It is always such and exciting time when it comes to shopping for seeds. You can easily get overwhelmed by all the choices, companies and trends. These seed buying tips can bring you more ease and possibly save you some money when it comes time to purchase your seeds for the coming season. You may even find new varieties that quickly become your family’s favorites.

• Take Stock – Doing an inventory of what seeds you already have will help you save money by  not ordering something you have plenty of already. Taking stock of what worked and what didn’t with past seeds you’ve sown will also help you avoid purchasing seeds you won’t be happy with. Once you have gone through your seeds and decided what needs replenishing and what doesn’t, make a list of the seeds you need.
• Have a Planting Plan – When purchasing seeds it is always a good idea to have a planting plant figured out beforehand. Knowing exactly what you want to grow and taking stock of what you have are the most important steps in seed shopping! 
• Think Regionally – Finding seed companies that offer seeds that are adapted to your region can give you higher yields and happier plants. Thinking regionally also helps when it comes to placing orders for things like onions or garlic that have varieties that do better in certain regions.
• Stick To Your Tried and True, But Always Try Something New – I always suggest sticking with what you know your family loves and what grows well for you, but  also always suggest adding in 1-2 new varieties to see how you end up liking them. You may end up with a new family favorite! This is a great way of ensuring you are growing those things your family will eat. Adding in a few new varieties is a great way to experiment in the garden and kitchen. Remember when planting new varieties always grow 2-3 plants so you can get a real feel for how they do in your garden. If you only grow a single plant and it doesn’t do well you won’t know if it was just the variety or if something went wrong.

Seed shopping is always a perk of the late winter season! This is really when the season starts, when we dream about the possibilities of what’s to come. With a little time taken to create a planting plan as well as taking stock of your current seed supply, you can easily create your list of seeds to buy. Finding a local or regional seed supplier brings the benefits of seeds adapted to your region. Finally, trying a new variety or two can open up exciting possibilities in both the garden and kitchen! I hope these tips help you with your seed buying. May you resist the urge to buy every single seed in the catalog! I know it’s tempting.  Happy seed buying!