Ellen Ecker Ogden

Take your time before placing your seed order.

The Cook's Garden seed catalog

When we first launched The Cook’s Garden seed catalog back in1984, choosing the right mailing date was an obsession. We consulted professionals and coordinated with other small seed catalogs so that when you, the garden customer, opened your mailbox a whole colorful stack of seed catalogs would tumble out at the same time. This moment signaled the end of winter, the beginning of spring and triggered that pleasure hormone that comes from planning the garden after a long winter.

Now that catalogs are staggering in, you may be tempted to get your order in fast, but I say take it slow and stretch out that good feeling. It pays to be on the look out for the more unusual varieties, the open pollinated heirlooms, the fruits, vegetables and herbs that offer exceptional culinary qualities. When the seed catalogs start to arrive in your mailbox, stack them all up in a nice basket until you are ready to take time to read. Don’t get swept away by the photos, but compare and plan your garden. Read the descriptions carefully to see if it is easy to start from seed, if it fits your garden zone, and if you price shop, compare the quantity of seeds in the packets. To read more about how to read seed catalogs, sign up for my new on-line garden class or join me at one of my upcoming workshops.