Seed Catalogs Can Be A Valuable Garden Tool

Feb. 14, 2000
Depending on your gardening interests, plant and seed catalogs can either be junk mail or a valuable resource for the coming season. These catalogs reflect considerable activity by the gardening industry and there are various ways such catalogs aid the gardener.

Catalogs are advertising tools and their sole purpose is of course, to make their products as attractive as possible to the gardening public. They contain hundreds of vegetable and flower seed descriptions along with the numerous support items to make gardening more enjoyable. As one turns from page to page each variety or entry seems better than the last.

Most seed companies take great care to make certain that their products meet specific quality standards. The properties of the vegetables and flowers developed from the seeds are often averages from several regions and are based on average ratings that may be slightly less than what you want.

More and more of these catalogs are offering nursery stock that include such items as bulbs, perennials, trees, shrubs and ground covers. For a beginning gardener it would be an easy matter to landscape an entire property and plant an orchard from the pages of several catalogs.

Just about every catalog has a gardening supply and gadget section. Pages here show new tools and supplies that may not be available in the garden department of local stores and garden centers for some years, if at all. Many of these gadgets can be real labor savers and make gardening activities easier and more enjoyable. I suspect the real trick is to distinguish between those tools you might really need and those which would be nice to own.

Over the years I have found that many catalogs contain something more valuable than the products and that is information. Many companies are including variety descriptions, information on planting and harvesting, seasonal care where needed, as well as specific points on pest resistance. When there is a definite use for the crop, they may provide storage or cooking directions to increase your enjoyment and satisfaction.

Catalogs with color pictures are very helpful in planning color schemes in the landscape. This is especially true when selecting woody landscape plants or other permanent additions to the garden. Garden catalogs have really progressed from just a tabular listing of flower and vegetable seeds to a well-planned and formatted reference publication with pictures.

When using a seed or garden catalog it is important to order early to avoid disappointment. Popular items are often sold out quickly so get the order in soon. There are also financial considerations since many seed companies offer discounts or extra seeds if orders are placed before a set deadline. Keep a written record of what you ordered in the event there are problems. Don't worry however, the seed catalog business is so organized that there is rarely a problem with orders.

A quick check through just about any popular gardening magazine will provide a number of seed companies to deal with if you happen to be that one individual who has not received your fair share of mail order catalogs this season.

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**Dr. Robert Nuss is a horticulturist at Penn State. He coordinates all extension horticulture programs. He has bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in ornamental horticulture and has been on the Penn State faculty since 1966.