Gardening Catalog Recommendations

I am looking for catalogs for my spring gardening that sells seeds/plants either on-line or by phone. I've found several on the web, but I want to make sure I'm dealing with a reputable company. Thanks for all your help.

George W. Park Seed Co. is very good. I've used them for several years and never been disappointed. Very good variety and they honor their guarantee, no questions. Order the free catalog, it is a mini-encyclopedia of information. For the best plants, I use Wayside. They are a little more expensive on some things but their plants arrive in excellent condition. I do not like Gurney's, Henry Field, or Michigan Bulb Co. Especially, I do not like Michigan Bulb Co. I think they sell the culls of the other seed companies. If you can make their stuff grow, you are indeed a good gardener.

Hi Carol,
I posted these links a few weeks ago on the mail call forum. Some of my catalogs I value more than my gardening books. If your looking for plants you should be sure to send for the Whiteflower Farm catalog - http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com & Wayside Gardens catalog - http://www.waysidegardens.pointshop.com/ . Both of them have outrageous prices and I can't say I've been overly impressed with their plants. However, the pictures are for every "Dream Gardener" to drool over.

Some of my favorites that I think all gardeners should get -

Thompson & Morgan's - http://www.thompson-morgan.com/ - I don't recommend them to buy from - but their catalog has everything under the sun. It's got glossy photos and it can practically be used as a reference book.

Parks Seed - http://www.parkseed.com/ This is a great one for all the latest seeds both vegetables and flowers

Johnny's selected seeds - http://www.johnnyseeds.com/ This is very informative and every vegetable gardener should get it. The last couple of years they've included a variety of medicinal herbs that are hard to find elsewhere. It has a good selection of gardening books as well as gardening supplies too.

Pinetree Garden Seeds - http://www.superseeds.com/ - Another must for the veggie gardener. They have a super selection and sell the seeds in smaller quantities for the backyard gardener - You can't beat the prices. They specialize is short growing seasons and have a nice selection of annuals, perennials and lots of books too.

Select Seeds Antique Flowers - http://www.selectseeds.com/ - This is for anyone into heirlooms and old fashioned flowers. A lot of flowers that grandma used to grow. One thing I really like about their seeds is they give good instructions on how to grow them.

The Fragrant Path - This is my favorite catalog. It's not fancy and has no pictures just black & white typed descriptions. It has a wonderful selection of plants grown for fragrance and it also has some unusual, hard to find, and weird things. This catalog is just a darn good read and worth sending for. Prices are cheap and I've been very satisfied with the seeds. The initial catalog cost $2 (it's worth it and you'll get it every year after that)

The Fragrant Path
P.O. Box 328
Fort Calhoun, Nebraska 68023

The web sites usually have a place to sign up a free catalog or get on their mailing list. Even if you prefer buy from the web site I think the catalogs have more information in them and include some things that the web sites don't. I go over & over my stack of catalogs through the winter - Heck! half of them have the pages all stuck together from me taking them in the bath tub with me! I found this link that has a list of tons of catalogs posted on GW. It's something you might want to add to your favorites folder ;-)
http://pbmfaq.dvol.com/list/

Chilterns Seeds have a catalogue with as many things as T&M (over 5000), but without the pictures. They have detailed descriptions, and give you the origin and meaning of the Latin name. Their seeds germinate better than T&M's and they're often cheaper. I've been buying from them for about ten years. They're at http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk

I have ordered from 2 new catalogs this past year looking for different plants and seeds. they were both great,plants arrived in perfect shape and they both have GREAT selection. www.plantdelights.com(check out what the cost of a catalog is) and www.sexybloomers.com(4 inch potted plants for $1.00.)I ordered them and was very pleased..the website is a riot,i try to check it out every day.!!!

Carol

If you are interested in daylilies at all, you should check out Gulfhaven Gardens at www.gulfhavengardens.com. They are in Missouri and have great prices and a wonderfu selection. They are also very easy to deal with and very thoughful people. And, from Canada I would have to recommend Kilmalu Farms at www.kilmalu.com. I was thrilled with both of these companies and have already placed this year's order with Gulfhaven Gardens. Just waiting to receive Kilmalu's catalog.

Good luck

Darlene

Another excellent cataloge is Fedco Seeds. They aren't set up yet for on-line orders but if you go to www.fedcoseeds.com you can request a cataloge. I have ordered from them before and was very pleased with the size of the packets (even the small ones) the variety they have to choose from and everything. It is actually run as a co-op so they aren't into making profits and their whole concept is just really great. Mass variety of just about anything you could ask for.

"Garden Seed Inventory," published by Seed Savers Exchange, lists the addresses for all 254 mail order seed houses that existed as of 1998 in the U.S. and Canada that sell open-pollinated varieites.

Many of them have web addresses listed. For the others that interest you, a simple search should turn up their sites.

You can find SSE at: www.seedsavers.org

Great counts / great germination info/ reasonable prices http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net

I mostly buy locally, but do order from Henry Fields every couple years. They always stand behind their plants and seeds. Many catalogs are just wish books for us. We pick out what we think we want, then try to find it locally or get it thru trades. I also like Totally Tomatoes, Nichols, and Shepard's catalogs. Have ordered seeds from all of them and was well pleased.

