Cailin Riley Books

It’s that time of year when seed catalogs are starting to hit the mailboxes!

While a very exciting time, it can be overwhelming to see the thousands of options you have when it comes to deciding what to grow in the spring. Chances are, like me, you have a limited amount of grow space and you have to be selective about what you buy.

So what’s the game plan?

Tip #1: Only buy what you’ll actually use.

I have grown ajarvski peppers for the last 3 years. They grow well, but they grow slowly so I only get maybe 2-3 sweet peppers from them per season. On top of that, my husband doesn’t eat sweet peppers so we never use them anymore. So even though I love the look of them, I’ve decided not to grow ajarvskis anymore. Instead, I’ll grow jalapenos and serranos, which we use in every batch of salsa we make.

Case in point, buy seeds for things you’ll grow and use the most. I’m not saying you shouldn’t experiment with new plants, but put the bulk of your space and money into plants that you will use most often.

Tip #2: Check with friends, seed banks and your own supply to see what you can get for free.

No free seeds left behind! Before spending money on new seeds, see if you have any leftover seed from previous seasons that you could use. It’s also worth looking into local seed banks or asking friends if they have anything to share. This will help cut down on personal cost to you.

Tip #3: Prioritize small and easy keepers over the large and picky.

I’ve pretty much given up on growing watermelon in the backyard. They require a LOT of watering and fertilizing, plus they take up an entire bed. Not worth it.

If you’re short on space, make the most of your garden by buying seeds for plants that don’t take up a lot of room at maturity and grow at least somewhat prolifically. Great examples include carrots, peas, beans, some lettuce varieties, chard, herbs, and more. You might also invest in plants with a vertical growing habit; these can easily be trained to grow upwards onto items like a trellis, which frees up bed space for other plants.