160 rubles, this year - from 200 rubles and above. However, in online stores you can find much cooler offers for a similar bag of seeds - up to 319 rubles.
According to sellers, each bag from the Partner company has increased in price by an average of 40-50 rubles, Semko - by 20-30 rubles, Siberian Garden - by 10 rubles. The most affordable seeds in white bags have become more expensive by about 3 rubles.
But sellers say that they still take the seeds, although the flow of buyers was stronger in February last year.
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Prices for new items have increased very noticeably, but this is understandable. The main thing is to set yourself up before going to the store to “lighten your wallet” and be sure that at the end of the summer season the costs will be repaid a hundredfold - with a rich, tasty and healthy harvest. Therefore, I don’t particularly monitor prices; I feel free to buy the seeds I need.
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Summer residents usually purchase seeds from chain stores. And it is right. The assortment is smaller than on the Internet, but a rather funny situation often arises when buyers, having visited the sites of online trading platforms, are amazed to see prices in stores that are sometimes two orders of magnitude lower. In addition, in specialized stores, each buyer can receive advice on growing crops. And this is a big plus. What is characteristic: every year the number of expensive seeds in bags is steadily falling, it is no longer uncommon to find five and
even three seeds. But this applies, fortunately, only to certain, newest, scarce and in-demand positions. They are subject to aggressive and expensive advertising. Some agricultural firms are also guilty of inflating prices, paying for the services of talented bloggers and sometimes selling not their achievements, but purchased imported hybrids.
It is profitable to buy expensive goods on online trading platforms, then the delivery price included in the purchase price (which is 300-500 rubles) has practically no effect on the total cost of the goods.
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Recently, quite often when buying seeds, you come across non-germinating ones, and mis-grading is not uncommon. How can you insure yourself?
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You should pay attention to the quality of the package, how it is glued together, how the drawing and text are applied, and whether the integrity of the packaging has been compromised. The manufacturer must provide the following information on the package: name of the crop and variety (in Russian and Latin) if it is a hybrid - designation F1; brief information about the variety and its agricultural technology; full address and telephone number of the manufacturer; batch number; expiration date or shelf life (must be printed); GOST number, which determines the sowing qualities of seeds; number of seeds in the package; if additional processing was carried out, this should also be reflected (for example, plasma seeds).
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From experience, I know that the earlier you start routine checks of seed counters, the greater the chance of entering the new season with some interesting new products. Therefore, I start doing this in December.
I understand that most retail outlets bring new seeds in January, but sometimes you can spot something interesting among the old stock.
Walking into a store alone is not so bad; it’s much worse to miss the short period of the greatest selection of varieties and crops: in February, all the most valuable and rare items will already be sold out!
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For me, buying seeds for the garden is the same “silent hunt”, only not for mushrooms, but for rare varieties and crops. We have a lot of shops where you can “hunt”. There are even more opportunities on the Internet, but, knowing my appetites, I avoid looking there.
I stopped watching cucumbers a long time ago - all these hybrids are similar to each other. I buy cucumbers German, Kurazh, Tryukach and a couple of other varieties that I grow between hybrids - for better pollination.
Every year I buy a couple of new varieties of tomatoes. This is my weakness. I have about a dozen favorites, the seeds of which I collect myself and always grow, but I also want to plant something new. I read about the Afrocherry variety, now I grow it too, I really liked it. I like the varieties Krasnomordin, African brown, Barrel of honey.
In the fall I collect my seeds of many flowers, sweet and bitter peppers, melon and watermelon. The main thing is not to get confused and accidentally take seeds from hybrids. I have parsley and dill that self-sow, and also calendula. But you have to stock up on marigold seeds every year; self-sowing is very rare. And I never take seeds from zucchini and pumpkin, they easily cross-pollinate with each other, and the result is “who knows what.”
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In the age of the Internet, this question seems irrelevant. Go to any social network, visit bloggers, or go to any marketplace - and here’s happiness in boundless quantities. But let's remember how they were bought 20-30 years ago. My friends and I studied gardening magazines. And there people shared information on varieties and crops, left their address and offered those wishing to purchase their seeds. So I ordered apricot kernels from Khakassia: they sent me a shoe box containing paper bags with the kernels of the ordered varieties, and the rest of the space was occupied by different varieties of apricot kernels. For free. There was no end to the joy. But most of all I like to look for seeds at exhibitions. Some gardeners bring unusual varieties of vegetables and flowers to exhibitions, others bring cuttings, and others bring seedlings or seedlings. I have never left a single exhibition empty-handed. I also communicate with “products” at mini-markets. There I buy the vegetables I like individually. So, in my collection for ten years now I have kept orange tomatoes with a spout and several varieties of sweet peppers.
Where to buy seeds? The more you communicate with each other, the more likely you are to become the owner of a unique variety.
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Those who need a lot of seeds can purchase seeds by weight in specialized stores. They will cost much less. It can be dill, parsley or flax, they are often bought for culinary and health purposes. Sunflower seeds are used to feed birds in winter.
There are also packaged seeds for sprouting, the so-called microgreens. Their germination is good, it is a pity that the variety is not indicated.
You can also buy green manure seeds there: mustard, oats, millet, phacelia and others.
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April bought a kilogram of beans at the grocery store. Undoubtedly, this is a tasty and healthy vegetable, but I want to tell you about the savings when buying seeds.
I tried to soak 4 things and see. Photo result: three beans hatched. And now for the prices. The cost of a bag of seeds in a garden store is in the range of 21-30 rubles. for five to six pieces of seeds. At the grocery store, I bought a kilo of beans for 75 rubles. A similar picture is with soybeans, which I bought as green manure: 40 rubles in a garden store. for 100 g, in the grocery 110 rubles. for 1 kg.
The savings are obvious, and the soybeans hatch by 100%. It's a pity I didn't take a picture of her - I bought 100 g for the experiment. But after three days I bought 2 kg, planted it, let's see what happens.