97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com have partnered with Orange County Master Gardeners for Playing in the Dirt, a monthly column exploring the fertile ground of home gardening in our community and intended to provide information and inspiration for gardeners of all skill levels to flourish! Visit Chapelboro each month for a new theme – from our gardens to yours!
By Lynn Calder Volunteer Master Gardener in Orange County
Visit any garden center or nursery — and even many grocery stores — and you’ll notice shelves of tempting seeds for growing a variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers, often in beautiful packaging and for only a few dollars a pack. Catalog and online companies offer hundreds of seed options for organic, heirloom, unusual, and hard-to-find plants.
seed packets. (Photo by Lynn Calder.)
Describing a favorite winter activity, author Barbara Kingsolver says, “I’ve seen women misty-eyed at jewelry ads and one hand resting on their heart, and I only know how they feel because I’ve been reading the seed catalogs this January.” (Animal, Vegetable, Miracles: A Year of Food Life).
Planting seeds is an act of hope and anticipation, and it feels like magic when plants grow from seeds you sow yourself!
Through our Community Seed Library, the Orange County Master Gardener volunteers offer you another way to experience the joy of planting seeds – for free.
What is a seed library?
The Orange County Master Gardeners created the Community Seed Library to encourage new gardeners to start planting, to inspire veteran gardeners to grow a greater variety of plants, and to provide seeds to community gardens, churches, schools, and local organizations .
We’re giving away free seeds to improve community sources of healthy and affordable food and create more opportunities for planting pollinator habitats. Volunteer master gardeners offer training on seed starting, seed storage, seasonal gardening, and more. The Seed Library has distributed over 30,000 packets of seeds to individuals and local organizations over the past two years.
Community Seed Library at PlantFest on October 8, 2022 (Photo by Lynn Calder.)
How do you “borrow” seeds?
Master gardeners distribute seeds in a variety of ways. Volunteers stock seeds and provide information about growing and preserving seeds at Master Gardener events such as the monthly Dig Deeper talks held on most third Saturdays of the month at the Orange County Public Library in Hillsborough. Dig Deeper talks are free and open to gardeners of all experience levels. Seeds and information will be available at the Eno River and Carrboro Farmers’ Markets next spring, and seeds will be available, subject to availability, in the lobby of the Orange County Extension Office (1070 US 70 West in Hillsborough, across from DMV).
Please take only what you intend to use and, unless otherwise noted, no more than three packs. Community gardens, school, church and other organizational gardens may request a larger quantity or a specific type of seed; Master gardeners will try to work with as many organizations as their seed supply will allow.
How do you “give back” seeds?
You can always return seeds by donating surplus seeds in commercial packaging (new or open packs) or seeds you have saved from your own garden plants. Financial contributions toward the purchase of seed packaging materials such as seed envelopes and information labels are also encouraged.
Community Seed Library at PlantFest on October 8, 2022 (Photo by Lynn Calder.)
Where do the seeds come from?
Master Gardeners are grateful for the generous donation of seeds from local and regional sources. Seeds were donated by Southern States Cooperative (Carrboro), Weaver Street Market (Hillsborough), Burpee, Seed Savers Exchange, Cherokee Seeds, Botanical Interests, Baker Creek, Orange County Partnership for Young Children, Box Turtle Bakery, Master Gardener Volunteers, Local Growers and community residents. In 2022, Orange County Master Gardeners received a grant from the NC Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Association to support and continue to grow the Community Seed Library program.
Checking seed germination
Because seeds offered through the Seed Library are donated, they may be a year or two old. The year of packaging is indicated on the seed envelope. Proper seed storage is essential to success in your garden; Seeds should be stored out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry place (around 40 degrees Fahrenheit is best). Unfortunately, we don’t always know how the seeds were stored before we received them.
A simple way to tell if seeds are viable and will germinate is to do a germination test. Follow these steps suggested by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
More questions about the Community Seed Library?
