There are so many reasons to grow from seed. Not only is it an affordable alternative to buying plants, but you can also find a greater variety in seed catalogs than what's typically available at the nursery. Another—and maybe the most compelling—reason to grow from seed is that watching those first shoots emerge from the soil never ceases to delight. From tomatoes and okra to sunflowers and pumpkins, the options are ending when it comes to seed sowing . But before you can begin planting, you'll first need to know where to order your seeds from.
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Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds' catalog boasts one of the largest selections of heirloom vegetables, herbs, and flowers in the United States, with many 19th-century varieties, including 'Russian red' kale from the 1800s.
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Hudson Valley Seed Co
Courtesy of Hudson Valley Seed Co
Hudson Valley Seed Co's heirloom and open pollinated seeds—many of which are certified organic and produced on the company's farm near New York's Catskills—come in packages designed by various gardening-loving artists. The company offers everything from vegetables and flowers to herbs and fruit trees.
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Johnny's Selected Seeds
Courtesy of Johnny's Selected Seeds
For 50 years, Johnny's Selected Seeds has been offering high quality seeds to gardeners. As one of Martha's favorites, Johnny's boasts an extensive catalog, which means it can be a one-stop shop for all your vegetable garden needs. Be sure to check out the company's website, which provides information on planning and growing, as well as detailed guides on specific vegetables.
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Wild Boar Farms
Courtesy of Wild Boar Farms
Brad Gates, owner of Wild Boar Farms in California's Napa Valley, has been crossbreeding unusual heirloom tomatoes to create varieties that are striped, multicolored, and even blue. But it's not just about their striking appearance—these tomatoes are packed with flavor, too.
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Kitazawa Seed Company
Bryan Gardner
Founded in 1917, California's Kitazawa Seed Company, which once specialized in seeds for Japanese vegetables, has expanded its offerings to more than 500 varieties of herbs, fruits, and vegetables from throughout Asia.
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Seeds From Italy
Courtesy of Seeds From Italy
The largest U.S. distributor of Franchi Seeds and Italy's oldest family-owned seed company, Seeds From Italy stocks more than 450 heirloom varieties. They offer Romanesco broccoli, more than 20 different kinds of chicory, and a wide range of other vegetables.
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Native Seeds/SEARCH
Bryan Gardner
Nonprofit organization Native Seeds/SEARCH aims to preserve native agricultural varieties, including some from more than 50 southwestern tribes. Its catalog features seeds for indigenous vegetables, grains, and wildflowers. All proceeds benefit the group's conservation efforts.
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Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants
Bryan Gardner
Protecting California's native plants since 1960, the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants also sells a wide array of wildflowers. Their options include California poppy and blue-eyed grass, as well as seed mixes that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
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Floret Flowers
Courtesy of Floret Flowers
Family-run flower farm and seed company Floret Flowers sells specialty seeds and bulbs. From chocolate-colored amaranth to chartreuse zinnias, their cultivars will look stunning in your garden.
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Renee's Garden Seeds
Bryan Gardner
For more than 20 years, Renee Shepherd, owner of Renee's Garden, has been selling seeds geared to the home gardener. Her catalog features a helpful key with symbols indicating whether a certain variety is good for containers or is a favorite of butterflies, hummingbirds, or beneficial insects.
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Select Seeds
Courtesy of Select Seeds
Specializing in antique flowers (open pollinated varieties that originated at least 50 years ago), Select Seeds' catalog offers an abundance of fragrant old-fashioned flowers and flowering vines. It also contains newer rare annuals and perennials, such as a moon-garden collection of evening scented white flowers.
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