Although I've not ordered from these catalogs, I do like them for several reasons (good pictures, descriptions, etc). I've heard from friends who have ordered from them, that they've been good companies to deal with. Here's a couple of my favorite ones:
Jungs (www.jungseed.com)
Wildflowers (www.wildseeds.com)
Thompson/Morgan (this is like the bible of catalogs!)
Burpee's (www.burpee.com)
Shady Oaks Nursery (www.shadyoaks.com)
Harris seeds (www.harrisseeds.com)

I too have had problems with EVERY order I've ever had from Michigan bulb company - whether it be seeds, plants, trees, bushes, bulbs, etc. I will never order from them again! I've also heard problems about Henry Fields,but I sure am tempted to order some things from them this year (windbreak trees). Guess maybe I'll be able to give a better answer on this next year!

Good luck on your search - hope you don't drool on the pages as much as I do (it makes them real sticky!) LOL!!

Oooh, there are so many...! :) There's a huge list of garden catalogs, organized by type, at Cyndi's Catalog of Garden Catalogs (http://www.gardenlist.com) just for starters.

Just wondering...... If your looking for seeds why not just post on the trading forum??? Everyone is so nice there I am sure someone has what you want. Then when you establish you can post "haves" instead of "wants".
Just a suggestion.
Minnie-Janice

I just found www.underwoodgardens.com that has a really nice listing of things including my favorites, heirloom tomatoes. They are really nice people and responded to a query I had quickly and with a nice personal touch. I also like the big Canadian company: www.richters.com for herbs. Check out Chuck Wyatt's: www.heirloomtomatoes.net if you are into heirloom tomatoes.

Connie,

Have you actually ordered from Richters? If so, what was your experience?

I've heard too many horror tails to trust ordering from them for shipment to the U.S.

They're catalog is sure something else, though.

Have any of you ordered from White Flower Farms? Their catalog is absolutely beautiful! But their prices are out of my range. . . It's a great resource giving beautiful pictures, as well as planting and care instructions - along with suggestions for companion plants. I like the companion plant suggestions, since I need so much help in that area.

Grits

Forget EdibleLandscaping--lovely catalog, poor customer service, mistakes on orders,one good growing plant, one defunct one. H.Fields and Gurney's stand by their stuff. PinetreeGardens good small packets, lower prices. Currently trying Shumways and PepperJoe's, due to gift certificates--will post results later; both recommended on Motley Fool Garden Board by different posters.

Grits - I have ordered from WFF. I've gotten exactly what I ordered, no mistakes, and the plants were good quality. They have their own strain of purple coneflower which I particularly like. But what I really like about them is spending cold winter nights leafing through their catalog and planning my spring planting. They have the best catalog I've seen so far, very well written and photographed. As for prices, they are more expensive than some, comparable to others. Keep in mind though that with catalog companies, prices are often proportional to the age/size of the plant.

Brook-I have not ordered from Richter's yet. They have a classy website and I like the idea of ordering stuff with a nice exchange rate. I am from Buffalo and I read that they ship their plant flats from Buffalo and not Canada. I didn't realize they had "horror stories" but I travel home occasionally and figured I could always make the drive and pick things up in Buffalo or north of Toronto myself. I am ordering stevia plants and some herbs I think. Thanks for the info. I'll post what my experiences are.

For unusual perennials, check out plantdelights. Their website offers a wealth of information and their catalog is beautiful and only costs "10 stamps or a box of chocolates". They are open to the public only 8 times a year...so,I hope to visit in the spring since they are just down the road!

http://www.plantdelights.com/

I would HIGHLY recommend Gurney's Nursery. I've ordered from them for years and they get better all of the time! They now have an 800 number, their customer service is fantastic, the plants are healthy and grow vigorously, and they have a guarantee on live stock that cannot be beat..THEY GUARANTEE THEIR PLANTS/TREES/SHRUBS FOR THE LIFE OF THE GARDENER! BTW..I don't work for them..lol. I am happy with everything I have ever gotten. They promptly replace items on your word without any hassle. I've had my pampass grass replaced 3 times (it must be my quirk not to grow this stuff) and Gurney's added a bonus surprise each time. My hackberry and Lombardy poplars exploded with growth this first season...the poplars grew 8 feet in one season and I would never have believed it.
http://www.gurneys.com/
Have fun..and, oh..their prices are wonderful, too.
Trish

A big thanks to everyone who responded! Since I am new to gardening I would have probably ordered from the Michigan Bulb Co if I hadn't received your advice. I've seen their ads for years and would have thought they would be a good choice. I have the catalogs you recommended on order and I feel like a kid waiting for xmas. I spent alot, no, a whole bunch of time at the websites. I look forward to forming gardening friendships with you in the future. Thanks for being so helpful and kind to share your knowledge/experience. Carol

Forgot to add this: stay away from "Sexy Bloomers" (also known as "South Creek Nursery of Palmyra (NY)"........they do not guarantee their plants and most of what I got from them was dead, not dormant!

I found this website for heirloom seeds online and it sounds like a really good one. Could anyone tell me if you've ever ordered from this company or heard about it? I'm new to ordering heirlooms and I wanna make sure it's as good as I think it is. (don't trust my own judgement!) It has lots of heirloom veggies at really reasonable prices! You can also order by phone and get their catalog in the mail if you don't wanna do it on the net! http://www.gardenersnet.com/Mall/seeds/heirloom.htm
Please let me know what you think!!!