Reviewing Two Seed Catalogs - I like both but they are very different.

Continued Review of Seed Catalogs

A few weeks ago I reviewed Thompson Morgan's Seed Catalog.  

Today I want to compare and contrast two seed catalogs,  R-H Shumway's HPS and FEDCO.

HPS is geared toward professional growers so to get the really good prices you need to buy large quantities.  If you have ever had a hard time handling very small seeds then you may really like HPS.  They carry a large selection of seeds that have been pelletted.  That is,  the seeds have been covered in organic material that makes them much larger and therefore much easier to handle.  This can make it possible to handle seeds such as lisianthus (Texas Blue Bells).  These are some of the smallest seeds I have ever experienced.  Lisianthus have very long straight stems and the bloom is shaped like a double rose.  They are a very long lasting cut flower so this seed is certainly worth giving a try.  You will find the seed on page 34 of the catalog.  HPS has excellent photos, is easy to order from, is prompt in delivery and most importantly their seeds have excellent germination rates.
 
One of my favorite places to order seeds is from Fedco Seeds.  Fedco has great writers.  I like to read about the history of a seed name or how particular farmers or clients like a certain flower or vegetable.  One unique thing Fedco does is they will let you order your seed on separate order forms and then combine your order with your friends.  They then give discounts for a certain quantity of seeds purchased.   So if you and some friends go together to order you can save some money. Feddo also usually has small quatities of seeds that can be purchased at very reasonable prices. So they tend to be an excellent place to order from whether you need just a few seeds or are running a market garden. One of my favorite peppers was first sold at FEDCO.  I have copied the info from the online catolog.  I hope you enjoy this writing.

3730JN Jimmy Nardello’s Sweet Pepper (76 days) Open-pollinated. This thin-walled 8" frying pepper has won many converts. The long curved tapering pointed fruits turn deep red with shiny wrinkled skin when ripe. Pleasing sweet mild flavor, good raw, in stir fries and, especially, fried. According to Nardello family relative Patty Ruprecht of Pownal, ME, “the only way to eat them is to string them, dry them, fry them and salt them.” Eat them plain or “better still as a sandwich on Italian bread with a slice of provolone.” Listed on Slow Food’s Ark of Taste. Brought to Connecticut from the village of Ruoti in the Basilicata region of southern Italy in 1887 by Jimmy Nardello’s mother.

Have a great winter browsing the seed catalogs and  planning for next spring.