Top Garden Catalogs for 2011

Winter hit with blistering cold temperatures and record snowfalls for much of the country and left gardeners wondering what damage was done to their plot of land. Luckily for us, plants are as resilient as kids and will come bouncing back with a vengeance. However, you may want to brush up on some of the more hearty perennials for next year's garden, just in case the harsh weather conditions do result in any damage.

Here is a list of some of the best gardening catalogs you can drool over this winter, waiting for that first green sprout to appear in your garden bed. There are heirloom seed suppliers, as well as herb and exotic plant providers. In other words, there's a little something for every gardener, whether you're an expert or a novice green thumb.

One other note of interest for you who follow the gardening scene, these companies offer seeds that are not genetically mutated. They say no to GMO seeds.

Heirloom Seed Companies

Bountiful Gardens offers open-pollinated seeds of many heirloom varieties of flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables. This company also offers grain seeds, such as barley, millet, oats and wheat, if you choose to grow fresh grains in your garden. This is great for bird lovers who worry about pesticides or other contaminates getting into their bird's food source. You may even choose to grind some of the grain to make a hearty loaf of bread. Did I mention they have berries, too?

Heritage Harvest Seed provides a catalog to residents of Canada for free, and a nominal fee of $3.00 for those in the United States and overseas. Heritage Harvest grows all the seeds in their own gardens so you know what you are getting is genuine. Some of the heirloom vegetables include Franz Bunching onions, Chieftan Savoy cabbage and Algonquin Pumpkin squash. The company also offers heirloom herb and flower seeds for your garden.

D. Landreth Seed Company has been around since 1784. They carry every type of bulb and tuber you could imagine in your garden and a zinnia collection to die for. They offer heirloom garlic, horseradish and rhubarb. The selection of of over 60 varieties of tomato seeds is most impressive.

Organic Seed Companies

One of my favorite organic seed companies is Johnny's Selected Seeds. Located in Maine, Johnny's offers many varieties of medicinal and culinary herbs for the garden. Not all of their products are organic, but the catalog indicates the differences. The company also offers many great gardening tools for the backyard gardener.

High Mowing Organic Seeds is a small company but growing fast. You can order a print catalog or use the handy on-line version. High Mowing offers a tremendous variety of vegetable seeds and specialty greens for salads or sprouting. There is a good selection of melons and squash. The company also carries a wide variety of herbs and flowers. High Mowing even has a fund-raising program for schools and non-profit organizations.

Supplies of these catalogs goes quickly and some may already be unavailable in print. The websites still offer an on-line version, if you can't order the paper one.