Early Seed Catalogs

The 2010 catalogs for High Mowing Seeds and The Seed Savers Exchange have both already arrived in the mail. In both cases this feels a lot earlier than in past years and I wouldn't be surprised if that is the result of the recession and the current boom in people planting their own vegetables.

I've bought from High Mowing the last four years in a row. Even though the are a relatively small company, they really take the time to make sure your order is correct and have excellent customer service. All their seeds are organic and they have a nice selection. I'll be using them for all my cucumbers, squash, and beans although I haven't figured out which varieties I am going to order just yet.

Seed Savers is dedicated to saving the vanishing heirloom varieties. They have a huge selection in the catalog and an even bigger selection as part of their member exchange program. Even the non gardener will be impressed looking through their catalog a the huge number of pictures. I'll be using them for some heirloom tomato transplants, melons and chard. They also have a broad selections of unusual flowers and I'll probably also get some poppies and morning glories for planting around the patio again this year.

2009 Varieties - Part I - High Mowing Seeds

It is snowing again today and about 25 F (-3.9 C) degrees. It is not major snow, about 3 - 4" (8 cm) so far, but I think this is already been the fourth of fifth snow of this year which is a lot more than it has the last several years. We've spent most of the day in the house reading, drawing manga, and playing Wii, but I've also been using the time to plan out the garden.

High Mowing Seeds is an organic seed company located in Vermont. I buy about half of my seeds there, this is the second year I've used them and I am overall happy with the experience. The selection is good, their website is friendly and easy to use and their customer service is quick and helpful. They also offer a variety of other garden related items such as plastic mulch, inoculant, and compost (I got their hat last year and wear all the time). In addition to vegetables, they also have several cover crops and flower varieties.

Here is what I got from High Mowing this year. This will make up about half of the 2009 varieties I will be planting.

Beans

Kentucky Wonder
Rattlesnake Pole
Shirofumi Edamame

Cucumber

Suyo Long
National Pickling
Marketmore

Peas

Sugar Ann

Carrots

Yaya F1
Red Cored Chantenay

Squash

Yellow Crookneck

Sunflowers

Jerusalem Sunrise Lemon
Mammoth


Snow falling in the backyard: