Free Seed Catalogs 2024

 

Every year, I prepare a list of mail-order/online seed retailers who provide free garden seed catalogs for herb, vegetable, and flower enthusiasts. The practice of offering a hard-copy catalog may be fading fast, but while it lasts, I want to say I sure do appreciate the exemplary customer service provided by these companies. I admire their attention to detail and desire to educate and entertain customers and potential customers.

There's something so appealing about receiving a chubby envelope in the mail and spending happy hours picking and choosing this year's garden finds from the pages of my very own catalog. I've kept a few for reference over the years and I wouldn't be surprised if there happened to be a decades-old catalog or two around somewhere. I know there's one old timer with a great recipe for pesto and another that has a very helpful explanation of how tea-rose grafting works. The photos in these catalogs are often spectacular, and the tips are usually spot on.

I try to buy from as many catalog retailers as I can, and I hope their catalog printing efforts are appreciated by all my blogging buddies who plan on ordering catalogs this year. Enjoy the bounty. Oh, and if you've ordered a catalog in the past, many of these companies keep you on a master list, so avoid duplication and check before you make a new request.

In most cases, the company name links below go right to the catalog request pages for each site, with a main site listing next to the name. Happy shopping, and may the mailman beat a speedy path to your door.

Garden Seed Catalog Companies

Adaptive seeds (Main Site) - Digital catalog download

Known for their organic and rare seed varieties designed for short-season northern climates.


Annie’s Heirloom Seeds (Main Site) - Free print catalog


Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (Main Site)

- See Rare Seeds -


Bluestone Perennials (Main Site) - Free print catalog

Botanical Interests (Main Site) - Digital catalog download




Brecks (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs


Burnt Ridge Nursery (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs
Northwest native plants as well as shrubs and trees

Burpee (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs





A popular plant and seed source with non-GMO and heirloom choices. They include lots of lots of growing information


Burrell Seed Growers (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs


Crimson Sage Medicinal Plant Nursery (Main Site) - Online listings only

A nice resource for medicinal plants grouped by categories like Ayurvedic, culinary, Chinese, Native American, and more.


Fedco Seeds (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs

Fedco Seeds is a worker and consumer-owned cooperative enterprise offering herb seeds and more, including trees, tubers, and supplies.


Gurney’s Seed & Nursery (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs



Harris Seeds (Main Site)

High Mowing Organic Seeds (Main Site) - Free print catalog


Jackson & Perkins (Main Site) - Free print catalog

Known for their breathtaking roses, Jackson & Perkins also offers herbs and other plants.


John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds (Main Site) - Free print catalog

Enjoy their 68-page free catalog, and if you're a newbie, check out their online section on seed starting.


Johnny’s Selected Seeds (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs

Employee-owned, with same-day shipping within the continental U.S.


Jung Seed (Main Site) - Free digital catalog or print catalog for $3 to be applied to any purchase



Kitazawa Seed Company (Main Site) - Free digital catalog or print catalog with $2 postage fee

Specialty Asian seeds


Lake Valley Seed (Main Site) - Free Digital catalog only



NE Seed (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs



Nichols Garden Nursery (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs (Black and white catalog no photos)


Old House Gardens - (Main Site) Free digital catalog print catalog for $2 postage, credited with purchase.


Park Seed Co. (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs
Park offers a large selection of non-GMO seeds.


Pinetree Garden Seeds (Main Site) - Free print catalog



Prairie Nursery (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs
Known for their native plants and seeds



Rare Seeds (Main Site) - Free basic print catalog or extensive (500 page) catalog for $14.95



Richter’s Herbs (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs (Based in Canada, Specify US or Canadian catalog request)


Rupp Seeds (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs



St. Clare Heirloom Seeds (Main Site) - Digital catalog only
Offering heirloom and open-pollinated seeds


Seed Savers Exchange (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs

Seeds from Italy (Main Site) - Free digital catalog only
As the name implies, Seeds from Italy specializes in vegetables and herb seeds from Italy - some of which may be difficult to source elsewhere.


Seeds ‘n Such (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs



Select Seeds (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs





Siskiyou Seeds (Main Site) - Free digital catalog only

 

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs as well as other publications

Sow True Seed (Main Site) - Free print catalog




Offering open-pollinated, heirloom and organic seeds as well as plants, bulbs and more.


