Gardeners’ Dream: Seed Catalog Review
Published 4:18 pm Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Merry Christmas gardeners! It is my wish for each of you to have a wonderful holiday, surrounded by family, friends, and neighbors. Remember to be mindful of others as the holidays are challenging for many of us (me included), quickly becoming stressful. Out of town guests, family gatherings (extended family visits), gift shopping, Christmas parties, meal planning & preparation…all seems a bit overwhelming. If you find yourself getting ‘stressed’ during the “holiday hustle”, schedule time away from all of it (especially family members). One effective stress-reduction strategy is by grabbing several garden catalogues (eagerly awaiting review, stacked on a nightstand), then vanishing to a discrete location for a couple hours!
Seed and garden catalogues are a microcosm of data havens, filled with detailed information for gardeners and enthusiasts, providing a plethora of precise plant and seed information that is readily accessible without the drudgery of a web based search which often returns a googol of results.
Did You Know: Google is named after a misspelling of a mathematical term “googol” which is the number 10 raised to the 100th power. Reviewing seed catalogues provides an opportunity to learn about new plant varieties available and determine if they are suited for our garden conditions and climate. I’m always searching for open-pollinated varieties of heirloom seed and hybridized seed which are more robust and can withstand Texas’ extreme growing conditions. Many of us receive seed and gardening catalogues beginning in October through February. There are many excellent seed companies providing gardeners with an overabundance of seed varieties. Catalogues such as: Seeds ‘N Such (GA), Willhite Seed Company (TX), East Texas Seed Company (TX), Totally Tomatoes (WI), Jung Seeds & Plants (WI), Johnny’s Selected Seeds (ME), and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (MO) to name a few. There are significantly more excellent seed companies that provide catalogues, but the catalogues named are the companies which I personally purchase seed stock year over year.
Some readers may have surmised that I am “opinionated,” characteristically, it is this gardener’s estimation that two of the best (and my most favorite seed catalogues) are distributed by one company, Baker Creek Heirloom Seed company. They have two seed catalogues which I eagerly anticipate yearly; one catalogue, the Rare Seed catalogue (containing approximately 160 beautifully illustrated pages) is a quick “go-to” catalogue and an easily utilized reference.
My hands-down, all-time yearly favorite gardening catalogue is The Whole Seed Catalogue from Baker Creek which is known as the “world’s largest seed catalogue.” The 2026 edition contains a whopping 531 beautifully illustrated, detailed, and informative pages highlighting new seed varieties, personalized stories, brief horticultural history lessons, and you guessed it…recipes! This catalogue is a limited-edition yearly catalogue with purchase (pre-order) cost of $15. While I enjoy reading through The Whole Seed Catalog, note that I enjoy all seed catalogues (not a paid endorser for Baker Creek catalogs), this gardening enthusiast is simply stating if you have never experienced the pleasure of reading “The Whole Seed Catalog” from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company, try and locate or borrow a copy. Ask fellow gardening friends or neighbors who have one, you will not be disappointed and what a fantastic resource it is!
I purchase numerous seed and plant varieties from multiple seed catalogues and specialty purveyors but always defer to Texas-based companies when possible if they have varietals I’m searching for inventory. There are many times where Texas companies do not carry seed varietals for which I’m searching, which is when orders are placed with other reputable companies outside Texas. I’m always cultivating new varieties of vegetables and ornamentals, searching for types which can ‘weather’ extreme Texas growing conditions. Keep a plant/ garden journal to document successes and failures, seed & varietal types, company & catalogue, season, and planting interval to provide a detailed guide which will certainly become a useful tool, providing instruction for many years of successful cultivation.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the average last spring frost date for our area is March. Keep in mind our SETX weather patterns are shifting, becoming less predictable, so basically from the end of February to the end of March is our ‘true’ window of last frost opportunity.
Each year many gardeners (including me) choose to get an early start before spring planting by germinating seeds indoors, a cold frame or a greenhouse. Starting plants from seeds is extremely economical due to the number of seeds provided (low cost pre seed) versus purchasing multiple individual plants (cost prohibitive). Perusing seed catalogues and making selections now will provide gardeners with the opportunity for availability (before inventory is depleted) and provide enough time for shipping.
Purchase seeds sooner rather than later, since having seeds on hand provides gardeners with adequate time required to grow seedlings and make them ready for transplanting. If you are new to gardening or have never considered germinating seeds, seed catalogues provide useful information for starting seeds!
Until next week fellow gardeners, let’s go out and grow ourselves a greener, more sustainable world, one plant at a time! Gardening questions answered by email: jongreene57@gmail.com.
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