2011 Starting Seed Inventory

While I’m waiting for my Southern Exposure Seed Exchange seed order, I finally finished the inventory of my seeds. I should have done this in December, but at least it’s complete.

Seed Organization

I’m pretty organized with my seeds. I use small, clear “check envelopes” to store them. I’m pretty sure I picked up the envelopes at Target in 2005. They are made by “Better Office Products” and the item number is 33730. Just found them online. They are officially “coupon size reusable envelopes.”

I label the envelopes by my own arbitrary system of classification. If I haven’t said before, the Brother label maker I purchased at Office Depot in 2003 is an integral part of my life :-) The design of my model hasn’t changed over the years. Keep an eye on the sales because the prices fluctuate. I picked it up as part of a clearance and spent very little, maybe $10.

I use a Sterilite plastic box to store the envelopes of seeds. My sister was finished with it, so I reused it for seed storage. It’s the perfect width and height to hold the envelopes.

I also haven’t done much with the seeds since the fall of 2006, when I moved with Tim to his duty station in a forest. I tried growing there, but there just wasn’t enough sun. I packed the seeds away inside a closet in the house, and they have waited for us to move to a new, sunny home.

What I realize as I look at the list below is that I didn’t always make the best buying choices. My first year purchasing, I bought treated seeds, something I prefer not to do now. I also pick up random packets when I shop at big-box stores. I’ve never had a problem with germination from those packets, but I’m also placing orders through organizations I want to support, so I need to be more conscientious about my buying decisions. A dollar here, two dollars there adds up over the years.

A lot of the seeds I have now are no longer viable. With the flowers and herbs, I’ve pulled out some that could still germinate, and I’ll try starting those inside. Most of the others I’m going to direct sow after frost. There’s nothing to lose, other than some time, and I might get rewarded with some pretty blooms.

I’m also thinking of doing an experimental garden with the gourd seeds. They can be long lived, and I love crafting with gourds, so I don’t mind spending the time on the hope they grow.

I haven’t decided about the vegetables yet. I’m hoping to try some test germinating this week and see if any are worth planting.

