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Don’t Make These 5 Mistakes When Buying Seeds

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Feb 10, 2026, 07:06 PM
selective focus photo of plant spouts
Photo: Unsplash - Markus Spiske

About This Resource

The article Don't Make These 5 Mistakes When Buying Seeds appeared first on Garden Betty. It's easy to get carried away when you're flipping through catalogs or browsing seed displays in a store. Save yourself from disappointment and watch out for these common mistakes many people make when ordering seeds. Read other Garden Betty articles from Linda Ly.

Key takeaways

What to know before you act on this, from the SteadScape editors.

  • Before ordering seeds, take inventory of your current stock and conduct a germination test on old seeds to ensure viability.
  • Limit seed purchases to match your garden size; for a 100 square foot garden, consider no more than 10-15 seed packets.
  • Choose seeds with a days to maturity of less than 70 days if you live in a short growing season area, typically under USDA zone 6.
  • Integrate at least 20% of your garden space with flower seeds to support beneficial insects and enhance biodiversity.
  • Avoid ordering from unknown online sellers; always check for reviews and buy directly from reputable seed companies to ensure quality.
Best for
New gardeners planning their first vegetable garden; start planning in early spring before planting.
Pairs with
Garden Planner for your zone and frost dates.

Source Information

Domain: gardenbetty.com

Summary and key takeaways written by SteadScape. How we choose resources

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