What's the RIGHT Way to Organize Your Seeds?

It just might be the most basic of gardening tasks, and arguably the first one to get done each year. Organizing seeds is likely one of the first tasks a beginner gardener tackles after taking up the hobby. It also happens to be one of the most difficult to do without the background knowledge of plant families and plant anatomy.

Do you put pumpkin seeds with tomato seeds, because they are both vegetable crops? Or do you pair pumpkin with the more-closely related cucumber instead?

Does a pack of lavender seeds belong with other flower seeds, or with other herb seeds?

Tomato is a fruit, but it is a nightshade like the root-crop, potato... which is definitely a vegetable, right?

These are just some of the ways that it can be confusing to organize seeds, and why my personal seed storage has changed at least fifty times. A portion of it might boil down to personal preference -- whether you choose to list "pansies" under "Herbs" because you frequently use the flowers to garnish cupcakes, or you combine "Greens" with "Alliums" because you do not have an enormous collection of each like I do.

I'll keep things simple and dive right into what I've found works best for me:

Grains & Cover Crops: Any grain or any crop you intent to use as a cover crop.

example: corn, clover, buckwheat

Flowers: Any flower primarily used for pollination and beauty, and not typically for culinary or medicinal use. Some of these are technically edible, but I don't commonly harvest them to eat so I include them here.

example: sunflower, zinnia, cosmos, pansy, petunia, asters, borage, marigold.

Greens: Brassicas for aerial harvest (stems, leaves, flowers) and any leafy greens for culinary use.

example: broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, kale, mustard greens, chard, celery, amaranth

Alliums: Any member of the onion family.

example: onion, garlic, chive, leek, shallot

Root Crops: Any culinary vegetable that is harvested from underground.

example: carrot, beet, radish

Cucurbits: Any member of the cucurbit family.

example: pumpkin, cucumber, gourd, watermelon, squash, zucchini

Legumes: Any member of legume family grown for culinary use.

example: beans, peas, soy

Does not include: Legumes for medicinal or cover crop use.

example: Astragalus, clover

Herbs: Culinary and medicinal herbs.

example: lavender, mints, oregano, thyme, marjoram, tarragon, skullcap, elecampane, astragalus,

Does not include: vegetables, greens, or fruits for primarily culinary use.

example: onion, garlic, kale, lettuce

Veggies: Fruit of plant, or root crops for primarily culinary use.

example: onion, garlic

Does not include: greens, brassicas,

example: broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, kale

I find that there are several benefits to organizing much of my seed collection by plant family. Most importantly, it helps me plan Intercropping and Companion Planting, since it is ideal to disburse plant families in certain ways throughout a polyculture. For example, Legumes will serve to fix Nitrogen, a valuable quality which aids in nutrient bioavailability within Permaculture and Regenerative Agriculture.

The Joy of Pruning: Sheared vs. Thinned Shrubs

Pruning is both a science and an art. Almost every plant requires some form of pruning throughout its lifetime. In most cases, there is a right way to prune a plant. A bad pruning job can scar a plant or a whole landscape for years to come.

I don't say this to sound dramatic or to insinuate that a landscaper's services are required to do a pruning job. A bad pruning job still likely won't kill the plant, and can in some cases be immediately fixed. My point is that the world of pruning has both rules and exceptions that one should know before cutting anything hastily with a pair of pruners -- the difference between thinning and shearing being one of them.

Thinning

Thinning means selectively pruning away some expendable branches in order to open up the canopy and allow airflow, but maintaining the overall shape of the specimen. This ultimately creates a natural look.

vs.

Shearing

Shearing is removing the outermost layer of twigs and leaves, to delicately shape the plant for a more formal look.

Almost any plant could -- and likely should -- be thinned regularly. An unruly and untamed plant can be thinned back, though the rule of thumb is to not remove more than 1/3 of the entire plant per year. However, there are many exceptions to this rule, as several species will not die even when cut entirely down to a stump. The best tools for a moderate pruning job include handheld pruning shears, lopping shears, and pruning saw. To reach higher branches, an extension pole saw and/or extension pole lopper may be required.

