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According to the
National Gardening Association, there are over 700 seed catalogs and
online suppliers. The variety of vegetables that you can grow in
your kitchen garden is endless.
This brief list of seed suppliers presents sources for hard-to-find
traditional vegetables, heirloom varieties and open-pollinated,
non-hybrid vegetables. Match the key number or letter of the type of
vegetable that you're looking for with those listed with each seed
company. Catalogs are free unless a price is noted.
HARD-TO-FIND TRADITIONAL VEGETABLES - Cardoon (1), Chervil (2),
Chicory (3), Corn Salad (4), Cress (5), Dandelion (6), Fennel (7),
Jerusalem Artichoke (8), Martynia (9), New Zealand Spinach (10),
Nasturtium (11), Okra (12), Pop Corn (13), Salsify (14), Scorzonera
(15), Sea Kale (16), Shallots (17), Skirret (18), Sorrel (19),
Upland Cress (20), Vegetable Marrow (21), Water Cress (22).
HEIRLOOM VEGETABLES (H) - Many old varieties of vegetables have been
preserved by home gardeners and hobbyists and by horticulturists at
living history museums across the country. These varieties were
developed, in the past, for individual advantages, such as: better
winter storage; great taste; better adaptability to a certain
climate; earlier yield; brighter color for a more decorative garden;
drought resistance - the advantages and the varieties are endless.
Like the advice in this book, heirloom seeds are a legacy from
yesterday's gardeners.
OPEN-POLLINATED VEGETABLES (P) - The seeds of modern hybrid
vegetables can't be saved. They'll either not grow or they'll
produce a plant that is very different from, and usually inferior
to, its parent. If you want to save your seed and improve your
vegetables from year to year, you'll have to start with
opera-pollinated varieties.
Seed
Suppliers:
ALLEN, STERLING & LOTHROP, 191 U.S.
Route No.1, Falmouth ME 04105 2,5,6,7,10,11,12,13,14, H - Full line
catalog of vegetables, herbs and flowers. Free downloadable catalog.
W. ATLEE
BURPEE CO., 300 Park Ave., Warminister, PA 18974
3,4,6,7,8,10,13,14,19,20 - Founded in 1876, Burpee published the
1888 book, How and What to Grow in a Kitchen Garden of One Acre,
that's quoted in The Kitchen Garden Guide. They probably
supplied many of this book's 19th Century writers with their seed.
Their free full color, full line catalog can be ordered online.
BUTTERBROOK FARM, 78 Barry Road, Oxford, CT 06483
10,11,12,13 H, P -
This small seed co-op offers a variety of vegetables that thrive in
New England's short growing season. All are open-pollinated, for
seed-savers and should perform well in most cold regions or for
succession planting in the south. Send $1 for their seed list.
THE COOKS
GARDEN, P.O. Box 65, Londonderry, VT 05748
2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11,16,19,22 H - 28 varieties of hard-to-find salad
greens, 13 chicories, 35 varieties of lettuce. Order their free
catalog online.
WILLIAM DAM
SEEDS, 279 Hwy 8 RR 1 Dundas, Ontario L9H 5E1,Canada
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,11,12,13,14, 15,19,21,22 - A great variety of
vegetables, herbs, flowers and accessories. Visit their website to
request a free catalog.
GOOD SEED
CO., 195 Bolster Road Oroville WA 98844
2,7,11 H, P -
Informative online catalog offers heirloom vegetables and herbs, and
a great deal of very good advice on how to grow them.
GURNEY'S SEED &
NURSERY P.O. Box 4178, Greendale, IN 47025
3,4,7,10,11,12,13,14,15,21,23 - Online catalog of vegetables &
nursery stock.
HEIRLOOM GARDEN SEEDS, P.O. Box 138, Guerneville, CA 95446
3,4,5,6,7,11,19,22, H, P - Unique catalog offers old-time varieties
of herbs & salad greens with lessons on their history, lore & use -
great reading. Send $4 for the catalog.
J. L.
HUDSON SEEDSMAN, P.O. Box 337, La Honda, CA 94020
3,4,9,10,11,12,13,18,19,2.1,22 H, P - Online catalog offers rare
vegetables, herbs, flowers & decorative plants from around the
world.
D.
LANDRETH SEED CO., 60 East High Street, New Freedom, PA
17349 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11,12,13,14,19,21, 22 H, P - You can purchase
your seeds from the same company that George Washington & Thomas
Jefferson used. In business since 1784, Landreth offers a variety of
old-time classics and heirloom vegetables. A print catalog is
available, but finding what you want online is easy.
LE
JARDIN DU GOURMET, P.O. Box 75, St. Johnsbury Center., VT
05863
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,12,17,19,21,22
- A nice selection of European and unusual vegetable & herb seeds. A
downloadable catalog is available.
LE MARCHE SEEDS
INTERNATIONAL, P.O. Box 190, Dixon, CA 95620
1,2,3,4,6,7,12,13,14,15,19,22 H, P - Send $2 for their beautiful
catalog that offers seeds, planting advice, lore and recipes for a
wide range of French heirloom and hard-to-find vegetables and herbs.
PARK SEED
COMPANY INC., 2,4,5,7,8,9,11,12,19,22 P - Full
line Internet catalog of vegetables, flowers, herbs, fruits, tools,
accessories & books. Park Seed Company has been in business since
1868.
PINE
TREE GARDEN SEEDS, P.O. Box 300, New Gloucester, ME 04260
1,2,3,4,6,7,10,11,12,13,14,19,21 H, P - 512 varieties of vegetables,
herbs, flowers, bulbs, decorative plants, garden tools, great
gadgets & one of the best selections of garden books you'll ever
find. Order online or request a free print catalog.
SOUTHERN EXPOSURE SEED EXCHANGE,
P.O. Box 460,
Mineral, VA 23117
7,10,11,12,19 H, P - Free print or downloadable catalog offers a
great variety of rare vegetables, many developed specifically for
the mid-Atlantic region. Their "family heirloom " varieties are just
that - vegetables that have been nurtured by individual families for
generations for their special qualities. The catalog and the website
are valuable sources of information on planting and growing
vegetables and on saving seeds.
STOKES
SEEDS INC., P.O. Box 548, Buffalo, NY 14240
2,3,4,5,6,7,12,13,14,23
- A free full line catalog with 1600 varieties of vegetables and
flowers can be ordered online, or use the website search box to find
what you need.
TERRITORIAL SEED COMPANY,
P.O.Box 158, Cottage Grove, OR 97424
2,4,7,19 H - Specializes
in vegetables for cold, wet climates. Both the free catalog and the
website offer seeds, tools, books and accessories.
VICTORY
SEED COMPANY, P.O. Box 192, Molalla, OR 97038
1, 3,4,5,7,10,12,14,H,P
Online catalog of heirloom and open pollinated varieties with an
extensive selection of heirloom tomatoes.
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