A limited amount of new seeds will soon be arriving at a branch near you! Click on the links below to find growing instructions for each variety. 

Amaranth - Red Garnet
This beautiful fuchsia-hued variety of amaranth was chosen for its tolerance to drought and poor soil. The blooms of the plant can reach up to 10 feet tall! This plant can be grown for microgreens, young leaves can be used for greens, and flower heads fill with seeds that can be toasted and eaten as grains. Check out the planting guide from Eden Brothers here.

Summer Squash - Gray Zucchini
Ready for calabacitas? Another new addition to the seed library and we will have plenty in stock! Here are the instructions from Everwilde Farms:
Sowing: 
Gardeners with short growing seasons may want to start their gray zucchini summer squash seeds indoors a month before the last expected frost. Since squashes do not take well to transplanting, peat pots are the best option. Plant two seeds per pot, later clipping off the weaker seedling. Harden the seedlings by exposing them to the weather for several hours at a time during the week before transplanting. About a week after the last frost or when the soil temperature reaches an average of 65 degrees F, plant the seedlings in very rich soil 8-10' apart in rows 10-12' apart. Another option is to plant the seedlings in hills of two, 8-10' apart. To direct sow, plant the Cucurbita Pepo seeds when the soil temperature reaches at least 70 degrees F. Plant them 1/2" deep, 3-4' apart and thin to 8-10' apart. For companion planting benefits, plant squashes along with corn but avoid planting them with potatoes.
Growing: 
Since squash seedlings do not tolerate frost, provide protective coverings if the temperature drops below 65 degrees F. Keep the soil moist at all times, but avoid getting the leaves wet as this can cause diseases such as rot or mildew. When the vines begin to develop, a layer of mulch will help conserve moisture and control weeds; mulch also will keep the squashes clean and protect them from too much soil contact.
Harvesting: 
Zucchini generally taste best when harvested when they reach a length of 4-5". When the gray zucchini plant begins to produce mature zucchini, they should be picked every day or two. Zucchini keep well in the refrigerator for about two weeks and freeze well.
Seed Saving: 
​By the time the squash reaches its mature size, the Cucurbita Pepo seeds are mature. Cut the squash open, remove the pulp and seeds, and rinse off the pulp. Put the mixture in a bowl of water to remove the remaining pulp; the good seeds will sink. Remove the good seeds and spread them out to dry for 2-3 weeks, stirring them at times to make sure they dry completely. Store the gray zucchini summer squash seeds in a cool, dry place for up to 4 years.
​

Tomato - Matt's Wild Cherry
Limited stock only available at Dorris Van Doren, Esperanza Acosta Moreno, and Richard Burges Branches. The story of how Johnny's Seeds obtained 'Matt's Wild Cherry' seeds can be traced back to Teresa Arellanos de Mena, who brought them to Maine from her family's home state of Hidalgo in Eastern Mexico (the region where these tomatoes grow wild). Teresa gave the seeds to her friend Matt Leibman, a former Univ. of Maine AG faculty member, who then gave the seeds to Johnny's. Check out the tomato growing guide here.

Tomato - Mexico Midget
This variety of cherry tomatoes is available once again in our collection from the Seed Savers Exchange. Growing instructions:
You should start your tomato seeds indoors in soil trays or pots about 6 weeks before you plant them outside. Sow the seeds about 1/4 inch deep and wait 7-14 days for them to germinate. As they grow you may need to re-pot them to give their roots space to develop. When all chance of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit you can plant your tomatoes out. Leave around 24-36 inches between the plants. Tomatoes should be grown with some form of support, such as staking, cages, or a trellis. This variety will be mature about 60-70 days after transplanting.

Tomatillo - De Milpa
This purple heirloom tomatillo from Johnny's Seeds is back in stock! In Mexico, these tomatillos grow unattended in family corn fields and are harvested for home use and for selling in town on market day. Check out the growing guide here. ​

Wildflowers - Dry Area Mix
This mix of 50% annual and 50% perennial wildflowers returns to our collection from Eden Brothers. Check out the planting guide here.  ​

Wow! It's been 5 years since we launched the SowGrowReapEat program! According to our records, we've "checked out" over 10,000 seed packets! We're happy to report that we still have seeds that you can take home. Visit the operating library locations to find out what seeds are in stock. Go to elpasolibrary.org to find out which locations have reopened during this time.

Because the seeds are several years old, they may not be viable. Our staff has taken measures to test the seeds for viability, but it cannot be guaranteed that the seeds will germinate. Please follow these instructions before planting your seeds:

• When you're ready to plant your seeds, follow these steps the day before.
  
