Garden party
Prepare for planting time with a look at Co-op seed and some best practices for successful veggie growing
By Mark Johnson
Now is the time for Tennessee gardeners to plan their 2025 vegetable plots. When planning a new garden for this season, consider site and sun exposure, soil fertility, plot preparation via tilling, seed planting versus transplants, species, and varieties. The garden experts at your local Co-op can help you put together a robust garden plan.
Hoping for a big summer harvest of cucumbers, tomatoes, and cantaloup? Time to map out a plan.
As we roll into March, now is the perfect time to make plans for a vegetable garden, whether you’re a first-timer or seasoned gardener. Decisions must be made related to a garden spot, soil nutrition, planting time, species selection, and seeds versus transplants.
If you decide to go the seed route — a more economical choice in most cases — Tennessee Farmers Cooperative (TFC) Operations and Sales Manager Bryan Wrather says that Co-op seed is still the “gold standard” for Tennessee gardeners.
“We purchase our garden seed from the best producers in the country,” says Wrather. “As opposed to some row crops — like soybeans or grain corn, for example — vegetable seed stock doesn’t have to be produced in the region where the crops will be harvested to be effective. What matters is that the crop is grown properly and the seed is pure and viable.”
One of Co-op’s main suppliers is Wild West Seed, a company located in the Willamette River Valley in northwest Oregon. Wild West contracts with growers in several Western states and supplies Co-op with a variety of seed types, including okra, watermelon, cucumber, squash, tomato, beet, cabbage, radish, turnip, carrot, lettuce, and onion. Upon receiving an order from TFC, Wild West ships the seeds in bulk to TFC’s Halls Seed Plant in West Tennessee where they are packaged for sale to customers of Co-op stores across the state.
“Annually, we ship a large amount of fruit and vegetable seed to Halls Seed Plant,” says John Wahlert, Wild West sales manager. “This is a very long-term, valued relationship with Co-op, and I can assure you that there isn’t a higher quality of seed than what is going into those little packets at Halls.”
Jack Christian, TFC lawn and garden category manager, adds that Co-op seed is tested periodically at Halls and always labeled carefully.
“Our seed is processed according to the highest standards and the packaging will always display accurate, up-to-date germination tags,” he explains, noting that “germ tags” reflect the percentage of seed expected to germinate under proper conditions. “Most of our seed has a 90-plus-percent germination rate and are varieties that are proven to perform well here in the Southeast. This is why you can always trust Co-op seed versus what you might find in the big box stores.”
But excellent seed is only as good as the ground you plant it in, he points out. For an appropriate garden site, Christian says to select an area that receives full sun and is well away from the dripline of any nearby mature trees.
“Otherwise, those tree roots will drink up all the water you’re intending for your garden,” he says. “Even if you water heavily, you’re likely to draw those tree roots into your garden area.”
For first-time gardeners, Wrather advises starting with a small garden space.
“A lot of inexperienced gardeners are surprised by how much food can be produced off of a relatively small area,” he says. “By starting small, you also avoid becoming overwhelmed by the amount of work it takes to tend a large garden. Sure, a crop of sweet corn requires some room, but if you’re growing things like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, you can do that very successfully in a very small area, especially if you utilize vertical space by trellising.”
He advises soil-testing your proposed garden space to determine nutrient needs, and then, simply tilling the garden area to get started.
“Usually, that’s about all you need,” he says. “After tilling up the plot, rake up whatever turf has been broken up and you’ll be good to go.”
For new gardeners, Christian recommends visiting with the local Co-op staff for recommendations on varieties, soil nutrients, and planting and harvesting times.
“Our Co-op personnel have a wealth of institutional knowledge about gardening and can answer just about any question you might have,” he says. “If folks are looking for specialty seeds or have more in-depth questions, our local staff can always call the specialist here at the TFC headquarters in LaVergne to get those questions answered.”
By Mark Johnson,
Contact mark@bigharvestcreative.com