When The C word happened everyone went berserk and brought every seed in the shops but had no idea how to grow them. What to grow or at what time of year to plant. When everything settled I thought it was a good time to buy seeds for myself.

Im going to compare this to bug out bags. How Independent do you want to be?Do you just want to feel safe or do you want something that works? I can see of most Bug out bags on the net, they dont work! Theyll get you home or to some where your headed but not for what their intended for. Look at long distance hikers. The amount of food they require for 8 to 10 days of hiking to keep up calories. Then they have food drops every week.

So this is going to be based around several layers. If you just want to feel safe then its an easy $40 for the survival seed pack. This will require some study as to when to grow the seeds. Or the next level are the seasonal seed packs with directions on when to grow.

The other questions to ask yourself are. Are you growing vegetables for yourself, a large family, are you intending to sell or trade surplus. Will you be saving seeds for the next year.

I cant answer all these question but I can point you in the right directions of which to ask. I could give a specific number of seeds to purchase but Id have people arguing the numbers so to make it easy Ill do it this way. Purchase one packet of say winter vegetables for one year, two packets for a large family, three packets if your saving seeds. Four packets if your intending to trade produce.

Other things to consider are. Medicinal plants, Green manure crops, Bug repeal ant crops and companion Planting. Staple crops such as corn and burdock roots.How far do you want to go and how much do you want to spend.

The three sisters or as I call them the five sisters. Corn grown with squash and beans to provide a complete amino acid chain. Grown together with rat tail radish and amaranth. Sun Flower can also be used in the mix. The last two are to help with disguising against pests.

Ive steered away from potatoes as a staple for the need of seed potatoes. Preferring Burdock, okra, corn and yams. Growing corn varieties that are designed for bread making. Youll notice three varieties of corn these need to be planted two weeks apart to prevent cross pollination.

What Ive done

Essentially what I’ve done is, Brought one each of the summer, winter, spring and autumn seed packs. These are for the first year. Ive purchased one packet of the Survival Seeds mix. These are to cover me for the second year, if I cant collect enough seeds from the first year or pests destroy too many seed heads. Of the smaller packets such as tomatos and salad crops. Ive brought 4 of each to have enough seeds for two years. Everytime I see a sale of heirloom seeds at a hardware store I then buy more of my favorites such as cherry tomatos. Eventually getting into berry crops, being faster to grow and crop than tree fruits.So far Ive spent close to $600 on seeds and as yet to purchase green manures or berrys and Im not qualified to even think about medicinal herb use.

Temperate Climate Australia

Burdock and Okra
4 Seasons Seeds
https://www.4seasonsseeds.com.au/epages/4seasons.sf/en_AU/?ObjectPath=/Shops/4seasons_seeds/Categories

New Guinea bean
Hopi corn
Anasazi corn
Sald greens – land cress, mibuna, corn salad, pak choy, tatsoi, rocket, mustard golden streaks ,mizuna, miners lettuce.
Grow Heirloom seeds
https://growheirloomseed.com.au/

amaranth
https://www.theseedcollection.com.au/flower/amaranth

Backyard Seeds

Survival seed pack

  1. Basil (Sweet Genovese) x 50
  2. Beans (Climbing Blue Lake) x 20
  3. Beetroot (Detroit Dark Red) x 30
  4. Broad Bean (Aquadulce) x 10
  5. Broccoli (Green Sprouting) x 100
  6. Cabbage (Golden Acre) x 30
  7. Carrot (All Seasons) x 150
  8. Capsicum (California Wonder) x 25
  9. Cauliflower (Snowball) x 30
  10. Celery (Giant Utah) x 100
  11. Kale (Red Russian) x 50
  12. Coriander (Cilantro/ Slow Bolt) x 25
  13. Cucumber (Beit Alpha) x 8
  14. Dill (Common) x 50
  15. Leek (Giant Carentan) x 30
  16. Lettuce (Green Salad Bowl) x 100
  17. Lettuce (Parris Island Cos) x 100
  18. Eggplant (Black Beauty) x8
  19. Onion (Gladalan Brown) x 50
  20. Oregano (Wild Italian) x 100
  21. Pak Choi (Green) x 30
  22. Parsley (Italian Flat Leaf) x 100
  23. Parsnip (Hollow Crown) x 100
  24. Pea (Greenfeast) x 30
  25. Pumpkin (Waltham Butternut) x 10
  26. Radish (Champion) x 50
  27. Silverbeet (Fordhook Giant) x 30
  28. Spinach (Winter Giant) x 20
  29. Spring Onion (White Lisbon) x 100
  30. Sweet Corn (Balinese) x 20
  31. Tomato (Cherry Camp Joy) x 20
  32. Tomato (Roma) x 20
  33. Tomato (Yellow Pear) x 20
  34. Watermelon (Sugar Baby) x 10
  35. Zucchini (Black Beauty) x 10

