{"id":142442,"date":"2017-12-28T00:36:33","date_gmt":"2017-12-28T05:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=142442"},"modified":"2017-12-28T00:36:33","modified_gmt":"2017-12-28T05:36:33","slug":"pocket-size-seed-packets-speak-volumes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2017\/12\/28\/pocket-size-seed-packets-speak-volumes\/","title":{"rendered":"Pocket size seed packets speak volumes"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"(Pixabay<\/a>
Seed packages have been a gardening staple in the United States (Pixabay photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A seed packet may be small, but it speaks volumes.<\/p>\n

While seed catalogues promote thousands of types of plants, seed packets tell gardeners how to grow one. All the information is printed on the back of a paper pouch slightly larger than the size of your wallet, and at prices that won’t empty it.<\/p>\n

Although the cost of seeds has risen over the past few years, they’re still an economical way to garden, said Elsa Sanchez, a commercial vegetable crops specialist at Penn State University Extension.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe other option would be to buy transplants, which is generally more expensive,\u201d Sanchez said. \u201cYou also find a lot more options for types and cultivars when you start from seed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seed packages have been a gardening staple in the United States for well over a century, although their look is frequently changed.<\/p>\n

Atlee Burpee & Co., for example, has begun shipping re-designed packets for the 2018 growing season.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe made the picture (of the plant) virtually the entire front of the packet, so there’s a very strong shout-out of what it is,\u201d said Burpee chairman and chief executive officer George Ball. \u201cWe have just a few things on the front — the name, price and weight, such as we need to have.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut turn it over and you’ll see that we’ve amped up the type of gardening information you’re going to get — the what, the how, the where and the when. The most important is the when,\u201d Ball said. \u201cWe use USDA (hardiness) zones and maps for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Company founder Washington Atlee Burpee used to call seed packets his \u201csilent salesmen,\u201d Ball said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s important that the seed packets be seen from 15 feet for in-store sales rather than 15 inches for a catalogue. So we go for a more varnished look to make a good first impression,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The kind of information to expect from these miniature reference guides:<\/p>\n

— Days to seed germination and maturity. Expect those to vary somewhat, though, based on sun exposure, soil temperature, fertility and moisture.<\/p>\n

— Seed count and packing date. \u201cSeed longevity is dependent on the type of seed and also storage conditions,\u201d Sanchez said, recommending that any leftovers be kept cool and dry until another planting season rolls around. \u201cOver time, viability and germination rates will decline.\u201d<\/p>\n

— Plant profile and size: whether it’s a hybrid, open pollinated or an heirloom, an annual, biennial or perennial.<\/p>\n

— Planting instructions, including seed spacing and soil depth, light conditions and moisture requirements.<\/p>\n

Then there’s the bonus information available through \u201cQR\u201d or quick-response coding, those usually square, artistic designs appearing more frequently on the flip side of seed packets. Download a free QR code reader app into your smart phone or tablet so you can read links and find information online.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can use smart phones to scan QR readers for a great many plant-particular details — information that just wouldn’t fit on the back of seed packets,\u201d Sanchez said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a good idea to hang onto the seed packages after sowing as references for future care and harvesting,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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