​On the 13th Day of Seed Catalogs I bring you the rest of the list. These didn’t make the list but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worthy. Check them out, order up some more seed catalogs!
 
Seed Company Spotlight
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
 
Location: 2278 Baker Creek Road, Mansfield, MO 65704
Inquiries: [email protected]
Fax: 417-924-8887
Website: https://www.rareseeds.com/ 
Catalog Request: https://www.rareseeds.com/requestcat/catalog/  
 
 
Seed Company Spotlight
Botanical Interests
 
Location: 660 Compton Street, Broomfield, CO 80020
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-821-4340
Website: https://www.botanicalinterests.com
Catalog Request: https://www.botanicalinterests.com/pages/request-a-catalog
 
 
Seed Company Spotlight
Breck’s Bulbs
 
Location: PO Box 3979, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
Inquiries: [email protected]
Order Phone: 513-354-1511
Customer Service Phone: 513-354-1512
Website: https://www.brecks.com
Catalog Request: https://www.brecks.com/catalog_request
 
 
Seed Company Spotlight
Brent and Becky’s Bulbs  
 
Location: 7900 Daffodil Lane, Gloucester, VA 23061
Inquiries: https://brentandbeckysbulbs.com/contact
Phone: 1-877-661-2852  
Website: https://brentandbeckysbulbs.com
Catalog Request: “Request Catalog” link in banner on home page
 
 
 
Seed Company Spotlight
Park Seeds
 
Location: One Parkton Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29647 
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-845-3369
Website: https://parkseed.com
Catalog Request: https://parkseed.com/catalogrequest.aspx
 
 
Seed Company Spotlight
Pinetree Garden Seeds
 
Location: PO Box 300, New Gloucester, ME 04260
Inquiries: https://www.superseeds.com/pages/contact-us
Phone: 207-926-3400
Website: https://www.superseeds.com
Catalog Request: https://www.superseeds.com/pages/catalog-request-form
 
 
Seed Company Spotlight
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
 
Location: PO Box 460, Mineral, VA 23117
Inquiries: [email protected] include SESE in subject line.
Phone: 540-894-9480
Website: https://www.southernexposure.com
Catalog Request: https://www.southernexposure.com/categories/request-a-catalog/

Seed Company Spotlight
Sow True Seeds
 
Location: 243 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 828-254-0708
Website: https://sowtrueseed.com
Catalog Request: https://sowtrueseed.com/pages/catalog
 
 
Seed Company Spotlight
Tomato Growers Supply
 
Location: PO Box 60015, Ft. Meyers, FL 33906
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 239-768-1119
Website: https://tomatogrowers.com
Catalog Request: https://tomatogrowers.com/pages/catalog-request
 
 
Seed Company Spotlight
Victory Seed Company
Victory Seed Company   
 
Location: 8404 Sterling Street, STE A, Irving, TX 75063
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 817-382-8489
Website: www.victoryseeds.com
Catalog Request: https://victoryseeds.com/a/h/catalog/
 
  
Seed Company Spotlight
Wild Garden Seeds
 
Location: PO Box 1509, Philomath, OR 97370
Inquiries: https://www.wildgardenseed.com/contact_us.php
Phone: 541-9294068
Website: www.wildgardenseed.com
Catalog Request: www.wildgardenseed.com/requestcatalog.php


​Seed Company Spotlight
Ed Hume
 
Location: 11504 58th Ave E, Puyallup, WA 98373
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 253-435-4897
Website: https://humeseeds.com
Online Catalog Only: https://humeseeds.com/shop
 
 
 
Seed Company Spotlight
Filaree Garlic Farm
 
Location: 182 Conconully Road, Okanogan, WA 98840
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 509-422-6940
Website: www.filareefarm.com
Online Catalog Only: https://filareefarm.com/shop-seeds
 
 
Seed Company Spotlight
Seattle Seed Company
 
Location: PO Box 905, Freeland, WA 98249
Inquiries: [email protected]  
  www.seattleseed.com/pages/Contact-Us.html
Phone: 206-395-4769
Website: www.seattleseed.com
Online Catalog Only: www.seattleseed.com/categories/All-Seeds
 
Garden Planner
 
Get organized with a special Garden Planner! This Garden Planner is just what you need to create order from the chaos of paper floating about the house and garden work station! It comes in both a digital version and a printable one.
Check it out HERE: https://www.gardenwithlisa.com/store/c15/garden-planner

Seed Company Spotlight
The Thyme Garden
 
Location: 20546 Alsea Hwy, Alsea, OR 97324
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 541-487-8671
Website: https://www.thymegarden.com/
Catalog Request: https://www.thymegarden.com/catalog
 
The Thyme Garden is a family operated seed farm and nursery along the Alsea River in Oregon’s Coast Range Mountains about 25 miles southwest of Corvallis on Highway 34. Started in 1989, this is an 80-acre farm with 3 acres of special cultivated gardens. I could see the farm fields, greenhouses and circular gardens from Googe Maps satellite view.
 
If you are on a quest for unique herbs this is the place. They grow and offer more than 400 varieties of plants. Want to eat more flowers? They have a wonderful collection. Want to grow fiber or dye plants? They’ve got it covered. Looking for a special variety of hop vine for your specialty brew that will thrive where you live? They offer over 30 different types and they’ll match the hop to your region of the United States!
 
I have not received their catalog yet but I look forward to its arrival. Here’s what they have to say about this little publication – “Our 64 page catalog doubles as an herbal encyclopedia, with 30+ years of information on the incredible variety of herbs, hops and flowers we have added to our collection. . . . lots of herbal lore, historic and current uses, and all the basics you want to know about an herb: each listing includes growing cycles (annual/biennial/perennial), light preferences, and height at maturity.” This sounds like perfect January reading.
 
The Thyme Garden sells their herb and hop starts at the Corvallis Farmers Market and at 1st Alternative Natural Foods Coop in Corvallis. You can visit the nursery and display gardens from April through August, check website for hours and dates. https://www.thymegarden.com/nursery
 
On your visit you can explore the special display gardens. Each garden holds a thematic group of plants. These six unique displays demonstrate how you might use these plants in your garden.
 
The Moon Garden. These plants have silver and gray foliage or white flowers that look great in the moonlight.
 
Household Herbs. This collection of herbs includes dye and fiber plants that people have used for centuries.
 
Thyme Garden. A whole garden of thyme, with an eyepopping collection that offers a wild mix of colors, fragrances, growing habits and texture.
 
Culinary Garden. The world and its culinary herbs are found herer, including rare and unique varieties.
 
Edible Flower Garden. Get more colors on your plate with edible flowers. They go way beyond borage, pansies and calendula in this display. Grow a rainbow salad.
 
Wildlife Garden. These plants provide colorful blooms and nectar for native wildlife and pollinators.
 
Two of their collections have really captured my imagination. Each collection includes packets of seeds, growing instructions and history of uses.
 
Dye and Fiber collection. Since I am new to growing my own dye plants and don’t really know where to start, I appreciate this collection of 6 plants. Hopi Red Dye Amaranth (Amaranthus) - Red Dye, Calendula - Orange Dye, Calliopsis - Yellow Dye, Golden Marguerite -Yellow to Orange Dye, Weld - Yellow Dye, Woad - Blue Dye
 
Everlasting Flower collection. I am a huge fan of cut flowers and this is a collection has long stand varieties as well as those that are great for dried arrangements. Collection includes seed packets, growing tips and basic drying instructions.
Baby’s Breath, Blue Star Eryngium, Bells of Ireland, Nigella, Statice, Strawflower
 
The more I learn about The Thyme Garden, the more I want to see it in person. I think a road trip is shaping up for 2024!

