Do wet, gloomy days have you dreaming of warmer times and greener gardens? We feel you...
Well, it just so happens our seed packets have arrived, and when we say there's a lot to choose from, we mean it. Seed shopping is one of our favorite things to do on days like this.
This year, we hand-selected our choices and have nearly *double* the varieties we had last year. From sunflowers and herbs to tomatoes and squash (and Cucamelons!), we have both tried and true favorites alongside the interesting and hard to find.
We had a hard time narrowing it down to nearly 110 varieties, and then we asked the impossible - asking our team to choose the TOP FIVE varieties they’re most excited to grow in 2023. Without further ado, here are their choices.
JENNA’S PICKS
Lemon Queen Sunflower: The brightest sunflower you ever did see! Vibrant yellow and prolific all summer long, it's my favorite sunflower for bouquets.
Gold Rush Bush Bean: Great for growing in containers, this bush bean is easy to spot growing amongst its green foliage. The bright yellow color is a perfect addition to any summertime dinner plate.
Danvers 126 Carrot: This is my favorite carrot to grow! It is crisp and flavorful, and I find that it lasts the longest in the fridge.
Cucamelon: A must have every year in my garden! I eat these little gems straight off the vine, but they are divine in salads and even pickled!
Honeynut Squash: Similar to butternut squash, only smaller! They make a great personal sized stuffing squashes, and because of their smaller size, they are ready to harvest sooner in the growing season.
LINDSEY’S PICKS
Sugar Magnolia Snap Pea: These deep purple seed pods are both beautiful to look at and tasty to eat fresh or in stir fries.
Sweet Bell Pepper Blend: I use so many peppers in my regular cooking and I appreciate being able to buy one pack that includes a variety of types to bring diversity to the kitchen and garden.
Mountain Yellow Watermelon: I enjoy growing this twist on a classic summer snack, bright yellow center with a satisfying sweetness.
Lettuce Leaf Basil: This large leafed basil is perfect for making wraps, slicing up for fresh salsa, or to top pizzas.
Kale Premier Blend: Having fresh greens on hand is one of my favorite reasons to grow a garden; having a mix of my go to kales close at hand makes succession sowing even easier!
Seed Starting 101
Are you new to starting veggies from seed or feel like a refresher? Check out these episodes of Let’s Grow Stuff, a web series for beginning gardeners we produce in partnership with PBS Wisconsin.