Selecting Seeds For Your Garden

Selecting seeds for a hydroponic garden doesn’t vary much from selecting seeds for a traditional outdoor garden but there are some things to keep in mind during the selection process. Whenever possible start plants from seed.

Starting your indoor garden from seed gives you a wider variety of plants to choose from and also lessens the possibility of inadvertently introducing unwanted guests like bugs or viruses into your garden. Most varieties of any plant can be grown using hydroponics and some varieties tend to grow faster and have a higher yield than traditional “field” varieties.

Selecting Seeds
Select seeds based on the type of product you prefer and your indoor garden’s indoor conditions. Do you prefer the tiny bursts of flavor from grape tomatoes fresh from the vine or would you like homegrown Beefsteaks for your BLTs?

These are critical decisions that weigh heavily on every gardener’s mind! When considering your indoor conditions, remember that generally speaking, during cooler months, plants that tolerate cooler temperatures and lower light conditions will produce better results.

This is because some varieties produce higher yields under lower temperatures and less light.Once you’ve narrowed your selection, verify that the variety you’ve chosen is resistant to any particular pests or disease that you think you may have problems with. If you are familiar with what problems other gardeners in your area are having with a certain type of plant, you may save yourself a lot of time and effort.

When consulting seed catalogs look at the temperature and light requirements for the plants you are selecting, not only the yield of the plant. If you aren’t able to provide the proper environment for the particular variety you have chosen you will be disappointed in the results.

Whenever possible, use seeds that are less than two to three years old. Older seeds tend to produce smaller plants and smaller (if any) fruit. Sometimes older seeds may not germinate at all! This is not the result you want.

Also, find out how the seeds were stored. Ideally, the seeds you are considering to use in your indoor garden have been stored in a cool, dark, dry space away from unnecessary moisture.