You Bet Your Garden

It's time to order the seeds of spring
By Mike McGrath

Mike McGrath Are you ready to plant peas, and start lettuce, spinach and flower seeds inside for early spring planting? Here is the dirt on our favorite seed catalogs, so you can get growing!

Johnny's Selected Seeds is the best catalog! The detailed growing, harvesting and pest-control info virtually insures success. The catalog features flowers, veggies, potatoes, onions, medicinal herbs, innovative tools and supplies. The company tests more of their seeds each season than any other American company. Almost all of their seed is grown under organic or sustainable farming conditions and they donate 10 percent of their profits to charity. (207) 437-4301 or johnnyseeds.com.

For "growing" gourmets, Shepherd's Garden Seeds specializes in seeds of fine edibles, started plants and supplies, including beneficial insects! (860) 482-3638 or Shepherdseeds.com. The variety of rare salad greens and other gourmet goodies in The Cook's Garden catalog is truly amazing. (800) 457-9703 or cooksgarden.com.

W. Atlee Burpee This 126-year-old company offers an enormous variety of flowers and veggies as seeds or started plants. A red sweet corn, an orange watermelon, a black tomato and a white marigold are just a few of the wonders you'll find in this catalog. (800) 888-1447 or Burpee.com.

The Bountiful Gardens catalog, from John Jeavons' landmark non-profit Ecology Action group, is an amazing collection of organic and bio-dynamically raised seed, including hard-to-find, "lost" and heirloom plants (such as the "podding" radish that produces edible fruits instead of roots), cover crops, backyard grains, high-nutrition foods, medicinal herbs and more. Call (707) 459-6410 or visit bountifulgardens.org.

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