Wishbooks: Ordering Seeds Now, Saving Money Later

by Margaret A. Haapoja


Many years ago, Bob Carey, outdoor writer and editor of the Ely Echo, defined an optimist as a fisherman who sits out on the ice at 30 below reading the spring seed catalogs. These wishbooks arrive earlier every year and do much to cure northern gardeners’ cabin fever. The catalogs offer a wider selection of vegetable varieties and flower colors than you’ll find in most nurseries, but they don’t stop there. Many of them feature a wealth of gardening information, and they usually begin with lovely photos of this year’s newest varieties, including the All America Selections (AAS)—the best new seed-grown flowers and vegetables. Since 1932, AAS judges have been evaluating new seed varieties in trials all over the United States and Canada. While their seal of approval doesn’t always guarantee a variety will do well in our harsh climate, it’s a good place to start. This year’s winners are ‘Honey Bear’ acorn squash, ‘Rain Blue & Purple’ viola, ‘Gretel’ eggplant and ‘Lambkin’ melon. Most catalogs also include a selection of gardening books, accessories and equipment.

Novice gardeners receiving these wishbooks might feel like they’re deciphering a foreign language. Variety descriptions often begin with a number that indicates days to maturity. For instance ‘Ambrosia’ (86 days) means that the melon ‘Ambrosia’ matures 86 days after you direct seed it into your garden. This information is particularly important to use here where our growing seasons might vary from 90-140 days in the Grand Rapids area.

A variety is classified as either a hybrid or standard. Hybrid seeds usually produce plants of superior vigor or disease resistance. Hybrid seeds can’t be saved and planted the following year because they will produce inferior plants and unpredictable harvests. Gardeners who save seeds use OP (open-pollinated) varieties so the plants will grow true from seed. Heirloom seeds are OP seeds.
The terms resistant and tolerant are used to describe the way a plant fights disease. Resistant means the plant has the ability to avoid infection, mainly due to genetic characteristics. Tolerance means the plant has the ability to withstand a moderate infection without suffering substantial loss. Resistant varieties are preferable to tolerant. Hybrid tomatoes are the most common example of vegetables that contain inbred disease-resistance. Look for any or all of the letters VFNT after the tomato variety’s name. They represent resistance to a number of diseases.

Before I study the new wishbooks, I check my journal where I jotted down suggestions for the coming year: Last year’s notes say: Try ‘Bolero’ carrots from Johnny’s. Try shade-loving clematis. Look for ‘Prairie Sun’ rudbekia seed. Order ‘Graffiti’ purple cauliflower, ‘Arrowhead’ cabbage and ‘Veronica’ romanesco that Laurie recommends. I also dig out my Tupperware container of leftover seeds and check my inventory. A final peek at last year’s garden diagram, and I’m ready to peruse this year’s catalogs.

Jung Seeds and Plants is a dependable catalog that’s been around for 102 years. Located in Randolph, Wisconsin, they are the seed company closest to our climate, and their seed is more affordable than many companies. Many of my vegetable seeds will come from Jung’s this year including ‘Provider’ bush beans, ‘Bon Bon’ and ‘Honey Bear’ squash and ‘Graffiti’ purple cauliflower. Jung’s is an excellent source of fruits and berries for the North. In fact, this year they offer the latest University of Minnesota apple, ‘Wildung Snow Sweet’ named for Dr. Dave Wildung, retired horticulturist from the North Central Research and Outreach Center in Grand Rapids.

I often order some of my seeds from Pinetree, a small Maine company that originated not too many years ago in the founder’s attic. Pinetree sells smaller amounts of seeds in each packet for home gardeners with limited space. Consequently their prices are probably the most reasonable of any seed catalog with a packet of 15, rather than the standard 30 seeds. Many packets are less than $2, and some, like heirloom ‘Black-Seeded Simpson’ lettuce, are just 75 cents. The company prides itself on a catalog printed on biodegradable paper stock, and they ship with recycled products whenever possible.

Johnny’s Selected Seeds was founded by owner Rob Johnston in 1973 in Albion, Maine. Johnny’s claims to grow and evaluate the most extensive trials of any seed cataloger in North American, and they also operate their own certified organic farm in Albion for seed production. Their climate is not unlike ours, so many of their varieties do well in northern Minnesota. I’ll order several packets of vegetable seed from them this year including ‘Veronica’ romanesco and miniature cabbage ‘Arrowhead.’

I’ve always relied on Park Seeds for much of my flower seed, and I especially like their handy reference chart titled “Index, Germination and Culture Guide.” It lists bloom season, germination time, classification (annual, perennial, shrub, etc.,) culture symbols (sun, shade, dry soil,) and starting instruction for every seed in the catalog. In addition to a broad selection of impatiens, marigolds and sunflowers, Park has many excellent vegetables. I ordered all my impatiens seed from Park this year. Like many seed companies, Park has added a large selection of heirloom tomatoes including ‘Cherokee Purple’ and ‘Kellogg’s Breakfast,’ both organic seeds.

