Other than growing and eating their heavenly vegetables, herbs and fruits in season, there is little that pleases gardeners here in our Northeast quite so much as a good seed catalog in January and February. Just when it feels as if winter has swallowed us up, the catalogs start arriving with the promise of spring.

The following websites were the sources for our 2015 seeds, some of which were started for us by Northern Dutchess Botanical Gardens in Rhinebeck, New York in their organic greenhouse. We use organic seeds and starts for our onions, potatoes and leeks unless they are absolutely unavailable organically for some reason. We thought you might be interested in what we grow here in case some of it could work in yours.

Remember, you don’t need a large plot of land. A small balcony, terrace or deck will do nicely for pots of tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, greens or herbs. You can also tuck them in between flowers and shrubs. You might also consider Earth Boxes (www.earthbox.com), a great solution for those with poor soils or small yards. Eating fresh-picked organic food is the reward.

Most of our 2015 crops were successful, with the exception of Brussels sprouts and cabbage, which were covered in bugs in spite of our early use of row cover, and the yellow pear tomatoes, which we didn’t find tasty enough.

In 2015, we purchased seed from: High Mowing Seeds Territorial Seed Harris Seeds Wind Crest Organics Peaceful Valley Southern Exposure Renee's Garden Johnny's Seeds

 

Vegetables

Asian Greens

High Mowing Seeds: Komatsuna, Mizuna, Purple Mizuna, Tat Soi, Baby Pac Choy

Beans

High Mowing Seeds: Provider, Blue Lake pole, Kentucky Wonder pole, Northeaster, Blue Coco pole bean, Midori soybean, Maxibel Haricot Vert French, Gold Rush bush

Beets

High Mowing Seeds: Shiraz, Early Wonder, Detroit Dark Red, Red Ace

Broccoli

High Mowing Seeds: Santee purple broccolini, DiCicco, Belstar Harris Seeds: Pacman

Brussels Sprouts

High Mowing Seeds: Nautic

Cabbage

High Mowing Seeds: Impala

Carrots

High Mowing Seeds: Danvers, Scarlet Nantes, Atomic, Dragon, Jeanette,

Chard

High Mowing Seeds: Orange, Ruby, Silverado

Collards

High Mowing Seeds: Georgia, Champion

Cucumber

High Mowing Seeds: Marketmore, Paraisio, National Pickling, Suyo, Tyra, H19 Little Leaf; Grow Organic: Straight eight, Chelsea; Territorial: Excelsior

Eggplant

High Mowing Seeds: Rosa Bianca

Fennel

High Mowing Seeds: Orion

Greens

High Mowing Seeds: Red Giant Mustard, Mesculun Mix, Surrey Arrugula, Beta blend, Emerald Oak Leaf Lettuce, Paris Island Cos, Merlot, Butterhead, Refugio; Territorial Seeds: Avicenna

Kale

High Mowing Seeds: Dinosaur Lacinato, Red Russian

Leeks

Grow Organic: American Flag leek seed

Onions

Grow Organic: Red, White and Yellow sets

Peas

High Mowing Seeds: Sugar Daddy Snap, Green Arrow Shell

Peppers

High Mowing Seeds: Stocky Red Roasting, King of the North Bell (red, green), Purple Beauty Bell, Belcanto Fryer/Roaster, Early Jalapeno, Shishito, Madonna (yellow bell); Grow Organic: Sweet Nardello, Pimiento

Potatoes

Grow Organic: La Ratte Fingerling, Yukon Gold Maine; Potato Lady: Purple Fingerling

Radish

High Mowing Seeds: Watermelon, French Breakfast

Scallion

High Mowing Seeds: Pride F1 Bunching onion

Spinach

High Mowing Seeds: Bloomsdale, Renegade (all-season)

Squash High Mowing Seeds: Waltham Butternut, Baby Blue Hubbard, Long Island Cheese, Jack-Be-Little; Southern Exposure Seed Exchange: Tromboncino, Green-striped Cushaw

Tomatoes

High Mowing Seeds: Indigo Apple, Yellow Pear, Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Roma

Tomatofest.com: Black Krim, San Marzano Redorta, Striped German, Carmello, Warren's Strain Harris Seeds: Blush Tiger; Renee’s: Sungold

Tomatillo

High Mowing Seeds: Purple

Turnips and Parsnips

High Mowing Seeds: Purple Topped White Globe Turnip

Herbs

Basil

High Mowing Seeds: Genovese, Cinnamon, Sweet Thai, Italian Large Leaf

Chervil

High Mowing Seeds: Brussels Winter

Cilantro

High Mowing Seeds: Santo

Dill

High Mowing Seeds: Organic Greensleeves

Lemon Balm

High Mowing Seeds

Oregano

High Mowing Seeds: Common

Parsley

High Mowing Seeds: Large Italian Flatleaf

Sorrel

High Mowing Seeds: Garden

Flowers

Sunflower

High Mowing Seeds: Giant Mammoth Harris Seeds: Zohar F1

Zinnia

High Mowing Seeds: County Fair (36" hot color mix), Giant Red, Giant Purple, Giant Yellow; Johnny's: Benary Salmon, Benary's Giant Mix

Bachelor Buttons

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange:

Calendula

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange: Calendula Resina; Johnny's: Calendula mix

Morning Glory

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange: Grandpa Ott's

Marigold

Johnny's: Tangerine Gem