Certain sheared shrubs, however, can never be thinned back to be made smaller in size, such as needleleaf evergreens. The best tools for shearing are the electric hedge saw, hedge shears, and handheld pruning shears.

Beyond this, there are many other pruning methods similar to thinning that can be used to reduce size and promote the health of a tree or plant. Drop Crotching can help shorten plant height by bringing the main stem back to some lower branches instead.

For the best results, take frequent breaks where you step back to look at the bigger picture. Do this from different angles throughout the project to make sure that no branches protrude from any vantage point.

2025 Seed Catalog Review & Guide

If you're like me, you hoard every seed catalog possible and read them front to back in one sitting during Winter.

I concede that I might be the only one who does the latter. I want to know the benefit of every variety, the subtle differences between growing recommendations, and get to know the histories and minutia of each plant.

I would not recommend that everyone sign up to receive every single free catalog in the mail as I do each Winter. Aside from the fact that all of this information is available in each respective online store, each of these catalogs generally contain the same seeds:

Baker Creek Heirloom Seed

Botanical Interests

Johnny's Selected Seeds

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange

Sow True Seed

Territorial Seed

Each of the above reliably contains the following: Vegetable seeds, Herb seeds, Flower seeds, and Products -- typically in that order. Some contain bulbs and live plants too. I will not include other catalogs that mainly focus on native plants, bulbs, etc.

Here I will review each of these separately in alphabetical order, judging by the quality and quantity of information available within them. I will then deem them suitable for beginner, intermediate, or advanced gardeners. The location of the business is included, since it is ideal to seek seed sources as close to your home as possible.

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

www.rareseeds.com

Mansfield, Missouri

Benefits:

• FREE SHIPPING ON ALL USA ORDERS! No minimum cost for shipping is beginner-friendly, or friendly to forgetful and indecisive folks such as myself.

• Gorgeous, delicately-staged and probably color-enhanced merchandise photographs.

• Brief plant and variety descriptions with occasional culinary recommendations.

• Only catalog which is entirely in alphabetical order - good when you know plants by common name used. All other catalogs by Veggie, Herb, and Flower.

Lacking:

• Growing instructions - No recommendations in catalog for seed depth, spacing, germination temperature, etc. (This information IS on seed packets though)

• Any side panels - There is no elaboration on information such as plant histories, special instructions, recipes, etc.

Summary: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds is well-known for their successful photo-merchandising. If it is simplicity you are looking for, Baker Creek will deliver. The entire catalog is a long list of seeds for sale, with no extra information beyond that.

Conclusion: Baker Creek is for simplicity-loving, intermediate or advanced gardeners. Beginners should seek further growing information from other sources.

Botanical Interests

https://www.botanicalinterests.com

Broomfield, Colorado

Benefits:

• Attractive, detailed drawings of each plant with occasional photographs.

• Detailed growing info such as individual panels with indoor and outdoor growing instructions, maps, harvest guides, and some detailed plant profiles in their own boxes or panels on the page.

• Recipes

• Maps

• Gardener opinions & testimonials.

Lacking:

• Real photographs of plants, however I do enjoy the drawings.

• Propinquity to the Southeast where I live. These seeds have adapted to soils and climates far, far away from mine.

Summary: Botanical Interests has more of the information that a beginner would need to get started. The drawings of plants may create unrealistic standards to which real vegetables may develop self-image issues.

Conclusion: Botanical Interests is perfect for beginners due to its detailed growing instructions, which include in-depth plant profiles and histories, harvesting guides, variety comparisons, and more!

Johnny's Selected Seeds

www.johnnyseeds.com

Winslow, Maine

Benefits:

• Plant and variety descriptions which include detailed growing instructions and variety comparisons. Greenhouse and high tunnel instructions throughout.

• Variety comparisons by chart: sizes, weights. Large (including whole-page) image comparisons for varieties.

• Planting Program charts by species and variety, which shows what varieties will thrive in cool weather vs. hot weather throughout the season.

• Vocab panels! Do you know what parthenocarpic means!? You can with Johnny's!