Burpee Seeds displays the world’s first ‘Sweet Seedless’ tomato on its catalog cover this year. While this company isn’t the cheapest seed source, it’s always beautifully illustrated, and it’s been around for many years. To tempt customers, they offer $5 off any order of $30 or more. And on the first page, CEO George Ball claims a $100 seed investment yields $2500 worth of tasty vegetables. Among the varieties that tempt me in this year’s catalog are ‘Chocolate Mint’ coleus, ‘Highlight Hybrid’ zinnia and ‘Red Lightning,’ a small tomato covered with yellow stripes.

Despite its name, Select Seeds Antique Flowers is far from an old company having been around only a few years. Marilyn Barlow’s catalog just keeps getting better and better. She defines antique flowers as “open-pollinated varieties that originated 50 or more years ago. Artistically illustrated this year, the catalog is divided into fragrant flowers, cottage garden annuals, flowering vines, foliage, perennials, bulbs and container plants. I’m ordering my favorite dahlia, ‘Bishop of Llandoff,’ as well as ‘Evening Fragrance’ datura and ‘Ruby Moon’ hyacinth bean this year.

We visited Territorial Seeds trial gardens in Cottage Grove, Oregon several years ago and met with owner Tom Johns. The company celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, and its focus has always been on the home gardener. 25% of the seed in the catalog is grown by the company’s own certified organic seed production farm, and all the transplants come from their own greenhouse operations. For years I’ve ordered my favorite winter squash, ‘Gold Nugget,’ from Territorial. Horticulturist Josh Kirschbaum described several unique varieties that tempt me this year including ‘Goosebumps’ and ‘Knucklehead’ warty pumpkins, fragrant Echinacea ‘Tomato Soup,’ the reddest coneflower yet.

Seeds of Change is another 100% organic seed company. The 20-year-old company cultivates nearly 1000 varieties and now focuses on permaculture education. Their mission statement says, “We are committed to the preservation of biodiversity and to the use of sustainable organic agricultural practices.” Located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, they emphasize old-fashioned varieties, gourmet greens, herbs and interesting flowers. On the cover of this year’s catalog is a lovely photo of ‘Robert’s Royalty’ purple bean flowers.

Renee’s Garden Seeds doesn’t send out print catalogs, but instead operates entirely online. Renee Shepherd’s company originated 25 years ago with the focus on introducing American cooks and gardeners to the best-tasting vegetables and herbs Europe has to offer. Over the years, she’s added flowers. Every year I sample many of her varieties, and this year is no exception. I’ll try ‘Dancing Petticoats’ cosmos, a collection of three kinds in several luscious colors, ‘Summer Splash’ marigolds with blue-green foliage and bright yellow flowers and ‘Spitfire’ climbing nasturtiums. I’m also going to try the heirloom ‘Italian Silver Rib’ chard and ‘Cut and Come Again’ baby mesclun, Renee’s custom blend of gourmet lettuces. Shepherd also publishes two cookbooks with recipes for the vegetables and herbs she sells.

An English company that’s been in business since 1855, Thompson & Morgan is the place I look for hard-to-find flowers. On this year’s catalog cover is a picture of bright California poppies called ‘Jelly Beans.’ Inside they feature another new rudbeckia, a T&M world exclusive for 2009 called ‘Cherry Brandy.’ A vegetable I’d never seen until last year is also new for them: ‘Basella Rubra,’ a climbing Malabar spinach that has red-tinged leaves, stems and flowers. There are always plants in this catalog that I’ve never heard of with names like Mesembryanthemum, Nolana and Tropaeolum.

Van Bourgondien is a nursery catalog selling primarily perennials and bulbs. As a gimmick they’ve been offering $25 worth of product free with any order of $50 or more, and I usually fall for it! Among the flowers I’ve ordered from them are Orienpet lilies--a cross between Oriental and Trumpet lilies—Asiatic lilies, elephant ears, and canna lilies. They have a wide selection of dahlias, gladiolas, hostas and ferns, too.

Last, but not least, is an interesting company called Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Founded by Jeremiah Gettle when he was only 17, Baker Creek has been in business for 11 years, and it’s gotten better every year. The 2009 catalog is a work of art with gorgeous photos and wonderful descriptions of hundreds old-time seeds. The seeds are reasonable with many selling for $2 or so. “You won’t find any hybrids or gene-altered varieties in our catalog,” says Gettle, “and we don’t sell any treated seeds. We sell only natural, open-pollinated vareties; they’re all heirlooms, and they come from all over the world.” Among those I’m ordering this year are ‘Rattlesnake’ bush bean, ‘Bulls Blood’ beets and ‘Old Homestead’ pole beans.

All wishbooks have websites that make for convenient ordering online:

Jung Seeds and Plants www.jungseed.com

Pinetree Garden Seeds www.superseeds.com

Johnny’s Selected Seeds www.johnnyseeds.com

Burpee Seeds www.burpee.com

Select Seeds Antique Flowers www.selectseeds.com

Territorial Seeds www.territorialseed.com

Seeds of Change www.seedsofchange.com

Renee’s Garden Seeds www.reneesgarden.com

Thompson & Morgan www.tmseeds.com

Van Bourgondien www.dutchbulbs.com

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds www.rareseeds.com