Stokes Seeds (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs


Strictly Medicinal Seeds (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs


Territorial Seed Company (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs

With these folks, the catalog costs $3, with a $3 discount on your 1st order.


The Thyme Garden - (Main Site) Free print and digital catalogs



Turtle Tree Seed (Main Site) - PDF download


Twilley Seed (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs


Urban Farmer (Main Site) - Free print catalog




Vermont Bean (Main Site) - Free digital catalog only



Well-sweep Herb Farm (Main Site) - Free digital plant listing only



West Coast Seeds (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs



Wild Garden Seed (Main Site) - Free print catalog

Wildseed Farms (Main Site) - Online catalog only



Willhite Seed Inc. (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs

Other Interesting Seed Catalogs with Online Listings

These sites don't offer catalogs, but they have some interesting seeds, plants or other offerings that might interest you:


99 Heirlooms


Crimson Sage Medicinal Plant Nursery
No catalog and plants only, but a resource for hard-to-find herbs


Living Seed Company




Organic Republic

Outside Pride


Renee’s Garden Seeds (Main Site)
Renee’s Garden Seeds is known for its gourmet and heirloom seeds.


San Diego Seed Company


Victory Seed Interesting regional seed collections. Take a look.


West Coast Seeds Canadian-based

Seed Viability - Stored Seeds (Vegetables and Herbs) 

Do you have leftover seeds from last year or before? Great. Many types of seed can remain viable for years. Depending on the varieties you have and how they’ve been maintained*, they can still sprout when the conditions are right. For instructions on how to plant new and stored seeds, check the seed packets for the varieties you have or perform a search on Google for in-depth instructions. For example, some seeds require a cold snap and then a warm-up to germinate. Others get the message when exposed to light.



Below, you’ll find a list of general plant varieties and how long they will remain viable under favorable conditions. This is just a general guideline, though. When checking for more information, use the scientific name for the plant seed rather than its generic name. That’s the best way to get the most accurate data and recommendations.



Make sure to date the new catalog seeds you purchase this year, and jot down a few notes about the supplier and how they performed. Many seed catalog companies welcome feedback and will even provide insightful suggestions if you run into problems.


*As a general rule, maintain saved garden seeds in a secure, dry, dark and cool location.


Seed Viability List

Anise - 1-3 yrs. 

Artichoke - 5 yrs. 

Arugula - 3 yrs. 

Asparagus - 3 yrs. 

Basil - 3-5 yrs. 

Beans - 3-4 yrs. 

Bee balm – 4 yrs. 

Beets - 4 yrs. 

Bok choy - 4 yrs. 

Borage - 3-5 yrs. 

Broccoli - 3 yrs. 

Brussels sprouts - 3 yrs. 

Burdock - 3 yrs. 

Cabbage - 4 yrs. 

Calendula - 5-6 yrs. 

Cantaloupe - 4 yrs. 

Caraway - 1-2 yrs. 

Carrot - 3 yrs. 

Casaba Melon - 4 yrs. 

Catnip - 3 yrs. 

Cauliflower - 4 yrs. 

Celery - 3 yrs. 

Chamomile - 4 yrs. 

Chervil - 1-4 yrs. 

Chives - 1-3 yrs. 

Cilantro - 2-4 yrs. 

Collard greens - 3-5 yrs. 

Corn - 1-3 yrs. 

Cucumber - 3-6 yrs. 

Dill - 2-4 yrs. 

Eggplant - 4-5 yrs. 

Fennel - 1-2 yrs. 

Feverfew - 2 yrs. 

Honeydew melon - 4 yrs.

Honeydew Melon - 4 yrs. 

Hyssop - 2-4 yrs. 

Kale - 4 yrs. 

Kohlrabi - 4 yrs. 

Lavender - 4 yrs. 

Leeks - 2-3 yrs. 

Lemon balm - 2-4 yrs. 

Lettuce - 6 yrs. 

Lovage - 1-3 yrs. 

Marjoram - 2-4 yrs. 

Mint - 3 yrs. 

Muskmelon - 4 yrs. 

Mustard - 3-5 yrs. 

Okra - 2-3 yrs. 

Onion - 1-2 yrs. 

Oregano - 4 yrs. 

