Southern Exposure Seed Exchange

06/04/2026

Leafy greens are underrated workhorses in the garden.🥬🌿 Unfortunately, the hot weather that arrives all too quickly in southern gardens causes many greens to bolt or start flowering, making them bitter and inedible.

Here are 10 of our favorite heat-tolerant greens that you can grow all summer long👇

https://blog.southernexposure.com/2026/06/10-heat-tolerant-greens-to-grow-all-summer/

06/03/2026

We love seeing our seeds out in the world especially at a place like the Allegheny Mountain Institute that does such incredible work to help build resilient communities and food systems.🥰 Did you spot them?

06/03/2026

Beets are the sweethearts of spring and fall.💕 They're colorful, tasty, and perfect for canning or root cellar storage.

If you're growing beets this year, check out our six simple tips for better beet production👇

https://blog.southernexposure.com/2025/06/better-beets-tips-for-growing-beets/

06/01/2026

It's worth it though isn't🍅💕

Cartoon by Joseph Tychonievich

Every year! Here's your reminder to consider your late summer self when planting this spring. 🍅 What are you growing in your veggie garden?

05/31/2026

Potatoes are pretty easy keepers, but a few tips can help ensure you get a massive harvest.

🌿Hill your plants with soil or compost when the plants reach 6 to 8 inches tall.
🥔Don't add lime if you don't need it. Potatoes thrive in slightly acidic soil (pH of 6 to 6.5).
🌿Provide 1 to 2 inches of water per week during dry periods. Potatoes do best in moist but not soggy soil.
🥔Mulch around the plants to help keep the soil moist and keep the potatoes covered.

05/30/2026

There's still plenty to do in our zone 7a gardens! We keep planting into late spring in summer to have successions that last into fall. What's your favorite succession crop?🫘🥒🥬

Here's our planting list for zone 7a:
https://www.southernexposure.com/catalog/plantingdates.pdf

05/28/2026

Peanuts are a great addition to a home garden since they require minimal care and provide bountiful yields.🥜

If you’re looking to try something new in your garden this year, maybe it’s time to take a closer look at the potential of peanuts.👇

https://blog.southernexposure.com/2010/12/growing-peanuts-at-home/

05/27/2026

We are thrilled to announce that the Request for Proposals is now LIVE for the 2027 Organic Seed Growers Conference.

In 2027, we will have separate In-person (March 26th & 27th) and Virtual (March 30th & 31st) components, providing an interactive agenda of workshops, demonstrations, farm tours, lightning talks, art, seed swaps, affinity spaces, keynote presentations, and of course – celebration!

We welcome farmers, plant breeders, advocates, government staff, academics, and anyone with practical knowledge of organic seed systems to apply. (Note: Organic certification is not a requirement.)

2027 Conference Priorities:
- Nuts-and-bolts production sessions. (EX: seed cleaning, packing and shipping, contracting) for both beginning and advanced farmers
- Centering farmer voices
- Presenters from a diversity of agricultural backgrounds and approaches
- Meaningful inclusion of racially diverse speakers or communities (i.e. not just as administrators or subjects but as presenters and/or experts)
- Building equity and justice in organic seed work, including participatory methods for building community beyond the Conference cycle
- Interactive or audience-engaged proposals
- Presenters from the Southeast represented as experts across all tracks (seed production, plant breeding, seed stories, and advocacy & policy)

Proposals are due July 1st.

Learn more and submit yours at https://ow.ly/JKrg50Z2Yka

The Utopian Seed Project | NC Alternative Crops & Organics Program

05/27/2026

Don't forget to pinch your plants!🌼🌿

Pinching plants is quick and easy and can make a big difference in their growth habits. Learn to pinch plants successfully for better production👇

https://blog.southernexposure.com/2024/06/pinch-plants-for-better-production/

05/26/2026

Organic mulch can help block weeds, add organic matter, hold in moisture, keep the soil cool, and increase your garden’s production. But which mulch is the right choice for your garden?🍂🌾

In today's blog, we discuss different mulch options like straw, wood chips, and grass clippings and their benefits and downsides:

https://blog.southernexposure.com/2026/05/the-best-organic-mulch-for-your-garden/