I am looking for places that specialize or at least carry a large variety of heilrloom vegetable seeds, somewhere neat the Tyler, Paris or Dallas areas of TX. I know of several places I can order from but my daughter has recently become interested in gardening and I thought it would be fun to shop in person with her for them.
Heirloom Seed search
some of the big box stores like Lowes, HD, Walmart carry a few kinds.. you could start there
You are right - come to think about it I did see some at both Lowes and Wal-Mart. I was hoping to get her really hooked on gardening by visiting "real garden centers" and specifically maybe some smaller ones that specialize in organic and heriloom seeds and plants. Those might not exist in our area.
Yall could come to one of the round ups (whichever is closest or the best date). That's not all heirloom or organic, but there should be some. More important, it's folks that enjoy gardening. If I were trying to get someone hooked, I'd start with putting them around enthusiastic, knowledgeable people. I'd say that's the big disadvantage of the large chains, not so much the seed selection. Some of their employees, and your fellow customers, really know their stuff. But some don't, and they can get a new gardener off to a really discouraging start.
Wherever yall go, if you can, make it a week day, when they'll be less busy and better able to chat.
The organic part, if it were me, I wouldn't start by worrying so much about organically produced seeds, but about incorporating organic practices into her own gardening - mulch, natural control for predators, etc. It doesn't have to be an ordeal with strict rules where you spend a lot of time reading fine print on seed packets. Just help her get her hands in the dirt, and start noticing things like bugs, leaf health, etc.
Touch base with your local master gardeners (or the ones in her community, if yall aren't both in Dodd City) Looks like yall's local expo is this weekend, so jump on it.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/mastergd/county.html They start off being real meticulous about not recommending one commerical enterprise, but if you keep them talking they'll eventually spill the real skinny.
This time of year, maybe be looking for heirloom tomato plants; it's probably to late to start with their seeds. Go nuts with the melons, though.
Say Hi to Ms Gable for us
I like growing a few heirloom tomato every year but I always plant mostly Hybrids. The heirloom do not hold up if you have a fungus and if you plant all heirlooms you sometimes end up with nothing, but I do love their taste.
Thanks for the taking the time to write out this message.....And, just where might I find your Ms. Gable?