WNY Seed Library

05/11/2026

04/22/2026

https://585mag.com/magazines/swap-your-seed-online/?site=upstate-gardeners-journal

This year the Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) is more than a half century old. It continues its mission of preserving seeds and sharing the fascinating stories of

04/22/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/17EwPedpcK/?mibextid=wwXIfr

We grew up believing this planet would always be here.
The sky above us. The air in our lungs. The ground beneath our feet.
Untouchable. Endless. Ours.

But somewhere along the way…
we stopped treating it like home.

We built faster. Consumed more. Took what we needed—
and then kept taking, long after it was enough.

Now the signs are no longer quiet.

The air feels heavier.
The oceans are rising.
Forests burn longer than they should.
And seasons don’t feel the way they used to.

This isn’t a distant future.
This is now.

And the truth is uncomfortable:
It’s not the Earth that’s in danger.
It’s us.

Because this planet will go on—with or without us.
It always has. It always will.
But we are the ones who depend on every drop of water,
every breath of clean air,
every fragile balance we keep pushing to the edge.

Earth Day isn’t a celebration.
It’s a reminder.

A reminder that we don’t stand outside this problem.
We are part of it.
And that means we have to be part of the solution.

Not someday. Not when it’s convenient.
Now.

Because every small choice—
what we consume, what we waste, what we ignore—
is shaping the world we’re leaving behind.

And one day, someone will ask:
“What did you do when it mattered?”

Let the answer be something we’re not ashamed of.

This is not just a planet.
This is the only place that has ever held your life.

Take care of it. 🌍

03/23/2026

Have you tried the “seed snail” method? Super simple + space-saving!

• Lay a strip of damp paper towel, paper bag, bubble wrap, strip of fabric- add your seed starting mix.
• Gently roll it up like a snail
• Sprinkle seeds along top edge
• Stand it upright in a container
• Keep moist + in a warm spot

Watch them sprout, then unroll and plant

03/21/2026

Red Rat’s Tail Radish
(Raphanus sativus)

Red Rat's Tail is a South Asian delicacy producing oodles of lightly spicy pods that can be compared to a pungent green bean.

This radish thrives in warmer conditions, making it suitable for summer growing. Choose a sunny location with well-draining soil. Consistent moisture is essential to prevent the pods from becoming tough and overly spicy. Seeds can be sown directly into the garden in late spring and throughout the summer.

Germination typically occurs within 3-6 days, and plants will begin producing edible pods within 50 days.

THANK YOU to Baker Creek for this donation. Red Rat’s Tail Radish is now in our card catalog!

03/20/2026

Happy Spring everyone!!! 🌷🌱☀️

03/20/2026

Your last spring frost date marks when it’s generally safe to start planting outdoors. So, when can you expect to start planting this year? 🌱

Visit Almanac.com/frost to see your *average* last frost date (use the box on the site to type in your ZIP code), then visit Almanac.com/Frost-2026 to see if your average frost date will be early, late, or right on schedule this year, based on current weather trends.

For example, in Dublin, NH (Almanac headquarters!), the average last frost date is May 10. However, this year, the last frost will be earlier than average, so we can safely start planting 1-2 weeks early, around May 1. Looks like we're in for a little May Day gardening day! Hooray!

When is YOUR last frost date? Will it be early like ours? Try it out and get started at Almanac.com/Frost! 🌱

03/13/2026

Kellogg’s Breakfast Tomato
(Solanum lycopersicum)

This orange beefsteak is flavorful and sweet. An heirloom that originated in West Virginia, this tomato has been preserved by Darrell Kellogg, a railroad supervisor from Redford, Michigan.

Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes require full sun and fertile, well-draining soil. Keep the soil evenly moist without over-watering. And use sturdy stakes, trellises, or cages to support the heavy vines and fruit.

The tomatoes will take about 85 days to reach maturity.

THANK YOU to Baker Creek for this donation. Kellogg’s Breakfast tomato is now in our card catalog!

03/03/2026

Don’t forget! Our Seed Starting 101 class is this Saturday at 10am! Join Erica and learn how to start your seeds!

Seed Starting 101 with Erica Fire! 🌱
Saturday 10 AM - 12 PM
Register at the librarians desk or call us 716-689-4922
Hon. Shirley Chisholm Library (Audubon)
350 J.J. Audubon Pkwy. Buffalo, NY 14228

02/26/2026

Chinese Cabbage, Golden Beauty
(Brassica rapa)

Golden Beauty Chinese cabbage is a cool-season crop that can be planted in cool spring or fall conditions. In the spring, sow seeds 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost. The cabbage reaches maturity in about 55 days. It grows best in well-drained, fertile soil.

This variety of cabbage has green outer leaves. Peel them back to reveal the golden leaves. Golden Beauty cabbage was cultivated in China for more than 1,000 years. It was introduced more than 100 years ago to the United States.

THANK YOU to Baker Creek for this donation. Golden Beauty Chinese cabbage is now in our card catalog!