It used to be that I could set my calendar by the seed and garden catalogs that started arriving on January 2nd each year. But now, using the same reasoning that stores use to display their Christmas items before Halloween, catalog companies seem to be starting earlier and earlier. I got my first one before Christmas, 2024.
I think that this all relates to the early bird getting the worm. In other words, if I get Catalog A first, chances are I will spend all my seed money there and not through Catalog B, C or D. At least that seems to be the reasoning of the brick and mortar stores these days.
Ah, but seed companies should realize that gardeners are consummate shoppers and will look at each and every catalog they get and pick what they want from each. Roses from David Austin, seeds from Territorial Seeds, supplies from Gardeners’ Supply, etc. Which, coincidentally, were the first three catalogs I received for 2025.
The David Austin English Rose Catalog has evolved into the David Austin Handbook of Roses. And it really is quite a beautiful and useful handbook this year. Now there are drawings and explanations of the different style or roses – hybrid tea, single, quartered rosette, button-eye and many more. I have always loved David Austin roses (I am an Anglophile) and they do great on the Tillamook coast as our climate is so similar to England, but the handbook will help me understand more about them. The handbook also has sample ideas of how to use roses in the garden, what type of roses do well in specific situations, and of course beautiful photographs and a directory of the roses they offer. All this to move the customer toward better success at growing roses. Roses sold in the US come from Texas but they are still grown for an English-type climate like ours.
The John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds catalog was the second to appear in the
mailbox. I like using John Scheepers seeds as they are GMO free and 100% untreated. This catalog doesn't rely on photographs of their products but drawings, which for me is their one drawback. While their main focus is vegetable seeds, they also do have a nice selection of flower seeds, most – but not all – are for annual flowers like sunflowers, cosmos and alyssum. They also have quite a few culinary herbs as well as unusual flowers like "Golden Jewels of Opar" and "Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate." For 2025, they have 3 pages full of tomatoes from main crop tomatoes to heirlooms and small-sized as well. Scheepers also has corn, squash, beans, peas and potatoes. Just about everything a nice-sized vegetable patch could want. Go to kichengardenseeds.com to order a catalog.
This is only one of many seed catalogs I get in the mail. Another favorite has been Territorial Seeds, an Oregon company in Cottage Grove that also does not carry GMO seeds. Request a Territorial catalog by going to https://territorialseed.com/pages/catalog-form .
And if you are looking for just about any kind of supplies for starting those seeds, Gardeners’ Supply is a great source. Kits for making raised beds, garden clogs, tools, hoses and all sorts of pots, planters and trellises are on offer and many at sale prices. These items can be found online at www.gardeners.com or by calling 1-800-427-3363.
More catalogs will be coming in the next couple of weeks as we all get inspired for a new, bigger and better season of gardening. I can’t wait.
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