10 autumn seed pack

  1. Brussels Sprouts (Groninger) x 30
  2. Cabbage (Red Express) x 30
  3. Carrot (All Seasons) x 150
  4. Kale (Red Russian) x 30
  5. Pak Choi (Green) x 30
  6. Radish (Champion) x 50
  7. Rocket (Arugula) x 50
  8. Snow Pea (Mammoth Melting) x 30
  9. Spinach (Amsterdam Giant) x 30
  10. Swede (Champion Purple Top) x 50

10 spring seed pack

  1. Beans (Climbing Blue Lake) x 20
  2. Capsicum (California Wonder) x 15
  3. Carrot (All Seasons) x 150
  4. Chilli (Thai Hot) x 15
  5. Eggplant (Black Beauty) x 20
  6. Lettuce (Green Salad Bowl) x 100
  7. Pumpkin (Waltham Butternut) x 10
  8. Tomato (Lutsicht Zurich) x 20
  9. Tomato (Long Tom) x 20
  10. Watermelon (Sugar Baby) x 10

10 summer seed pack

  1. Beans (Purple Dwarf) x 20
  2. Beetroot (Detroit Dark Red) x 30
  3. Broccoli (Green Sprouting) x 30
  4. Cauliflower (Snowball) x 30
  5. Cucumber (Beit Alpha) x 10
  6. Leek (Giant Carentan) x 50
  7. Lettuce (Parris Island Cos) x 100
  8. Silver Beet (Giant Fordhook) x 30
  9. Sweet Corn (Balinese) x 20
  10. Zucchini (Black Beauty) x 10

10 winter seed pack

  1. Beetroot (Detroit Dark Red) x 30
  2. Broad Bean (Aquadulce) x 10
  3. Cabbage (Golden Acre) x 30
  4. Leek (Giant Carentan) x 30
  5. Onion (Gladalan Brown) x 50
  6. Onion (Red Brunswick) x 50
  7. Parsnip (Hollow Crown) x 200
  8. Pea (Greenfeast) x 30
  9. Radish (Champion) x 50
  10. Spring Onion (White Lisbon) x 100

Alliums 4 pack

  1. Leek (Giant Carentan) x 30
  2. Chives (medium common) x 100
  3. Onion (Gladalan Brown) x 50
  4. Spring Onion (White Lisbon) x 100

Herb seed collection

  1. Basil (Sweet Genovese) x 50
  2. Basil (Red Italian) x 50
  3. Coriander (Cilantro/ Slow Bolt) x 25
  4. Chives (Onion) x 100
  5. Dill (Common) x 30
  6. Oregano (Wild Italian) x 100
  7. Parsley (Flat Leaf Italian) x 100
  8. Mint (Garden Mint/Spearmint) x 100
  9. Thyme (Common) x 150
  10. Sage (Common) x 20

Rare tomato seed collection

Black Russian Tomato x 20
Red Currant Tomato x 20
Yellow Pear Tomato x 20
Tigerella Tomato x 20
Snow White Tomato x 20
Long Tom Tomato x 20

https://backyardseeds.com.au/

Berrys and Fruit trees

https://www.heritagefruittrees.com.au/

Yams

https://greenharvest.com.au/Plants/SweetPotatoToYam.html

Soil Improvers Green Manure

https://greenharvest.com.au/Plants/SoilImprovers.html

https://www.theseedcollection.com.au/Green-manure

https://www.diggers.com.au/shop/vegetables/green-manures/

Summer Legumes: cowpea, lablab, mung bean, soybean, lucerne
Summer Grasses: buckwheat, French white millet, Japanese millet
Winter Legumes: fava bean (broad bean), fenugreek, lupins, sub clover, red clover, white clover, woolly pod vetch, chick pea
Winter Grasses: barley, oats, rye, wheat, buckwheat
Winter/Summer other: Biofume mustards, beets, corn salad, endive, kale, mustard, purslane, rocket, radish, spinach, turnip