• To ensure that your seeds will sprout, place them in a bowl of water overnight.
  
• The seeds that are still able to germinate will sink to the bottom of the container, while the bad seeds will float to the top.
  
• Skim the bad seeds off the top of the water and discard.
  
• The seeds that sunk to the bottom should be planted immediately. 

​For local growing tips or questions, visit the El Paso Master Gardeners' website. 

We'd love to see what you've grown or harvested from our seed library! Be sure to tag us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or send us an email on our contact form. 

The seed libraries have launched! We began lending seeds at some of our branches the last couple of months, and now all locations are on board. You can visit any public library to "check out" up to 5 seed packets this season, which ends September 21. After that date, you'll be able to check out another 5 packets from September 22-December 20.

September also happens to be National Library Card Sign-up Month, so it's the perfect time to get a library card if you don't already have one! You'll be able to check out books, ebooks, and digital magazines to help you get started.
 
Many people don't know that this is a great time to start gardening in El Paso. The weather is cooling down, making it ideal to grow various plants. The list below shows some of the seeds that can be directly sown into your garden. Plants like lettuces and radishes can be replanted every 2-4 weeks. 

You can direct sow the following seeds from our collections:
Carrots (up until October 10)
Lettuce (Sept 10 - Oct 10)
Peas (Aug 11- Sep 10)
Beets (Aug 26 - Oct 10)
Radishes (Sep 10 - Oct 10)
Turnips (Sep 25 - Oct 25)
Wildflowers
Herbs: Cilantro, parsley

To view our complete collection, click on the Seeds & Locations page at the top. We have 35 varieties in our opening collection, and plan on adding more seeds soon.

Visit our resources page to learn how to get started. You can also call the El Paso Master Gardeners' Hotline for help at (915) 771-2354.

Don't forget to share your pictures with us by tagging us and using the hashtag, #sowgrowreapeat!

We are so close to launching our seed libraries! All of our library branches are busy packing the seeds.

In the meantime, here's what you can do and eat!

​Attend a workshop:
Saturday, May 14 @ 10:00 am
Do Me a Flavor: Growing Herbs
Esperanza Acosta Moreno Library (12480 Pebble Hills)
Register here.

Saturday, May 14 @ 3:00 pm
Pots & More for Plants: Container Gardening
Memorial Park Library (3200 Copper)
Register here.

Tuesday, May 17 @ 5:30 pm
Getting Dirty with Garden Soil
Dorris Van Doren Library (551 Redd Rd.)
Register here.

Eat what's in season:
artichoke, asparagus, avocado, broccoli, corn, cucumber, fava beans, peas, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, zucchini, apricots, grapefruit, kiwi fruit, lemons, limes, pineapple, strawberries

Hello & welcome to the Sow.Grow.ReapEat blog!

This is where we'll be posting about the progress of this project, as well as information about seasonal planting and cooking. 

Right now, we're still in the process of receiving the seeds that we ordered, and divvying them up to be checked out by you! We're estimating that you'll be able to check out seeds by late April. As in this month! 

In the meantime, you can begin planning your gardens and getting your soil ready! Free monthly gardening workshops taught by the El Paso County Master Gardeners will take place at libraries on the east, west, and central sides of town. Don't forget the master gardeners also have workshops at the Multipurpose Recreation Center (9031 Viscount), which is very close to the Jose Cisneros Cielo Vista Library on Hawkins. 

You can call the library to save your spot or visit our event page on Eventbrite at sowgrowreapeat.eventbrite.com. From there, you'll be able to choose the locations and dates you'd like to attend. Attend one or as many as you like! Please note that the central location is split between two locations, with the first three workshops beginning at Memorial Park Library and the second three at the Main Library. 
​
Save these April dates!
Date: Saturday, April 16 @ 3:00 pm:
Location: Memorial Park Library, 3200 Copper (central)
Topic: Getting Dirty with Garden Soil 
Phone: 566-1034

Date: Tuesday, April 19 @ 5:30 pm: 
Location: Dorris Van Doren Library, 551 Redd Rd. (westside)
Topic: Pots & More for Plants (container gardening)
Phone: 875-0700

Date: Saturday, April 23 @ 10:00 am: 
Location: Esperanza Acosta Moreno Library, 12480 Pebble Hills (eastside)
Topic: Getting Dirty with Garden Soil 
Phone: 921-7001

Also, be sure to visit our table @ the Earth Day celebration during the Downtown Art & Farmers Market!