Friday, July 31, 2015

We are an American Made FINALIST!!!

That's right...Check it out!

We're so Excited!
Mary's Heirloom Seeds has been chosen as a FINALIST
for the
Martha Stewart American Made Awards...
Official Voting begins  September 21st but I couldn't
wait that long to share!
I'm so Excited!
From our profile,
I am inspired by growth. It is absolutely amazing to plant a tiny seeds, feed it and watch it grow. From that tiny seeds we harvest delicious heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil and other culinary herbs. Every year I have amazing opportunities to volunteer and donate to local elementary schools and youth groups. It's life-changing to see the looks on the children's faces as I explained how a seed grows. Each child plants a seed and I am confident that it was a memorable experience for everyone, especially for me.
What makes your business stand out?
Mary's Heirloom Seeds is a "mom and pop" small business created out of a desire to help people become more sustainable and self-sufficient. Our customers know that we are a simple phone call or email away. Most importantly, we are happy to share growing advice freely. We include free seed packs with most orders. Education is Key to a successful organic garden. Many of our customers are first time, backyard gardeners and it gives us great satisfaction to help them grow successfully. Year after year, customers come back to Mary's Heirloom Seeds for their organic gardening needs because of our High Germination rates and superior customer service. Heirloom Seeds and growing organic isn't just our business, it's our passion
To Celebrate, we're offering another HUGE Seed Sale!!!
$10 Seed order minimum (total order, not just sale items)
2015


Mary's Heirloom Seeds
We currently offer over 240 varieties of open-pollinated, non-gmo & non-hybrid, non-patented,  untreated, organic, heirloom garden seeds.   Mary has signed the Safe Seed pledge.  
Order herb and veggie varieties together and get an extra free seed pack!
*$10 Order Minimum on all seed orders*

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Tuesdays With A Twist #121

Good Morning and welcome to another No Rules Party! 

If you're growing your own organic food (or you'd like to),
 check out our VERY popular monthly planting Guide
AUGUST Seed Planting Guide for the US by Region

Are you ready for the party?   We're your hosts 
Mary @ Back to the Basics and Mary's Kitchen
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Angie @ God's Growing Garden
Please give a warm welcome to our new co-host
Heather @ Homestead McCoy



Add our button if you've been featured!


The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Saturday at 11:59am.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 
Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!
*Pictures should be your own* 
By linking up you give us permission to use these photos
 (with proper link backs) in our features.   And now for the party!


Monday, July 27, 2015

Growing Organic Poppies from Seed

We've just added Organic California Poppy at Mary's Heirloom Seeds.  Adding poppies to the garden adds color, food for bees and can help deter pests!  


From Mary's Heirloom Seeds,

This brilliant orange wildflower is California's state flower, but it will grow in a variety of regions. Satiny petals grow on multi-branched, slender 8"-24" stems. Finely dissected leaves are blue-green. Blooms close at night or on overcast days. Grows with little maintenance and re-seeds heavily.
Flowers: Deer resistant. Blooms spring to late summer
Attracts: Attracts bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects
Soil: Prefers slightly acidic, well drained soil
Native: California

USDA Zone: 3-9
Plant In: Fall or Spring
Planting Depth: 1/16"
Days to Germinate: 15-30 Days
Height At Maturity: 8"-24"
Sun/Shade Requirements: Full Sun
Water Needs: Light Water


Why Plant Poppies?
For the BEES!  Flowers are an excellent additional to any garden as they attract pollinators.  Growing organic flowers will help save the bees and butterflies.  Attracting pollinators to your garden can increase crop yields.


To deter Rabbits, The Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture suggests planting poppies, geranium, iris, narcissus, yucca or meadow sage.

