Seed Catalogues
Garden Clippings for Feb 12, 2022
It started with toilet paper. Lumber followed not far behind. Now its hard to buy a vehicle.
Covid has thrown a monkey wrench into countless industries, with low demand for some products such as travel and tourism, and high demand for others.
For the gardener, the growing, buying and selling of seeds has been a roller coaster ride. Twenty-three months ago, when folks realized they were going nowhere, garden seeds became the hot commodity. Within weeks seed display racks became bare, and mail order seed houses couldn’t keep up.
Early spring 2021 wasn’t much better. Vegetable seeds were in short supply. One of Ontario’s biggest mail order suppliers put a note on their on-line store stating they could not respond to incoming orders for two weeks.
For 2022, all seed suppliers beefed up their production in anticipation of another wild season. By now, seed racks have appeared at lumber yards, hardware stores and of course, nurseries.
For most gardeners, the need for seeds can be met by looking no further than the selection offered in display seed racks. For fussy gardeners, I would recommend buying at a mail order seed supplier. Some still offer paper catalogues, but most business will be done on-line.
Here is my line-up of favorite seed supply companies:
Vesey’s: From PEI, this fast-growing seed company has a vast selection of everything for the home gardener. They also have an incredible Growing Guide full of tips and tricks on growing every seed they sell.
Ontario Seed Company: The largest Canadian owned packet seed company is also one of Canada’s oldest. A broad variety of seeds, available both by ordering on line, and at a growing number of quality retailers. OSC is based in Waterloo, Ontario.
Stokes Seeds: One of Canada’s oldest and most die-hard seed companies based in Thorold, Ontario, now with outlets in New Jersey and New York. Stokes is shying away from selling to homeowners and is setting its sites on higher volume commercial growers.
McKenzie Seeds: Based in Manitoba, McKenzie does a great job of supplying seed racks to retailers across the country, with little desire to do mail order or on-line sales. Their selection of seeds is complete at nurseries and limited at grocery and hardware stores.
Richters: For those looking for the biggest selection of herbs, Richters, in Goodwood, Ontario, is the go-to seed supplier. They boast 60 types of Basil and 40 Tomato varieties.
William Dam Seeds: This family-owned seed business that began right here in Sarnia, is near to my heart because of its Dutch roots similar to my parents’. Now in Dundas, William Dam offers a wide selection of seeds, including many European and heirloom varieties.
For those with a taste for something different, the Pepper Market offers a limited selection of odd Pepper seeds not found anywhere else. Atlantic Pepper, from New Brunswick, lists over 150 pepper seeds. Eagle Creek Seeds, from BC, is one of many Ontario seed potato growers. For garlic seeds, look at Elana’s Organic Garden or Swallow Tail Farm.
