Edibles: Two NW seed companies offer hardy varieties and knowledge of the area

The lion's share of the vegetable seed I plant comes from several Pacific Northwest seed companies. Buying from these local seedsmen makes sense. They offer varieties that have proven themselves in our area. Moreover, most of these providers have trial gardens where they test new varieties, germination standards that exceed industry norms. They also have reputations for quality to live up to. This week and next, I'll discuss these companies and a few specialty firms for good measure.

Territorial Seed Co.

Territorial, situated in Cottage Grove, Ore., was started in the late '70s by Steve Solomon, a Northwest vegetable gardening expert of the highest order. Now owned by Tom Johns and his wife, Territorial has grown into a major resource for area gardeners. If you're shopping for tomatoes, it has seed and transplants for 66 varieties. For lettuce, there are 46 listings; for peppers, 27; and for garlic, 22.

On its 44-acre trial grounds, Territorial breeds some varieties and tests others before deciding whether to offer them to the public. The company offers hybrids and open-pollinated varieties, including a generous selection of heirlooms. In addition, there are a number of organic seeds and a few with biodynamic certification. That latter designation ensures the seed has been produced consistent with ecological farming standards developed by Austrian scientist and philosopher Rudolf Steiner.

The cultural information offered in Territorial catalogs has always been excellent, in part because it's tailored to our area. Whether you want to know when to plant or what insects attack a crop, it's all there. Directions are even provided for starting transplants.

Alone among the seed companies familiar to me, Territorial offers a winter gardening catalog, complete with an extensive list of hardy varieties. It's an excellent resource for anyone trying to grow food year-round in our area.

You'll find some of Territorial's more popular seeds in racks at many nurseries. For the full selection though, you'll want to peruse the catalog. You can do that in two ways: on the Company's Web site, territorialseed.com, or with a print catalog, which you can request either online or by calling 800-626-0866.

Nichols Garden Nursery

Nichols, which is headquartered in Albany, Ore., was started more than 50 years ago by N.P. Nichols. Now it's owned by his daughter, Rose Marie Nichols McGee, and her husband, Keane McGee. Like Territorial Seed, Nichols is a well-regarded, major supplier of seeds and plants that perform well in our area.

Most garden catalogs list a few herbs; Nichols specializes in them, offering an impressive number of varieties as seed and many as plants. Lately, the nursery has been a leader in container gardening. If you get to Albany, you can visit Nichols' grounds and take in its trial garden, All America Selections garden, and established herb and demonstration container gardens.

Like Territorial, Nichols offers both hybrid and open-pollinated vegetable varieties, including heirlooms. Some of the seed is organically produced.

At the writing of this column, Nichols' print catalog was not out. It's online catalog, however, is up. You can access it at nicholsgardennursery.com.

If you want the print catalog, you can order it on line or call the nursery at 800-422-3985.