​Seed Company Spotlight
Peace Seedlings
 
Location: 2385 SE Thompson Street, Corvallis, OR 97333
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: none listed
Website: http://peaceseedlingsseeds.blogspot.com
Online Catalog Only: http://peaceseedlingsseeds.blogspot.com
 
Update: I was so sad to learn of Alan's passing on November 11, 2023. Meeting him and hearing him talk about seeds was a highlight of my life. Thank you Alan, you are an enduring inspiration. 

I conclude the 12 Days of Seed Catalogs in the best place possible – Peace Seedlings, a small farm and seed breeding operation in Corvallis, Oregon. Peace Seedlings is Dylana Kapuler, her partner Mario DiBenedetto and baby Calypsa. They are the offspring of Alan and Linda Kapuler’s Peace Seeds. They are organic public domain seed breeders, growers and distributors who specialize in Andean tubers. Everything they sell is grown, cleaned and packed by Dylana and Mario. Since everything is grown in Corvallis and is regionally adapted to grow well there, this is a great resource for Maritime Northwest gardeners – especially summer crops that are harder to grow in our temperate climate.
 
For me, Alan and Linda Kapuler are the parents of West Coast seed saving and breeding. Peace Seeds started in 1975 with a focus on breeding plants for nutrition and preserving heirloom varieties. In the name of better health, Alan and his family have been breeding plants for nutrition rather than shelf life and appearance. Their Original varieties also happen to be regionally adapted, easy to grow, unique and beautiful. Peace Seeds and Peace Seedling seeds are all in the public domain so you can grow, save and sell their varieties, just give credit where it is due.
 
If you are lucky, you might run into Mushroom (Alan) and family at Energy Park at the Oregon Country Fair which is held each year in July outside of Veneta, Oregon. He might even have some seed to sell. www.oregoncountryfair.org  
 
Ever wondered how F1 Hybrids become open pollinated varieties? This article demystified the whole process for me. It has just the right amount of science, I was grateful for this education. You’ll find it on the “old” Peace Seeds website, http://www.peaceseedslive.com. It’s called Diploids, Hybrids, Landraces and Grexes and is written ​by Alan M. Kapuler PhD, Dylana Kapuler, Mario DiBenedetto, Linda Kapuler. Here’s a link to the pdf. http://www.peaceseedslive.com/uploads/9/4/8/5/94858306/diploids_hybrids_landraces_and_grexes.pdf
 
 
Dive into their electronic catalog, you’ll be delighted with what you find. This year, I’m after something new. Here’s what I found, descriptions are from http://peaceseedlingsseeds.blogspot.com
 
Onion – Rosy Opal. “Beautiful tasty large pink sweet onions. A great sweet onion that stores into winter. Bred by Peace Seeds and Peace Seedlings.”
 
Corn, sweet – Fire on the Mountain Sweet. “Vigorous cold hardy small colorful plants, with early beautiful dark multi-colored cobs, a child of Painted Hill Sweet Corn. Bred by Peace Seedlings.” 
 
Artichoke- Andrey’s. “5-foot tall, vigorous, hardy plants, from Andrey Baranovski of Belarus, seems like an artichoke/cardoon cross.”
 
Lettuce – Fever. “Bronze loose-leaf romaine, very beautiful.”
 
Radicchio – Winter Miscela. “Interbreeding population of 6 radicchios, beautiful winter salad. Peace Seedlings breeding.”
 
Bell Pepper – Peace Bell. “Peace Seedlings original. Years selecting to get this new open pollinated red bell. Dense plants loaded with large thick fleshed fruits.”   
 
Cucumber- Mideast Peace. “Great smooth skinned non-bitter type, 4 to 6 ft vines with many sets of 5-7 inch fruits. Peace Seeds original.” 
 
Beans, pole – Withner’s True Cornfield pole. “Heirloom passed on to Peace Seeds by the great orchidologist Carl L. Withner.”
 
Pea, snap – Ruby Crescent HT Snap Vine. “Beautiful red snap peas with purple flowers that grow on hyper-tendril vines, Peace Seedlings breeding.”
 
Tomato – Geranium Kiss. “Stocky 2 ft determinate plants, with hyper-tresses of 20-70, 1oz fruits, 3-4 sets, a ‘one stake wonder.’ Unique Peace Seeds original.”
 
Tomato – Peacevine Cherry. “Vigorous indeterminate vines, great tasting cherry high in vitamin C and GABA, an amino acid and neurotransmitter. Peace Seeds original.”
 
Zinnia – Yell Fire. “Tall plants with long stems holding transforming multitone flaming flowers. Peace Seedlings original.”
 
This is a grass roots company so there isn’t an online store and they no longer offer a printed catalog. It is a little like stepping back in time, when things were less electronic and more paper and pen. The instructions on the website.
 
You’ll write down your order, figure the cost, add shipping for seeds and additional shipping for tubers – put it in an envelope with a check or money order and send it the Seedlings directly. They will lovingly package your order and send it to you. I love everything about this company.

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TWO MORE DAYS
There are many more worthy and excellent seed companies that aren’t in the group. On the 13th Day of Seed Catalogs I will post the rest of the list and their digits. AND for those of you looking for high quality tools, on the 14th Day of Seed Catalogs I will post my favorite tool companies for backyard gardeners.
STAY TUNED

Seed Company Spotlight
Territorial Seed Company
 
Location: PO Box 158, Cottage Grove, OR 97424
Store Location: 20 Palmer Aveune, Cottage Grove, OR 97424
Store Phone: 541-942-0510
Inquiries: https://territorialseed.com/pages/contact-us
Phone Orders: 1-800-626-0866
Customer Service/Gardening Questions: 541-942-9547
Website: https://territorialseed.com/
Online Store: https://territorialseed.com/collections
Catalog Request: https://territorialseed.com/pages/catalog-form
 
Territorial Seed Company is my original seed hook up. I have grown Territorial Seed for 3 decades with fantastic results. This company and farm was founded in 1979 by Steve Solomon in Lorane, Oregon. Yep, the author of the classic book Growing Vegetable West of the Cascades. The mission from the start has been to “help growers produce fresh-from-the-garden food year ‘round.” Steve and his crew began extensive vegetable trials in gardens around Eugene and Cottage Grove.
 
The Johns family has been running the company since 1985 and continue that tradition and offer unique varieties that perform well in the Maritime Northwest climate. They offer organic, open pollinated, heirloom and select F1 varieities. They have taken the safe seed pledge so every seed is gmo free. Their mission remains the same: “to improve people's self-sufficiency and independence by enabling gardeners to produce an abundance of good tasting, fresh from the garden food, twelve months a year.”
 
My four favorite vegetable varieties of all time came from Territorial Seed
 
Bean, snap, pole – Malibu, 75 days. I never really knew what I wanted in a green bean until I tasted Malibu. Rich, deep green bean flavor, great snap and no string (it never get stringy no matter the size of the pod). This is my number one snap bean. It climbs to 8’ or 10’ and produces from late June until the first frost.
 
Lettuce – Marshall, 65 days. I love dark red and purple vegetables so I tried this deepest, darkest of all red romaines the first time I saw it offered. This lettuce is jaw-droppingly beautiful. Whenever I see it in the garden, it stops me in my tracks, I am not exaggerating.
 