The hard part will come when I have to toss seeds. So much potential lost…

Folder	Seed	Year	Supplier
Beans – edible	Scarlet Runner Bean (2)	2006	Pinetree
Beans – edible	Classic Slenderette Bush Bean	2010	Renee’s Garden
Beans – edible	Painted Lady Runner Bean	2010	Renee’s Garden
Beans – edible	Scarlet Runner Bean	2010	Renee’s Garden
Beans – edible	Green Bush Bean	2005	Stokes
Beans – edible	Wax Ban – Nugget	2005	Stokes
Beans – edible	Dakota Shelling Pea	2006	Territorial
Cucumber	Fancipak	2005	Stokes
Cucumber	Sweet Slice	2005	Stokes
Cucumber	National Pickling	2004	Wetsel
Cucumber	Straight 8	2004	Wetsel
Eggplant	Ghostbuster Hybrid	2005	Ferry Morse
Eggplant	Early Long Purple	2005	Ferry Morse
Flowers	Globe Amaranth – Mix	2005	Burpee
Flowers	Mirabilis – Four O’Clocks Mixture	2005	Burpee
Flowers	Columbine – Harlequin Mix	2006	Burpee
Flowers	Marigold – Jaguar	2006	Burpee
Flowers	Mexican Sunflower – Tithonia	2006	Burpee
Flowers	Scabiosa – Giant Imperial mix	2006	Burpee
Flowers	Globe Amaranth – Strawberry Fields	2005	Conway
Flowers	Lunaria	2005	Garden Place
Flowers	Strawflower – Tall Mix	2005	Garden Place
Flowers	Heliotrope – Marine	2005	Scheepers
Flowers	Larkspur – Imperial mixture	2005	Scheepers
Flowers	Mirabilis – Four O’Clocks Mixture	2005	Scheepers
Flowers	Nicotiana – Sensationally Fragrant	2005	Scheepers
Flowers	Columbine – Red	2006	Plantation
Flowers	Butterfly Snapdragons – Chantilly	2010	Renee’s Garden
Flowers	Cosmos – Double Click	2010	Renee’s Garden
Flowers	Globe Amaranth – Mardi Gras Parade	2010	Renee’s Garden
Flowers	Zinnias – Blue Point Bouquet	2010	Renee’s Garden
Flowers	Zinnias – Heirloom Polar Bear	2010	Renee’s Garden
Flowers	Achillea – Summer Pastels	2005	Stokes
Flowers	Alyssum – Easter Basket Blend	2005	Stokes
Flowers	Alyssum – Snow Crystals	2005	Stokes
Flowers	Candytuft – Flash Mixed	2005	Stokes
Flowers	Candytuft – Giant White Hyacinth	2005	Stokes
Flowers	Maltese Cross	2005	Stokes
Flowers	Marigold – Dwarf Safari Mix	2005	Stokes
Flowers	Scabiosa – Mix	2005	Stokes
Flowers	Butterfly Weed – Sunset Flower	2006	Territorial
Flowers	Marigold – Tagetes, Mars	2006	Territorial
Flowers	Alyssum – Royal Carpet	2006	Walmart
Flowers – Edible	Nasturtium – Empress of India	2005	Burpee
Flowers – Edible	Sunflower – Mammoth	2005	Burpee
Flowers – Edible	Nasturtium – Alaska	2006	Burpee
Flowers – Edible	Nasturtium – Empress of India	2006	Burpee
Flowers – Edible	Nasturtium – Semi-Tall Double Gleam Mix	2006	Burpee
Flowers – Edible	Johnny Jump Up	2006	Ferry Morse
Flowers – Edible	Viola – Mixed Colors	2006	Ferry Morse
Flowers – Edible	Calendula – Flashback Mixture	2005	Scheepers
Flowers – Edible	Sunflower – Professional Florists’ Mixture	2005	Scheepers
Flowers – Edible	Nasturtium – Alaska Mix	2010	Renee’s Garden
Flowers – Edible	Nasturtium – Empress of India	2010	Renee’s Garden
Flowers – Edible	Nasturtium – Mounding Copper sunset	2010	Renee’s Garden
Flowers – Edible	Sunflower – Snack Seed	2010	Renee’s Garden
Flowers – Edible	Sunflowers – Sun Samba	2010	Renee’s Garden
Flowers – Edible	Monarde	2005	Stokes
Flowers – Edible	Nasturtium – Jewel Mixed	2005	Stokes
Flowers – Edible	Nasturtium – Tall Trailing Mix	2006	Territorial
Flowers – Edible	Pansy – Swiss Giant Mix	2006	Territorial
Flowers – Vines	Morning Glory – Scarlett O’Hara	2005	Burpee
Flowers – Vines	Moonflower – Giant White	2005	Burpee
Flowers – Vines	Morning Glory – Zeeland Hybrid Mix	2006	Burpee
Flowers – Vines	Morning Glory – Grandpa Ott	2006	Burpee
Flowers – Vines	Cardinal Vine	2005	Burpee
Flowers – Vines	Sweet Pea – Burpee’s Galaxy Mix	2006	Burpee’s
Flowers – Vines	Cardinal Vine	2005	Ferry Morse
Flowers – Vines	Morning Glory – Giant Mixed Color	2005	Ferry Morse
Flowers – Vines	Sweet Pea – Fragrant Heriloom Mix	2005	Scheepers
Flowers – Vines	Hyacinth Bean	2006	Pinetree
Flowers – Vines	White Flowered Hyacinth Bean (2)	2006	Pinetree
Flowers – Vines	Purple Hyacinth Bean	2010	Renee’s Garden
Gourds	Corsican	2005	NC Gourd Society
Gourds	Large Bottle	2005	NC Gourd Society
Gourds	Long-handled Dipper	2005	NC Gourd Society
Gourds	Miniature Bottle	2005	NC Gourd Society