If you have additional questions about this program, would like to request a specific quantity or type of seed for your organization, or would like to donate seed, please contact Orange County Master Gardeners at ocmgardeners@gmail.com or 919-245-2061.
seedlings sprout
Tips for gardening with seeds
Many plants, especially vegetables, annuals, and herbs, can be grown from seed. The advantages of planting seeds instead of purchased transplants include lower costs and a larger selection of plants. Select seeds for plants that will grow in the conditions of sun, soil, and moisture in which they will be planted.
Be sure to read the seed packet! Packets provide all kinds of useful information, including instructions on when and how to plant the seeds; sun, soil and water requirements; whether the seeds can be sown directly outdoors (in the ground or in a pot) or should be started indoors and later transplanted outdoors; how quickly the plant will sprout and flower or be ready for harvest; expected plant size; and properties and uses of the plant itself. Don’t forget to look inside the seed packet, where many companies print even more tips.
When planting seeds, consider the conditions in which the plant will sprout and mature, and whether it will mature before the average first fall frost date. For example, seeds for cool season plants such as lettuce can be planted in the fall when the plant matures before the first frost and the mature plant will tolerate frost. Some seeds planted in late fall or early winter will remain dormant until the soil is warm enough for germination in spring, unless a warm spell causes the seeds to germinate and sprout (causing new seedlings would kill). ).
Sow directly outdoors
Seed packets recommend whether seeds should be sown directly outdoors or started indoors and transplanted later. If you start seeding outdoors, take the time to prepare the garden area: start with loose, weed-free, level soil supplemented with organic material such as compost. You can find out about specific changes your garden area needs by having the soil tested. You can also plant the seeds in a container filled with suitable potting soil.
A simple method of sowing seeds in straight rows is to stretch a string between two stakes and dig shallow trenches along the string. Follow package directions for planting depth and planting spacing. While very small seeds are planted at a fairly shallow depth, all seeds must be in contact with the soil and enough soil sprinkled over them so that the seeds don’t wash away. Err on the side of sowing more seed, not less; You can always thin out the plants after they sprout. Water the seeds gently to maintain even moisture. Place a marker where you planted the seeds so you don’t forget what you planted and to remind you that sprouting seedlings are not weeds! If you need to thin out seedlings, you can cut off the top of the excess ones instead of pulling them up so as not to disturb the tiny roots of the remaining ones.
Seedlings and mixed salads.
start seeds indoors
To sow indoors, you’ll need a container or seed tray that drains well (egg cartons work, too) and a soilless seed mix. The seeds must be kept moist. Many indoor growers use fluorescent or LED grow lights to ensure seeds are getting enough light to germinate. You can find accessories for starting seeds indoors at garden centers, including trays, clear domes, soilless mix, and lighting systems. The seed pack recommends the time to start sowing indoors for a suitable transplant outdoors.
When weighing the benefits of planting seeds indoors versus purchasing transplants, consider the cost of delivery, the space in your home for the seedlings, and the time involved. Additionally, plants grown indoors need to be “cured”—they are gradually exposed outdoors—to avoid shock before being planted in their outdoor container or in the ground. This fact sheet from Colorado State University Extension provides detailed information on planting seeds indoors or outdoors in cold frames that you can build yourself.
The Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers hope you take advantage of the Community Seed Library and experience the magic of growing plants from seed!
Additional Resources
Try us!
Do you have a plant or garden question? Email the Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers at ocmgardeners@gmail.com or call 919-245-2061.
Subscribe to The Garden Buzz, the monthly magazine of the Orange County Master Gardeners Newsletter for local garden news, events and tips. And visit our website, The Orange Gardener.
Come to our Dig deeper with us Lectures at the Orange County Library! They take place on the third Saturday of the month from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Upcoming talks include:
Nov 19: All tools
January 21: Winter sowing
February 18: gardening in the shade
March 18: Straw bale gardening
More information
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