Lettuce – Flashy Trout’s Back or Forellenschluss, 55 days. This is one of the most popular heirloom romaine lettuces. If you’ve ever grown it, you know why – it is delicious, easy to grow and beautiful. Dark green leaves with red speckles it is fantastic in the garden and salad.
 
Onion – Pacific Pearl, 50 days. This one can be planted almost year-round and grows quickly for an allium. Plant a new crop each month for an everlasting supply. Harvest like scallions or let plants with abundant green leaves grow out and form cute pearls.
 
I found myself actively shopping as I perused the Spring 2024 catalog. The following have been added to my wish list.
 
Perennial Kale and Collards are awesome, they don’t grow from seed (and don’t produce much in the way of flowers) so tree kale and collards are propagated from starts. Territorial Seed offers Purple Tree Collards and the green and white variegated Kosmic Kale.
 
Two new-to-me snap pole beans that I am eager to try.
Bean, snap, pole – Sunshine, 65 days. Long, round, stringless and yellow. This one needs a tall trellis.
 
Bean, snap, pole – Seychelles, 55-65 days. This is the earliest pole bean with a very long harvest period. It is tasty and highly productive. I see it offered by many of seed companies – it must be work a try.
 
Because I can my own salsa and pasta sauce, I like to grow sauce or paste tomato varieties. These are generally longer to ripen so finding shorter season varieties continues to be one of my pursuits. The photo and name caught my attention and the description got me.
​
Tomato, paste – Banana Legs, 75 days. These unusual, 4” oblong yellow tomatoes are “truly in a category of their own.” They are tasty fresh like a slicing tomato but look like a yellow roma with metallic golden streaks.

Seed Company Spotlight
Uprising Seeds
 
Location: 1501 Fraser Street, STE 105, Bellingham, WA 98229
Inquiries: [email protected]
   https://uprisingorganics.com/pages/contact-us
Phone: 360-778-3749
Website: https://uprisingorganics.com/
Online Catalog Only: https://uprisingorganics.com/collections  
 
Uprising Seeds is a small family farm that raising certified organic seeds. They are located in Bellingham. Started in 2007, they provide quality seeds with a focus on culinary qualities that have often been forgot by mainstream grocery markets. You won’t find any hybrid varieties in their collection, all of their seeds are 100% open pollinated and certified organic and grown by small farms in the PNW. Their varieties are well adapted to the Maritime Climate because they were grown here.
 
They grow about 70% of their seeds and fill out their catalog offerings by sourcing from a network of family farms in Washington, Oregon, Northen California and Idaho. Check out their grower network here: https://uprisingorganics.com/pages/our-growers 

For every seed in their collection, they acknowledge who grew it, the seed’s history and the legacy of how they acquired the seeds. Every variety has a new story to tell. Their store is closed now as they prepare for 2024 but will reopen in January. You can browse their 2023 catalog online, you just can’t order right now.
 
They offer seeds from around the world with many Italian and French heirlooms. They are passionate about chicory and have 18 varieties from Italy. They are raising the awareness of this delicious crop with the hopes of establishing it as an “anchor of the fall and winter produce season here in North America.”
 
Here are some I have grown and would recommend.
 
Lacinato Kale – Dazzling Blue, 60 days. I love colorful vegetables and this is the most beautiful dino kale ever. Deep purple-blue veins and dark, dark green leaves it grows into a massive plant if you give it some space. Plant in the spring and harvest until late fall. Plants that overwinter will put on flower buds or run ups that can be eaten like broccoli raab. Dazzling!
 
Lettuce – Austrian Yellow Leaf, 50 days. This loose-leaf lettuce is similar to Black Seeded Simpson but stands taller in a tighter bunch so leaves are easy to harvest and stay off the ground. It is bright chartreuse in color and glows in the sunshine. Plant it next two Marshall Lettuce or Ruby Streaks Mustard for amazing contrast. This one is cold hardy and slow to bold so it is a great choice for late spring plantings.
 
Mustard – Ruby Streaks, 35 days. This one is beautiful, hardy and delicious. It has a smoky, pungent flavor without bitterness or heat. I like to sow crops in July and August. Some will be ready for fall/winter harvest while the later sowing will overwinter, growing steadily through the cold into a massive plant in February and March.
 
Browsing their vegetables it is easy to get carried away and want to grow everything. Here are a few I have added to my wish list.
 
Bean, snap, bush – Tanya’s Pink Pod, 40-50 days. This one would be great on a trellis at Barbie’s Dream House, these pink bean pods are so good. I would grow this one just to find out if it stays pink when cooked.
 
Hot Pepper – Biquinho Red and Yellow, 85 days. These were recommended by my friend Laura Matter and they sound amazing. Little bird beak peppers are fruity like their cousin the habanero but will little heat – I am a big fan of the mildest of hot peppers and these cuties fit the bill.

Seed Company Spotlight
Strictly Medicinal
 
Location: PO Box 299, Williams, OR 97544
Inquiries: [email protected]
Fax: 541-846-0872
Website: https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com
Catalog Request: https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/catalog-request  
 
Strictly Medicinal Seeds is a family farm and seed company located in southern Oregon. Run by the Cech family, it started in 1985 as Horizon Herbs. I have looked to them for decades as the source for unusual, important herbs.
 
They offer a wide range of medicinal plants and seeds. They also sell seeds for vegetables, edible flowers, culinary herbs, dye plants and more. Their “seeds and plants are GMO-free, untreated, open-pollinated, and packed with love!” All of their seeds are public domain with “no patents or genetic engineering allowed.” If you are looking to add some medicinal plants to your garden then this is the place for you.
 
The black and white catalog printed on newsprint is barebones. There are only a few illustrations so keep your phone handy to lookup new-to-you species. The descriptions provide plenty of information about zones and growing habit and appearance. You are kind of on your own to learn about the uses and preparations of these plants. They do have some books and seed saving supplies. My copy arrived with an Ursula Le Guin stamp. This catalog feels friendly and familiar, it is surprisingly educational.
 
As the name suggests, their catalog is chock full of medicinal plants. This is one of the most educational catalogs that I have received. For instance, on the last page before ordering information, there is a page of Yucca and Agave seeds. I am vaguely aware of these plants . . . how are they medicinal or useful? Are they edible? And so my self-guided garden education continues.
 
Whereas some seed companies pride themselves on multiple varieties of vegetable or flower crops, Strictly Medicinal can pride itself on offering multiple varieties of herbs. Their collection is eye-opening and astonishing. Here are some medicinal seeds I discovered.
 
1 kind of Chickweed
2 kinds of Ashwagandha
3 kinds of Arnica
4 kinds of Tulsi
5 kinds of Valerian
6 kinds of Rhubarb
 
They offer 9 kinds of Plantain, Plantaginaceae, who knew there were that many different varieties of this very common pot herb. Then there are plants you just never expect to see such as Russian Rhodiola, Holy Saffron, Scarlet Pimpernel, Stinging Nettles, Pearly Everlasting and Wild Indigo.
 
This is a unique collection of plants and there are so many choices. I think one of their collections might be the perfect place to start.  Herb, vegetable and flower collections help narrow down all the choices. These collections have any where from 7 to 48 packets of seeds. Here are some that you might like.
 
Herbal Resilience – 7 packets. Artemisia annua; Ashwagandha, Vedic; Astragalus; Burdock, Gobo; Marshmallow; Pepper, Thai Volcano; Spilanthes, Official.
 
