High altitude seed suppliers

17 years ago

Which seed suppliers have you found for success in our high-altitude, short-season conditions. I'm trying to find seed sources that actually grow their seeds in our conditions of altitude and short growing season. Would appreciate knowing which companies you have found.

Sunny

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Comments (20)

jaliranchr
17 years ago
Sunny, most any seed company has seeds you can use in the Rocky Mt. region. The days of regional seed companies is all but long gone, alas. You can plant seeds from any of the catalogs or store displays if you just pay attention to the plants needs like acid/alkaline soil, moisture, etc. You should also pay attention to the maturation time for the veggie. That would be DTM (days to maturity) which are a ballpark figure rather that hard fact and it indicates how long until you can expect the plant to show fruit. Warm season veggies like toms, peppers, beans, corn do better in our short season if you keep them around 75 DTM. Once in awhile, I will push it to 80-85 days to try a different variety, but with varied success.

What specifically are you interested in planting?
digit
17 years ago
This may be tough one, Sunny. To the best of my knowledge, Jaliranchr is correct regarding the loss of regional seed companies.

Property rights laws protect varieties and certainly modern hybrids fall under a protected status. There are lots of tomato heirlooms to choose from, however, and there may be a few local seed growers.

We grow a few heirloom cherry tomatoes but I looked long and longingly at a friend's Better Boy Hybrids last season. They may produce better, earlier, and have just as much disease resistance and good taste as the Big Beef Hybrids we've grown for about a decade now.

Seminis Vegetable Seeds Inc. is the source for these varieties. Seminis claims that it has seed production in 25 countries supplying the northern and southern hemispheres. Each variety is grown in at least 2 locations as insurance against crop failure. What I suspect that means is that these hybrid varieties are grown on a couple of farms in the US and those fields provide the entire supply available. www.seminisgarden.com

You aren't likely to get seed from different locations whether you buy from the Vermont Bean Seed Company or from Jung Seed Company in Wisconsin. In fact, Jung's owns both - along with R.H. Shumway and Totally Tomatoes. Moreover, Seminis lists Tomato Growers Supply in Florida as one of their dealers.

Mountain Valley Seed is in Salt Lake City which is located above 4000 feet. But if you buy those hybrid tomato seeds from Mountain Valley, they're still going to be from Seminis Seed. Seeds of Change in Sante Fe, all organic and with lots of heirlooms, informs its customers about seed growers from the Olympic Peninsula and coastal California Â hardly high altitude, short season areas.

You probably realize that the seed catalogs have lovely pictures of test gardens but those gardens aren't the source for the varieties offered. We can appreciate the trials but the seed source is likely to be miles and miles away. This is the state of modern agriculture, always something new but always greater consolidation and nasty proprietary vigilance.

Steve
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sunnymorninggardens
Original Author
17 years ago
jaliranchr and digit,
Thanks for the information. It seems that all of the seed companies are owned by just a few big ones. If that doesn't scare you into planting heirlooms and saving your own seed, I don't know what will. Maybe I will just save seed from my own heirlooms instead of trying to find a true high-altitude, short season supplier. I think Rocky Ford Seed Company still raises their seeds out here in Colorado. Anyway, thanks. If anyone else wants to add their knowledge about seed companies, I'd be happy to read it.
Sunny
digit
17 years ago
Please don't give up on your quest, Sunny. You need to realize that I'm just a crusty, irascible, cantankerous, old person full of stubbornness and vinegar (Ivy League definition: curmudgeon ;o) and, the complete opposite of Jaliranchr.

Why don't you drop a line to Golden Harvest Organics? I believe they are in Fort Collins.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: Golden Harvest Organics
sunnymorninggardens
Original Author
17 years ago
Steve,
What a great source! I have added them to my seed supliers inventory. They are only 30 minutes drive from me.
Thanks so much for the source - I'll check them out.
Sunny
david52 Zone 6
17 years ago
Rocky Ford Seed Company. I read recently an article about how they are now a major international producer and purveyor of melon seeds. A family operation, the Dad, in his 90's, still goes to work everyday.
jaliranchr
17 years ago
Rocky Ford Seed Company is online under Burrell Seeds A co-worker gets his Rocky Ford melon seed there. I don't know about their other seeds, but those are grown out in the valley. Didn't even think about them.

Now, David, I'm not the perky one here - that's Skybird! :)
highalttransplant
17 years ago
Hey, I found this place while nosing around on the Garden Watchdog site. Is this what you are looking for?

Here is a link that might be useful: Western Native Seed
Skybird - z5, Denver, Colorado
17 years ago
Alright, guys! How did I get dragged into this!!! I was just trying to check in here quickly to see what was going on before I go to bed, and just as I click the back button, I see my name disappear in front of me! I'm not sure what your "perky" reference is to, Jali, but I'm going to assume it's a compliment! It IS, isn't it?????

