It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Seed Catalogs

It starts in early December. The anticipation that at any time now, you might open your mailbox and find it. That exciting, colorful array of pages that makes you pull out a marker and your credit card.

I'm talking seed catalogs, baby. Actual footage of me when the first one arrived in my mail:

I wish I could say I'm joking but I can't, I truly freak out about these catalogs. A large part of the allure of seed catalogs is that most heirloom seed companies release new varities of vegetables, fruits and plants every year, so there is always something new to see. Ever seen purple tomatoes? What about yellow carrots or red wool flowers that look like angry little cotton balls? I love heirloom varities because they offer unique flavors and looks that you won't ever find in a Home Depot, or even most plant nurseries. Many heirlooms are kept by smaller seed companies and passed down from person to person.

A great reason to choose heirlooms, besides their unqiueness, is that you can actually collect and save seeds from season to season if you like. Most large seed companies sell seeds that will produce, but the plant's seeds are not viable for growing another plant. Same goes with most fruits and veggies you buy at the store; it's unlikely that you could grow a tomato plant from a store-bought roma.

My favorite company to order from is Baker's Creek Heirloom Seeds. Baker's Creek is based out of Missouri, which is my home state. My parents kept a large vegetable garden and multiple flower gardens while I was growing up and they are longtime, loyal customers to Baker's Creek so I've gotten turned on to them. Even if I wasn't inaugurated, I'd probably still be a customer, because they do a great job of capturing high-quality photos of their plants and offer tips on best grpwing conditions. They also offer free shipping and often throw in a free seed packet or two, depending on how much you buy.

This year, I decided to ease up on the vegetables and hammer down on the flowers, which I seem to have an easier time with. I will still be doing some *easier* things like squash, broccoli, and peppers, but no tomatoes this year. TBH, I don't really like tomatoes and I don't grow enough to make salsa or sauce so it's wasted on me.

Instead, I'm planning to use more of my raised bed space on flowers, including a few interesting varities that I've never heard of or seen, until I got the Baker's Creek Catalog. I'm really excited to get my seed packets in the mail and start planning out my "map" for the season.

Happy seed hunting!