Seed, Fruit Trees, and Plant Catalogs

Around the end of the year and certainly in the month of January, seed catalogs start arriving in the mail if you are on the mailing list. We have received these catalogs for many years. It is a great source of entertainment for us to read through these catalogs and watch as new and improved varieties appear and other less popular varieties disappear from these catalogs. Seed catalogs are a great source of information about when to plant, how deep to plant, harvest date, and many other tidbits of information that help you successfully grow the seeds. Catalog seeds many times have more seeds in the packet, for the same or a lower price, compared to retail store packets.

One misleading designation on many of these catalogs is that the seed is non GMO. This is a non issue with probably 99% of the catalog listings. GMO crops are mostly limited to major agricultural crops like corn, soybeans, cotton, alfalfa and a few other crops which would be unlikely to be grown in a home garden. We are not aware of any GMO sweet corn commercially available through a seed catalog. You can basically ignore the GMO issue in these catalogs. Additionally, there is no evidence to support that GMO crops are harmful to humans. We are supporters of GMO crops!! GMO crops are necessary to feed the total world population!

R.H Shumway’s
Catalog Fulfillment Center
334 W. Stroud Street Ste. 1
Randolph, WI 53956-1274
800-342-9461
www.rhshumway.com

Each different seed catalog company seems to specialize in some aspect of seed sales. Some these companies not only offer seeds for commercial vegetable producers as well as home gardeners. Some specialize only in home garden seeds. In the commercial catalogs, not all the seeds are offered in packet sizes for home gardeners.

Stokes Seeds
PO Box 548
Buffalo, NY 14240-0548
800-396-9238
www.stokeseeds.com

Harris Seeds has a great catalog for both commercial producers and home gardeners.

Harris Seeds
355 Paul Road
P.O. Box 24966
Rochester, NY 14624-0966
800-544-7938
www.harrisseeds.com

The Totally Tomatoes seed catalog focuses mainly on tomatoes and peppers.

Totally Tomatoes
334 West Stroud Street
Randolph, WI 53956
800-345-5977
www.totallytomato.com

Seeds n Such is a small catalog that offers a variety of seeds with an affordable combined offer packet price and a good number of seeds per packet.

Seeds n Such
PO Box 1
Graniteville, SC 29829
803-663-1501
www.seedsnsuch.com

One of the benefits of buying through the mail or ordering on line from a seed catalog is that there are sometimes more than one packet size. You also have a great deal more variety choices. Sometimes there are early order discounts or quantity discounts.

Vermont Bean Seed Company
334 W. Stroud St.
Randolph, WI 53956
800-349-1071
www.vermontbean.com

Some seed catalogs do a very good job of explaining how to grow each crop category. These tips can make a big difference specially if you are a beginning gardener, although long time gardeners can learn too. This is very true if you are going to plant something you have not grown before. Additionally, seed catalogs usually have a section dedicated to products and gadgets that may help you grow better or accomplish tasks more efficiently.

Territorial Seed Company
P.O. Box 158
Cottage Grove, OR 97424-0061
800-626-0866
www.territorialseed.com

This is the first year that we have received a seed catalog specializing in organic seeds. Although we feel that the benefits of organic gardening are greatly exaggerated, it is good to have seed a company attempting to meet the demands of this growing market.

Seeds of Change
PO Box 152
Spicer, MN 56288
888-762-7333
www.seedsofchange.com

Most gardeners that purchase seeds also have an interest in planting small fruit and fruit tree transplants. Stark Nursery acquired many of the varieties that were previously sold by Miller Nursery in Canandaigua, NY. Miller Nursery ceased operations about two years ago. We have been a big fan of Miller Nursery as well as Stark Nursery.

Stark Bro’s Nurseries & Orchards Co. (Apples, Peaches, Apricots, Pears, Grapes)
PO Box 1800
Louisiana, MO 63353
800-325-4180
www.starkbros.com

Another of our favorite nurseries in Nourse Farms. In our opinion, Nourse is the preferred supplier on the east coast for strawberry, raspberry, and other small fruit and vegetable varieties including rhubarb, horse radish, and asparagus.

Nourse (small fruits, asparagus, rhubarb, horse radish)
41 River Road
South Deerfield, MA 01373
413-665-2658
www.noursefarms.com

Indiana Berry & Plant Company (Strawberry, Raspberries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Grapes)
2811 Michigan Road
Plymouth, IN 46563
800-295-2226
www.indianaberry.com

Park Seed Co.
3507 Cokesbury Road
Hodges, SC 29653
800-845-3369
www.parkseed.com

Burpee
W. Atlee Burpee & Co.
300 Park Avenue
Warminster, PA 18974
800-888-1447
www.burpee.com

Ball Horticultural Company
622 Town Road
West Chicago, IL 60185-2698
800-879-2255
www.ballseed.com/webtrack

Adaptive Seeds
25079 Brush Creek Road
Sweet Home, OR 97386
541-367-1105
www.adaptiveseeds.com

Botanical Interests
660 Compton Street
Broomfield, CO 80020
877-821-4340
www.botanicalinterests.com

Burgess Seed & Plant Co.
1804 E. Hamilton Road
Bloomington, IL 61704-9609
309-662-7761
www.eburgess.com

ChilePlants.com (seasonal) (plants not seed) (best selection of eggplant varieties)
Cross Country Nursery
PO Box 170
199 Kingwood Lockdown Road
Rosemont, NJ 08556
908-996-4646
www.chileplants.com

Companion Plants (herbs, dyes, culinary, medicinal)
7247 N Coolville Ridge Road
Athens, OH 45701
740-592-4643
www.companionplants.com

Dixondale Farms (onion plants)(Yello Granex “Vidalia” onions)
PO Box 129
Carrizo Springs, TX 78834
877-367-1015
www.dixondalefarms.com

Grandpa’s Orchard LLC (fruit trees)
PO Box 773
Coloma, MI 49038
877-800-0077
www.grandpasorchard.com

Irish Eyes Garden Seeds (potatoes)
5045 Robinson Canyon Road
Ellensburg, WA 98926
509-933-7150
www.irisheyesgardenseeds.com

Johnny’s Selected Seeds
955 Benton Ave.
Winslow, Maine 04901
877-564-6697
www.johnnyseeds.com

J.W. Jung Seed Co
335 S. High Street
Randolph, WI 53957-0001
800-274-5864
www.jungseed.com

Raintree Nursery (west coast fruit tree nursery)
391 Butts Road
Morton, WA 98356
800-391-8892
www.raintreenursery.com

Royal Anne Organics (garlic)
4320 Royal Anne Drive
Hood River, OR 97031
503-432-1822
www.royalanneorganics.com

Sand Hill Preservation Center (Preserving old cultivars)
1878 230th Street
Calamus, IA 52729
563-246-2299
www.sandhillpreservation.com

Seed Savers Exchange
3094 N Winn Road
Decorah, IA 52101
563-382-5990
www.seedsavers.org

Seed Treasures (heirloom/open-pollinated/non GMO
8533 Co 25
Angora, MN 55703
no phone# found
www.seedtreasures.com

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
PO Box 460
Mineral, VA 23117
540-894-9480
www.southernexposure.com

Sow True Seed
146 Church Street
Asheville, NC 28801
828-254-0708
www.sowtrueseed.com

Tomato Growers Supply Co.
PO Box 60015
Fort Meyers, FL 33906
800-345-5977
www.tomatogrowers.com