In the Garden
Ralph Purkhiser, Purdue University Master Gardener
As we move into a new year, seed and nursery catalogues start to arrive. They are the equivalent to the Sears wishbook for gardeners. However, like the Sears catalogue, seed catalogues are not what they used to be. In this digital age, some companies have ceased printing catalogues. Others send catalogues only on request, with some actually charging for the books. Of course, the seed and nursery companies all have websites, and one can sit at a computer and search for seeds and plants. However, it does not have the feel of sitting in a recliner on a cold, snowy January day, thumbing through the pages of seed catalogues and marking the pages on which must-have plants are featured.
Whether using the electronic forms or printed books, seed and nursery catalogues should come with a warning label—“Perusing these pages may be hazardous to your bank account!” Be sure to check out the shipping costs. Costs vary greatly from company to company, but these added costs may add a lot to the final bill. Also look at the warranty being offered. Some companies will replace plants that do not thrive in your garden; others do not offer warranties on their products.
Also beware of the pictures and “new and improved” labels. Breeders are constantly working to get larger blooms, better disease resistance and expanding planting zones of plants, but catalogues may exaggerate the improvements, and most certainly the colors you see in the books are not the exact colors you can expect to see in the garden. Be especially wary of blue plants. Blue is rare in the plant world, and there are few true blue flowers. The catalogue may have a flower that is royal blue, but do not be disappointed if the blooms are blue violet or some other shade of purple. Also watch for a “substitution” statement, giving the company the right to substitute another plant or seed packet if the one you order is out of stock. It is disappointing to have ordered a special item and receive something unexpected.
Despite the drawbacks, I love looking through the seed catalogues. I will mark plants I find interesting and I enjoy reading the descriptions for new offerings. I have a healthy level of skepticism, so I am not taken in by the descriptions of perfect plants.
After hours and even days of looking through catalogues, comparing the offerings and prices of various companies, I will make a decision on my seed order for the up-coming season. I prefer to buy plants and seeds at local garden centers, but I know that some new plants and specialty seeds are not likely to be available locally. I usually order several varieties of greens, especially my favorite oriental greens. I will order Malabar spinach, more for its vigorous growth and blooms than its value as a food crop. I will also order red okra for both eating and using in flower arrangements. It is hard to find red okra locally.
I rarely order plants. I have been disappointed too many times when I have received tiny specimens that will take years to reach the size of the plant image in the catalogue. I prefer to see the plant before buying it, and I will stop at every greenhouse and garden center I pass when they open in March. I may have to wait a year or two to get the new plants, but if the plant is truly an improvement on the old plants, it will eventually show up locally, and likely in a larger size. If it does not become available locally, it may be because the plant has not performed well in our climate.
The first day when the roads are slick with snow or ice, I will heed the recommendation to stay at home. I will have a fire in the fireplace and a stack of seed catalogues next to my chair. It is the perfect way to spend a winter day.