I was shocked to find I had three different varieties of watermelons. 'Moon and Stars' was a great tasting heirloom watermelon but I also have two hybrid watermelon varieties I could try. Many of the other vegetable seeds are also hybrids (which are a result from cross pollination with two different parent varieties) but there are several heirlooms, particularly in the tomato department. One of my goals this year was to begin converting to heirloom seeds to help reduce my seed budget in the future by collecting seeds from the genetically stable heirloom plants. While I'll definitely acquire a few more heirloom seeds this year I will concentrate on using up what I already have. Seeds can remain viable for several years if kept cool and dry and I've had peppers and tomato seeds from 5 or more years ago germinate. 
How does this happen? I make lists every year of what I have so I don't buy more of what I don't need. Then I forget that handy list when I'm in the store and I end up with an extra variety of beets, or tomatoes, or whatever looks really enticing. Lists are never where you need them most. Maybe this will be the year to hold back on the seed purchases! Maybe...Labels: seeds and seed starting, vegetable garden, vegetables