Edible Flowers – 7 packets. Bean, Scarlet Runner; Borage; Calendula, Mixed; Nasturtium, Jewels; Love in the Mist; Shungiku; Violet, Heartsease
 
Tasty Tea – 7 packets. Basil, Kivumbasi Lime (Ocimum africanum = African Tea Basil); Greek Mountain Tea; Chamomile, German; Balm, Lemon; Marshmallow; Nettles; Tulsi–Temperate
Survival Medicine Garden – 8 packets. Burdock; Calendula; Comfrey; Dandelion; Wild Lettuce; Self Heal; Valerian; Yarrow
Dye Plants – 8 packets. Amaranth, Hopi Red Dye; Chamomile, Dyer’s; Japanese Indigo, Pink-Flowered; Madder; Marigold, French; Nettles; Our Lady’s Bedstraw; Sunflower, Hopi Black Dye
 
Order up a catalog and start growing your own medicine. Have fun on your herb garden journey. 

Seed Company Spotlight
True Leaf Market
 
Location: 175 West 2700 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 801-491-8700
Website: https://www.trueleafmarket.com/
Online Catalog Only: https://www.trueleafmarket.com/
 
Since 1974 True Leaf Market has been offering carefully selected seed brands. They offer conventional, organic, Asian, F1 and sprouting seeds. They are a non-gmo seed company located in Salt Lake City, Utah. They offer an extensive collection of vegetable, grain, flower and herb seeds.
 
What I like are their sprouting and microgreen mixes. To assist in the growing of these tiny crops, they also sell lights and seed starting supplies. They also carry other products to help you eat what you grow. The have fermentation gear, soymilk and tofu kits, juicers and food preservation supplies.
 
The most endearing thing about True Leaf Market is the CPO (Chief Pest Officer), Taylor the Warehouse Cat. I love this natural approach to pest control!
 
Microgreen Seeds 
Separated by herb, flower and colorful they offer dozens of options. I was immediately drawn to the colorful category. Any time I can add color to my plate, I am in. This is a most beautiful collection. They offer several different beet and chard seeds, dozens of colorful radishes as well as purple basil and kohlrabi. I hadn’t thought of growing Shiso microgreens – that would add color and flavor to noodles, soups or rice.
 
Borage for microgreens! I have never seen this before except with wild self-sown patches in the garden. Tiny borage leaves taste like cucumber and are fresh and crispy. Older leaves have little spines that are less inviting for fresh nibbling. I think growing a quick crop of borage microgreens is in my future.
 
I grew microgreens with students and families this year and chose their Organic Basic Salad Mix. This was a tasty blend of five brassicas -- Waltham 29 Broccoli, Vates Blue Scotch Curled Kale, Purple Vienna Kohlrabi, Slow Bolt Arugula, and Red Acre Cabbage. I found that I could cut one crop and let it regrow as baby greens or small starts I could transplant. I bought a pound of seed and still have plenty for winter growing.

If the choices are overwhelming, check out their variety pack. It contains 12 different crops – Broccoli, Purple Radish, Spicy Salad Mix, Beet, Nasturtium, Cilantro, Garden Cress, Sunflower, Pak Choi, Shiso, Orach and Pea.
 
If you are new to growing microgreens, then head over to the starter guide. You can learn how to use both soil and soil-less growing methods.
https://www.trueleafmarket.com/pages/growing-microgreens-starter-guide
 
Sprouting Seeds
I am crazy for crunchy, homegrown sprouts. So easy to grow in a jar on the counter, sprouted seeds are packed with nutrition, crunch and flavor. I especially like sprouted lentils and mung beans. True Leaf Markets selection of sprouting seeds has expanded my repertoire.
 
I grew their “Kick Mix” for classes and we liked the sprouts but they were spicey! Now I know what they mean by “kick!” Next time I will grow a mix with milder seeds like clover, alfalfa and chia seeds.

Seed Company Spotlight
Seed Saver’s Exchange
 
Location: 3094 North Winn Road, Decorah, IA 52101
Inquiries: https://shop.seedsavers.org/contact
Phone: 563-382-5990
Heritage Farm Location: 3074 North Winn Road, Decorah, IA 52101
Visitor’s Center Phone: 563-382-6104
Website: https://seedsavers.org/
Online Store: https://shop.seedsavers.org
Catalog Request: https://shop.seedsavers.org/request-a-catalog
 
The modern movement to save seeds and preserve plant diversity started here with Seed Savers Exchange. Founded in Missouri in 19975 by Diane Ott Whealy and Kent Whealy with just two seed, they introduced gardeners, farmers and the general public to the practice of saveing heirloom seeds.
 
Two seeds can go big things. ”Diane’s grandfather, Baptist John Ott, entrusted to them the seeds of two heirloom open-pollinated varieties, Grandpa Ott’s Morning Glory and German Pink Tomato. These seeds—brought by Grandpa Ott’s parents from Bavaria (Germany) when they immigrated to Iowa in 1884” and the rest is history.
​
They have not grown all the seed themselves but have fostered a network of gardeners and farmers now called The Exchange who offer heirloom varieties that they are stewarding. It is mind-boggling how many people are keeping heirloom seed traditions alive. The Seed Savers Exchange Yearbook has been an amazing resource for decades.

“Today SSE houses the nation’s largest nongovernmental seed bank of its kind (some 20,000 varieties) at Heritage Farm, 890 scenic acres in Winneshiek County, Iowa. Here we not only safeguard these varieties for generations to come but also encourage gardeners and farmers worldwide to grow, harvest, and share heirloom seeds as well as recount the inspirational stories behind them. We also educate gardeners on gardening and the time-honored and critical practice of seed saving.” Each year they grow out select varieties to keep their stocks fresh and back up their collection in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.
Heritage Farm is a real, working farm that you can visit in Decorah. You’ll find the Lillian Goldman Visitors Center which also houses a Gift and Garden Store. Explore the hiking trails, display gardens and historic orchard. During the growing season they offer classes and events. Find out more about visiting Heritage Farm here https://seedsavers.org/about/visit/
 
The original two. Why not grow the two seeds that started it all?
 
Tomato – German Pink, 85-90 days from transplant. Since this is the first seed that the Whealy’s started with it is worthy of consideration. This is a potato leaf beefsteak type tomato that produces very large – 1 to 2 pound – fruit. This may not be the best choice for our cool short season climate but if you are growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, this is one to try.
 
Morning Glory – Grandpa Otts. The other original seed that started our modern seed saving movement, this is a true morning glory, not our invasive bindweed. We have grown these over the years and have found them beautiful but certainly not aggressive, like their invasive name’s sake. They are stunning on a trellis and will climb 15’ or more. The purple and magenta flowers are breathtaking, when the sun is just right, they glow!
 
Here's a bell pepper that does well in Maritime Northwest gardens.
 
Sweet Pepper – King of the North, 70 days from transplant. If you want to grow a bell pepper that will ripen on the vine in our short season Maritime Northwest summers, then King of the North is a good choice. Sturdy plants are resistant to late blight and produce full sized bell peppers. Support pepper plant with a tomato cage or sturdy stakes.
 
I love growing and eating ground cherries – all new-to-me varieties go directly on my wish list. Seed Savers Exchange offers two that I want to try.
 
Ground Cherry – Drott’s Yellow, 55 days from transplant. This heirloom came from “Exchange lister Thomas Jerde who acquired this variety in 1986 when he bought a home in Minneapolis from the Albert Drotts family and discovered the ground cherry growing in the garden.” The fruit is exceptionally sweet and produces earlier than most ground cherries.
 
