Understanding Seed Catalogs . . . .

Here is a glossary of terms to help you make sense of the information provided in these catalogs:

Days to maturity, lets us know how soon we can expect to start harvesting after transplanting seedlings into the garden.

Hybrid (F, F1, F2) are seeds from a cross between two or more known varieties, and are grown for specific traits like flavor or size. (F1 = first generation offspring) Saving seeds from hybrids and replanting them will not guarantee the same plants in future years.

Heirloom seeds usually open pollinated varieties that have been grown for many years and may have distinctive coloring, flavoring and fascinating stories. These plants do not always have the benefit of resistance to disease or fungus as their hybrid counterparts.    (The major seed catalogs are now selling more of a variety of heirloom seeds, due to the publics' interest.)

Open Pollinated seeds (OP) are from plants that were pollinated by natural means rather than self-pollinated or cloned and can reproduce itself in kind.

Parthenocarpic plants are able to set fruit without pollination.

Treated seeds have been coated with a fungicide or insecticide to increase the seed’s ability to sprout without rotting or being attacked by insects in the soil.

Organic seeds have been harvested from plants grown organically, without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.

Determinate plants  will grow to a set size, then stop growing. These plants may be better selections when growing space is limited.

Indeterminate plants  will continue to grow providing an extended harvest.

Amount of seeds is a pretty good estimate of seeds packaged. Most packs will be enough for a 10- to 30-foot row. Seed size varies widely between varieties and some seed packets with tiny seeds may appear empty.

Tolerant varieties will perform relatively well when exposed to environmental stresses such as cold weather, hot weather, or drought.