Reasons to grow a Green Manure Crop’
to protect and feed soil when it is lying fallow between crops
to aerate soil
to improve moisture holding capacity of soil
to increase organic matter in soil
to suppress weeds
to provide flowers and habitat for beneficial insects
to increase worm population in the soil
to increase micro organisms in the soil
to add depleted nutrients to the soil
to prevent erosion
to reduce pest and diseases
to make your own mulch

Rat Tailed Raddish Pods

https://www.4seasonsseeds.com.au/Radish-Rat-tailed

Pest Managment species

· Alyssum, Carpet of Snow – attracts beneficial insects
· Basil, Cinnamon – repels mosquitoes and deters potato beetles
· Basil, Genovese – all around my favorite to repel almost everything
· Borage- repels tomato hornworms and deters squash bugs
· Calendula- to deter cabbage moths and aphids
· Chamomile, German
· Chives- to deter aphids and Japanese beetles
· Cilantro – to attract hoverflies
· Dill- helps cabbage family and attracts beneficial insects
· Marigold- to repel cabbage moths, potato beetles and squash bugs
· Nasturium- to repel aphids, potato bugs and squash bugs, but also to attract a lot of bugs away from your other vegetables
· Oregano- to deter a wide variety of insects
· Painted Daisy
· Parsley- to attract hoverflies
· Petunia, Dwarf Mix – repels aphids
· Sage- to deter cabbage moths and carrot flies
· Sunflower- to attract bug eating birds
· Thyme- to deter cabbage moths
· zinnia- to attract Japanese beetles away from your beans

Medicinal Herb Garden

· Anise Hyssop
· Basil, Genovese
· Basil, Holy
· Bee Balm
· Chamomile, German
· Catnip
· Calendula, Pacific Beauty
· Cilantro
· Dill, Bouquet
· Korean Licorice Mint
· Lavender, Vera
· Lemon Balm
· Lemon Mint
· Spearmint
· Echinacea
· Parsley, Flat leaf
· Plantain
· Yarrow

Companion Planting Guide

Basil

Plant near: most garden crops
Keep away from: rue
Comments: improves the flavor and growth of garden crops, especially tomatoes and lettuce. Repels mosquitoes.

Beans, Bush

Plant near: beets, cabbage, carrots, catnip, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, marigolds, potatoes, savory, strawberries
Keep away from: fennel, garlic, leeks, onions, shallots
Comments: potatoes and marigolds repel Mexican bean beetles. Catnip repels flea beetles.

Beans, Pole

Plant near: corn, marigolds, potatoes, radishes
Keep away from: beets, garlic, kohlrabi, leeks, onions, shallots
Comments: same as for bush beans.

Beets

Plant near: broccoli, brussels sprouts, bush beans, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, kohlrabi, onions
Keep away from: charlock, field mustard, pole beans
Comments:

Borage

Plant near: squash, strawberries, tomatoes
Keep away from:
Comments: repels tomato worms. Improves flavor and growth of companions.

Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts

Plant near: beets, buckwheat, calendula, carrots, chamomile, dill, hyssop, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, rosemary, sage, thyme, wormwood.
Keep away from: strawberries
Comments: marigolds repel cabbage moths. Nasturtiums repel aphids.

Cabbage and Cauliflower

Plant near: broccoli, brussels sprouts, celery, chard, spinach, tomatoes.
Keep away from: strawberries
Comments: tomatoes and celery repel cabbage worms.

Cantaloupe

Plant near: corn
Keep away from:
Comments:

Carrots

Plant near: cabbage, chives, early potatoes, leeks, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, rosemary, sage, salsify, wormwood.
Keep away from:
Comments: onions, leeks, and wormwood repel carrot flies

Chives

Plant near: apples, berries, carrots, grapes, peas, roses, tomatoes.
Keep away from:
Comments: Improves flavor and growth of companions. Deters aphids and Japanese beetles.

Corn

Plant near: beans, cucumbers, early potatoes, melons, peas, pumpkins, soybeans, squash.
Keep away from:
Comments: soybeans deter chinch bugs.

Cucumbers

Plant near: beans, cabbage, corn, early potatoes, radishes, sunflowers.
Keep away from: late potatoes
Comments: Radishes deter cucumber beetles. Cucumbers encourage blight in late potatoes.

Dill

Plant near: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, lettuce, onions
Keep away from: carrots
Comments: Improves flavor and growth of cabbage family plants.

Eggplant

Plant near: green beans, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes
Keep away from:
Comments: green beans deter Colorado potato beetles.

