This is the time of year many are ordering seeds. Many like myself start the first week of January, some in the upper zones may be just getting started.
Though I've done a list of seed companies with comments in the past, I'll update this year with some new companies I've stumbled across as well as experiences with them. Here is a good overall list of 200 companies currently operating, from which I'll highlight some that I'm familiar with:
http://livingawareness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/List-of-200-Organic-Seed-Companies-from-Living-Awareness.pdfMainline/Traditional:These are old, large seed houses that have been around awhile and have been used by gardeners for generations. They carry both heirlooms and hybrids, and usually a large selection of live plants, roots, and similar. Prices can vary to ridiculously expensive to dirt cheap.
Gurneys/Henry Fields http://www.gurneys.comhttp://www.henryfields.com The old Midwestern standbys. Our family has ordered from them for generations. They have a decent selection of old standard varieties, plus some new ones, and a full array of live plants from fruits, nuts, roots, flowers. They also have a great deal where you get $25 off for every $50 spent. Good, prompt service, plants are generally good quality.
Burpeehttp://www.burpee.comAnother old Midwestern favorite, a full line seedhouse much like Gurneys. They carry many new and old varieties, including many they developed themselves.
RH Shumway, Jung, Vermont Bean, Totally Tomatohttp://www.rhshumway.comhttp://wwwjungseed.comhttp://vermontbean.comhttp://totallytomato.comAll these companies are now a group headed up by Shumway, which along with Jung are two mainline, full service seedhouses. Shumway has many old heirlooms plus a great selection of farm/cover crop seed, while Jung excels in plants. Lots of unique varieties and selection and prices generally reasonable. Vermont Bean and Totally Tomato specialize in specific vegetables, and have some very hard-to-find stuff. I've ordered from all service is good, reliable, and prompt.
Willhitehttp://www.willhiteseed.comWillhite is an old southern seedhouse based out of Texas, and their seed reflects they zones they serve. They focus on mostly warm weather crops like beans, melons, corn, tomatoes, etc. Some of the cheapest prices in the business, decent selection, and occasionally the unique variety. I always check here first as they are usually the most competitive. Service is prompt and accurate.
Fedcohttp://www.fedcoseeds.comA great company, large selection of items at great prices. They are actually three separate companies – Fedco, Organic Growers Supply, and Moose Tubers. They carry things hybrids and heirlooms, and a great selection including grains, exotic salad greens, roots, cover crops, and medicinal herbs. Free shipping over $30 and the best prices after Willhite. A little slow at shipping, but worth the selection and prices. One of my go-to companies.
Reimerhttp://www.reimerseeds.comI bought from Reimer for the first time this year. Found some great deals. Shipping is a little high but was well offset by great pricing on their beginning of year sale. Carry a large selection of varieties. Good service.
Heirloom focused:Companies that expressly sell heirlooms, and actively seek out rare ones to preserve, expand, and offer to the public.
Baker Creekhttp://www.rareseeds.comBaker Creek is rapidly becoming the premier seed company selling heirlooms in the US. A vast selection collected from all over the world, many not in any other domestic seed catalog. They mostly deal in packets, bu do have some bulk seed options. Their print catalog is a beautiful full color glossy filled with pictures of their varieties. They have become very popular so they're a little slower at filling orders, but good service in general.
Seedsavers Exchangehttp://www.seedsavers.orgThe grandaddy of all heirloom seed companies. Great selection, they deal mostly in packets, though have some bulk sizes. A few unique items, it's definitely worth your time to visit their catalog.
Southern Exposure Seed Exchangehttp://www.southernexposure.comSouthern Exposure is located in Virginia that carries many rare old varieties suited for Southern Climates. I have found a many good jewels in their catalogs over the years. Wide selection, and lesser grown things like grains, and of course southern delicacies like cowpeas, peanuts, and okra. Good prices, great selection, great service.
Terroir/Underwood Gardenshttp://www.underwoodgardens.comTerroir started out as Underwood Gardens. Good selection of heirlooms, some rare, and occasionally a great deal is to be found. Good service.
Victory Seedhttp://www.victoryseed.comSmaller heirloom company with a great selection, some unique varieties, and good service. Deal mostly in packets, some larger quantities available. Great service.
Speciaity:These concentrate on a particular area of expertise whether it be origin, varieties, or some other category.
Gourmethttp://www.gourmetseed.comSpecialize in European varieties and vegetables, some found nowhere else. Great prices, good service, a good chunk of what I grow came from Gourmet.
Strictly Medicinalhttp://www.strictlymedicinalseeds.comMy fallback for herbs. Small seed count for the price, I'll look for better deals elsewhere, but they carry so many things found nowhere else that they are the necessary last resort.
Outside Pridehttp://www.outsidepride.comOutside Pride focuses on bigger projects like landscaping, game plots, cover crops, ground cover, bee plants, pasture, and lawns. Great selection, great prices and quantity, I always make sure to check here for the best deal.
Peaceful Valleyhttp://www.groworganic.comPV sells vegetables and herbs, but they excel at cover crops. Great selection, great prices, and have gotten their shipping costs down to a reasonable level. I order most of my cover crop seed from them.
Pinetreehttp://www.superseeds.comPinetree focuses on small packets for small gardeners. A great place to try new varieties without spending a huge sum. Good selection.
Small/Unique Companies:
John Scherkhttps://www.sherckseeds.com/John is a one man band. Grows and sells it all by himself. Only been around a couple of years, but has a great selection of grains, some rare. If you can't find it anywhere else, check here.
Cherry Galhttp://www.cherrygal.comCherry Gal sells a lot of other things besides seeds, but they have a great selection at great prices with a number of unique varieties. I found several varieties of herbs offered nowhere else. Prices and service good.
Tradewinds Fruithttp://www.tradewindsfruit.comLarge selection of all sorts of things to grow. Some rare. Found some great deals this year there. Worth your time to check it out.
World Seedhttp://www.worldseedsupply.comFunky little company out of New York. Don't take credit cards, no Paypal, just old school check or money order with a printed order sheet. Don't have packets, just plastic ziplocs of various sizes, with scientific names for labels. Found some good deals though, and the order was filled correctly and sent timely.
International:Seedaholichttp://www.seedaholic.comThey price their seeds in dollars, but either because of exchange rate or some other advantage they consistently had the best prices on what I was buying. Then I noticed their shipping was a few dollars higher than average. Upon checking I realized they were in Ireland! Order filled quickly, took a bit to get here, but arrived in great condition. They have been added to my go-to list.