Ground Cherry – Loewen Family Heirloom, 80 days from transplant. As part of The Exchange, this variety has been “passed down through at least four generation of women.” It came from Russia via Canada in 1925. Produces smaller yet sweeter fruit than the popular Aunt Molly’s ground cherry.

Seed Company Spotlight
Snake River Seed Cooperative
 
Location: no physical location
Inquiries: https://snakeriverseeds.com/pages/contact-us
Phone: none available
Website: https://snakeriverseeds.com
Online Catalog Only: https://snakeriverseeds.com/collections/all-seeds
 
I found Snake River Seed Cooperative when I was doing edible gardening talks in libraries in North Idaho. I am always interested in matching gardeners with seed growers in their region. I was delighted to find a Snake River Seed Cooperative seed packet display in Coeur d’ Alene, ID at the wonderful natural food store, Pilgrim’s Market https://www.pilgrimsmarket.com.
 
Snake River Seed Cooperative is “a collective of family farmers in the Intermountain West who work together to produce a wide diversity of regionally-adapted seeds.” If knowing where and how your seed is produced is important to you, then this is the place for you. The Cooperative works with “about 50 small-scale, family farms to steward over 350 varieties of seeds. With each generation of planting, selecting, and saving, our seeds are becoming more adapted to our unique place on earth.” Snake River Seed Co-op wants you to know where your seed comes from, so each seed in their catalog lists the farm where it was grown. Meet the seed growers here https://snakeriverseeds.com/pages/meet-the-co-op-growers
 
“Planting environments in the Intermountain West vary greatly including Arid High Desert, Urban, and High Mountain regions.” The Intermountain West includes Eastern Washington and Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada. To assist gardeners succeed in these challenging conditions, Snake River Seed Co-op has worked with their members to create planting guides for this varied, rugged and extreme growing region. These free planting guides cover Zones 3b-7a and are regionally specific. There’s one for Moscow Idaho and for the five valleys region of Western Montana, more guides are in the works. Take a look here. https://snakeriverseeds.com/pages/planting-guides
 
You can order seeds on line or if you live in the Intermountain West, use their interactive map to find a retailer near you. https://snakeriverseeds.com/pages/find-our-seeds
 
Because the farmers in Snake River Seed Co-op are in the Intermountain West which is characterized by short seasons, cold weather and extreme exposure, this is a great source for summer crops like tomatoes, peppers, beans and winter squash.
 
The descriptions are wonderfully quirky and funny yet still give you an idea of what you’re getting and what each variety brings to the table and garden. Here are some summer crops which grabbed my attention. I will include the description of Snow White cherry tomato – you’ll have to visit their website for more fun reading.
 
Tomato – Snow White Cherry, 75 days.
“Who needs Prince Charming when you have this delicious cherry?!
The dwarves can take the day off and the prince can go knock on some other sucker's door--Snow White's got it growin' on all by herself with this scrumptious cherry that ripens from creamy white to pale yellow. Indeterminate and proud of it, she cranks out oodles of yummy, crack-resistant fruits. Open-pollinated. Seeds grown by Affinity Farm in Moscow, Idaho.”

Tomato – Cream Sausage, 80 days. The name got me, the description won me over. This is a light yellow 3”-4” oblong tomato that grow on determinate plants. They are great dried or used fresh in salsas or salads. Grown by Earthly Delights Farm in Boise, Idaho.
 
Bush Beans – Magic Mix, 55 days. Grown by Fellowship Farms in Paul, Idaho, they come with a warning that this delicious and productive bush bean mix might lead to “wild adventures.” Enjoy a season of “rambunctious abundance” with this mix of their best green, purple and yellow bush beans.
 
Collards – Sexy Mama, 60 days. I am a fool for collard greens. They are so hardy and delicious, I grow them most seasons. This one is a hardy cross between collards and kale that has bumpy leaves with frilly edges. I loved this one enough to save my own seeds. Grown by Earthly Delights Farm in Boise, Idaho.
 
 
 

Seed Company Spotlight
West Coast Seeds
 
Location: 5300 34B Avenue, Delta, B.C. V4L 2P1 
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 1-888-804-8820
Retail Store: 5300 34B Avenue, Delta, B.C. V4L 2P1 
Retail Store Inquiries: [email protected]
Retail Store Phone: 604-952-8820
Website: https://www.westcoastseeds.com
Online Store: https://www.westcoastseeds.com/collections/seeds#
Catalog Request: https://www.westcoastseeds.com/pages/request-catalogue
 
 
The Maritime Northwest climate does not recognize borders or state lines. Our unique climate runs from Cottage Grove, Oregon to Vancouver, B.C. and much of Vancouver Island. From the Cascade Mountains to the coast. I have been exploring the gardening world in this area for 30 years. My search has included British Columbia where I found this wonderful seed company.
 
West Coast Seeds is a family-owned company that started in 1983 in Vancouver, B.C. They are a long-time supplier for organic farmers and gardeners seeking high quality seeds and supplies. They are one of the founding signers of the Safe Seed Pledge and sell only non-GMO seeds. They offer “over 1,100 varieties of untreated, non-genetically modified seeds. For us, organic is about much more than saying no to chemicals, it is about saying yes to building a healthy soil for the future.” Their retail store and 10-acre farm and trial garden are located Delta, B.C. – just across the border and on the way to the Tsawwassen Ferry.
 
West Coast Seeds offers an extensive selection of vegetable, flower and herb seeds. They also offer a generous selection of tools and other supplies. Their sister company Pinebush Home and Garden has great tools, birdfeeders, mason bees and much, much more. Check out their selection at https://www.westcoastseeds.com/pages/pinebush
 
Education is a big part of what West Coast Seeds provides. I really love their digital planting guides. I opened the Fall and Winter version and it was beautiful to look at and filled with fantastic information on timing and crop varieties. Well done, West Coast Seeds! They produce an annual Gardening Guide, get the 2024 editions here https://www.westcoastseeds.com/pages/west-coast-seeds-2024-gardening-guide

West Coast Seeds offers shipping to the United States. They do not cannot ship plant stock, some seed varieties, and other items into the US. For US shoppers, their website indicates if something is “unavailable in US” so if you are browsing the print catalog, double check the website for availability.
I haven’t received my 2024 catalog yet so I’m browsing their extensive selection on their website. I found some varieties worth consideration.
 
Scallion – Kincho, 50 days. I am always looking for new green onions to grow. I prefer Japanese single stalk types – this is a new variety for me. It is quick to mature so would be great in succession plantings for multi-season harvests.
 
Winter Squash – Honey Boat Organic, 100 days. I love a good delicata squash and this organic, open pollinated variety has a wonderful name. It was bred at Oregon State University and grow into large bushes that don’t spread much. This is on my wish list.
 
Pac Choi – Taiwan, Brassica rapa chinensis, 35-45 days. Here’s a cool Pac Choi variety with mild leaves and thick, sweet, mild and juicy stalks. It can be planted as a spring or fall cool season crop. Yum!

Seed Company Spotlight
Salt Spring Seeds
 
Location: Box 444, Ganges P.O., Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada, V8K 2W1
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 250-537-5269, no phone orders
Website: https://www.saltspringseeds.com/
Online Catalog Only: https://www.saltspringseeds.com/collections/
 
My teacher and mentor, Carl Elliott introduced me to Dan Jason and Salt Spring Seeds back in the mid-1990’s. Dan Jason a farmer, author and forerunner in the movement to save heirloom seeds and protect crop diversity. He has done a lot of work with grains and pulses -- resulting in an astonishing collection. Salt Spring Seeds may not carry every crop know to the gardener but what they do offer is worth serious consideration – and a trip to Canada. I just love that Dan is waving hello from a flower field on the front page of the website – Hello Dan!
 
