How to Read a Seed Catalog | CCE Schuyler Creating Virtual Connections

With all those gorgeous pictures and lush descriptions, how is a gardener to choose? Here are some tips. First, do NOT dive into that pile and start filling out order forms. DO put on a coat and take a walk around your gardens. Even if there’s a foot of snow on the ground, take the time to look at your annual beds, your vegetable garden, and the places where you want to put containers or hanging baskets. Make notes on how much room you have and what kinds of things might work well in each location. Consider where you have sun and where you have shade. Now, go back inside, fix a hot beverage and begin.
Read more here-– https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2086/2014/05/howtoreadseedcatalog1.pdf

Seed packets have a story to tell and it behooves us to read it carefully. This packet of pea seeds tells us how to plant, full sun (which is 6 hours minimum, 8 hours is better, and it should be continuous), one inch deep. Note that is does not say after last frost. Peas are a cool season crop, as are lettuce, radishes, and a number of other vegetables. If you plant per the instructions, when your seedlings are 1-2 inches high, they must be thinned.This means removing seedlings so the remaining seedlings are 4-6 inches apart. It’s sometimes difficult to do this since they are growing so nicely, but if you don’t, they will be overcrowded when they reach mature size, competing for food, water and nutrients. They will be very unhappy and what could be more disconcerting than unhappy peas? HINT: When you thin your seedlings, take care not to disturb the roots of the remaining ones. You might want to clip them off at the ground rather than pull them out. The roots will decompose and enrich the soil. Bonus: Peas can be planted twice during the season. Early spring and again in late summer for a fall crop.