My Favorite Seed Sources

Is it just me? Or are there more seed catalogs arriving in the mail than ever before?

Clearly our new digital work has not affected the catalog printing industry. As most of us know, there is still that special ‘something’ about paper, when it comes to some things.  I would bet my yellow variegated clivia that most people read the paper catalogs , circling favorite choices, crafting a final list, and then places an order on-line.

Every blog on the planet is featuring their favorite catalogs, so I will approach this subject differently. I thought that I might share with you some of my more unconventional sources for seed. Some of these you may already be familiar with, others maybe not so much.  Either way, I encourage you to support these small business, or plant societies – for the truth is that there are very few sources where one can get truly unique seeds. Most heirloom and major seed companies purchase their seeds overseas, in China or all from the same source. Look for those who grow their own, breed their own, or collect responsibly from the wild. Be wary of most seed banks offering “heirloom seed” in large lots that you can bury in the cellar – most are scams, or at the very best, simply selling old seed of out dated varieties that will never germinate once the Mayan calendar runs out.

Here are some of my current, favorite sources – where many of us plant enthusiasts like to purchase the seeds that interest us. If you are looking for something different, unique or something really …

challenging, do try some of these sources. for those hard-to-find and even the rarest of species to grow in your gardens and collections. Yes, I will admit that some of these sources sell only challenging seeds, but if one follows directions, and uses Google properly to search for the proper planting sowing directions, success is not as impossible as you may have previously encountered. Go for it!

Broadly speaking, I have arranged my favorite seed sources into a few large categories –

These are the big, glossy or newsprint mega catalogs, most are fine sources, and you can choose from a tall stack of choices based on your own personal criteria list – organic, heirloom, hybrid, GMO, non GMO, whatever – go have fun! The upside is that most of these large companies carry fresher seed, but the downside is that most carry the same varieties, and have a limited selection, focusing on the easiest annuals and vegetables to grow.  My favorite commercial sources? That’s easy. Thompson & Morgan, because of their variety, and Johnny’s Selected Seeds because they grow most of their own seed and varieties right here in New England, and they breed many of their own varieties rather than focusing older varieties ( i.e. beyond tomatoes, “heirloom” varieties are not always the best choice for many reasons and especially if you are growing organically – most older varieties are more susceptible to virus’ and diseases, and less flavorful – so do your research).

Now for the good stuff – Here I include specialist nurseries, those mom and pop growers focusing on their own, unique  breeding programs, independent plant collectors who travel to Tibet, or Nepal to collect seed of which one would buy a sponsor collection from, or those sources where, not unlike crowd sourcing, pull together many collectors of seed, such as those offered as a membership benefit in various plant societies (seed exchanges) which offer both wild collected seed, as well as seed grown in members’ gardens. A membership in a plant society that offers the benefit of an annual seed list is one of the finest sources for the most unusual seed. So if you are a collector, or more serious with your plant choices, that would be my first recommendation.