• Gardener / Farmer opinions.

Lacking:

• Propinquity to the Southeast where I live. These seeds have adapted to similar soils and to mine, but a far colder climate. Still located on the East Coast, I would still happily order from this supplier.

• Sometimes difficult to identify image of the seed listing, since many photos include several varieties.

• Free shipping only included for orders over $200.

Summary: There is more that I like about Johnny's than that I dislike. With having to search for the image associated with each listing, this catalog can be for gardeners from intermediate to advanced. However, due to the $200 minimum for free shipping, this catalog may be more beneficial for professionals.

Conclusion: Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog is for intermediate to advanced gardeners, especially professionals or other largescale growers. Ordering from this catalog may be pricier due to shipping costs, and therefore better for those who order seeds in large quantities.

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange

www.southernexposure.com

Mineral, Virginia

Benefits:

• Located very close to my location! These seeds have adapted to a similar soil and climate to mine. These seeds have likely adapted to more pests in my area compared to sources much further away.

• Comprehensive coordination between photos and listings.

• Both photographs and drawings used. Front cover is amazing.

• Days to harvest included for every listing.

• Cultural and handling notes for each plant.

• Disease tolerance information.

• Occasional plant histories.

• Contains a BOOKS section in the back, with books specific to the southeast region, growing guides, agricultural calendars & records, cookbooks & food preservation, and more!

Lacking:

• Photos are lower quality than the glossy catalogs, but do the job.

Summary: There is not a lot to complain about in the SESE catalog. The listings are comprehensively organized in coordination with their images, making this an easy read with no "Where's Waldo" searches on the page. Close to my location, this is an ideal source for my seed collection. Bonus points for having a Books section, and specifically books for the southeast region.

Conclusion: I would recommend the SESE catalog for any and all gardeners in my region!

Sow True Seed

https://sowtrueseed.com

Asheville, NC

Benefits:

• Free shipping on orders over $50.

• Small catalog (5.5" x 8.5") easy to bring to the garden and easy to maneuver each page.

• Plant and variety descriptions, including growing instructions and variety comparisons.

• Planting charts which include depth, spacing, days to sprout, mature spacing, days to harvest, and more.

• Planting guides with crop, season, Sun, soil temp, frost tolerance, direct sow spacing, days to harvest, and seed viability.

• Vocab terms!

• Companion Planting Guide.

• Close to my location.

Lacking:

• Plant histories.

Summary: Sow True Seed catalog is a small catalog (5.5" x 8.5") which makes each page easier to read despite the images not being right next to the listings. Charts are the most efficient way to convey information, so this catalog doubles as a pocket-guide for planting.

Conclusion: With comprehensive growing charts and guides, along with a low free shipping threshold, Sow True Seed catalog is great for beginners. Located only a couple hours away from me, I would recommend this catalog to anyone in my region despite experience level.

Territorial Seed Company

https://territorialseed.com

Cottage Grove, Oregon

Benefits:

• High-quality photographs.

• Culture basics page in front of catalog.

• Plant descriptions with culture and growing directions, along with disease resistance details.

Lacking:

• Often you must search on page for image associated with listing.

• Oregon is the furthest away from my location.

Summary: Territorial Seed Co. is a rather simple catalog. It contains the basic information needed for a beginner to start their seeds, but no extra information like plant profiles or histories. It is located so far away from me, that I would personally only order from here if it contained varieties that no other catalog had.

Conclusion: Territorial Seed Co. catalog would benefit beginner gardeners with its simplicity and smaller size (7.25" x 10"). I would not recommend this catalog for gardeners in my region unless they are beginners seeking moderate guidance during the seed purchasing process.

That was it for now! There are hundreds of other catalogs to choose from. Some of my favorites include Prairie Moon Nursery, American Native Plants, Strictly Medicinal Seeds, and more.

Remember to share your catalogs with friends before recycling them. I keep them forever, and eventually use pages from them under my paint projects, or cut out my favorite images and create new bookmarks, greeting cards, or collages.

Happy 2025, and Happy Gardening!