Seeds of Spring

It seems like just a few weeks ago that the garden settled down for its winter nap but already the first signs of spring are appearing – seed and plant catalogs.

This year, while you enjoy the standard (and reliable) sources – Park, Burpee, Henry Fields, Gurney’s, White Flower Farm ­– you might want to check out some other suppliers that may not be as familiar, especially if you’re looking for something a little unusual.

Abundant Life Seeds

You can request a catalog with a wide selection for organic and biodynamic vegetable, flower and herb seeds, as well as garlic and potatoes. They also offer garden supplies and tools.

http://www.abundantlifeseeds.com/

Wild Garden Seeds

Wild about lettuce? Wild Garden seeds offers an array of 78 different varieties. They run an organic seed and vegetable farm in the Pacific Northwest offering farm-original varieties of many salad greens, vegetables, herbs and a few flowers.

http://www.wildgardenseed.com/

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Baker Creek offers a beautiful catalog boasting 1400 varieties of non-GMO, open-pollinated, patent-free seeds. (They’re also the new owners of Comstock, Ferre & Co., the oldest continuously operating seed company in the United States.)

http://rareseeds.com/

Brent and Becky’s Bulbs

If bulbs are your thing, check out the selection from Brent and Becky:

http://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/

Burnt Ridge Nurseries

This mail order nursery specializes in unusual and disease resistant trees, vines, and shrubs that produce edible nuts or fruits. They also have a large selection of Northwest native plants and ornamental and useful landscape trees.

http://www.burntridgenursery.com/

Dixondale Farms

Do you know your onions? Dixondale Farms sure does, they’ve been onion specialists since 1913.

http://www.dixondalefarms.com/

Fedco Seeds/Moose Tubers

One potato, two potato… these folks have dozens!

http://fedcoseeds.com/moose.htm

Kitazawa Seed

THE source for Asian vegetable seeds. Since 1917, they have been the place for oriental vegetable seeds for home gardeners, retailers, and commercial growers.

http://www.kitazawaseed.com/

Lilypons Water Gardens

Since 1917, Lilypons has specialized in water gardening products; waterlilies, lotus and bog plants.

http://www.lilypons.com/

Pepper Joe

Online catalog only but if you’re looking for hot peppers, look to Joe’s:

http://www.pepperjoe.com/about/

Seed Savers Exchange

At the heart of Seed Savers Exchange are the dedicated members who have distributed hundreds of thousands of heirloom and open pollinated garden seeds since the group’s founding 35 years ago.

http://www.seedsavers.org/

The Mother Load

If those aren’t enough to get 2011 off to a “seedy” start, here’s a helpful article listing 43 sources of free seed and plant catalogs:

http://freebies.about.com/od/homegardenfreebies/tp/seed-catalogs.htm

Know other great seed and plant sources? Tell us in the comments section below!

Photo from stockXchange, by adlie