Parsley - 2-3 yrs. 

Parsnips - 1-3 yrs. 

Peas - 2-4 yrs. 

Peppers - 2-4 yrs. 

Radish - 4-5 yrs. 

Rosemary - 2-4 yrs. 

Rue - 2 yrs. 

Rutabaga - 3-5 yrs. 

Sage - 1-3 yrs. 

Savory - 2-4 yrs. 

Scallions (green onion) - 1-3 yrs.
Shallots - 1-3 yrs. 

Sorrel - 4 yrs. 

Soybeans - 3-5 yrs. 

Spinach - 2-3 yrs. 

Squash - 3-5 yrs. 

Stevia - 3-5 yrs. 

Strawberry - 2 yrs. 

Sunflower - 3-5 yrs. 

Swiss chard - 4 yrs. 

Thyme - 2-4 yrs. 

Tomatillo - 3 yrs. 

Tomatoes - 4-7 yrs. 

Turnip - 4-5 yrs. 

Valerian - 2-3 yrs. 

Watermelon - 4-5 yrs.

Test Your Older Seeds

If you have concerns about how viable your older stored seeds are and have a few to spare, start a couple between two sheets of moist paper toweling. Make a note of the date and check their progress daily, keeping them damp but not wet. Whether and when they sprout will tell you if the batch is still good and give you an idea of how long it will take them to germinate outdoors later in the season.




Seed Catalog Terms to Know Before You Shop

Cultivar - A cultivar is a selectively grown variety of a recognized plant (like a rose) distinguished for its unique characteristics. The word cultivar derives from the phrase “cultivated variety.” When a cultivar sets seed, subsequent generations retain its unique properties. Let’s compare cultivars to potato chips for a second. Kettle chips, wavy chips and flavored chips in this example can all be considered “cultivars” of the “original style” plain chips we all know and love. If they could reproduce themselves, kettle chips would produce kettle chips, wavy chips would produce wavy chips and so on.



GMO - A Genetically Modified Organism is produced as the end result of planned human intervention. Currently, this can be achieved in one of two ways. The first is by the sexual crossing of different varieties of compatible plants or animals in order to achieve a specific result, usually over the course of generations of crosses.

The vast differences in dog breeds, for instance, are an example of this type of genetic modification, which has been around for centuries. In fact, crosses between compatible plants (cross-pollination) happen randomly in nature all the time. Humans have refined this process to produce specific results, like a black rose or a seedless grape.

The second type of genetic modification is commonly referred to as genetic engineering (GE). This is the result of introducing DNA directly from one species into another that would not ordinarily be compatible. Designer plants and tropical fish modified to glow in the dark are examples of this type of advanced genetic intervention. This second type of genetic modification is of concern is some quarters.


OP - Open Pollinated seeds occur through the most natural forms of pollination when compatible pollen is distributed to the plant by the action of insects, birds, wind or rain. Open-pollinated varieties have established characteristics that will repeat in the seeds of subsequent generations (the plants will breed true). The one caveat here is when compatible plants with somewhat different characteristics are kept close together. This can result in unplanned crosses with unexpected results. If you plan to harvest your own seeds, position closely related plants in different sections of your garden.


(F-1) Hybrid - These plant seeds are the result of a favorable first-generation cross between two related plant lines to combine one or more of the desired qualities of both. For instance, this might be one lavender plant that has a strong fragrance crossed with another lavender that has a tolerance for humidity. Since this new lavender has not been cultivated over many generations to fix its combined characteristics, its seeds will not reflect the traits of the parent plants. To duplicate the characteristics of an F-1 hybrid, the plant will have to be cloned.

Heirloom - Heirloom seeds do produce plants with the same characteristics as the parent plant. They are a reliable commodity season after season. This is the result of many successive generations in the natural selection of wild stock or, in some cases, cultivated stock with a decades-long history of reliable results. Some of the most popular garden vegetables, flowers and herbs grown today are heirloom varieties.


Certified Organic - Certified organic seeds are produced in compliance with regulations set by the USDA’s National Organic Program. This includes limitations on the use of certain pesticides and a prohibition on using genetically engineered stock. The guidelines to qualify for this program are extensive, and farms, ranches, orchards and the like are inspected to ensure compliance. To learn more, visit the USDA’s National Organic Program.