If you grow food from seed, you can eat interesting varieties you may never see in the produce aisle or at the farmers' market. And if you don't grow food, browsing in online seed catalogs may whet your appetite for unfamiliar or uncommon foods.
The following companies not only offer interesting open-pollinated varieties – which means you can save seed and it will breed true – but they also have a reputation for reliability and are economical choices for backyard gardeners. They charge $1-$3 per seed packet and 0-$3 per order for postage on small orders. By contrast, many of the seed companies that publish glossy colorful catalogs charge $4-7 or more for postage, even if you order a single packet. If you order from one of the following companies, you won't be forever plagued by catalogs that go immediately to the recycling bin.
If you're looking for tomato seeds, a great place to start is Tatiana's Tomatobase. This valuable resource provides descriptions and photos for thousands of tomato varieties, along with information on where to buy the seed. Tania also sells seed from the many tomatoes she grows each year in British Columbia.
Another reliable source for open-pollinated tomato seed is Gleckler Seedmen. Founded in the 1950s and known for providing seed of unusual varieties, it went out of business 15 years ago. When word got out that a young family member wanted to revive the business, tomato enthusiasts from around the world sent seed of choice varieties to Ohio, Adam grew out the plants and saved seed, and now Gleckler once again offers great varieties.
A small grower in Alberta, Canada, specializes in short-season tomatoes that may do better in the foggier and cooler microclimates of the Bay Area. All the varieties offered by Casey's Heirloom Tomatoes of Airdrie were grown in Jeff's backyard and are recommended by him.
The Sample Seed Shop, a small seed seller near Buffalo, New York, grows only a portion of the seeds she sells. Remy's mission is to offer smaller (but still generous) packets of seed so suburban and urban gardeners can try more varieties. She offers not only tomatoes, but also a great selection of beans and other vegetables, herbs, and flowers, many for only $1 per packet.
My favorite seed catalog is Sand Hill Preservation. Glenn and Linda are seed preservationists and, astoundingly, grow the huge variety of seed offered at their Iowa farm while working at full-time jobs. The descriptions are basic with no photos, no color, and no marketing language, but if you've gardened long enough to recognize some of the varieties, you'll appreciate what they offer. They don't charge postage if you order $10 or more. I also get the thick newsprint catalog, which gets dog-eared and annotated soon after I receive it in late winter.
Finally, if you grow open-pollinated plants and learn how to save your own seed, you can share it with other gardeners by participating in local seed libraries, neighborhood garden exchanges, or internet seed-swapping forums. I've shared and traded seed with growers from all over the United States as well as Slovenia and Canada.
© 2011 Tanya Kucak