The 2017 Catalog Is Here!
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The latest Seed Savers Exchange catalog is hot off the press. Filled with vivid photographs and informative descriptions, it also contains more than a few exciting new items. What’s new for 2017? Read on to find out, and if you haven’t already, request your free copy—we think you’ll agree it may just be our best catalog yet.
Heirloom and historic designations
You can’t miss the plentiful “heirloom” and “historic” tags in this year’s catalog. Its 100-plus pages contain 63 “certified heirloom” varieties and 131 “certified historic” varieties, as designated by our seed historians. How do these seeds differ from other open-pollinated varieties we sell? Heirloom seeds possess a documented history of being saved and shared by generations of home gardeners. Certified historic varieties, meanwhile, were introduced to the U.S. seed trade before 1950. The certifications highlight how important these enduring seeds are to our agricultural and food systems, as well as to your garden. But that’s not the end of the story—we’re continuing our research to determine if additional varieties meet these stringent criteria. You’ll find this year’s certified varieties designated with small tags, both in the catalog and online.
Delicious cooked or raw, the Red Surrey carrot is one of 13 exceptional varieties that make up the 2017 Heritage Farm Collection.
2017 Heritage Farm Collection
The catalog kicks off with this impressive collection, 13 certified organic seeds culled from our seed bank and offered for the first time ever. Carefully chosen from hundreds of varieties grown out for renewal and evaluation last year, these limited-edition seeds possess unparalleled performance, unrivaled flavor, and unsurpassed stories.
The smooth-textured Red Surrey carrot will please your palate, cooked or raw. The juicy Newburg onion, the tender Delaway kale, the tangy Backlund Bly orach, the flavorful Swenson Swedish pea, and the sweet, buttery Banquet squash all promise to delight, while the seeds for the Funk Family Heirloom watermelon and Livingston’s Paragon tomato have been diligently stewarded since the 19th century for good reason. The Derksen and Ausilio Thin Skin Italian red peppers, the Johnson County White dent corn, Nora’s Baudette Baking Bean, and the Chima Family Heirloom Poppy round out the collection. Did we mention that the 2017 Heritage Farm Collection, with 13 varieties, is the largest yet?
Genovese Basil—prized for its spicy flavor—is one of eight herb transplants offered for the first time by Seed Savers Exchange.
Herb Transplants
When it comes to cooking with herbs, using fresh ones is inarguably best, as they enhance most any dish with bold flavors and aromas. And while herbs are among the easiest to grow of all edible plants, they often require patience and time to nurture from seed. What’s the alternative? Transplants, of course. This year’s catalog brings you eight popular and versatile herb varieties, in addition to our tomato and pepper transplants. All eight are certified organic: Genovese Basil, Purple Dark Opal Basil, Cilantro, Bouquet Dill, Giant from Italy Parsley, Green Culinary Sage, Greek Oregano, and Thyme. Mix varieties in increments of six plants for $3.75 each (minimum order of six plants). Or have our knowledgeable staff compile a sampler of six plants for you for just $18.75.
Seed Collections
Seed Savers Exchange has created 10 new themed seed collections, each ready for shipping, giving, and growing. Our new collections take the guesswork (and the legwork) out of choosing that perfect gift for veteran or aspiring gardeners and seed savers. Each collection comprises six to eight seed varieties that complement one another in the soil as well as on the plate or in the vase. Even better? They are affordably priced between $17 and $24 each.
