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Organic Gardening

seed catalogue advice

15 years ago

Hi All

New to gardening, started my veggie garden this year and looking to plan for fall/winter crops.

I started the veggie garden in response to watching "the world according to monstanto". Certainly opened my eyes! Anyway I was wondering where everyone gets there seeds from? I hear that these big companies own lots of little companies and I'd rather know my money wasn't going to the production of GM crops, and patents. Are there any 'safe' companies to buy from anymore?

thanks

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Comments (5)

cynthia_h
15 years ago
There are many seed sources which pledge that their seeds are not GMOs. I personally purchased seeds from Seed Savers Exchange (a non-profit org. dedicated to preserving rare and/or heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables) and from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds earlier this year.

I'm sure others here will recommend other companies; I can personally recommend these two.

in el cerrito
iheartroscoe
15 years ago
I would definitely recommend Baker Creek Heirlooms, also. They have a great variety and great service.
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Anything I can get from Fedco I get from them. They won't work with Monsanto. They are very transparent about the seeds. They have different size packets to choose from. Their prices are excellent. I also recommend High Mowing for sure. Territorial, Baker Creek, Johnny's and Irish Eyes are ok too. I would never order from the big conglomerate companies like Gurney's, Parks, Burpee etc. For rare tomatoes try Tatiana's tomatoes out of Vancouver.
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Stokes non-commercial catalog keeps getting more and more hybrid-specific. They've always been hybrid-heavy, but it keeps going more and more in that direction. I don't have a problem with hybrids, myself. In the home garden with limited space hybrids are a very intelligent choice for some. It's not a knock on Stokes, just something I keep noticing more and more from them as the years roll by.
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Burpee seeds, on rack have more seeds than catalog packets.
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Stage rat. you have to understand the mindset of these engineers, with genius IQ's in math. They are perfectionist's to boot. enough that, sometimes, it can drive you crazy. He'll count just about anything in a seed packet, but even he draws the line when he hit the package of lettuce seeds and opened the inner foil packet and saw way to many seeds for even his patience. I quietly sat there, grinning to myself and thinking "finally a seed packet that you refuse to play with and count." Karen, I'm the one that has been posting the numbers in the seed packets in the burpee seeds on the rack. Been doing it for a couple of years now. K-mart has the seeds in the stores in MA now. I do miss the Martha Stewart seeds they carried when they had a contract with her. She had quite a few seed packets that others didn't have. Can't seem to find a store that carries them now. Fran
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Briergardener When I dump the bucket and after shake out some of the soil, I usually take a pair of scissors, cut the crown of the plant loose from the bulk of the root mass, and then re-plant the crown. Kind of like giving them a big root hair cut. I don't leave them bald but they end up with a pretty short new hair-do instead of the long tangle they started with. The crown springs back nice and fast after it's planted back out and watered in. Mid fall is a good time to harvest because the plant is directing energy back toward it's roots anyway. In my zone harvesting in late September or early October works well. The mild fall weather at that time gives them gentle growing conditions for them to root in before winter. Generally the crown is big enough that you can divide it into several divisions for re-planting. Lynda
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cynthia_h
15 years ago
I completely forgot: check out the Garden Watchdog at www.davesgarden.com to get ratings of gardening companies that do business via mail and Internet.

in el cerrito
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
15 years ago
I like Pinetree Gardens in ME - they're a small co. & offer lots of heirlooms for small home gardens....

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange is dedicated to heirloom preservation as well:
http://www.southernexposure.com/

Here is a link that might be useful: Pinetree
hipgardener
15 years ago
Another vote for Baker Creek. They rock.

On my last shipment, one packet was overstocked due to "low germination rates". It still came up 100%.

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