Relentless Gardner: New Yearly Plant Catalogs, New Claims

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Every year plant enthusiasts and gardeners are inundated with new catalogs.

There are so many new choices, the pictures are colorful and striking along with their descriptions. After all, they are in the business of selling your products.

How do you cut through all the embellished descriptions? First, read the description carefully. If any other catalog offers the same new introduction, read their description. Look at this example quoted below from the Garden Veg Blog by Jeremy Dore. Watch out for the colorful embellishments.

By way of example, here’s the description of a commonly grown pea variety ‘Hurst Green Shaft’ from two different suppliers in the UK:

"Catalog 1: Medium green pointed pods in pairs containing 9-11 peas. Resistant to downy mildew and Fusarium Wilt; recommended for exhibition. RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Recommended by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany. Second Early/Maincrop Variety. Height 75cm (30").

Catalog 2: Outstanding pod length - 4 to 4½ inches, with 9-11 peas in a pod. Double podded too; Pea ‘Hurst Green Shaft’ is a super heavy-yielding variety. Only 28 -30 inches tall, with all the pods in the top 10-12 inches - no more backache. An early, wrinkle-seeded variety, which matures in 100 days from sowing. Pea ‘Hurst Green Shaft’ resists downy mildew and fusarium wilt. And the taste! It has to be eaten to be believed."

The differences are clear with one sticking just to basic facts and helpfully mentioning independent awards while the other elaborates with "super heavy yielding... no more backache... has to be eaten to be believed.”

Unfortunately, neither of these descriptions tells you the shortcomings of this variety. Every variety has its own drawbacks, such as susceptibility to diseases, insect issues, or a preference for sandy soil. Some catalogs leave it up to you to discover these details.

One thing that all large seed companies have is an on-staff horticulturist. They are ready to answer any of your plant questions. Ask them why this Pea ‘Hurst Green Shaft’ variety is considered high-yielding and how many pounds they consider high-yielding. If it turns out they don’t have an answer or other qualifying conditions then that seed might not be appropriate for your area, and that is a seed I would not purchase. It all sounds like a lot more work. Ask them what they would recommend.

Make a list of seed varieties you would like to order. Then write down all your questions and then call the company. Some companies such as Territorial Seed have growing instructions in the catalog. As part of a description of a sage, Salvia apiana, used for smudging, it is good to know that new leaves unfurl with a crinkly texture and grayish-green color. Otherwise, you might think there is a problem. On another sage variety, S.officinalis, when leaves are dried and ground, they make a wonderful rub for poultry or fish. Great for the cook in the family.

If you are going to spend anywhere from $2.95 to $4.95 on a package of seeds you want to know you are buying something that can grow in your soil, your zone, and low or high humidity, etc. Purchasing the seeds in grams or ounces is more economical if you favor a vegetable or herb.

Getting seeds you know will do well in your location is only one-half the challenge of gardening. The other challenge is understanding how to grow the seed variety properly. Ordering from companies in your state that do seed trials on varieties or breed varieties will ensure seed that can withstand conditions in your zone.

Linda Langelo is a Colorado State University Extension horticulture specialist, member of Garden Communicators International, and regular contributor to MarthaStewart.com gardening articles. She also produces The Relentless Gardener Podcast. She is a guest blogger for AARP Colorado and AARP Maryland.