Your Ultimate Guide To Mail-Order Seeds

Planning next year’s seed sowing? Whether you want flowers or veg, old favourites or new arrivals, Graham Rice reveals where (and how) to shop for what you want.

- Graham Rice

DECEMBER may be a quiet month in the garden, but it’s a busy time indoors as you sit by the fire thinking about what seeds to order for next year. You may be tempted to wait until February, when the sowing season starts, but doing so runs the risk that varieties whose seed is in short supply will be sold out. And given that these are often the most desirable, it makes sense to act quickly.

Your first choice is: catalogue or website? I confess, I like to have a printed catalogue in my hands – I’m old fashioned that way. The catalogues are all free, so you can ask for them from all the companies that appeal. And don’t just stick to the familiar ones, as some of the smaller, lesser-known suppliers offer exceptional ranges featuring many uncommon varieties.