What they have in common is tempting, full-color photos of perfect results.
Sometimes, different catalogs even show the same photos and descriptions. The businesses issuing the catalogs may or may not be seed producers. They can be like supermarkets which offer their house brands of products, by buying from the same manufacturers and packaging them with their own brand. Or they can be a blend, growing some themselves and offering a bigger selection by buying the rest.
Seeds, like supermarket produce, are not generic in terms of quality. Some stores only sell the freshest and healthiest produce, whereas others may display produce with slight mold or blemishes. Some are overpriced, some are too good to be true and some offer excellent value, quality and customer service.
If you’re new to buying seed online, the results you will likely get on your first search will be excellent. The stores that tend to surface are the tried-and-true companies that Americans have trusted for decades. You will get excellent quality and mostly easy-to-grow species that you have heard of.
Prices are almost the same, differing by just pennies, after you factor in number of seeds per packet. After years of penny pinching, I’ve decided that comparing prices just gets in the way of my enjoyment of the whole experience and isn’t worth it. Shipping cost and service quality does vary as well as promotions.
The great thing about seed companies, is that they are not giants like credit card or insurance companies. You easily get to speak with pleasant and knowledgeable staff.
Some sites provide excellent information on growing each species. These have, over time, become my favorites. Territorial Seed Company is not a site that shows up on the first page of a search, but it is well worth looking up. They include comprehensive, detailed information on the page for each variety, so it’s easy to view and reference.
Another noteworthy catalog is Johnny’s Selected Seeds. I consider the use of binomial nomenclature as an indicator that the seller is knowledgeable and is interested in educating their customer. Both Johnny’s and Territorial use binomial nomenclature for their flowers (nobody seems to use it for vegetables).
If it’s specific varieties you seek, search specifically for “heirloom seeds” or “native plant seeds”, “hot pepper seeds” or whatever your specifics are. Many more additional companies will result. A big favorite lately seems to be Baker Creek (rareseeds.com).
I think I started with Burpee, Park and Harris around 2002. I moved away from them, as I looked for more unusual varieties. Burpee was a familiar name
I remember that I started looking for roses, when I started gardening in New Jersey, in 1999 and found Jackson & Perkins; being part of the same conglomerate, I soon started receiving catalogs from Park Seed and Wayside Gardens (plants).
I might have found Harris while looking for seed starting supplies. I still have my original Perma-Nest trays from them. They’re over 15 years old and in excellent condition. I also still use the tomato supports I got from Park around that time. They stopped selling that particular type, but I still like them.
The results you get depend on the question you ask. If you’re looking for something specific, use the latin name. Not only will it get you the exact plant you’re looking for, but it will likely take you to a more knowledgeable seller.
Another good way to find seed is to search “AAS seeds”. All American Selections tests and reviews new varieties every year and the best are declared AAS winners. These are generally plants that are easier to grow and yield more reliably.
Now go get your seeds and get ready to have fun planting them.
I have been buying seeds online for over 10 years. Over the years, I have fine-tuned my searches and discovered specialty sellers that don’t appear in general searches.
I am still not confident about buying from Amazon nor Etsy, because many of the sellers do not have established reputations. With seed, you have no idea what you have received until the plant matures months later. And if it’s not what you expected, you will have lost the entire season. Plants decide the timing, not the gardener. If you missed the window to start from seed, trying again months later will likely result in failure.
It’s also not easy to browse on Amazon, they do not organize their species in a way that is easy to browse and compare. Or maybe it’s me being used to how online seed stores organize?