New growth begins in the fall when temperatures are cool and getting colder; new shoots sprout from the sleeping roots. Foliage unfurls until it forms a mound. This mound of green will stay there through the winter. It won’t grow much, but it won’t die, either.
In spring, the growth begins again and the clump sends up long stems of bright flowers. By July and August, the heat is too much for the delicate foliage. Oriental poppies are supposed to go dormant in midsummer. In fall, when the weather cools, they come back stronger than before. The clumps will become larger each year, but will never be invasive.
So, based on their growth habits, spring and fall answers the question of when is the best time to plant oriental poppies and the rule of green-thumb is spring where the winters are cold and fall where the winters are warm.



Seeds should be sown in spring, or for hardier annual varieties such as those included in the California poppy family, early to mid fall. These, providing that they are kept sheltered and frost free throughout the winter, will mature earlier than their spring sown counterparts, ensuring an early bout of flowering. After approximately 14 to 28 days depending on the variety, poppy flower seeds will start to germinate, sending up tiny spindling green shoots. At this time, when seedlings are large enough to nip with fingertips, it is important to ensure that numbers of thinned out to ensure that a few strong, healthy plants develop instead of large numbers of weedy plants which will ultimately not flower well.


Pests and Diseases
Poppies are seldom bothered by pests or diseases. Their resistance to pests or diseases is advantageous because they often react adversely to sprays. The best solution is prevention. Space plants so they have good air circulation. Do not over water. Plant them in soil with good drainage.
Aphids may attack young plants in bud. Wash them off with a hard spray of water from the garden hose or, in severe cases, use an insecticidal soap spray.

Four-legged creatures such as ground hogs may find the plants tasty. The only protection against them is a humane trap that allows you to capture and transport the animals elsewhere.

Downy mildew, a fungus, can be a problem for young plants. Its symptoms include yellow blotches on the upper sides of leaves with a gray mold on the undersides. Because of their sensitivity to sprays, chemical or otherwise, your best cure is prevention, as noted above.   


From Health Guide Info,

Benefits of California Poppy

Sleep
It was a poppy field that Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz fell asleep in while crossing to reach Emerald City. Although California poppy does not act that strongly, it can be helpful in mild cases of sleeplessness without causing morning grogginess.
Anxiety
When combined with magnesium salts and hawthorn, California poppy can help treat mild to moderate anxiety without the side effects of many medications.
Tooth Pain
California poppy was commonly used to treat tooth pain by applying the juice from the roots on the affected area.
- See more at: http://www.healthguideinfo.com/herbal-medicine/p59825/#sthash.p7vaIQxr.dpuf


Benefits of California Poppy
Sleep
It was a poppy field that Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz fell asleep in while crossing to reach Emerald City. Although California poppy does not act that strongly, it can be helpful in mild cases of sleeplessness without causing morning grogginess.

Anxiety
When combined with magnesium salts and hawthorn, California poppy can help treat mild to moderate anxiety without the side effects of many medications.

Tooth Pain
California poppy was commonly used to treat tooth pain by applying the juice from the roots on the affected area.


Other benefits of California poppy...
California poppy has also been used to treat colic, bedwetting, headaches, muscular pain, high fever, persistent spasmodic cough, ADHD, and memory and concentration problems in the elderly. It is used externally to treat cuts and scrapes and to eliminate head lice.

Preparing California Poppy Tea
Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried herb, cover, steep about 5 minutes, and strain. Drink 2-3 cups a day as needed.

Precautions
California poppy has no known side effects when appropriately taken.
Safety has not been established during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
California poppy may cause a false-positive result with drug tests checking for opiates.


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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Sizzling Summer 2 Day SEED SALE!

After all of the rain we're spending a bit of extra time out in the garden this week!


Mary's Heirloom Seeds
Quick Links
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July 22, 2015
Did you enjoy our Growing Root Crops email?  We've had so much positive feedback from our growing series!  Just a reminder, you can find even more growing tips on our Blog and also our Growing Tips page

Last month, we shared our Organic Pest Control series.  It was very popular and we are happy to answer any additional questions you might have for us.

HUGE 2-Day Sale starts today! Ends 7/24/15 
SIZZLING SUMMER
2-Day Sale      


If you have additional questions please feel free to ask. 

Happy Planting,