All About Seed Catalogs

During the drab winter months, one of the most delightful pastimes for an avid gardener or farmer is browsing through the dozens of seed catalogs that flood the mails at the turn of the year. The enticing pictures and descriptions of old favorites and new varieties foretell the coming of spring. At this time of year many gardeners know the joy of ordering seeds and supplies, perhaps to start seedlings for the new planting season, or just to have on hand when the earth warms. If you haven’t enjoyed the ritual of seed catalog shopping, this program will give you a brief introduction to just six of the hundreds of seed catalogues available, and let you know how to get them.

The six featured companies are: W. Atlee Burpee of Warminster, Pennsylvania; Seeds of Change of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Johnny’s Selected Seeds of Winslow, Maine; Territorial Seed Company of Cottage Grove, Oregon; Select Seeds of Union, Connecticut; and Vermont Bean Seed Company of Randolph, Wisconsin. A rich variety of offerings is available from these companies; unfortunately, time will not permit a full description of them. Each has a wealth of seeds, plants and bulbs - enough to boggle the mind. Also, supplies, books and information to enhance garden crops are often available. Two new varieties featured in the 2006 catalogs will be mentioned for the six companies, enough to whet your appetite and perhaps spur you into your own seed-ordering frenzy.

W. Atlee Burpee is perhaps the most familiar company to you. This year, a new tomato is offered in the Burpee catalog - Red Lightening - described as a "startlingly new look for fresh salads and electrifying in the garden." This indeterminate variety bears two and a half to three inch fruits that are brilliant red with attractive yellow stripes. Burpee also features a brand new Zinnia called Zowie - a 2006 All-America Winner. Long lasting, the flower is a stunning palette of bright rose, scarlet, and yellow colors. These plants stand two to three feet tall, and are best used in beds, borders, and hedges. To obtain a Burpee catalog call 1-800-888-1447 or check their web site at www.burpee.com.

Another wonderful catalog is available from Seeds of Change, which features 100% certified organic seeds. For 2006 a new introduction is Sweet Dakota Rose Watermelon, an heirloom variety originally developed thirty years ago by North Dakota farmer David Podoll. This is a fine, medium-sized cultivar with bright red flesh. Plants are adaptable to cool weather. Another new variety is Cardinal Basil, a low-growing, tight plant with purple flowers and stem, but with green leaves. This basil would be an attractive aromatic addition to your garden To obtain a catalog, go online to www.seedsofchange.com, or write to Seeds of Change, P. O. Box 15700, Santa Fe, N.M. 87592-1500.

Johnny’s Selected Seeds specializes in seed that has not been genetically engineered, and which is, in many cases, organically produced from plants that have not been exposed to harmful chemicals. One recent introduction is a pumpkin, Wolf, a very thick, round pumpkin with long, strong handles. The thick flesh helps prevent flat-siding. A second introduction, Triangle Flashback Calendula, has unusual peach-pink blooms. This lovely plant can be grown either in gardens or containers, and produces wonderful cut flowers. To learn more about this company, call toll free 1-800-564-6697, or check on line at www.Johnnyseeds.com.

Territorial Seed Company has perhaps the widest variety of unusual plants of all of the featured companies. With 125 new items in 2006, the catalog is a treasure trove of delightful possibilities for the garden. One such possibility is Lime Thyme, a shrubby, mounding plant that adds a zesty option to traditional thymes. Tiny, light pink flowers cover the small plant in July. Equally tempting is a green tea plant, providing an opportunity for absolutely fresh tea for anyone who grows this offering. An evergreen shrub, these plants can be grown as a hedge or as an espalier against a garden wall. To obtain a catalog featuring these and other fascinating plants, call 1-800-626-0866, or contact the company on the web at www.territorialseed.com.

What fun it is to curl up with the catalog of Select Seeds on a wintry day! This company features heirloom treasures for modern gardens, specializing in perennials and annuals exclusively. Want to own the geraniums that delighted Queen Victoria? Try Appleblossom Rosebud, a wonderful perennial that has large flowers with clusters of petals tipped in rose pink. Dating from 1870, this is a must buy for the serious geranium lover. Or, would you like to have a plant with an even older origin? Try sky flower, which dates from approximately 1820. This Thunbergia loves the heat and blooms continuously. An excellent choice for container growing, this beautiful lavender-flowered plant must be taken in over winter, or replanted every year. To enjoy the delightful offerings of Select Seeds, contact them at 1-800-684-0395, or on the web at www.selectseeds.com.

Finally, the Vermont Bean Seed Company concentrates almost exclusively on vegetable and fruit plants, with only a few flowering plants available. New for 2006 is a husky green bush bean, Titan. The five to six inch pods are a large size that is desirable for the home garden. Quite disease resistant, this bean will be a welcome addition to the dinner table. The company also offers a new Petite Pois pea, Wavewrex, mature in 65 days. These European peas have been used by gourmet cooks in the finest restaurants for years. Each three to four inch pod contains six to eight perfectly tender little peas harvested from fifteen to eighteen inch vines that have a semi-bushing habit. If you wish to grow this pea in your garden, try a small trellis to make picking a bit easier. To contact Vermont Bean Seed Company, call 1-800-349-1070 or get in touch on the web at www.vermontbean.com.

In addition to seeds and plants, each of these fine companies offers many different items to enhance the home gardening experience. Whether it be tomato strainers, steam canners, bean and pea shellers, wheel barrows, potting soil, fertilizers, twist-ems ties, or potting benches, almost anything you may desire for either gardening or food preparation can be found in these wonderful seed catalogs. So, order several to delight during the winter months, when the gardening bug stirs within you even though it is too early to dig in the dirt. You won’t regret it.

Written by members of the Heart of Virginia Master Gardeners

posted 3/1/07