More about Dan Jason and Salt Spring Seeds
“Since 1976 he has lived on Salt Spring Island, BC, where he created the mail order seed company Salt Spring Seeds, which specializes in heritage and heirloom open-pollinated and non-GMO seed varieties of vegetables and plants. . . . As an active critic of genetically modified seeds, patents on living organisms and industrial agriculture in general, he is a dedicated educator on sustainable organic gardening and farming, food politics, seed saving, and a farmer of beautiful gardens full of vegetables, grains, medicinal and culinary herbs and flowers.”
 
Dan’s work doesn’t just stay on the farm. In 2002, he started the Salt Spring Seed and Plant Sanctuary which is a charitable organization dedicated to preserving seed diversity and encouraging local seed production. Learn more about this inspiring work here https://seedsanctuary.com/
 
Although they do not ship to the US, Salt Spring Seeds can be found in a number of retail stores in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. If you are traveling to Victoria or Vancouver, venture into one of these retailers for some seeds.  https://www.saltspringseeds.com/pages/in-stores
 
Salt Spring Seeds offers only and online catalog. It is easy to navigate with beautiful photos of plants, grains and flowers. Because of Dan Jason’s work with pulses (legumes) and grains, I headed to the fava bean collection first. Typically there will be one or two varieties of broad beans offered, here I found nine varieties! I have been in search of a purple fava bean for a decade – here I found a deep purple black variety! Here are four tantalizing fava bean varieties that I would travel to Canada to find.
​
Fava Bean – Black Russian. This is a rare Russian heirloom that is frost hardy and produces a bounty of pods filled with dark purple seeds. Beans can be eaten fresh or saved as a dry bean.
 
Fava Bean – Sunshine Coast. I am interested in any varieties that have been grown in my bio region. This one has been grown and selected on BC’s Sunshine Coast – a banana belt extending north of Vancouver, including the Strait of George and the east coast of Vancouver Island running north of Nanaimo, BC. This one sports white flowers and produces large pods and beans.
 
Fava Bean – Crimson Flowered. I am a fool for beautiful food plants and this fava variety is stunning. With flashy bright crimson blooms, it is a show-stopper. This is a shorter plant than most favas, just 3’ tall, and is a rare variety that was near extinction.
 
Fava Bean – Exhibition Long. If you want to grow a variety for eating and space is not a consideration then Exhibition Long Fava may be for you. These plants grow 5’ tall and produce foot-long pods with large beans. Grown on Gabriola Island, they should thrive in Maritime Northwest gardens.

Seed Company Spotlight
Siskiyou Seeds
 
Location: 3220 East Fork Rd., Williams, OR 97544 
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 541-415-0877
Website: https://www.siskiyouseeds.com/
Catalog Request: https://www.siskiyouseeds.com/
 
Small family-owned organic seed company and farm located in the Apple Gate valley of Southern Oregon between Medford and Cave Junction. They offer open pollinated, regionally grown and adapted seeds. They offer both print and online catalogs.
 
Siskiyou Seeds wants us to know where our seed comes from and who grew it. They produce about 60% of their seed from their “Certified Organic home farm, Seven Seeds Farm, and works with growers both in our local SW Oregon area and slightly farther afield to be able to offer a greater diversity of varieties. . . . We are committed to helping to foster a resilient seed system through having a network of skilled organic seed growers in the United States.
 
Large network of regional growers – some of these names are familiar! https://www.siskiyouseeds.com/pages/contributing-seed-growers I love reading through this list. Each entry contains so much information that helps you really know the farmers. They list the name of the farm, their latitude, who the farmers are, their farming approach (i.e. biodynamic), their certification, a bit of their history and what they bring to the network. I could spend a couple hours searching out these farmers and learning more about what they are doing.
 
Ground Cherry – Inca Berry, Physalis peruviana. Also known as Giant Groundcherry, this looks very cool. It is a native on the Andes and has been cultivated for millennia by the Inca people. This plant will produce more fruit if grown in marginal soils . . . I have just the spot. Grown by Seven Seeds Farm.
 
Their herbs are grouped in culinary and medicinal categories. There a couple things I found in the medicinal herb collection that are going on my wish list.
 
Spilanthes, Spilanthes acmella. Also called the Toothache Plant, chewing the leaves or buds will numb your mouth. It has an interesting flavor and sensation in small amounts added to cold drinks or salads. It is a good low border plant providing interest and color to the edge of garden beds. Grown by Seven Seeds Farm.
 
Nettles, Urtica dioica, 75 days. This is a northwest native perennial, usually called Stinging Nettles because of the spines on the leaves and stem the cause a stinging or burning sensation when you touch it with your skin. These are delicious, nutritious edible native plant and I have been wanting to establish a patch. This may be my year. Grown by Seven Seeds Farm.
 
Marshmallow, Althea officinalis. This is an easy to grow plant that are beloved by pollinators. It is well adapted to our wet Maritime Northwest climate and can grow in well-drained soil in part shade to full sun. Harvest the roots in winter to make food or medicine. Grown by Seven Seeds Farm.

Elecampane, Inula helenium. This striking perennial has been part of our landscape for decades. With large, broad leaves, the flower stalk grows to 7’ or more. It grows in part shade in moist soils. The root is tinctured for medicine. During ancient Roman campaigns, soldiers would could carry candied Elecampane root with them to treat digestive problems. Grown by Seven Seeds Farm.

​All images unless otherwise noted are from https://www.siskiyouseeds.com/ and are used for educational purposes only.

Seed Company Spotlight
Irish Eyes Garden Seeds
 
Location: 5045 Robinson Canyon Road, Ellensburg WA 98926
Inquiries: [email protected] 
Phone: 509-933-7150   509-933-7150, press 2
Website: https://irisheyesgardenseeds.com
Online Catalog Only: https://irisheyesgardenseeds.com
 
Irish Eyes Garden Seeds or Irish Eyes with a Hint of Garlic is a 100% family-owned, seed company that specialized in potatoes, garlic and short season seeds. They were one of the first companies to sell organic seed potatoes starting in 1989 in Ellensburg, WA. They have taken the safe seed pledge and sell organic and non-GMO seeds. I have always turned to Irish Eyes for my seed potatoes, garlic and shallots. They also offer a wonderful line of seeds.
 
Irish Eyes caters to the “small home gardener up to large wholesale suppliers. . . . By educating our customers and providing them with quality products, we are truly making a difference in people’s lives. We are a company that wants to be remembered for its dedication and promotion of organic farming and gardening practices.”
 
They really want to help you grow and have garden guides for just about all of their crops. Check out their resource library at https://irisheyesgardenseeds.com/growing-guides-home-growers/
 
They work with gardeners, retailers and farmers. You can find all the contact information and numbers here https://irisheyesgardenseeds.com/contact-us/
I frequently find Irish Eyes seed bulbs, roots and tubers at in my favorite garden stores or nurseries. Look for seed garlic, shallots and potatoes from Irish Eyes and know they are regionally produced. If you seed rhubarb crowns, asparagus and horseradish roots for sale, they may have been supplies by Irish Eyes.
 
