ASK MARTHA\Seed catalogs' arrival signals time to plant gardening ideas.Byline: Martha Stewart <noinclude></noinclude> Martha Stewart (born Martha Helen Kostyra on August 3, 1941) is an American business magnate, author, editor and homemaking advocate. She is also a former stockbroker and fashion model. This is the time of year when many mailboxes are overflowing with colorful, informative and enticing seed and plant catalogs that evoke bright visions of what might be this spring, summer and fall. I set out a large basket on my kitchen counter to hold each day's new arrivals, always taking a peek to see what's featured on the front and back covers. I quickly skim the pages in anticipation of the time when I will sit down, pen in hand, to carefully peruse pe·ruse tr.v. pe·rused, pe·rus·ing, pe·rus·es To read or examine, typically with great care. [Middle English perusen, to use up : Latin per-, per- the catalogs and fill out order forms. Because gardening has become so popular, the earlier the better for selecting and ordering seeds. I order mine in January because, in addition to the chance of some varieties selling out, I want to have certain seeds in time for early planting. Late January/early February is a good time to begin sowing the tiny seeds of long-season annuals such as impatiens impatiens (ĭmpā`shēĕnz'): see jewelweed. impatiens Any of about 900 species of herbaceous plants in the genus Impatiens (balsam family), so named because the seedpod bursts when slightly touched. Garden balsam (I. , petunias and snapdragons. It's also perfect for setting the seeds of hardy perennials that might have a chance of blooming the first year, such as delphinium delphinium: see larkspur. , columbine columbine, in botany columbine (kŏl`əmbīn), any plant of the genus Aquilegia, temperate-zone perennials of the family Ranunculaceae (buttercup family), popular both as wildflowers and as garden flowers. and hollyhock hollyhock: see mallow. hollyhock Herbaceous plant (Althaea rosea) of the mallow family, native to China but widely cultivated for its handsome flowers. The several varieties include annual, biennial, and perennial forms. . As you go through the catalogs, keep a clear list of what you are ordering. This will help you plan your planting schedule and will aid you in mapping out your garden on paper. It will also keep you organized from year to year. Seeds can be kept from one year to the next. Just remember that success of germination germination, in a seed, process by which the plant embryo within the seed resumes growth after a period of dormancy and the seedling emerges. The length of dormancy varies; the seed of some plants (e.g. depends, in part, on freshness. I order fresh seeds every year so that I begin with the best possible chance for success. Older seeds and those that I trade with friends are kept in tightly sealed containers (Ziplock bags are great) and stored in a dark, cool, dry place in my basement. Begin your search for seeds with one of the big encyclopedic en·cy·clo·pe·dic adj. 1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of an encyclopedia. 2. Embracing many subjects; comprehensive: "an ignorance almost as encyclopedic as his erudition" catalogs from Burpee
The burpee is a calisthenic exercise performed to increase strength and explosiveness. , Stokes, Park or Thompson & Morgan. These offer hundreds of varieties as well as lots of useful information. There are thousands of other catalogs that sell everything from narrow selections of one kind of plant material (such as plants that thrive in high altitudes) to fine collections of seeds for particular types of gardens. I have been ordering seeds for many years, so I automatically receive a variety of catalogs. If you are just beginning, it's easy to get the catalogs you want by contacting the companies. The four biggest, which all offer free catalogs, are: W. Atlee Burpee Washington Atlee Burpee (1858–1915)—Philadelphia, Pennsylvania W. Atlee Burpee is most famous as the founder of the W. Atlee Burpee & Company, now more commonly known as Burpee Seeds. & Co. 300 Park Ave. Warminster, Pa. 18974 (800) 888-1447 Park Seed Co. P.O. Box 46 Highway 254 North Greenwood, S.C. 29648-0046 (803) 223-7333 Stokes Seed Co. P.O. Box 548, Buffalo, N.Y. 14240 (716) 695-6980 Thompson & Morgan P.O. Box 1308 Jackson, N.J. 08527-0308 (908) 363-2225 Following is a list of some of my other favorite suppliers: Bountiful Gardens 18001 Shafer Ranch Road Willits, Calif. 95490 (707) 459-6410 Sells untreated seeds aimed at organic gardeners. Catalog: Free. Companion Plants It may never be fully completed or, depending on its its nature, it may be that it can never be completed. However, new and revised entries in the list are always welcome. This is a list of companion plant relationships. Many more are in list of beneficial weeds. 7247 N. Coolville Ridge Road Athens, Ohio 45701 (614) 592-4643 Specializes in herbs. Catalog: $3. The Cook's Garden P.O. Box 535 Londonderry, Vt. 05148-0535 (802) 824-3400 Focuses on colorful, tasty kitchen gardens. Catalog: $1. The Fragrant Path P.O. Box 328 Fort Calhoun, Neb. 68023 (402) 468-5782 Offers a variety of seeds for things that smell good. Catalog: $2. High Altitude Gardens P.O. Box 1048 Hailey, Idaho 83333 (208) 788-4363 Specializes in seeds for high-altitude climates. Catalog: $3. Nichols Garden Nursery 1190 N. Pacific Highway Albany, Ore. 97321-4580 (503) 928-9280 A homey, extensive catalog of herbs, flowers and vegetables. Catalog: Free. Oriental Seed Catalog P.O. Box 1960 Chesterfield, Va. 23832 (804) 796-5796 Offers lots of Asian vegetables and flowers. Catalog: $2. Southern Exposure Seed Exchange Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (SESE) is a for-profit business which is the principal industry within the income sharing Acorn Community located in central Virginia. SESE is a source for heirloom seeds and other open-pollinated (non-hybrid) seeds with an emphasis on vegetables, P.O. Box 170 Earlysville, Va. 22936 (804) 973-4703 A very educational catalog that includes many heat-tolerant crops. Catalog: $2. Tomato Growers Supply Co. P.O. Box 2237 Fort Myers, Fla. 33902 (813) 768-1119 Lists about 285 tomato and 100 pepper varieties. Catalog: Free. Vermont Bean Seed Co. Garden Lane Fair Haven, Vt. 05743 (802) 273-3400 Sells seeds for beans and other vegetables. Catalog: Free. CAPTION(S): PHOTO Photo Martha sets out a large basket on her kitchen counter to hold each day's arriving seed catalogs. |
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