Are you looking ahead to February and March, thinking about what great plans you’ll lay for this coming spring and summer’s growing season?
Mail order seed catalogs are the perfect way to get those creative juices flowing and be armed with everything you need to get a head start on your organic NJ garden!
Whether it’s old fashioned heirloom varieties, tough and resistant new cultivars, or just some new plants that you’ve never grown before… we’re here to steer you in the direction of the best seed catalogs around.
Below, find three popular and trusted companies to buy seeds from. And while you’re at it, why not pick up a copy of our 95-page, Complete Beginner’s Guide to Organic Gardening in NJ Zone 6!
Bountiful Gardens
A 30-year old seed company based out of Willits, CA, that only sells non-chemical treated, open-pollinated, non-GMO heirloom garden seeds
A non-profit organization, Certified as an Organic Handler
Varieties of seeds in their catalog include vegetables, herbs, grains, cover and compost crops and more – all heirloom quality, no GMO, no bio-engineering
Offering a collection of Grow Biointensive™ books and videos that teach sustainable mini-farming techniques such as double-digging, intensive plant spacing, and companion planting
Website contains a bounty of helpful organic gardening information such as tips for seed saving, soil fertilization, watering, organic pest control, inoculants to improve plant health, and much more
They also have a selection of hand-picked tools that they have found useful for organic gardening purposes
Seed collections are available for purchase – including wildflowers, herbs, and vegetables, and make perfect gifts for the organic gardener or for someone who wants to learn how
Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Located in rural Maine
Sells seeds to grow a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs
Large selection of organic seeds in addition to regular seeds
Informative website with how-to videos, seed calculator, and other interactive tools
Fun new varieties to try
“Bred by Johnny’s” Exclusives
100% employee-owned company since 2006
Financially supports national and local agricultural, educational, and horticultural programs, events, and efforts
Request a catalog via their online form
Burpee
The largest, most progressive seed company in the U.S. – founded in Philadelphia, PA and still operating out of the Philly area today.
Innovating the agriculture industry since 1881 – two of their latest cultivars include the seedless tomato and the “snack pack watermelon”
Huge selection of both hybrid and heirloom quality seeds including vegetables, herbs, flowers, plants, and garden supplies
Seeds for all growing zones – offering organic selections as well as hybrid cultivars that are bred to be pest and disease-resistant or offer other, desirable qualities
Burpee seeds can typically be found in your average retail store such as Walmart, Home Depot and Lowes
A plethora of garden-growing tips and tutorials can be found on their website.