Garden Seed Catalogs by Jeff Rugg on Creators.com

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Wow, can you believe we made it through the holidays? The days are getting longer, and we are looking forward to getting out into the garden. The first thing we have to do is plan on what new plants we will be growing this year. It doesn't matter if you garden with annuals, perennials or vegetables — there is always a new thing to try.

January is National Mail Order Gardening Month. Have you been getting your garden catalogs in the mail yet? If you haven't received enough gardening catalogs, or need more with a specific type of plant, go to www.mailordergardening.com for a list of companies that offer catalogs with plants and gardening tools. You will obtain a direct link to the company's e-mail or Web page, so you can order the catalog. It is time to start the new year with a resolution to get new garden plants that will use less water, be more disease- resistant and make your landscape prettier. Plus, it would be helpful to buy new tools that make your jobs easier.

The best place to get the tried-and-true plants for your local climate is from an established garden center. They have stayed in business by supplying plants that work. Many will try to help you find new plants, but they can't be expected to contain all of the over 60,000 varieties of daylilies registered with the American Hemerocallis Society. If you want plants that are even slightly unusual, you will probably have to go to a catalog. This is especially true when it comes to vegetables. The tried-and-true varieties will be at your local stores, but the fun items are in the catalogs.

According to the National Gardening Association, around 7 million new gardens were planted in 2009.

Many people were looking for organically grown seeds or older heirloom varieties of seeds. Today, let's look at a few catalogs that cover these seeds. All three do not carry seeds that have been artificially genetically modified.

Seeds of Change provides 100-percent certified organic seeds, so the plants producing the seeds for your garden were grown organically. This Minnesota-based company is supplied by organic farmers across the country. They have over 1,200 varieties of seeds, including some annuals and perennials. Their website has more than their catalog at www.seedsofchange.com.

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds has a farm, village, monthly festivals and other vacation destination opportunities located in the Missouri Ozarks — and a seed bank retail store in Petaluma, Calif. They have vegetable seeds found in a variety of small villages and markets around the world. They provide a few herb and flower varieties, but if you want to try a unique vegetable, go to www.rareseeds.com.

The Seed Savers Exchange started back in 1975. You can order from the catalog, but become a member of the Exchange to receive the most variety. For instance, the catalog lists an impressive 56 varieties of pepper — some of them certified organic — but members have over 850 varieties of peppers available. Members also have access to fruits, nuts and berries. Check them out at www.seedsavers.org.

The summer of 2009 was not the best for growing vegetable seeds. Some places will be in short supply, so order early for the best selection, no matter where you place your order.

E-mail questions to Jeff Rugg, University of Illinois Extension at jrugg@illinois.edu. To find out more about Jeff Rugg and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.