5 tips to buy better, healthier seeds & seedlings

A healthy home garden starts with the right seeds. Use these tips to find seeds and seedlings that could produce healthier, happier plants.

• In spring, most garden centres have cell packs and single pots containing seedlings of a variety of vegetables.
• Such commercially grown plants are convenient. They save time and eliminate the often risky effort of starting seeds indoors at home.
• For those who lack sunny window space, seedlings are essential.
• Seedlings are limited to a small number of varieties.
• You won't have to separate single plants in their own pots, which can cause root damage.
• If you need larger quantities, cell packs are better because they are cheaper.

•  If you buy seedlings at a supermarket, you might not get the facts you need, such as variety or growing stats.
• Small growers usually give you this information.

• Check the plant stems. They should be short and thick.
• Tall, spindly plants probably have weak root systems and may never recover from the shock of transplanting.
• Take a close look at the foliage. If it's yellowish or discoloured, the plant may be diseased or poorly nourished.

• Ask your local garden centre to recommend reputable seed companies that specialize in seeds for your area. Find the company online and order a catalogue.
• Evaluate each catalogue entry according to disease resistance, size of plant, yield and the number of days to harvest.
• A variety that's won an All-America Award has performed well in trial plots throughout the continent — an important indication of quality.
• New varieties are often better than older varieties. They may be more disease-resistant, have a larger yield, need less room for growth, or its produce may have a better flavour.

• Some vegetable seeds come in in easy-to-handle forms.
• "Pelleted"  seeds are coated with a claylike material to make each seed larger and easier to plant.
• Other seeds come on tapes that are spaced at the proper distances. All you have to do is lay the strip in a shallow furrow and cover it with soil.
• Tapes eliminate the need for thinning. But if some of the seeds fail to germinate, you'll have empty spaces in your row.
• Both pellets and tapes are considerably more expensive than plain seeds.
• Although most seeds will remain viable when kept in a cool, dry place, it's usually safer to buy only as much as you need each year.

Great gardens always need a healthy start. Be thorough in choosing your seeds and seedlings. Get as much information as you can and always give seedlings a proper inspection. Doing so can lead to better plants, and better gardens.