Purchasing Seeds: Store vs. Catalog?

If you’ve determined that you want to start your vegetable, herb or flower garden from seed, but would like to know some of the differences between purchasing your seeds from a store vs. a catalog, I’ve got some quick tips and considerations about each to help you inform your decision. Let’s jump in! 

But, if we haven’t met, I’m Cassandra. I’m a city backyard homesteader and, like you, I was curious about the differences between store vs. catalog seeds. So, let’s start by discussing the main pros and cons to purchasing store bought seeds, then, we’ll do the same for catalog seeds. 

First, let’s talk about the pros and cons of purchasing your seeds from a catalog

A few pro’s to store bought seeds are: 

1. One, it’s likely the most convenient option. It’s super easy to pick up seeds while you’re already there for other items, and for the most part, you’ll get a decent selection.
2. Two, chain stores usually carry seeds of vegetables, fruit, and herbs that are regionally agreeable to your climate. You don’t have to worry if a particular variety is suited to your growing zone. You may also find a small selection of heirloom, hybrid, and organic seeds.
3. And, third, store-bought seeds are competitively priced, meaning, dollars for dollars, they’re the cheapest option. 

Related: Interested in starting seeds in milk jugs? Check out this post to learn how! But, if you’re short on time, watch the 5 minute video I made instead:

There are a few cons to consider when purchasing store-bought seeds:

1. First, seeds sold in stores may not have been stored under ideal temperature conditions. As a result, germination rates of store-bought seeds can be inconsistent from pack to pack. 
2. Second…you don’t know who you’re supporting with your purchase– and if having a Monsanto free garden is important to you, you’ll want to ensure that your purchases only support companies who are 100% non-GMO AND have signed the safe seed pledge. 
3. Third..Variety! Box store retailers prioritize shelving space to stock only the most popular seed types. If you’re interested in rare or heirloom varieties—or other special disease-resistant strains—you’ll likely only find them online or in seed catalogs. 

Now let’s talk about the pros and cons of purchasing your seeds from a catalog. 

A few pro’s to catalog seeds are: 

1. One- Value. If you have a sizable garden, ordering seeds from a catalog or online is often cheaper because you’ll be eligible for bulk discounts.
2. Two,  with catalogs, you can choose seed companies that are in your geographic region or climate, which means they’ll have the best information as to what varieties will perform extremely well in your area’s conditions.
3. Third, if you’re interested in rare or heirloom varieties—or other special disease-resistant strains—you’ll  find the best selection online or in seed catalogs. 
4. Fourth-Most catalog seed companies are family owned and operated, so your support of local or small businesses makes  the slightly higher cost to support catalog operations and local economies immeasurable. 
5. And, fifth- most seed companies are dedicated to the preservation of  heirloom seeds, and, I don’t know about you, but stewarding the thousands of crops that we’ll neither see nor eat in a grocery store is important, because that’s our collective human history. 

But, there are a few downsides to ordering from seed catalogs. 

1. It can be expensive! That’s because the seed prices will be a little higher than what you pay in stores AND you’ll also be paying shipping charges! This can add up quickly. To circumvent this, try sharing the expenses with a fellow gardening friend and ordering together. 
2. You may not be able to get all your seed needs from one catalog. This is where catalog shopping can become inconvenient. Paying to ship the first time is something you can stomach, but twice?  Yikes!  If you’re on the newer side of gardening, here’s where you may want to only place orders with the company that is going to offer you the most varieties and rely on big box stores to supplement the seeds you are particular about. 
3. And, third- It takes time to get your order.  Now,  this isn’t an issue if you order early, but if you don’t then you won’t be able to get what you’re looking for in time to grow for that season.  You’ve got to be proactive and organized when ordering through the mail so you don’t miss out on varieties you want to grow.  

So, how do I decide what’s best for me?

Now that you have a baseline of the pros and cons of purchasing seeds from a store vs. catalog, also know that an important consideration to keep in mind when determining if you should purchase seeds from a store vs. a catalog is to identify what stage gardener you are. If you’re relatively new to gardening and will simultaneously be building your gardening tool inventory, soil amendments, and other supplies, you may want to start by purchasing your seeds at the store because they’ll carry all the basic vegetable varieties that you need to get started, at reasonable prices. But, once you gain some experience you may want to expand your choices and explore beyond the basics, which will inevitably lead you to the immense variety you’ll only find in seed catalogs.