Sitting Down With a Seed Catalog
By Sherril Steele-Carlin
While the snow flurries outside, there's nothing better than cozying up inside with thoughts of spring gardening trotting through your head, and a collection of multihued seed catalogs keeping you company.
These days, the gardener with cabin fever can find catalogs for every interest, from organic seeds and unusual specimens to "seeds and goods for the gardener cook." Whether you're looking for heirloom tomatoes, frost-hardy perennials, or colorful annuals, shrubs and bulbs, you can find them in seed catalogs, usually alongside an enticing color picture to get you in the growing mood.
What to Look For in a Catalog
Most gardeners have their own favorite catalogs they examine again and again while they wait for spring. What should you look for in a catalog? Experts recommend high quality seed, varieties that have some individuality, great yield, garden performance, and color.
The company should help you with any questions you might have about your gardening needs. Look for a catalog that notes it will send you your seeds or plants at the right time for planting in your area. Buyers should look for botanical names for proof the company is serious about correct botanical identity. And don't be misled by seed counts -- numbers like 50 or 100 seeds per packets sound impressive to new gardeners but are often lower than what you get in packets without counts.
Longevity Counts
Some of the best catalogs have been around for years, and know their business inside and out. John Scheepers has been selling bulbs since the early 1900s, and Richter's, which specializes in herbs, has been producing a catalog since 1970. Another favorite because of its diversity is the Nichols catalog, produced for over 50 years. Several gardeners recommend J. L. Hudson who offers rare and unusual seeds.
So, whatever your springtime garden dreams hold, there are seed catalogs to make those dreams come true.