From left: Seed Catalogue cover art from the 1890s. Smithsonian Libraries, Public Domain. Seed art from 1940. Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons. Tomato Seeds in the 1930s. Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection.; J. Manns & Co., CC BY 2.0.
By Mark Banaszak
Now is the time to order your catalogs and seeds. From November to March, during the season of cold winds and grey skies, seed companies around the country send out directories of the seeds they have available for spring planting. They are often filled with large color photos of mature vegetables or flowers, text describing the growing requirements, days to blossom or harvest and other special qualities of the plants. This detailed information gives gardeners a chance to picture their gardens as the tomatoes ripen and the flowers blossom, making the arrival of seed catalogs one of the brightest spots in what can seem an endlessly dreary time. Seed catalogs are wintertime’s coffee table books for the optimistic gardener.
This tradition of seed catalogs has a long history. The earliest ones date to the early 1600s, when Dutch flower bulb merchants used them to give tulip enthusiasts an idea of what the flowers would look like when the bulbs blossomed. The earliest American seed catalogs date to the 1770s, but they really took off as the price of printing and distributing catalogs and flyers through the mail dropped.
Seed collection and distribution have changed over time. For most of history, people would gather their seed from the crops they had grown, and from this stock they could give or trade some, especially as different varieties were developed. Trading and sharing are still possible today through seed libraries. According to Pam Quackenbush, of the MI Seed Library network, there are more than 190 seed libraries around the state where people can obtain free seeds and bring their best varieties to share. Her favorite variety is the Early Riser pole bean, which she has raised and shared for many years.
There are many types of seeds, whether from seed libraries or seed catalogs, so it is important to understand some of the classifications. One important classification is open-pollinated. This term means that a plant has been pollinated “naturally” by wind, water, insects or animals. Different varieties can easily be cross-pollinated in this way, resulting in seeds that don’t necessarily produce plants like their parent. Many open-pollinated plants become important varieties because of traits that people love, like their taste or appearance. Over time, these become heirloom varieties, which can produce seeds that are true to type if you follow certain guidelines. Keeping plants a specific distance apart to prevent cross-pollination is one such guideline.
Seeds can also be hybridized. This is when two varieties are intentionally cross-pollinated for specific traits. However, seeds saved from hybridized plants will not produce the same results. They will not be true to type, like heirloom ones. They do have valuable characteristics worth considering, like increased production, disease resistance or uniformity.
There are many great choices among seed catalogs. Some specialize in heirloom or organic seed, others focus on market gardeners in contrast to home growers, and some specialize in local varieties. Currently, the Old Farmer’s Almanac lists over 45 different catalogs and websites. (Visit: https://www.almanac.com/content/garden-seed-catalogs-mail.) Of these, it is smart to order from companies that focus on seeds for regions like ours. Johnny’s Selected Seed, High Mowing Organic Seeds, Seed Saver Exchange and a personal favorite, Fedco Seeds, all specialize in different kinds of seeds for different types of gardeners. They all offer seeds that fit the growing conditions of our area, which includes 2023 USDA plant hardiness zones 6b, 6a and 5b.
Catalogs for seed companies like the ones mentioned above provide a lot of information to help the gardener make the best choice among numerous varieties. The final vegetable or flower is often pictured, but there is always a description that includes any resistance to typical problems, flavor or color descriptions, best growing conditions, type of seed (like heirloom, hybrid or organic), and, especially for vegetables, days to maturity.
That last piece of information, days to maturity, is the most optimistic because as you page through the catalogs, it is easy to see yourself plucking a perfect, purple-streaked tomato for a summer dinner of bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches.
So, get some catalogs and order your seeds soon.
Mark Banaszak spent more than 30 years as a public school educator, urban community gardener and outdoor enthusiast. Recently, he transplanted his city life to rural Manistee County.
