When gardeners researching vegetable varieties via Internet can’t find the varieties of garden seeds they’d like in local stores, they often have to order online. But some seed companies are more reliable than others.
One way to find reliable seed sellers is to go to the “Garden Watchdog” at Dave’s Garden: www.davesgarden.com/products/gwd/ and view the history of positive and negative remarks about a seller. That site will essentially reveal whether the seller fills orders correctly and promptly, and whether his seeds germinate.
Another precaution many take is to look to see whether a vendor has signed the “Safe Seed Pledge,” promising to not knowingly sell genetically engineered (i.e., mechanically altered) seeds. That can usually be found on the home page or the first or second page of a paper catalog.
Some companies I’ve had good experience with are:
Æ Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co., www.rareseeds.com, 2278 Baker Creek Road, Mansfield, MO 65704. This seed company was started by Jeremiath Gettle when he was a late teenager, indulging his passion for growing different kinds of vegetables. Prior to the seed company, he was a member of Seed Savers’ Exchange, collecting and growing many varieties of eggplants. (He bought seeds for an African eggplant from me).
Judging from selections in his catalog he had previously specialized in squashes. In addition to the seed company, he now publishes an excellent quarterly garden magazine, “The Heirloom Gardener.” He’s married now and a dad, too.
Æ Fedco Seeds, www.fedcoseeds.com, P.O. Box 520, Waterville, ME 04903. This is an employee-owned seed company specializing in cold-hardy varieties. They have a wide selection of open-pollinated (non-hybrid) vegetable seeds, most for less than $2 per basic pack. They also sell seed potatoes, using a separate order form and sending them out on their schedule, not yours.
Æ Gleckler Seedmen, www.glecklerseedmen.com, 11411 State Route 120, Lyons, OH 43533. They’re online only, no paper catalog. They only carry tomato and pepper seeds, varieties you’ve probably never heard of. Most of their seeds are $2.50 per glassine envelope. They don’t include many seeds, but since they’re open-pollinated, you can save your own. I often ordered from them years ago, before they went on hiatus for a few years. I was happy to see they’re back.
Æ Kitazawa Seed Co., www.kitazawaseed.com, P.O. Box 13220, Oakland, CA 94661-3220. Asian vegetable seeds, priced at $3.49 per pack. Other companies carrying Asian seeds are www.evergreenseeds.com and www.newdimensionseed.com .
Æ Native Seeds/SEARCH, www.nativeseeds.org, 3061 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719. A non-profit seed company specializing in seeds of the American Southwest, with an interesting list of chiles and corn.
Æ Nichols Garden Nursery, www.nicholsgardennursery.com, 1190 Old Salem Road NE, Albany, OR 97321. Seeds, bulbs, plants, large selection of herb seeds and plants, and home brewing supplies. No paper catalog this year, online only.
Æ Pinetree Garden Seeds www.superseeds.com, P.O. Box 300, New Gloucester, ME 04260. Large variety of seeds, few seeds in each pack, but prices are very reasonable. I dislike the catalog’s listing some seeds under ethnic use, because you have to search several pages to find what you want.
Æ Sandhill Preservation Center, www.sandhillpreservation.com, 1878 Calamus, IA 52729. Owned by a former Idahoan, it specializes in rare heirloom vegetables, sweet potato starts and heritage poultry breeds.
Æ Seed Savers Exchange, www.seedsavers.org, 3094 N. Winn Road, Decorah, IA 52101. Sells some seeds to general public, and assembles a yearbook of seeds saved by members for sale to one another. Non-profit.
Æ Territorial Seed, www.territorialseed.com, P.O. Box 158, Cottage Grove, OR 97424-0061. Large variety of vegetable seeds, fruit trees and garden supplies.
Margaret Lauterbach: melauter@earthlink.net or write to Gardening, The Idaho Statesman, P.O. Box 40, Boise, ID 83707
