In the hushed , post - holiday weeks of winter , nothing enliven up a nurseryman with cabin fever like a fresh - off - the - presses , colorful and beguiling seed catalog .

This meter - honored resource has its roots in antiquity . TheBritish Agricultural Historical Society ( BHS)archives account a burgeoning seeded player trade wind in the recent 1200s . By the 1590s , market nurseryman were a growing detail of seed supplier .

One of them was Richard Gardiner , a linen draper who rear veggie for cut-rate sale as produce and seed . This was a withering point of pestilence , craw bankruptcy , and famine , and he react by planting his fields with 700closed cabbage ( headed)to hold the starving .

Five packets of newly purchased seeds are piled on top of The Rare Seed Catalog. The purple slices of the roots can be seen on the cover of the catalog. The seed packets each contain several small seeds, an image of the delectables it will grow, and some short quotes. The seeds are for various plants including peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and others. Next to the pile of seeds is a pen and a notepad with the names of seeds to look for in the catalog. All of this is resting on a lightly stained wooden table.

Photo by Nan Schiller

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In 1599 , Gardiner published a pamphlet titled “ Instructions for manure , sowing , and planting of Kitchin Gardens . ”

It is describe in the annals of the BHS , as well as in a riveting record book , “ The Making of the English Gardener : Plants , Books and Inspiration , 1560 - 1660 , ” by Margaret Willes , useable on Amazon .

A collage of images showing different seed catalogs opened with notes being taken on pads of paper.

Photo by Nan Schiller

The Making of the English Gardener

A mere 30 pages , his guide is pack with cookery backsheesh and recipes for nutrient broth and salads . And , it lists farm and seed usable for purchase , fix it one of our earliest seed catalogs .

Gardiner was a harbinger in the movement to reach food security one garden at a time . Today ’s catalogs continue the tradition , offering quantities and varieties fit for the home gardener .

A notepad, pen, and stack of garden seed catalogs.

The terminal figure “ house gardener ” encompasses a wide array of folks from those with 40 Acre ( and the proverbial mule ? ) toa few grass on the terrace .

Seed catalogs are for all of us , and each year companies compile their best horticultural achievements to engagement for us to peruse .

Here ’s how to sift through an abundance of selection , and zero in on what you want :

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1. Get the Lay of the Land

commence your browsing – where else ? – at the beginning . depend for a key to symbols used throughout the publication , and any guides to language used throughout .

Next , move into the coordinate section . They include headings like yield , herbs , veg , peak , perennials , bouncy industrial plant , and garden gear .

They are usually interlard with a wealthiness of articles , recipes , and other item of involvement to gardener , in a drug user - favorable , magazine - style data format .

The Rare Seed Catalog lays flat on a smooth, wooden table. On the cover of the catalog is the name as well as some large, purple, rooted vegetables. The roots are cut into cross-sections that are bright purple and contain within them patterns like that of an orange or lemon. On top of the magazine is a small notepad and a pen. The notepad contains some notes about which seeds to look for in this year’s catalog.

Some companies go into more point than others , so plant write - ups vary from one publication to another .

A plant verbal description may start withUSDA Hardiness Zones , follow by commend hour of sunlight , soil acidity , and moisture level .

It could go on to discuss starting indoors or out , when to transfer , spacing in the solid ground , summit and width , and the appearance of the leafage , prime , and get .

A notepad rests on top of a seed catalog opened to a page full of peppers. On the page is one pepper, the white lakes pepper, that is circled. The yellow pepper’s name is also written on the notepad indicating the desired pepper seeds have been found. The page contains red, yellow and orange varieties of peppers.

You ’ll find descriptions that include full term like organic , heirloom , and open - pollinated .

Organic product have not been treated with synthetic chemical and carry appropriate corroboration .

Heirlooms have at least 50 years of inheritance behind them . During this prison term , they have been passed from gardener to nurseryman and retained their original characteristics , having been open - pollinated , and therefore , never cross bred .

A Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds catalog resides on a darkly stained wooden table. On the cover of the catalog is the name of the company and a picture of some tomatoes called “Blue Beauty Tomato”. Some of the tomatoes are attached by the stem that they were grown from. Others are unattached. The tomatoes are dark at the top and fade to fade to red as it gets closer to the bottom. One tomato is sliced in half to show the juicy fruit that it holds within.

Or , you may simply bump a quaint verbal description of a tomato that was Martha Washington ’s favorite , with sweet red human body and a skin that never cracks . In this case , I go to the troupe ’s website for a staring description .

Sadly , many print catalogs are going by the roadside , and those that remain are abbreviated version of the content to be discover on fellowship website . Of of course , this is a boon for the online shopper !

If a issue lacks the information you seek , go online , or touch customer service by email or phone . You will also find customer review online , which are a great way to settle whether to try out a raw product .

Two seed catalogs rest with one on top of the other. On both of them is a small notepad with crooked red lines and a few notes written in a blue marker that can also be seen. The magazine on top is opened to a page of very bright annual flowers with several written descriptions and prices. On the catalog underneath, the page is opened to the leafy greens such as lettuce, kale and leaks. Also written below every picture is a short description of how to grow and what to expect as well as a price for the seeds. Additionally, there is a stack of post it notes to the side of everything with some notes already marking the pages in the catalogs.

2. Don’t Be Ruled by Climate Zones

Take USDA Hardiness Zones with a grain of salt , as they say . Some catalogue do n’t refer to them at all .

So , how do you know what to choose ?

Take the advice of a little clause I study in the 2016 variant of the Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Rare Seed Catalog , which says that “ nearly any come in this catalog will grow in over 95 % of the USA . ” That ’s saying a lot , considering that their varieties are harvested all over the world .

Two seed catalogs rest with one on top of the other. On both of them is a small notepad with crooked red lines and a few notes written in a blue marker that can also be seen. The magazine on top is opened to a page of very bright annual flowers with several written descriptions and prices. On the catalog underneath, the page is opened to the leafy greens such as lettuce, kale and leaks. Also written below every picture is a short description of how to grow and what to expect as well as a price for the seeds.

The article say that USDA road map are based on modal winter temps that do n’t apply to summertime garden , so customers should take varieties from locations where the summer conditions tally their own .

I think that this philosophy has merit when buy product not endemic to the US . However , at the very least , expend hardiness zone guidelines to estimate frost dates .

Knowing the average engagement of the last icing is a great templet for bounce planting . And the mean date of the first frost is helpful for determining the feasibility of planting a second veg crop mid - summer , and what you may desire to give before the blow fly .

A seed catalog rests opened on a page full of colorful vegetables. This page is focused on those of the purple variety. The vegetables shown are those of the less common and less well-known varieties showing the true capability of what the rare seed catalogs have to offer. The vegetables are shown in a picture with the name and catalog numbers in bold directly underneath. Underneath the name are long descriptions of each variety and the price of a number of seeds.

Did you know thatwhat grows as a perennial in a warm climatemay grow equally well in a cooler region , but it will become an annual that go off with the first frost ?

3. Underestimate Your Need for Seed and Overestimate Your Need for Space

One of the biggest fault home gardeners make is to purchase too much seed for their patch . And , while it ’s grand to share with friends , there ’s no need to tense up the budget , right ?

Here ’s a personal example :

I had read that I would need quarterpoundof aurora glory seeds for 125 straightforward foot .   My daughter gave me 32 precious seeds harvest from her own plant .

A seed catalog lays open to a page full of various zucchinis and squash varieties. In the middle of the photo is an image and description of the Caserta Zucchini. On the image of the green, tubular vegetable is a big check mark indicating that the buyer has found the right seeds. Under the catalog is a notepad and a pamphlet. The pamphlet has a picture of three yellow squashes.

Istarted these annuals indoors to give them a jump start , and transplanted them along a 20 - by - four - understructure fence ( 80 square feet ) .

Would you conceive theycoveredthat fence with flush all summertime long ?

And while I was marvel at how a little often goes a long path , other members of my family ( who shall remain nameless ) were discover ( too late ) that you ca n’t plant fourzucchinis , threepeppers , and threebush beansin a five - by - four - foot ( 20 square feet ) plot , when each zucchini grows to four substructure in diameter .

A Timeless Classics Seed catalog rests on a table. On the cover of the catalog are bright purple and yellow violas. The flowers are in full bloom with vibrant greens coming from the petals and stems beyond

uncalled-for to say , we have greatly expanded our vegetable garden !

I find that buy oneseed packetof any throw diversity is always enough for us . But some gardeners have more way to spread out .

