2012 Seed Catalogs

It's the time of year when you want to start looking at what types of fruits and veggies you want to grow. With proper planning, gardening can be more hobby than grunt-work. There are many things to look into, such as what size you want your garden to be, where you're going to plant, or what you're family likes to eat. However, in this blog post I'm going to focus on the many different seed companies you can choose from, because, YES! that can make a difference.


The big daddy that we use primarily is the Seed Saver Exchange. Based in Decorah, Iowa, the Seed Savers is one of the largest seed companies that focuses on protecting genetic diversity in their seeds. Organic is not just a catchphrase for them. They specialize in open pollinatied heirloom varieties, adhering to strict production standards that ensure that each seed maintains its uniqueness. Now, while you will be able to peruse the wide selection (online, in person, or in catalogs), you will have to pay a little more for that diversity.




If you want a beautifully depicted description of almost every plant known to man (slight exaggeration), then the Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds catalog, based in Mansfield, Missouri is the only seed catalog you'll ever need. They have fully described pictures of their seed varieties. They even have stories about the origin of the seed species, which adds to the knowledge base you'll walk away from after reading the catalog. They pride themselves on every seed being non GMO and with over 1,300 heirloom seeds available, they have the largest heirloom seed collection available. The catalog, itself, is a beautiful book. I have a copy on my coffee table. I would recommend picking up a copy.


If you are a beginner to gardening, I would recommend Johnny's Selected Seeds, out of Winslow, Maine. They have a section that points out fruits and veggies that beginner gardeners would most likely use. They branch away from strictly heirloom and organic seeds, but they would be the best place for rookies to start.






If you're looking to garden on a dime, I might recommend The Territorial Seeds Company from Cottage Grove, Oregon. They don't have the largest organic selection but you can save a lot of money by going through them. They have instructional videos on their site and have some good pointers on getting started.





There are, literally, hundreds of seed catalogs out there. Don't stop at these four. Do your own exploration and tell me what you find!