• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Frugal Gardening

Simple ways to save money while you garden

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Garden Frugally
  • Buy These
  • Privacy Policy
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

5 Super Compelling Reasons to Save Empty Seed Packets

January 20, 2020 by Steph Coelho Leave a Comment

image_pdfimage_print

Flickr.com via Chiot’s Run

Peek into my gardening cabinet, and you’ll find a slew of gardening books, some crafting supplies, seed starting tools, my seed organizer, and a bunch of empty seed packets devoid of seed.

Why do I keep the dirty, warped, packets around? If I’m out of seed, why not throw them in the trash? Good question!

I don’t dare toss out packets unless they’re damaged beyond recognition. There are plenty of smart reasons to keep those packets close by, but the number one reason is that they contain so much information. A seed packet is an invaluable piece of reference material. Here’s what it can tell you:

  • Days to maturity: This is a crucial piece of information for garden planning. While I could easily Google it, I find it easier to refer to my saved, crumpled packets. I don’t mind hauling them out to the garden or getting them dirty during the seed starting process. I’m also more confident in the seed packet info than I am in a Google search. Often, the seed packet estimate is much more accurate than anything I might find online. The best information is straight from the seed source. Another seed seller may sell seeds for a plant with an identical name but there may be small variations in time to maturity.
  • Region-specific info: Some seed sellers are better equipped to note region-specific information on packets. A seed seller based in California, might not think to include information for cold-region growers, for instance. If you spot region-specific info on a packet, hold it close! I cherish those seed packets that contain info for my specific growing region.
  • Harvesting tips: Harvesting information is readily available online, but again, it’s sometimes not very variety-specific.
  • History: Historical information won’t necessarily help you cultivate a healthy crop, but it’s super interesting and hard to find elsewhere, especially if you’re purchasing from a specialized seller.
  • Spacing guide: As a Square Foot Gardener, spacing per square is usually really simple, but some plant varieties have unique spacing requirements that I might not find listed in the SFG book or online. I’ll refer to the listed packet spacing for this info.

I also like to take notes or stick post-its to my leftover seed packets with observations and my personal experience growing a certain plant. If the packet says days to maturity is 50, but I found it to be longer, I’ll mark that on the packet. It may be my specific growing conditions that create the difference, and it’s essential to keep tabs on those small variations for when I’m planning out my planting schedule the following year. The added notes also provide me with info otherwise not on the packet. I find it easier to refer to these notes than to use a journal or other garden diary.

Old packets are also useful if you plan to save seeds. You’ll have the original info on hand, and you won’t have to worry about forgetting plant particulars.

Do you keep old seed packets? If you don’t, I hope that you’ll reconsider after reading this!

Steph Coelho

Steph Coelho is a freelance writer gardening in zone 5b. She is a certified Square Foot Gardener and has taught various garden-related workshops. When she’s not digging in the dirt or writing, she’s cooking up fresh produce, running, or listening to her favorite podcasts.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Previous Post: « 6 Incredible Flower & Garden Shows to Visit in February
Next Post: Expand Your Gardening Possibilities with Seed Swapping »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar




Popular Posts

  • Garden For FreeGarden For Free by Steph Coelho Is it possible to have a lush flower garden, produce…
  • Vinegar Uses In GardenVinegar Uses In Garden by Steph Coelho 1. Clay Pot Cleaning: Vinegar will remove the white salt…
  • Troubleshooting the Seed Starting Process: Using Old SeedsTroubleshooting the Seed Starting Process: Using Old Seeds by Steph Coelho I'm typing this up on a gloomy day here in…
  • Using Shredded Paper As Garden MulchUsing Shredded Paper As Garden Mulch by Steph Coelho Should you use shredded paper as garden mulch? Normally, I…
(X) Inexpensive Alternatives To Grow Lights

Inexpensive Alternatives To Grow Lights

Grow lights can be a really helpful tool for indoor gardening. Many people find that they are worth their cost. However, they aren’t cheap. Therefore, you might want to consider some of these inexpensive alternatives to grow lights. What Are Grow Lights? Grow lights are exactly what their name says: lights designed to help plants…

Read More

Maintaining a Garden to Keep Your Indoors and Outdoors Clean

Gardening gives your home the required curb appeal and does wonder for your well-being. Physical exercise keeps blood pressure in check and contributes to a healthy weight, and interactions with flora improve your mental health and mood. Below is a list of ways to maintain your garden.   Watering Watering the plants is crucial and…

Read More

4 Reasons to Volunteer for an Eco-Friendly Gardening Club

Volunteering is an amazing way to give back to society and spend your time in a fulfilling way. If you’re wondering whether to volunteer or what to volunteer for, there are a number of causes to volunteer for, including eco-friendly gardening. Read on to see four reasons why you should consider volunteering your time in…

Read More

5 Ways Depression Costs Me In the Garden

5 Ways Depression Costs Me In the Garden

I struggle with chronic, recurring depression. While it’s well-managed, the symptoms do creep up from time to time. Depression is an expensive mental health condition, in ways that might surprise you. In fact, during bouts of depression, I find that it costs me in the garden. This does mitigate the many mental health benefits of…

Read More

Footer

Copyright © 2022 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework