I suspect seed catalogs have been lifting the winter-weary spirits of gardeners around the world since the first paper flyers rolled off the presses. 

In Washington State, Alvinza Gardner Tillinghast produced the first seed catalog in 1886, calling his company Puget Sound Seed Garden and, although the company changed hands at various points, the catalog continued until 1993.  (The old Tillinghast seed house is now a restaurant, appropriately called "Seeds," in La Conner.) Personally, I think the Burpee seed catalog (founded 1876) is the classic;  I imagine it arriving with its splashy cover of overflowing harvest baskets in midwest farmers' snowy mailboxes through world wars and economic hard times -- the ever-hopeful harbinger of spring, a sure sign that hope, in all its forms, is still alive.

Indeed, it's no coincidence that seed catalogs are often mailed around the winter solstice, just as the darkness envelopes us. Like colorful, twinkling Christmas lights, the pictures of rich red tomatoes, bright orange carrots with their feathery green tops, and sunny sprials of red and yellow marigolds light up the dark corners of our homes and warm the chilly places in our hearts.

Is there anything more comforting than sitting with one's favorite seed catalog in January, poring over the latest new vegetables and planning next spring's garden?  As a mother, I believe these sketch-and-scheme sessions got me through some of the most difficult winter days with young children.  Back then, it was Sheperd's seed catalog with its tender, dreamy watercolor cover that stoked the spring fire in my heart. (Renee Sheperd sold the company to White Flower Farm, but has returned to seed selling - find her here.)  It's true that you can't tell a seed catalog by its cover, but I'm still a sucker for the enchanted garden scenes on The Cook's Garden and Nichols Garden Nursery catalog covers.  

Alas, there are other considerations when shopping seed catalogs. Here are a few:

Organics & heirlooms.  For organic vegetable gardeners, the news is good these days -- almost every quality seed company now offers organic seed.  In most catalogs, organic seed choices are listed along with the non-organic varieties, and although they can cost a little more, organic seed is quickly gaining popularity. The greater the demand, the more varieties offered, and the better the price.  If you're looking for organic-only, try Seeds of Change. 

You'll find that most companies offering organic seed will also have heirloom varieties (even Burpee).

Climate.  Many Pacific Northwest gardeners swear by Territorial Seed Company, an Oregon enterprise started by Steve Solomon (author of Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades, Sasquatch Books).  Although Solomon sold the seed company in 1985, the Territory selection continues to reflect varieties of vegetables, flowers, annuals, perrenials and bulbs that do well in the Northwest climate.  The catalog is huge, comprehensive, and consistent.  Other companies offering northern clime seeds include West Coast Seeds, in Vancouver B.C., and Johnny's Selected Seeds, which operates out of Maine. 

Quantity, quality, price, selection.  Gone are the days when a packet of tomato seeds cost 49 cents at the hardware store.  Burpee's famous "Mortgage Lifter" tomato (photo below) is going for $3.75 a packet, and most quality vegetable seed packets hover between $2.50 and $3.00 each these days. Yes, you can go for $1.69 Ed Hume packets at the grocery store, but be prepared for limited selection and seed count, as well as spotty germination.

This year I'm expanding my garden and have been researching where I can buy seed in greater quantities and save money. Many companies like Territorial and Johnny's have choices in packet size, and I'm finding some good resources for bulk organic quantities at Seeds of Change and Peaceful Valley.  One quirky little company offering good deals is Le Jardin du Gourmet, which offers seed in two simple sizes, a $1 packet, and a 35 cent sample packet-- perfect for experimenting. In some cases - broccoli, for example - the sample packet of 10-25 seeds is plenty for the average veggie gardener.  Le Jardin also offers excellent prices on herb seeds and small plants.

Other considerations.  Many seed catalogs offer a variety of products, including seed-starting kits, tools, and other gardening supplies. The Cooks Garden and Nichols emphasize cooking as well as growing, so you'll find some nice kitchen supplies in their pages, and recipes on their websites.  Live fruit trees, berries and other perennials can be shipped and paid for along with your seed order.  White Flower Farm is notorious for its catalog's stunning selection of shrubs, vines, bulbs, etc., and I've found some good deals over the years on tree and shrub seedlings in the Musser Forests catalog.  My all-time favorte catalog for affordable, ingenious and truly useful garden supplies (not seeds) is a Canadian company called Lee Valley.

As you can see, I'm a catalog junkie.  What can I say?  For seeds, especially, the time, thought, planning, selection and budgeting that catalogs afford works for me.

So, why shop at the local garden store, when you can get everything from garden catalogs?  The answer is simple:  No one knows your own personal growing conditions better than the local nursery staff.  These days, there is a golden rule - "local is better," and it's true here, too.  The local nursery will consistently provide you with a rich and irreplaceable supply of information, resources, tips, knowledge, experience and advice, tailored to your area.  They're a great place to supplement your catalog seed order, too -- I always forget something in my order, and also enjoy holding and choosing things like potato seed in person.

Between local garden businesses, organizations like Sound Food, Tilth, and the internet, the wealth of resources available to gardeners these days is almost endless.  And, it's true:  You can now peruse a seed catalog's entire inventory online.  But the anticipation, joy and wonder that comes with sitting by the fire on a cold winter evening, lost in next spring's seed catalog, is an experience I hope I'll never outgrow.  I can almost taste the tomatoes now...

Do you have a favorite seed catalog?  What works for you?  Share your ideas in comments.

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