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+--- Thread: Keeping it for best! (/showthread.php?tid=2463)
Keeping it for best! - Veggie - 21-03-2026
When I was a kid, I'd have to keep some clothes "for best" - meaning I could only wear them on Sundays, to parties or Christmastime, Other times, they stayed in the wardrobe (getting damp and dusty!). These habits stayed with me, even when I was working. Best clothes were not for everyday, to be worn to the office, they were for "going out".
These days, I don't have any "best clothes" - probably because I rarely go anywhere "posh".
The point of this waffle, is the realisation that these habits have rubbed off into the garden - and I need to break the habit.
For example, I pulled some carrots up this week because they were bolting. They were big but inedible! If I hadn't been keeping them "for best" and had pulled them up weeks ago they would have been smaller but much nicer. More to the point, I could have eaten them instead of adding to the compost bin.
Its the same with seeds - I'm a hoarder - not necessarily a buyer, but, an acquirer of seeds at swaps. When I decide to sow a particular seed - let's say courgette for example. I'll sow the oldest seeds first and keep my fingers crossed that they'll germinate. If they don't, I'll sow the next oldest but, I rarely sow the freshest seeds. They go into storage for another year.
Each time I sow and fail, I've wasted time, compost and energy. If I went straight to sowing the freshest seeds, in theory, I should have healthy seedlings from the start.
Part of the problem is that, some packets of seeds contain far more seeds than any "normal" person needs - or can sow within a year or two. As you know,I am unable to throw anything away - especially seeds - so part used packets are stored with the unopened - and my next round of sowings will not just be old seeds, but opened packets of old seeds, which may have deteriorated even more than unopened packets of a similar age. So its a double whammy!
I'm going to try to overcome my frugal habits this year - by sowing seeds that are in date and by picking "small and beautiful" crops instead of thinking that I need to win a giant veg competition.
Is there a support group in G&G that can help me please?
RE: Keeping it for best! - JJB - 21-03-2026
In a word no, not from me. I, like you, am a hoarder, but unlike you, I do sow my new seeds, especially if they're a new variety. I very rarely throw any seeds away, except perhaps when they have proven non-germinating.
I remember 'best' clothes. No need for them these days (along with high heeled shoes). Nowadays I have 'worst' clothes, saved especially for gardening in. My gardening jeans were my mum's and she passed 16 yrs ago and they weren't new then. They're still going strong.
RE: Keeping it for best! - Small chilli - 21-03-2026
I’m with you Veggie 100%. The best clothes thing I still do. I do exactly the same as you with seeds. Last year I had the light bulb moment and realised I was mostly sowing old seed and hoarding the new / fresh ones. I started weaning myself out of this habit and I’ve continued this year. The other thing I realised I did was only sow a couple of extra seeds ( if I wanted 4 plants, I’d only sow 6 seeds). Leaving me with even older seeds next year. I’m trying to change this habit to.
I don’t do the same with harvesting though.