Like most gardeners, I have my favorite places to purchase seeds and  garden supplies.  I rarely purchase plants and prefer to either start my own plants or plant seed directly in the garden.  I also prefer to purchase my seeds through the mail (and soon, the internet) as I think the selection is better then our local stores.  Although I included both the addresses and web sites (if available) for my preferred seed suppliers, I confess I much prefer to thumb through a catalog then search through a web site.  These are my personal preferences for purchasing seed;  I am not endorsing or promoting these companies.

Since moving to Colorado in 1986, I switched from standards like Burpee and Parks (though they still send me catalogs) to the following seed suppliers:

1. Harris Seeds.  Located in upstate New York, Harris Seeds has a large supply of short season vegetable seeds and the best assortment of mulches and floating row covers.  My father has purchased seeds from Harris for many years and pointed me to them.  Harris has some of the lowest prices of any of the catalogs and excellent service, both important to me.  Their web site is clunky and not well organized nor does it present  selections well.  The catalog is much better.  Harris remains my favorite source for many garden seeds and products!

Harris Seeds
355 Paul Road
P.O. Box 24966
Rochester, NY 14624-0966
1-800-544-7938

2. Johnny's Selected Seeds.  Johnny's is located in Maine and is a wonderful source for short season seeds.  They have many of their own introductions that are quite superior.  Johnny's web site is by far the best and easiest to use.  Their catalog is very informative and well organized.  Johnny's has excellent vegetable selections as well as many flowers, grasses, and cover crops and is my second favorite seed source.

Johnny's Selected Seeds
Foss Hill Road
RR 1 Box 2580
Albion, ME 04910-9731
1-877-564-6697

3. Rocky Mountain Seed Company.  The Rocky Mountain Seed Company is a very old seed supplier located in downtown Denver, CO.  They don't have a web site but a visit to the store is well worth the trip into the city.  The store has old wooden bins that hold the seeds and the warehouse is a labyrinth.  The Rocky Mountain Seed Company is the only place I know to purchase granular soil sulphur.  Their seeds are targeted to the high altitude gardener, of course, and they carry vegetables, flowers, grasses, and cover crops.  There's nothing fancy about their catalog, The Rocky Mountain Seed Company just provides good old fashioned friendly service and quality.

The Rocky Mountain Seed Company
6541 N. Washington
Denver, CO 80229
1-303-623-6223
fax 1-303-623-6254

4. Stokes.  Stokes is located in Canada and has the largest selection of vegetables and flowers.  Their web site is just being constructed and, at the time of this post, doesn't have their vegetable seeds on line.  I have had good, prompt service from Stokes.

USA:
Stokes
P.O. Box 548
Buffalo, NY 14240-0548
1-800-396-9238
fax 1-888-834-3334		 Canada:
Stokes
P.O. Box 10
St. Catharines, Ontario
Canada L2R 6R6

5. High Country Gardens.  Located in Santa Fe, NM, High Country Gardens carries "bulbs and plants for the western garden".  I have not ordered from this company but I am intrigued by their variety of flowers and bulbs. However, High Country Gardens sells only plants and bulbs and not seeds.  I find their prices to be very expensive but their selections unique.  I am putting in two new gardens this year (an alpine and a xeriscape garden) and, maybe this year, I will order some plants. Their catalog is very informative and well organized.  High Country Gardens web site is excellently presented and has a great plant finder.

High Country Gardens
2902 Rufina Street
Santa Fe, NM 87505-2929
1-800-925-9387
January is when I dream and plan my gardens, always keeping in mind that gardening at high altitude has such special and dramatic conditions.  What companies are your favorites for plants or seeds?  Please contact me and let me know if there are other companies that I should include on this page.