Garlic

Plant near: cabbage, cane fruits, fruit trees, roses, tomatoes
Keep away from: peas, beans
Comments: deters Japanese beetles and aphids. A garlic oil spray deters onion flies, aphids, and ermine moths. A garlic tea helps repel late potato blight.

Kale

Plant near: aromatic herbs, buckwheat, cabbage family, marigolds, nasturtiums
Keep away from: pole beans, strawberries
Comments:

Kohlrabi

Plant near: cabbage/cauliflower companions (except tomatoes)
Keep away from: fennel, pole beans, tomatoes
Comments: kohlrabi stunts tomatoes

Lettuce

Plant near: beets, carrotsparsnips, radishes, strawberries
Keep away from: cabbage family
Comments: lettuce tenderizes summer radishes.

Marigolds

Plant near: all garden crops
Keep away from:
Comments: stimulates vegetable growth and deters bean beetles, aphids, potato bugs, squash bugs, nematodes, and maggots.

Marjoram

Plant near: all garden crops
Keep away from:
Comments: stimulates vegetable growth.

Mustard

Plant near: alfalfa cover crops, fruit trees, grapes, legumes
Keep away from:
Comments: stimulates growth of companion plants.

Nasturtiums

Plant near: apples, beans, cabbage family, greenhouse crops, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, squash
Keep away from:
Comments: repels aphids, potato bugs, squash bugs, striped pumpkin beetles, and Mexican bean beetles and destroys white flies in greenhouses.

Onions

Plant near: beets, cabbage family, carrots, chamomile, lettuce, parsnips
Keep away from: beans, peas
Comments: deters most pests, especially maggots.

Oregano

Plant near: all garden crops
Keep away from:
Comments: deters many insect pests.

Parsley

Plant near: corn, roses, tomatoes
Keep away from:
Comments:

Parsnips

Plant near: onions, radishes, wormwood
Keep away from:
Comments: onions and wormwood help keep root maggots from parsnips.

Peas

Plant near: beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, early potatoes, radishes, turnips
Keep away from: garlic leeks, onions, shallots
Comments:

Peppers

Plant near: basil, carrots, eggplant, onions, parsley, tomatoes
Keep away from: fennel, kohlrabi
Comments:

Potatoes

Plant near: basil, beans, cabbage family, corn, eggplant, flax, hemp, marigolds, peas, squash
Keep away from: apples, birch, cherries, cucumbers, pumpkins, raspberries, sunflowers, tomatoes, walnuts
Comments: hemp deters phytophthora infestans. Basil deters potato beetles. Marigolds (dug into crop soil) deter nematodes.

Radishes

Plant near: chervil, cucumbers, lettuce, melons, peas, nasturtiums, root crops
Keep away from: hyssop
Comments: radishes deter cucumber beetles. Chervil makes radishes hot. Lettuce helps make radishes tender. Nasturtiums improve radishes’ flavor.

Rosemary

Plant near: beans, cabbage, carrots
Keep away from:
Comments: repels bean beetles, cabbage moths, and carrot flies.

Sage

Plant near: cabbage family, carrots, tomatoes
Keep away from: cucumbers
Comments: deters cabbage moths and carrot flies. Invigorates tomato plants.

Soybeans

Plant near: corn, potatoes
Keep away from:
Comments: chokes weeds and enriches soil.

Spinach

Plant near: celery, cauliflower, eggplant, strawberries
Keep away from:
Comments:

Strawberries

Plant near: borage, bush beans, lettuce, pyrethrum, spinach
Keep away from: cabbage family
Comments:

Sunflowers

Plant near: cucumbers
Keep away from: potatoes
Comments: can provide a trellis and shelter for shade-loving cucumbers.

Swiss Chard

Plant near: bush beans, kohlrabi, onions
Keep away from: pole beans
Comments:

Tarragon

Plant near: all garden crops
Keep away from:
Comments: improves vegetables’ flavor and growth.

Thyme

Plant near: all garden crops
Keep away from:
Comments: deters cabbage moths.

Tomatoes

Plant near: asparagus, basil, cabbage family, carrots, gooseberries, mustard, parsley, onions, rosemary, sage, stinging nettles
Keep away from: fennel, kohlrabi, potatoes, walnuts
Comments:

Turnips and Rutabagas

Plant near: peas
Keep away from: knotweed, mustard
Comments: mustard and knotweed inhibit the growth of turnips and rutabagas.