One of the reasons I read seed catalogs is to learn more about growing different crops and how seeds are grown. When I pulled down the menu for potatoes, I saw Pre-nuclear and Nuclear listed and I was curious. This is what I learned:
 
“Pre-nuclear tubers are the earliest generation of potatoes available. These will produce the highest yields and have the highest disease resistance than any other seed potatoes. These are about marble sized when planted and require special care prior to planting. Pre-nuclear seed potatoes result in yield increases by 25- 200%. Perfect for the American homesteader wanting to save their own seed.”
 
Nuclear Potatoes. “These regular size nuclear seed potatoes have only been grown in native soil once. These seed potatoes still hold the amazing vigor of the pre-nuclear seed potatoes but at a smaller cost. They have gone through the same testing and visual inspections the pre-nuclears have gone through to meet certification standards.” The limited quantity are out of stock.
 
It is nice for folks who want to save potatoes to replant next season to have the option of buying pre-nuclear potatoes. Here are two that I like from the early season potatoes
 
Potato – OG Viking Purple. These dark purple potatoes with snow white flesh caught my eye. They store well and are great as mashed potatoes. Developed in the year of my birth, 1962 at North Dakota State University. I am adding this to my wish list.
 
Potato – Early Ohio. This looks like a lovely multipurpose potato. An heirloom for the 1900’s, it is great fried, roasted, mashed and boiled. Any way you like to eat potatoes, this one will please. It’s on my wish list.
 
 
 

​All images unless otherwise noted are from https://irisheyesgardenseeds.com and are used for educational purposes only.

Seed Company Spotlight
Burnt Ridge Nursery and Orchards
 
Location: 432 Burnt Ridge Road, Onalaska, WA 98570
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 360-985-2873
Website: www.burntridgenursery.com
Catalog Request: www.burntridgenursery.com/inforequest.asp
 
I met Michael Dolan about 30 years ago at the Tilth Edible Plant Sale. He was one of our outside vendors and sold all manner of fruit trees, shrubs, vines and other curious plants. He was so knowledgeable and extremely generous with his knowledge. His stuff was top rate and locally grown. I learned bushels just listening in on his conversations with customers.
 
Burnt Ridge Nursery and Orchards is a small operation but they have an extensive collection of rare and unusual edible nuts, berries and fruit. They are an organic operation so they concentrate on varieties that are naturally disease and pest resistant. They offer varieties that will thrive in colder regions with short seasons, most of their stock will also do well in warmer, longer season climates.
 
I found this description on the Olympia Farmers Market website, www.olympiafarmersmarket.com “Burnt Ridge is a family-owned farm, in business since 1980. Their 20-acre farm is located in the Cascade Mountains' foothills with a beautiful view of Mount St. Helens. Burnt Ridge's mail order nursery specializes in unusual and disease resistant trees, vines, and shrubs that produce edible nuts or fruits.”
 
You can find them at the Olympia Farmer’s Market during the season. They are often at the big Tilth Alliance Edible Plant Sale held in May in Seattle. They offer both print and online catalogs; their 2024 print edition will be mailed in January 2024.
 
Find the right tree and fruit for your patch. They frequently offer varieties grown on different root stock so you can find the fruit you want and the tree that is the right size for your landscape. My new favorite apple is Cosmic Crisp (sold in Washington state only) and Burnt Ridge offers a mini-dwarf on M9, large dwarf on M26 and large semi-dwarf on M106. Brilliant!
 
There were two plants that jumped out of their catalog. One was very familiar to me but I’ve never seen one at a nursery, the other was a complete unknown.
 
Monkey Puzzle Tree, Araucaria Araucana. Many of you know that I am quite taken with the Monkey Puzzle Tree which is the national tree of Chile. I have learned a great deal about them and I am raising two specimens from seed, they are 2 and 5 years old. If you want one of these very slow growing, prehistoric trees then you are in luck. Burnt Ridge offers 1 and 2 year old seedlings at reasonable prices.
 
Bush Chinkapin, Chyosolepis sempervirens is a new one for me. This variety is a small bush that grows is zones 6-9 and produces spiney chestnut-like fruit that contain delicious edible nuts. It is a broadleaf evergreen that grows 6’-12’ high and can grow in full sun or shade. Native from Northern California to Southern Oregon. Chinkapin are native to isolated pockets of western Washington.
 
Tour the Nursery and Orchard in 2024.
Whenever farmers and nursery people open their doors to the public, it is special. I am excited to see that Burnt Ridge is offering several tours this summer.
 
Tickets are on sale now for tours in July, August and September.
Tours happen from 10-12pm and 1:30-3:30pm
July 20, 2024
August 17, 2024
September 14, 2024
Reserve your spot, get tickets here
www.burntridgenursery.com/SpecialEvents.asp

Seed Company Spotlight
One Green World
Location: 6469 SE 134th Ave, Portland, OR 97236
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 1-877-353-4028
Website: https://onegreenworld.com
Online store: https://onegreenworld.com/shop/
Catalog Request: https://onegreenworld.com/product/catalog/
 
Established in 1994, One Green World is a family-owned nursery and garden store in Portland, Oregon. They specialized in rare and unique fruit and nut trees, and fruit bearing shrubs, vines and canes. They have a massive collection and their inventory expands all the time. I have been shopping One Green World since the beginning. Where once they offered a couple varieties of pomegranate, now they have 2 1/2 pages – 37 choices, many that will succeed in the Maritime Northwest.
 
They ship seeds & plants across the US. At their retail garden store they offer seasonal “fruit tasting, preservation and plant care classes as well as hold events in the community. We support local food sovereignty - grow your own One Green World!” These are not just PNW friendly varieties, they offer plants for all climates and conditions. Read through all the descriptions to find the varieties that thrive in your climate. The next time I am near Portland, I will make the trek to the store to see everything in person.
 
This catalog is a family favorite, it is a dream book, a real page turner. This is the wish book for gardeners and plant geeks. Color photos of many of the varieties and 153 pages to explore. Keep your garden planner handy so you can make your wish list.
 
There is so much in One Green World, so I browsed a couple plants that I’ve been thinking about for a while now.
 
Pineapple Guava – Coolidge and Anatoki. This plant is an old familiar of mine. There was one that grew along a path at the Good Shepherd Center, it never bore fruit but the flowers were delectable. Back when this specimen was planted there was probably only one variety available, now there are five varieties offered. This variety is early-ripening for Maritime Northwest gardeners. Although it is self-fertile, you will get better production if two are planted.
 
Wintergreen – Winter Splash Variegated. This looks like a stunning ground cover. It is an evergreen that grows just 6” tall and looks great year-round. Sold in quart size pot, it will slowly spread to a foot or more in diameter. It bears red berries that are sweet and taste like Wintergreen candy. This one will add startling beauty and flavor to the garden.

Seed Company Spotlight
Raintree Nursery
 
Location: 408 Butts Road, Morton, WA 98356
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-391-8892
Website: https://raintreenursery.com/
Online Catalog Only: https://raintreenursery.com/
 
Raintree Nursery is a family-owned company located in the cascade foothills between Mt. Rainier and Mt. Saint Helens. 2018, James and Rye Owen have been running the place since 2018. They continue a long history of providing gardeners fruiting plants that are not the typical grocery or big box store offering.
 
Raintree was one of the first nurseries to offer varieties of fruit that weren’t found in stores or markets. “In 1972, Sam Benowitz started Raintree with the mission of bringing the best edible plants from around the world to the Pacific Northwest. Over the years, Sam and a few friends traveled to dozens of countries to collect unique and delicious plants to propagate here in the US. Thanks to Sam, American gardeners are able to grow plants they never would have dreamed of tasting from all around the globe.”
 
