The temp is a whopping 20 degrees outside, but I’m thinkin’ Spring. Yes, it’s that time of year already — time to order seeds for this year’s garden!
Regular readers know that I’m big on annual garden experiments. An experiment that I didn’t chronicle last season was trying seeds from a variety of catalogs.
Since I save most of my seeds, I only grow from organic open-pollinated seeds. That immediately limits my selection.
I chose seeds from:
Fedco: They have the most extensive list and greatest quantity of seeds available (good for the serious gardener and small farmer). Since they’re in Maine, most of their seeds do well from Zone 5 up.
Seeds of Change: They offer a nice selection of organic seeds in quantities that make sense for the backyard gardener.
Good Seed Company: They offer open pollinated, heirloom & homestead seeds. Their seeds are especially adapted for northern gardens.
Territorial Seed: While they’re not exclusively organic, they do offer a nice organic selection.
For my Upstate NY garden, the winner is…
Seeds of Change isn’t the cheapest, nor do they offer the widest selection, but I have nearly 100% seed germination with their seeds. And they seem to fare the best in being both disease and pest resistant.
Fedco wins hands down for the most informative, fun, educational, and interesting catalog. It’s worth getting their catalog just for reading material.
What’s your favorite seed catalog?
Michael has ordered from Seeds Of Change. Jung and Johnny’s Seeds are also popular with Michael. Our Missouri Baker’s Creek is a good one for us also. Seed Saves Exchange out of Decorah, Iowa is another good one for heirloom seeds.
Yes, I love Seed Saver Exchange. Have ordered from Johnny’s Seeds. I’ll have to look into Jung–that’s a new one for me. Thanks Terri!
We’re members of a local farm co-op, so we get our heirloom seeds from them. I’m also extremely fortunate to be on the receiving end of our sweet and gracious neighbor, at 92 years of age he’s an heirloom himself, and he gives me seeds he’s saved from year to year. Every single seed germinates too….oh joy!
Cindy, I learned gardening from an elderly woman. That generation is a fountain of fantastic gardening info.
We plant a lot and we get our seeds from Sustainable Seed because they have something like 1400 types, great prices and our certified organic which Baker Creek is NOT. We have used them for a couple of years and their germination rates outstanding. If they don’t have something then Seed Savers is the next choice.
Thanks for the recommendations!
thanks so much for this post! really needed some organic seeds!
I was just today wondering where to get organic seeds. We’re starting our first garden ever this year.
I used a lot of Territorial Seed before my health went bad on me, but that was quite a few years ago. They’ve expanded considerably since I last looked in.
But this year I lucked out and got involved in a joint (organic) garden through my employer. Most of the seed has been committed to if not ordered, but as part of my contribution I’m filling in a few holes, and to that end have been trolling the organic/nonGMO/heirloom offerings.
The one which is giving me the hardest time (pick only ONE (1) melon??? Only one squash? Tomatoes … don’t even get me started … ) is Baker Creek Heirloom seeds, because not only are they all organic non/GMO, but their choices are huge for most things. Since we’re just getting started I won’t know for a while how my choices will go, whether the seed the guy chose who is running the thing will suit, or any of a whole bunch of other questions, but I’ll get some beans and other odds and ends from them and see how it goes. They are spendy, but they really have a broad range of choices.
And some peas and beans from Territorial, old reliable friend :-) This far south we’ve missed the spring window for peas I think, but will give them a try in the fall, or I may even get crazy and plant some in semi shade and see how they do.
Seeds of Change is also a place which is hard to leave, but they don’t quite have what I want on this pass. Maybe next year, though. They have some nice offerings. I don’t know Fedco, but they sound like fun, and I love seed catalogues, so I’ll just drop in over there and nose around :-)
Will look forward to checking in and seeing how your season goes!
I always try and pick heirloom seeds, although I haven’t gotten into seed saving yet I plan to. One of my favourites is William Dam–as they almost count as local for us.
Heidi, thanks for the link. Ontario seeds would work wonderfully for us northern US gardeners. Great selection!
I don’t follow the organic route totally, so I use WalMart. Sorry. I also don’t plant a lot of seeds, most let the area greenhouses do that for me.
Holly, I’m always excited for anyone who can find the time to garden, no matter where the seeds or seedlings come from. It’s all good!