2nd Day of Seed Catalogs

Company Spotlight
Fedco Seeds
 
Location:  PO Box 520, Clinton ME 04927
Inquiries:   [email protected]   
​Phone:  207-426-9900
Website:  www.fedcoseeds.com   www.fedcoseeds.com/trees
Catalog Request:  https://www.fedcoseeds.com/connect?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxsDPnIe1ggMVHAutBh1lAA3FEAAYASACEgIlZfD_BwE
 
Fedco is a long-time, old school organic seed company and nursery. They are located in Maine so they have some nice short season, cold hardy offerings. They offer open pollinated, organic and heirloom seeds. They are a one stop shop with seeds and trees, shrubs and perennials. They also sell a wonderful variety of gardening supplies.
“Fedco started in 1978 as a few friends working together in the winter to save money on quality seeds for their gardens. Since then, we have added a fruit tree order in 1983, garlic and fall bulbs in 1984, seed potatoes in 1985, and organic growing supplies in 1988. . . . Every year, over 150 workers cooperate to fill over 60,000 orders totaling over $10 million annually.”
 
Fedco is a worker/consumer-owned cooperative in Clinton, Maine. They specialize in offering gardening, farming and orchard supplies. They serve growers and gardeners. They believe that gardening improves health and wellness of people and the planet. They source seeds and supplies from small, independent growers when possible while supporting equitable and sustainable agricultural practices.
 
Fedco walks their walk with their community giving program. Over the decades they have supported many amazing groups and causes. Learn more about this inspiring company here  www.fedcoseeds.com/about 
 
Best Catalog Ever!
I love the Fedco catalog! Their award-winning catalog provides an abundance of fun garden reading. Printed on plain newsprint, it has acted as a coloring book for many impatient people who were stuck waiting. Wonderful and surprising illustrations are on every page. It is reminiscent of the Whole Earth Catalog or a Trader Joe’s circular. The varieties offered are amazing.
 
I ordered the 2024 Fedco Tree Catalog for the first time and what a treat! Same great illustrations and so many apples! Did you know that there are over 7,000 apple varieties on the planet? This catalog opens with 85 varieties -- 16 pages of apples. I have never seen that many varieties and I didn’t recognize most of the names. The descriptions are fun, filled with history, growing information and humor. Pour a cup of tea and settle in, this is fantastic reading! One of my favorite things about their catalog are the educations boxes that tell how to plant a tree, prune a flowering shrub, train your grape and planting bare-root perennials.
 
Although Fedco is across the continent, in Maine, it is a good source for Maritime Northwest gardeners who are looking for cold hardy and short season crops. Look for cool season crops and short season summer crops. I look to Fedco for new cool varieties that I want to try.
 
For fun, here are some apple varieties offered
Black Gilliefower
Blue Pearmain
Calville Blac d’Hiver
Duchess of Oldenburg
Frostbite
Ginger Gold
Grandfather
Hubbardston Nonesuch
King’s Ransom
Pomme Grise
Red Astrachan
St. Edmund’s Russet
Winter Banana
Zestar

Catalog images are from www.fedcoseeds.com and are used for educational purposes only.

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Edible Garden Companion

​Right on time. Learn what and when to plant and keep your edible garden growing year-round. Sign up for my Edible Garden Companion Digging Deeper and get a year of my monthly garden guides. You can sample this course ala carte by purchasing single months. https://www.gardenwithlisa.com/store/c11/ediblegardencompanion

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Seed Company Spotlight
Renee’s Garden
 
Location:   6060 Graham Hill Rd. Felton, CA 95018 
Inquiries:   www.reneesgarden.com/pages/contact-us    
Phone:   1.888.880.7228
Website:  www.reneesgarden.com  
Online Catalog Only:  www.reneesgarden.com/pages/catalog 
 
Renee’s Garden Seeds started in 1985 by Renee Shepherd who set out to provide gardeners with the best seeds to grow and eat. Renee looks like someone you might meet in a community garden. Her beautiful seed packets are a welcome sight and are frequently found at independent nurseries.
 
Renee’s Garden has taken the safe seed pledge and sources their seeds from trusted growers around the world. They offer organic, heirloom, open pollinated and select hybrid seeds.
 
I have Renee’s Garden to thank for introducing me to one of my favorite crops – tromboncino squash. In a seed donation long ago, I found a packet of a peculiar squash. I was the director of a children’s garden at the time so I was always on the look out for fun vegetables to grow, especially if they were vigorous and productive. The description on the seed packet was enough and we grew our first tromboncino squash crop. Renee sells it now as the Trombetta di Alberga, other seed companies offer it as Tromboncino Squash.
 
No one I knew in the gardening world had heard of this variety and the internet wasn’t really a thing so we learned as we grew. The tromboncino was a marvel. Vigorous vines, lots of flowers and these light green, long fruit. They produced from June until the first frost and were delicious! Great, rich flavor when eaten raw and they stayed firm when cooked. A winner! It has been a garden staple since then.
 
Renee’s Garden specializes in seed pairings and mixes – like white and red scallions blended and sold as Delicious Duo. They offer multi colored beets, three colors of cherry tomatoes and more. I really appreciate that they list the name of varieties found in these blends.
 
These mixes are so alluring. From one seed packet, all these colors. I have had mixed results with these because although they are the same crop, they are different varieties that have unique growing habits. I have found that the earliest germinating variety typically crowds out the later sprouting seeds. I think wider seed spacing might help with this, I have better success when I plant single varieties side by side rather than intermingled, that’s just my experience.
 
Renee’s Garden is a wealth of information and garden education. Each seed packet has growing info and tips. The Garden Resources page on their website is comprehensive and inviting. This resource library has articles on just about anything an organic gardener might want to know. I could get lost there for hours. www.reneesgarden.com/blogs/gardening-resources
 
Here are a few of my favorites.
Summer Squash – Tromboncino or Trombetta di Alberga. The best summer squash ever. It loves to climb so be ready.
 
Cucumbers – Green Fingers. Persian baby cucumbers are a hit in the garden and in the kitchen. Grow these on a trellis for easy care. Harvest small fruits so that the vines continue to produce until early fall.
 
Hibiscus – Zinger. I have this on my list. Last season I saw the most amazing plant at a community garden. I searched it out and found it was hibiscus! I have been wanting to grow this for along time, 2024 may be the year.
 
Poppy – Lauren’s Dark Grape. This dark purple heirloom poppy is just what my garden needs this season. Three to five feet tall, with giant flowers this will put on a fantastic show and self sow.
 
Arugula – Italian. This arugula is memorable with large leaves and big flavor. It is smokey without being bitter or hot. It is quick growing, you could sow, grow and eat in a 4” pot for fresh greens year-round.

Seed packet photo credit: www.reneesgarden.com

tromboncino squash photo credit: Lisa Taylor

nigella photo credit: Lisa Taylor

Edible Garden Companion 

​Right on time. Learn what and when to plant and keep your edible garden growing year-round. Sign up for my Edible Garden Companion Digging Deeper and get a year of my monthly garden guides. You can sample this course ala carte by purchasing single months. https://www.gardenwithlisa.com/store/c11/ediblegardencompanion