16
A quick word about those 'free' seeds from a catalog
I was talking with my neighbor, Mrs. Ellis, who's been gardening here in Springfield for about 40 years. She asked me if I got those colorful seed packets from a big catalog company that sends them out for free every spring. I said yeah, I had a few on my shelf. She just shook her head and said, 'I stopped planting those ten years ago after a bad case of bacterial spot wiped out my whole tomato patch. Those seeds can carry things you don't want in your soil.' It hit different coming from her because she's not an alarmist. She told me she traced it back to a free packet of 'heirloom' tomato seeds that weren't treated or tested. Now I'm looking at all my seed sources, especially the untracked freebies. I'm pulling anything that doesn't list a clear source or a disease resistance code. Has anyone else had a problem crop they linked back to a specific seed packet?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
hayden_moore28d ago
My cousin in Ohio lost half his pepper plants two seasons ago from what his extension office called bacterial canker. They traced it right back to a free "gourmet mix" seed pack he got at a garden show. It's not just about disease resistance codes, it's about basic seed sanitation that a lot of these freebies skip. Makes you wonder if the cost of a few saved dollars is worth the risk of wrecking your garden soil for years. What's your plan for the questionable seeds you already have?
4
kevin_bailey28d ago
Honestly that's why I just buy from reputable sellers now, the risk isn't worth it lol.
3