If you have acreage dedicate to crops or are create a border of flower along a private road , pull out a architectural plan on newspaper and make up one’s mind on a length and width for each type of plant life you ’d like to have . Then , interpret the descriptions of the mature sizing of your selections , and use your drawing to approximate how many of each you ’ll need .

Four catalogs are arranged on a dark wooden table much like that of cards in a players hand. The catalogs are four companies' yearly seed catalogs used to make loyal customers aware of the seeds that they each have to offer. The catalogs from back to front are green, white, purple/green and white. The one on top has a picture of several different tomatoes with some being ripe and others not so much. The tomatoes are black on top and slowly fade to red towards the bottom.

It ’s also worth mentioning that not all seeds will sprout , and some more delicate specimens will not thrive in less - than - gross conditions . For some , this may be a rationality to corrupt more seed – but wait to make that decision until next winter , after you ’ve given a smaller measure of source a shaft first .

4. Beware the Lure of the Latest, Greatest

It ’s beguiling to go straight to the “ What ’s New ” pages to detect the most strange look Lycopersicon esculentum with pink position and purple stripes . However , there are no client reviews for it , veracious ?

Granted , the society stands behind its latest achievement , and likely it ’s a good one … however , I prefer to hear from the folk at home who have present it a endeavor and had success .

If you just ca n’t help yourself , purchase a single package of that shiny and bright newbie , give it a try , and be the first to report your findings on the company ’s site .

5. Comparison Shop

Do n’t rely on one catalog for all your pauperization . When you find a plant variety you care , see if you may locate it in several publication . If you may , chances are , the amount of seed per packet will be different .

Not to worry .

but win over the price per packet to the cost per unit of measurement .

Here ’s how :

If a packet of 25 tomato is $ 5.99 , divide 5.99 by 25 , and you ’ll get 0.2396 , or about 24 cent each . It ’s like take care at the unit monetary value in the grocery store to see if buying the economy size toilet newspaper is worth it .

Also , keep in mind that as with produce in the market , manifest constitutional production and heirloom miscellanea be given to be more , so be sure to liken products with similar qualities when factoring price into your decision .

Like Old Friends

In my mansion , the most exciting event after the wintertime holidays is the arriver of seed catalogs .

With mentation of sunshine and brim harvest baskets , I slowly browse the gorgeous pages , savour each description , and making voluminous promissory note .

I brush up on my Latin nomenclature and the health benefits of vegetable in a variety of colors unsung to me in my puerility . And there ’s always a picture or two ofsome gargantuan squashthat has win umpteen accolade .

Like one-time friend , the stick with three catalogs have been come regularly to my house for years . At the time of this piece of writing , they are free .

First isBaker Creek Heirloom Seeds ,   which states that they have “ one of the largest selections of seeds from the 19th hundred … to promote and preserve our farming and culinary heritage . ”

Next is Burpee , a well-thought-of company that has been “ innovating for 142 years . ”

And finally , Seed Savers Exchange , an organization “ give to the preservation of heirloom source . ”

I wish the caliber of their product , as well as their philanthropic missions , sustainable practice , and non - GMO commitment .

Do n’t leave theKitazawa Seed Co.andBluestone Perennials , a few contenders who were new to me this time of year , with adorable , exploiter - friendly catalogue .

establish in 1917 , Kitazawa narrow down in Asian vegetable seeds on the West Coast , and their catalog includes hand - draw illustration rather than photographs . Bluestone has been in business since 1972 , and all of the perennial plant life that they offer are grown sustainably .

I ’m also a rooter of shopping online , and you ’ll breeze through the equivalence shopping portion of your quest if you select to go this route , since websites are so easily searchable . Do n’t forget to natter a few of our favorites :

My ejaculate catalogue are constant fellow traveler until I site my orders and file them by , dog - eared and annotated , for future denotation or give to a friend . Make them a unconstipated part of your garden preparation and enjoy a forgotten pleasure – snail mail to cozy up with on a wintery afternoon .

And do n’t forget to check outour springtime garden checklistandbeginners guide to vegetable gardeningto start preparing for get those seed in the ground .

Photos by Nan Schiller and Allison Sidhu © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more item . Originally published on February 23rd , 2018 . Last updated March 4th , 2023 . ware photo via Yale University Press .

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Nan Schiller