12 Top Seed Sources
By Lynn & Cele Seldon
Come spring and summer, almost everyone who loves the outdoors enjoys planting some seeds…whether they have a huge home garden or just a few pots that they carry from campground to campground.
Like a dozen ears of juicy corn, here’s a list of 12 top widely varied seed sources for planting some…or a lot of…seeds:
American Meadows (www.americanmeadows.com):
For more than 40 years, American Meadows has been helping gardeners across the country create amazing wildflower gardens and meadows with 100% pure and fresh wildflower seeds with no fillers or grasses.
Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. (www.rareseeds.com):
Based in Missouri, founder Jere Gettle founded Baker Creek back in 1998 as a hobby and it’s now grown into North America’s largest heirloom seed company. Heirloom fans should ask about visiting their two Missouri locations, as well as one in California.
Burgess Seed & Plant Co. (www.eburgess.com):
Traditionally offering free gifts with every order, Indiana-based Burgess is one of the largest producers and distributors of home gardening products in the United States, with a wide range of quality seeds, bulbs, plants, and supplies at very low prices.
Eden Brothers (www.edenbrothers.com):
North Carolina-based Eden Brothers features an incredible list of flower, wildflower, vegetable, herbs, heirloom, and organic seeds, as well as flower bulbs and perennials.
Johnny’s Selected Seeds (www.johnnyseeds.com):
With the first catalog printed in 1974 by founder Rob Johnston, then in his early-20s, Johnny’s has grown into a Maine-based seeds phenomenon, with devoted fans anxiously awaiting their annual (and colorful) catalog to peruse and place orders.
Kitazawa Seed Co. (www.kitazawaseed.com):
Gijiu Kitazawa worked as an apprentice for a seed company in Japan before starting Kitazawa in 1917 with a warehouse and storefront in San Jose, California. Now based in Salt Lake City, the company continues to offer the highest quality Asian seeds, with more than 500 varieties.
Native American Seed (www.seedsource.com):
This Texas-based family-owned wildflower seed company prides itself on superior customer service and its focus on only those plants that are native to their bioregion.
Page’s Seeds (www.pageseeds.com):
Founded in 1896, The Page Seed Company is based in the village of Greene, located in the bucolic rolling hills of central upstate New York. As one of the largest seed companies in the world, they feature flowers, vegetables, herbs, and many organic varieties.
Park Seed (www.parkseed.com):
Since 1868, Greenwood, South Carolina-based Park Seed has supported home gardeners, and today they feature more than 1,100 varieties of tested and proven flower, herb, and vegetable seeds, plus a large selection of fruits, bulbs, live plants, and gardening supplies through their online garden center and nursery.
Seed Savers Exchange (www.seedsavers.org):
Founded in 1975, non-profit Seed Savers Exchange has grown into a network of gardeners interested in preserving heirloom varieties and sharing seeds. Making their home on 890 scenic acres at Heritage Farm in Winneshiek County, Iowa, they now feature more than 13,000 members (including Trailblazer contributors Lynn and Cele Seldon) and 20,000 plant varieties.
Sow True Seed (www.sowtrueseed.com):
Asheville, North Carolina-based Sow True Seed was founded in 2008 by lifelong gardener and food activist Carol Koury. Today, Sow True is a small, dedicated staff of dirt worshipers committed to providing high-quality open-pollinated seeds in support of sustainable food production and regenerative agriculture.
Wildseed Farms (www.wildseedfarms.com):
Texas-based Wildseed Farms has been growing fields of wildflowers for the production of seeds for more than 35 years. They are the largest working wildflower farm in the country, with more than 200 acres in Fredericksburg, Texas, alone (where they welcome wildflower fans seven days a week, 365 days a year).