Gourds	Speckled Swans	2005	Renee’s Garden
Gourds	Tennesee Spinning Gourd	2005	Seed Exchange
Gourds	Apple Gourd	2005	Seed Exchange
Gourds	Hopi Rattle Gourd	2005	Seed Exchange
Gourds	African Kettle	2005	Seed Exchange
Gourds	Hawaiian Mask	2005	Seed Exchange
Gourds	Tobacco Box	2005	Seed Exchange
Gourds	Water Jug	2005	Seed Exchange
Gourds	Canteen	2005	Seed Exchange
Gourds	Dipper	2005	Seed Exchange
Gourds	Long Green Snake	2005	Seed Exchange
Gourds	Bule Chupon	2005	Seed Exchange
Gourds	Bule de Aqua	2005	Seed Exchange
Gourds	Bule de Peru	2005	Seed Exchange
Gourds	Dipper	2005	Stokes
Gourds	Birdhouse Gourd	2005	Wetsel
Gourds	Luffa	2005	Wetsel
Grain	Broom Corn Mix	2006	Territorial
Herbs	Dill – Fernleaf	2004	Burpee
Herbs	Rosemary	2004	Burpee
Herbs	Parsley – Single Italian	2005	Burpee
Herbs	Basil – Cinnamon	2006	Burpee
Herbs	Basil – Green Ruffles	2006	Burpee
Herbs	Chamomile – Roman	2006	Burpee
Herbs	Chives – Garlic	2006	Burpee
Herbs	Lavender – Lady	2006	Burpee
Herbs	Sage – Common	2006	Burpee
Herbs	Basil – Dark Oal Purple	2006	Ferry Morse
Herbs	Basil – Lemon	2005	Garden Place
Herbs	Anise Hysop	2005	Scheepers
Herbs	Borage	2005	Pinetree
Herbs	Chamomile – German	2005	Pinetree
Herbs	Hyssop	2005	Pinetree
Herbs	Lemon Balm	2005	Pinetree
Herbs	Lovage	2005	Pinetree
Herbs	Mexican Marigold	2005	Pinetree
Herbs	Stevia	2005	Pinetree
Herbs	Summer Savory	2005	Pinetree
Herbs	Basil – Nufar YR	2005	Stokes
Herbs	Chives	2005	Stokes
Herbs	Coriander – Santo	2005	Stokes
Herbs	Dill – Bouquet	2005	Stokes
Herbs	Majoram	2005	Stokes
Herbs	Oregano – Greek	2005	Stokes
Herbs	Parsley – Dark Green Italian	2005	Stokes
Herbs	Thyme	2005	Stokes
Herbs	Angelica	2006	Territorial
Herbs	Anise Hyssop	2006	Territorial
Herbs	Basil – Mammoth Sweet	2006	Territorial
Herbs	Feverfew	2006	Territorial
Herbs	Lemon Balm	2006	Territorial
Herbs	Lemongrass	2006	Territorial
Herbs	Oregano – Greek	2006	Territorial
Herbs	Pennyroyal – English	2006	Territorial
Lettuce	Mesclun – Salad Mix	2006	Burpee
Lettuce	Mesclun – Spicy Mix	2006	Burpee
Lettuce	Buttercrunch	2005	Stokes
Lettuce	Coastal Star	2005	Stokes
Lettuce	Envy MI	2005	Stokes
Lettuce	Green Salad Bowl	2005	Stokes
Lettuce	New Red Fire	2005	Stokes
Lettuce	Simpson Elite	2005	Stokes
Lettuce	Swiss Chard	2005	Stokes
Melons	Muskmelon – Hale’s Best	2004	Wetsel
Melons	Pumpkin – Mammoth	2004	Wetsel
Melons	Watermelon – Sugar Baby	2004	Wetsel
Peppers	Cayenne Slim	2004	Ferry Morse
Peppers	Anaheim	2005	Pinetree
Peppers	Ancho	2005	Pinetree
Peppers	Red Hot Cherry	2005	Pinetree
Peppers	Serrano	2005	Pinetree
Peppers	Sweet Red Cherry	2005	Pinetree
Peppers	Cherry Bomb	2005	Stokes
Peppers	Habanero	2005	Stokes
Peppers	Ivory Banana	2005	Stokes
Peppers	Jalapeno	2005	Stokes
Peppers	Lemon King	2005	Stokes
Peppers	Orange King	2005	Stokes
Peppers	Redstart	2005	Stokes
Peppers	Mini Belle Mix	2005	Totally Tomatoes
Peppers	Super Chili	2005	Totally Tomatoes
Peppers	Cadente	2006	Totally Tomatoes
Peppers	California Wonder	2006	Weeks
Roots	Onion – Evergreen Long White Bunching	2005	Burpee
Roots	Onion – Walla Walla	2005	Ferry Morse
Roots	Leek – Ester Cook	2006	Seed Exchange
Roots	Carrot – Sweet Bites	2005	Stokes
Roots	Radish – Cherry Belle	2005	Stokes
Roots	Carrot – Purple Haze Hybrid	2006	Territorial
Roots	Onion – Copra Hybrid	2006	Territorial
Tomatoes	Red Currant	2005	Pinetree
Tomatoes	Tomatillow	2005	Pinetree
Tomatoes	Yellow Pear	2005	Pinetree
Tomatoes	Ground Cherry – Dulce De La Tierra	2006	Seed Exchange
Tomatoes	Big Beef	2005	Stokes
Tomatoes	Lemon Boy	2005	Stokes
Tomatoes	Roma VF	2005	Stokes
Tomatoes	Costoluto Genovese	2006	Territorial
Tomatoes	Pineapple	2006	Territorial
Tomatoes	Super Marzano Hybrid	2006	Territorial
Tomatoes	Ground Cherry	2006	Totally Tomatoes
Tomatoes	Tomcat Hybrid	2006	Totally Tomatoes
Tomatoes	Tommy Toe	2006	Totally Tomatoes
Veggie Misc	Broccoli – Paragon	2005	Stokes
Veggie Misc	Celery	2005	Stokes

*** This site is comprised solely of the opinions of its author, Stacey Morgan Smith. She works to promote gardening and tourism in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, from Roanoke to the Potomac River.***