Buying Seeds
by Joy Kramer
One way to keep the winter blues from setting in is to imagine all the plants you can grow in the upcoming seasons. Other than shopping at one of our local garden-supply stores, there is no better way to do this than to peruse a great seed catalog. On those frigid nights, you won’t even have to leave your chair.
Burpee - Burpee features organic and nonorganic seeds for perennials, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. They also boast that they were the first seed catalog to offer yellow seed corn and a seed for an improved carrot named “Long Orange.”
Website: www.burpee.com
Catalog: Call (800) 333-5808 or request online.
Gurney’s - A locally based seed company, Gurney’s is a supplier of just about any seed or plant a gardener could want. They do not emphasize organic seeds or plants.
Website: www.gurneys.com
Catalog: Call (513) 354-1492 or request online.
Johnny’s Selected Seeds- A Maine seed company that takes pride in breeding superior plants which allow them to sell superior seeds. They offer these as “Bred By Johnny’s” varieties as well as organic, “Easy Choice,” and greenhouse varieties.
Website: www.johnnyseeds.com
Catalog: Call (877) 564-6697 or request online.
Park Seed Company- The Park Seed Company also features organic and nonorganic seeds for perennials, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. They also have a second website dedicated solely to organic seeds.
Website: www.parkseed.com
Catalog: Call (800) 213-0076 or request online.
Seed Saver’s Exchange- A network of growers who have cultivated heirloom varieties of vegetables, flowers, and herbs in order to save older plant varieties. The seeds sold through Seed Saver’s Exchange are the seeds members have collected from previous crops.
Website: www.seedsavers.org
Catalog: Call (563) 382-5990 or request online.
Seeds of Change- A certified organic supplier of organically grown vegetable, flower, herb, and cover crop seeds. The catalog is available online and in print.
Website: www.seedsofchange.com
Catalog: Call (888) 762-7333 or request online.
