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Spring has sprung! And that means it’s time to begin your kitchen garden! Our best advice: Don’t bother with seeds, which can be finicky and slow to grow. Instead, plant a seeding (aka, a start) and jumpstart (pun intended!) the process.
3 Things You Should Know Before Ordering Seedlings Online
Be sure the grower delivers specifically to your zip code. Not all online nurseries deliver to every single state.
2. The refund/return policy
Most growers take great care that your precious seedlings are packed snug and tight, but understand that these are delicate plants being sent to your door. Make sure you understand the site’s return/refund policy before you place your order — just in case something happens to your tiny seedlings during shipping.
Don’t order seedlings and then go on vacation. As soon as your package arrives, you’re going to want to get those seedlings out of that dark box and give them a drink after their long journey. If possible, try to get them in the ground or a container within a day or two.
The Best Places to Buy Veggie and Herb Seedlings Online
Many home gardeners know Burpee for its seeds, but the nearly 150-year-old Pennsylvania-based company also delivers veggie and herb starts by mail. Their catalog is extensive, and “container-friendly” varieties are perfect for anyone with limited space.
Beloved for its culinary and medicinal herbs, this small, family-owned nursery located in Northern California also has a fantastic selection of unusual (and delicious!) vegetables. And good news for lavender fanatics: They grow more than 45 different varieties!
If you’re feeling intimidated or not sure where to start with your kitchen garden, Leaf’d Box may be just what the horticulturist ordered. The company offers a subscription service that will send you the right plants for the right season based on your taste and the size of your garden, with plenty of help in the way of pamphlets and online videos.
Canadians in the greater Toronto area have long had a place in their hearts for Richters, a 50-plus-year-old nursery specializing in medicinal and culinary herbs from around the globe. The good news for home gardeners who don’t call Ontario home? Richters ships anywhere in North America, so check their site for your favorite edibles, including mint, thyme, wasabi, and za’atar.
5. Annie’s Annuals & Perennials
Tucked in the city of Richmond, California, across the bay from San Francisco, Annie’s grows all of its seedlings on a 2.5-acre oasis of greenery and blooms. The company has an impressive collection of heirloom and lesser-known veggies, herbs, and edible flowers, including varieties that can handle drier climates.
It may be based in Alabama, but Bonnie Plants has more than 70 growing stations scattered across the country. So no matter where you’re located, your order likely won’t have to travel far. Choose from more than 300 varieties of edibles, including All-America Selections (AAS) that have won accolades from kitchen gardeners in every planting zone.
No, this isn’t a typo. Etsy is popular with the arts-and-crafts crowd — and it can be your go-to source for plant starts. As with any online marketplace, just be sure to check the seller’s reviews and ratings before ordering.
What are you growing in your kitchen garden? Tell us your gardening tips in the comments below.
Source by www.thekitchn.com
