I have a pretty epic seed collection. I store mine so they are protected from light and humidity. I save my own seeds every year so my crops keep adjusting to my climate. Some seeds can last an incredibly long time, like large bean seeds, and some will only last a couple seasons like tiny lettuce seeds. But you only need one lettuce head to go to seed to replenish your supply anyway. I have a pea variety that was found buried with king tut. They managed to grow from those seeds and bring that pea back to civilization again. Pretty amazing.
Have you tried winter sowing? It worked well for me here in northern IN. Made up my containers, set out in the garden in the ice and snow and ended up with some harrdy veggies and flowers.
You have to plant them in dirt in clear containers with covers, suits or holes to let rain and snow in, the seeds germinate when they are ready and they are so hardy as they weren't babied inside. There is a winter Sowers FB group with lots of info.
These things all depend on your area. I'm in a warm climate and I garden year round. Winter is the easiest time for gardening here, summer is what kills most of my plants off. I'm limited to mostly sweet potatoes, squash, and eggplant in the hottest months. Even my peppers struggle and sometimes die off in my summers. I'm putting my brussels sprouts and cabbages out this week and will be harvesting them through the winter. I'm also planting all my peas which will feed us through winter. My peppers are still going, I'll be cutting them back probably in january and they are perineal for us so they come back on their own every march. I plant all my carrots and lettuces and herbs in greenstalks. If you are in a cold climate you would have to plant with strategies I'm unfamiliar with.
I have a pretty epic seed collection. I store mine so they are protected from light and humidity. I save my own seeds every year so my crops keep adjusting to my climate. Some seeds can last an incredibly long time, like large bean seeds, and some will only last a couple seasons like tiny lettuce seeds. But you only need one lettuce head to go to seed to replenish your supply anyway. I have a pea variety that was found buried with king tut. They managed to grow from those seeds and bring that pea back to civilization again. Pretty amazing.
Have you tried winter sowing? It worked well for me here in northern IN. Made up my containers, set out in the garden in the ice and snow and ended up with some harrdy veggies and flowers.
You have to plant them in dirt in clear containers with covers, suits or holes to let rain and snow in, the seeds germinate when they are ready and they are so hardy as they weren't babied inside. There is a winter Sowers FB group with lots of info.
These things all depend on your area. I'm in a warm climate and I garden year round. Winter is the easiest time for gardening here, summer is what kills most of my plants off. I'm limited to mostly sweet potatoes, squash, and eggplant in the hottest months. Even my peppers struggle and sometimes die off in my summers. I'm putting my brussels sprouts and cabbages out this week and will be harvesting them through the winter. I'm also planting all my peas which will feed us through winter. My peppers are still going, I'll be cutting them back probably in january and they are perineal for us so they come back on their own every march. I plant all my carrots and lettuces and herbs in greenstalks. If you are in a cold climate you would have to plant with strategies I'm unfamiliar with.
I've never experienced snow before. Always wondered what it's like.