Garden Guides

Where To Buy Seeds

Late winter is the time to start thinking about seeds for next summer's garden. Most seeds need to be started in the early Spring, some as early as February, so it pays to plan ahead.

If you're lucky enough to have a coop or alternative grocery store to shop in, you will often find seeds for sale in the grocery section. But that's catch as catch can. the best way to get the seeds you want is to order them from a reputable mail order house.

The first thing you'll want to do is go to their web site and order the catalog. That way you'll have full color photos and complete descriptions to guide your search for just the right columbine, or coleus, or calamint.

To make it easier for you, we've provided to names and links to some seed houses we like.

Mail Order Seed Companies

• Johnny's Selected Seeds
  Certified organic flower, herb, and vegetable seeds since 1973. They're based in Albion, Maine. They have a wonderful newsletter. Worth subscribing just for the wealth of practical information.

• Select Seeds - Antique Flowers
  "Select Seeds - Antique Flowers is the catalog for the gardener who enjoys flowers, their fragrance, grace, vigor, history, and unending variety." Selling only heirloom seeds, Select Seeds is "bringing the flowers our grandmothers loved into our gardens once more." Don't miss the rather unassuming link to the on-line catalog for all the seeds they have in stock.

• Shepherd's Garden Seeds
  Shepherd's features a wide selection of heirloom flower, herb, and vegetable seed, as well as plants. Known for having a great catalog, and lots of unusual plants. Prices slightly above average.

• Park Seed Co.
  Online shopping and a printed catalog that you can order from the web site. Flowers, vegetables, herbs, both seeds and plants, from a well-known and respected source. Lots of hibrids.

• Wild Seed Farms
  Based in Fredericksburg, VA, these guys specialize in wildflower seeds. Free catalog available.

• Thompson & Morgan
  Venerable and imposing, Thompson & Morgan are one of THE names in seeds if only for their encycopedic catalog, which makes you feel like a member of a very elite club just to receive. Speaking of which, they can be slow to start up catalog subscriptions.

• Territorial Seed Company
  Huge selection of organic and conventional vegetables, heirloom flowers and herbs, including hard to find varieties. Lots of growing gadgets too. Need a dial seed sower? They've got one.

• The Cook's Garden
  Always a pleasing selection of interesting vegetables, herbs, and flowers, with many organic and heirloom varieties. With an accent on eating and food. No web site, so you'll have to call and order at 1-800-457-9703.

• Dutch Gardens
  While you're thinking about planting seeds, you might want to think about bulbs too. Everyone has their own favorite bulb place and Dutch Gardens is mine. Mostly I love their catalog. But so far, I've also loved their bulbs. Even if you only window shop, get the catalog. Luscious.
  

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