Their mission is to bring to the American gardener fruiting plants that taste delicious and are easy to grow rather than varieties that are bred for looks and shelflike. Dive in and find familiar favorites and edible plants that you have never ever seen before.
 
There are so many different types of fruiting trees, shrubs, canes and vines it is difficult to narrow it down. I was immediately drawn to the Unique and Unusual Fruits collection. Here you’ll find olive, quince, Passiflora and hawthorn. I was excited to see several varieties of Cornus Mas or Cornelian Cherry – this is an excellent choice for small yards or gardens. All the gorgeous color photos of fruit are making me long for summer.
 
Check out the most unusual Medlar, a curious winter fruit that taste like cinnamon applesauce.
 
This is the place to find not-your-run-of-the-mill edible perennials. They offer odd tubers from the Andes such as Oca, Yacon and Mashua.
 
Look a little further and you’ll find Sechuan pepper, purple asparagus and Himalayan honeysuckle and many kinds of mushrooms
 
I was stunned to find 7 different kinds of paw paws – I had no idea!
 
You can’t go very far into the Raintree Nursery catalog with asking . . . "You can grow that?" Or "I didn’t know that was edible?" Or "What is that?" It is a fun adventure exploring all the different kinds of fruit bearing plants. If you want to visit the nursery, you can pick up your order in person – some years they offer tours and grafting classes. Check their website in early spring for any events.

Edible Garden Companion
Digging Deeper

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

Seed Company Spotlight
Nichols Garden Nursery
 
Store Location: 1136 Main Street, Philomath, OR 97370
Mailing Address: PO Box 1299, Philomath, OR 97370
Inquiries: [email protected]
[email protected]
Phone: 1-800-422-3985
Website: www.NicholsGardenNursery.com 
Online store: https://nicholsgardennursery.com/collections/all
Catalog Request: https://nicholsgardennursery.com/products/nichols-2023-descriptive-catalog-1
 
Nichols Garden Nursery is a family-owned company that has been providing “herbs, fine seeds and goods for the Gardener Cook since 1950.” The term gardener cook is new to me and I love it, it perfectly describes what I do as an edible garden educator.
 
This explains the big surprise I found in their seed catalog – Nichols Herb Teas, essential oils and dried herbs. If I lived in Philomath I would be shopping their retail store for the tea and culinary herb blends. Fortunately, these can all be mail ordered. I am adding Pioneer Sourdough Starter and lemon Nichols Natural Freshener to my wish list.
 
In 2023 they moved their store from Albany, Oregon to the cute little town of Philomath, Oregon. Their purpose is to “bring people closer to nature through gardening” and growing nutritious food. They want to supply the necessary supplies for this to happen. They have taken the safe seed pledge and they sell mostly organic and open pollinated and heirloom seeds with some selected F1 varieties.  
 
This a small catalog which features herbs and rare seeds. This seed collection is comprehensive yet concise. If you are overwhelmed by the massive collection at Johnny’s Selected Seeds, this could be your happy place. Printed on newsprint with few illustrations, this black-and-white, bare-bones catalog has just about every vegetable, herb and flower, just not multiple varieties of every-single-crop. Nichols Garden Nursery offers good reliable varieties that will be successful and productive for gardeners.
 
I am very appreciative of the botanical names for many of the more unusual crops. A few crops jumped out at me:
 
Burdock – Takinogawa Long, Arctium lappa. This is a variety of Gobo or Burdock that is grown for the nutritious root. In loose soil, as the name suggests, these roots can grow 2’ long. Full of nutrition and flavor, easy to grow.
 
Cardoon – Cardoon Porto, Cynara cardunculus. I have always loved growing this plant. Similar in shape and color to an artichoke. Cardoon is grown for its stalks. It can be half-hardy to tender but is a nonsense perennial in the Puget Sound area.
 
Chives – Chinese Fragrant, Allium ramosum. This is a new one for me and is different than Garlic Chives. Also known as flowering leek, you can use the leaves, stalk and edible flowers.

​All images unless otherwise noted are from www.NicholsGardenNursery.com or royalty-free sources and are used for educational purposes only

​Garden Planner
 
Get organized with a special Garden Planner! This Garden Planner is just what you need to create order from the chaos of paper floating about the house and garden workstation! It comes in both a digital version and a printable one.
Check it out HERE: https://www.gardenwithlisa.com/store/c15/garden-planner

Seed Company Spotlight
Adaptive Seeds
 
Location: 25079 Brush Creek Rd
Sweet Home, OR 97386
Inquiries: email is best [email protected]
Phone: (541) 367-1105 they do not take orders over the phone
Website: www.adaptiveseeds.com
Online Catalog Only: www.adaptiveseeds.com
 
I discovered Adaptive Seeds not long after they started and have been a fan ever since. Established in 2009 by Andrew Still and Sarah Kleeger, they are a certified organic, farm-based seed company near Sweet Home, Oregon. They are all about rare and diverse seed varieties that will grow well in the Pacific Northwest and other cold, short season climates. ‘We sell only public domain, open pollinated (OP) seed, as well as diverse gene pool mixes. All of our seed is grown by us or a few regional farms who help with isolation needs.” Indeed, several farms in their network are part of The 12 Days of Seed Catalogs.
 
Know where your seed comes from. Adaptive Seeds grows many of the seeds they offer, if they didn’t grow a seed, they tell who grew it and where it was grown. For instance, the Gulag Stars Kale blend was “produced by Wayward Acres in the Applegate Valley of Oregon.” Learn more about the network at www.adaptiveseeds.com/about-us/
 
The Adaptive Seed collection is robust and educational. I am a vegetable enthusiast who loves learning about and growing unusual varieties, this is where I go for something I have never heard of that also has a great story. They offer seeds in different sized packages, 1 gram to 4 oz and even as large as 1 pound. For each variety they sell, there is a wonderful description that includes history, culinary uses and growth habit. And since they only sell open pollinated seeds (no f1 hybrids every), they give information with each variety about how to save seeds. I love that.
 
Browsing Adaptive Seeds catalog is an adventure. I celebrate when I find a variety that I am familiar with and I dig deep all the new things there are to discover. I have not grown much chicory. I enjoy eating endive and radicchio, I was surprised to find 11 types of chicories in the catalog. All sizes, colors and shapes. I think  I need to grow some this season! With so many to choose from, I landed on a chicory mix.
 
Chicory – Bitter is Better. All leaf types from broadleaf to frilly and head shapes from loose rosette to head. This looks beautiful and sounds delicious. Can be sown March to August or in July to overwinter.
 
I enjoy growing and eating leeks. If you know me, you know that I always grow one or two leek crops each season in my garden. I am always looking for new leek varieties to try. I struck gold with Adaptive Seeds, they have four types that I’ve never seen before. Liege Giant Winter, Mechelen Blue Green Winter, Pancho and Verdonnet. Each one has an appeal. I might try that hardy Belgian winter leek this year.
 
Leek – Mechelen Blue Green Winter. This one is would thrive anywhere in the Maritime Northwest and even in colder climes since it is hardy down to -10°. “Not an especially long leek, this variety puts its growth energy into growing fat instead of tall.” This would work well in raised beds and in no-till gardening.
 
Sweet Pepper – Lesya. These heart-shaped pepper is from Ukraine ripens like a determinate tomato – all at once. Fruit are super sweet and rugged.