this side of heaven

My garden catalog short list

I posted about seed starting with aluminum foil a few days ago ... and I got to thinking, perhaps I was ahead of myself there. Before we can think about seed starting, we have to think about seeds. So here is my incomplete list of seed companies, whose catalogs I pour over every winter, and from whom I have received wonderful, high-quality seeds for excellent varieties of (mostly) vegetables:

The Cook's Garden (free catalog available)
A wonderful variety of tasty vegetable seeds, plus some flowers. They specialize in lettuces, though, beautiful, sweet lettuces of all kinds.

Gardens Alive! (free catalog available)
This company does not sell seeds, but tools, fertilizers, botanicals, and other support for the organic gardener.

Johnny's Selected Seeds (free catalog available)
Only the highest quality vegetable, herb, and flower varieties of seeds make it into Johnny's. They sell quantities for both the commercial and the home grower. Their catalog is a wealth of information for the organic gardener, too.

Seed Savers Exchange (free brochure available)
This is a group of growers, who must pay membership fees to be included (translation: they are dedicated), who are committed to saving many, many antique and heirloom (open-pollinated) varieties of vegetables, flowers, ornamentals, everything. You do not have to be a member to buy seeds from the exchange.

Seeds of Change (free catalog available)
This was one of the earliest seed catalogs specifically dedicated to organic seeds, organic growing, and heirloom varieties. They carry many wonderful and unusual varieties of vegetables and grains.

Territorial Seed Company (free catalog available)
I think this is the only company where every seed I purchased sprouted and grew into strong and healthy plants. Their seed quality is high. They cost more, too. Their catalog is loaded with info, like an illustrated gardener's textbook. I see they are specializing in Pacific Northwest varieties now. Too bad for me.

Tomato Grower's Supply (free catalog available)
Every variety of tomato imaginable, for every purpose, growing season, or situation. They carry hybrid and heirloom varieties ... I get my wonderful pink brandywines here (huge and luscious!) Plus, they have a huge variety of peppers and eggplant as well.

Vermont Bean Seed Company (free catalog available)
Beans, and lots of them. Plus other vegetables too. But lots and lots of beans.

Wood Prairie Farm Seed Potatoes (free catalog available)
I grew the best potatoes I have ever grown from Wood Prairie Farm Seed Potatoes, and the variety of delectable potatoes they offer is mouth-watering. My plants were huge, thick, and healthy, until the Colorado Potato Beetles discovered them ... I didnÂ’t know, at that time, how to control the buggers organically, so they just multiplied like crazy on my beautiful potato plants. I recommend covering the plants with secure insect netting before they ever arrive (see Garden's Alive, above).