I haven't been around much lately. I have a new addiction! I've been off work for a couple months---had surgery on my elbow---and while I was sitting around here (typing with one hand), I found Booksforsoldiers.com. It's a site where you can look up addresses for specific guys and gals in the military and send them books--and other stuff if you can afford it. So I've been spending my days---and nites---looking for free books (on FreeCycle), and then looking up posts and finding places to send them---and packaging them---and filling out customs forms---and writing letters (which was the hardest part for me when I first started---got it aced now!)---and standing in line at the post office. I'm having a ball! I think it may be the most rewarding thing I've ever done-----not that you guys aren't rewarding, but, well, it's just that you're not in Iraq!!!

If you promise not to tell my doctor, I'll tell you all a secret! The surgery was the end of November, and I'm STILL not supposed to be lifting more than ONE POUND with my left hand---but I'm carrying boxes of books around! LOL Everything in the world weighs more than one pound! And my physical therapist is probably gonna have me lifting 90 pound weights before long anyway! And, just in case you DO talk to my doctor----I'm being careful! LOL

Sorry to hijack your thread, Sunny. When I saw it, though, I was going to suggest Rocky Mountain Seed Company, but then I looked, and they don't have an online site. I assume they're still in business, but I'm not even positive about that. If they are, they're an OLD (going back to the 1800's I think) seed company that used to be (still is?) located in downtown Denver. Don't know if you want to take the time to check them out or not.

You might also check out these:

Native Seed Network: http://www.nativeseednetwork.org/
Prairie Nursery: http://www.prairienursery.com/
High Country Gardens: http://www.highcountrygardens.com/
Arrowhead Alpines: http://www.arrowhead-alpines.com/index.htm
(Sorry for the cut & paste links, but it's the quickest way to do it here on GW)

Anyway, I'm loosing my beauty sleep (which, at my age, probably wouldn't help too much with the beauty anyway) so I'm gonna sign off for tonite, but now I'm gonna have to keep checking back in here just to be sure you're not talking about me behind my back!

Oh, one more thing! I don't think any of you are, but if any of you are located in the north metro Denver area and have any books or magazines to donate to the cause, PM me. I'll pick up anywhere on this end of town.

Nighty nite,
Tired Perky Skybird
sunnymorninggardens
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the additional sources. I'm really excited about the one in Coalville, CO. That's high altitude!
Sunny
digit
17 years ago
I had something of a discouraging word or 2 for Sunny and probably made her hope that there were others with some encouraging info on this forum.

I wanted her to keep hoping. And, explained that I was just a crusty curmudgeon but Jaliranchr was not.

Jaliranchr seems to have blamed that observation on David while posting a link to what is probably the most comprehensive seed selection in the region. She also pointed out that Skybird is the most positive poster and, by golly, Skybird proved it!

But, along the way - I think we all gave Sunny a few leads for seeds . . . with Skybird topping the list. This is a pretty darn good reference thread!

Steve

Positive, synonyms - optimistic, constructive, helpful, encouraging, affirmative, activist, up, and upbeat.
jaliranchr
17 years ago
OOOps! (slapping self silly) I didn't properly attribute. Sorry Steve. (blush) Sorry David. (blush) But Skybird is the resident perkster on the board and that's certainly is a compliment. :) Steve, curmudgeon? Not likely! :)

Sunny, I mistakenly thought when you said short season, you were addressing veggies, not annuals or perennials.

Crawling back into my cave for some more snowy hibernation. :)
Skybird - z5, Denver, Colorado
17 years ago
Ok! I've got it all figured out now! The funny thing is, a couple people used to call me that all the time, so when I saw the word I almost fell over! I guess I never outgrew it!!!

What's wrong with curmudgeons? Curmudgeons are welcome around here! We love even you, Steve!!!

And-----Snow! What's that? I'll try to figure it out as soon as I can get my head above all this white stuff around here!

We'll wake you up when it's time to come out of hibernation, Jali! But I think it's gonna be a loooooooong winter!

I have to go check BFS,
Stay warm everyone,
Skybird
david52 Zone 6
17 years ago
Steve, our local FM radio station has an annual "contest" for the best curmudgeon, the prize being a plaster sculpture of a vulture sitting on a fence post. This is awarded to the one person who causes the most fuss with letters to the editor for the town paper, but to win it, one really has to attend a few county commissioner meetings and raise awkward questions.

They have a big award ceremony, and the guys always deliver some wonderful speech on the radio, usually thanking the gracious folks who supply them with material.
windwhipped
17 years ago
I've had good luck with www.seedstrust.com high altitude section - grown in Idaho I believe. I also like Territorial seeds out of Oregon.
stevation
17 years ago
You should check out Ed Hume Seeds. I've bought them in local stores and I see you can order from their website, which I'll link below. They say they "Specialize in the best seeds for short seasons and cool climates." They have tons of veggies, plus some annuals and perennials. Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Ed Hume Seeds
shudavies
17 years ago
For wild flower seeds: www.plantsofthesouthwest.com
singcharlene
17 years ago
Ohhhh...another great page to earmark ! Thanks for all the great info :)

Charlene
emagineer
17 years ago
Looking for something else...came across the site linked below for high altitude seeds.

Here is a link that might be useful: High altitude seeds
Skybird - z5, Denver, Colorado
17 years ago
That's a GREAT site, Sandy, Thanks!

High altitude seed suppliers

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