ONCE UPON A TIME, the seed catalogs got here out across the begin of the New Yr, however nowadays the very first ones could arrive by Thanksgiving, and their listings could also be posted on-line even earlier. So I suppose what I’m saying is: It’s not too early to start out speaking about seed buying … and it’s by no means too early to start out scouting out new seed sources that you just won’t learn about!
My visitor to get seed season began is the adventurous seed shopper Joseph Tychonievich, who has known as himself a “plant-crazed backyard nerd,” and we related on the podcast to share a few of our favourite locations to trace down uncommon goodies of all types, from alpines to native perennials.
Joseph is a author, a plant breeder and naturally a gardener, primarily based in South Bend, Ind.—and the writer of the books “Rock Gardening: Reimagining a Traditional Model,” plus a graphic novel on rising meals known as “The Comedian Ebook Information to Rising Meals.” It’s possible you’ll recall previous conversations we’ve had on the present about different passions of his akin to snapdragons, and gladiolus and extra. (Photograph above, Joseph grew Lewisia ‘Tutti Frutti’ from Jelitto Perennial Seed.)
Learn alongside as you take heed to the Nov. 17, 2025 version of my public-radio present and podcast utilizing the participant under. You’ll be able to subscribe to all future editions on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) or Spotify (and browse my archive of podcasts right here).
seed buying with joseph tychonievich
Obtain file | Play in new window |
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Margaret Roach: Hello, Joseph. I had a little bit snow final night time. How about you?
Joseph Tychonievich: I had lots of snow [laughter]. We’ve got a couple of foot on the bottom.
Margaret: Oh, sorry. Completely satisfied early November.
Joseph: Diving into winter with a bang right here?
Margaret: O.Okay. A lot for these spring-like or early fall, like days of some days in the past. O.Okay. [Laughter.] So seed buying, to start with, I’m simply going to, it’s a must to confess, have you ever already ordered some issues?
Joseph: Sure [laughter].
Margaret: O.Okay. Fact be advised, he has already. I believe the rarer the gadgets in your wishlist and the extra obscure your sources, it’s sort of a race to get there earlier than they’re gone. These usually are not large factory-type locations we’re speaking about, proper?
Joseph: Yeah. And in addition typically as a result of seeds, you possibly can retailer them, I’m a little bit bit typically if I get a bee in my bonnet about one thing, I’m ordering seeds on a regular basis, even when I’m not going to sow it until the spring. Generally if I begin fascinated about it, then anytime you order it, it could actually sit in my seed field till I get round to it. So I’m sort of all the time ordering seeds if I’m trustworthy [laughter].
Margaret: O.Okay. Now now we have the total confession. The seed field: The place does it stay? Is it stay in a particular cool, dry place or what’s the place? Is it in your home or-?
Joseph: I hold it in my basement, which is fairly cool. After which they’re like Tupperware tubs, and I put a little bit little bit of silica gel, which absorbs moisture and that you just see in these little packets in sneakers and stuff within the backside, to maintain them good and dry. In order that’s sort of my system. They was once within the fridge, however my husband thought that perhaps we should always hold fridge area for meals [laughter]. So now they’re within the basement.
Margaret: He’s so boring, he doesn’t perceive in any respect. Are there some issues that you just order yearly you could’t kind of stay with out? I imply, for me, I wish to make this specific vegetable soup, and I’ve this one bean, this pole bean known as ‘Aunt Ada’s, Italian’ pole bean that simply… It’s a kind of ones, it’s like a greasy bean from the South. It’s a kind of ones the place the shell stays on and the beans are plump inside, however the beans are tender and the shell stays tender. So it’s such as you get the inexperienced and the bean in your soup and it’s wealthy and fantastic. And so I get that from Turtle Tree Seed yearly. And that’s within the Hudson Valley of New York close to me. And it’s like I’ve to have that. Is there something like that that you just completely must have?
Joseph: I believe I often find yourself ordering various things. I imply, there’s stuff I develop yearly. There’s a number of tomatoes I’ve to develop yearly, however often I save seeds from them myself. After which I’m usually, yeah, so I’m all the time ordering some sort of kale and I’ve the one, it’s like an Asian broccoli, the cultivar’s ‘Completely satisfied Wealthy,’ that’s my must-have with a vegetable backyard that I get from Johnny’s Chosen Seeds. It’s virtually like a broccolini, however I find it irresistible as a result of you possibly can plant it as soon as it makes an enormous bush and it simply retains a harvest about as soon as each one or two weeks, all summer season lengthy. [Photo of ‘Happy Rich’ from Johnny’s catalog.]
Margaret: It’s fascinating. There’s one, and I don’t know the right way to pronounce it, it has a Latin American identify, ‘Piracicaba,’ and that’s one that it’ll hold yielding, not large heads, however florets many times and many times and once more over many weeks. And it’s nice.
Joseph: Yeah, I sort of don’t need the enormous heads. It’s so impractical. I do know that’s what within the grocery shops you’re used to seeing. However one large head, should you plant them all of sudden, you simply get this deluge of broccoli after which nothing. So I like those that ship off some offsets.
Margaret: Oh, fascinating. I don’t know that one.
O.Okay, so that you hunt for different kinds of seeds. You could have lots of plant passions. You’re an alpine gardener, you breed crops. You could have all types of, I believe I mentioned within the introduction, you name your self a “plant-crazed backyard nerd.” What sorts of locations do you scout out? What are among the stuff you’re in search of?
Joseph: I actually love some sort of small, eclectic firm that’s one individual with a ardour who’s amassing uncommon seeds. I’d love stumbling on them. Often if the web site seems to be prefer it hasn’t been up to date for the reason that web, because it was AOL or one thing [laughter], that’s all the time an amazing signal. And one I actually love, there’s an organization known as Seedhunt, which is run by a lady named Jenny Hunt in California, which is all California native seeds. And it’s simply their singular ardour. And it’s simply fascinating as a result of the entire listing of stuff I’ve by no means heard of, which is catnip for me [laughter].
Margaret: Bought to strive it. Proper.
Joseph: Sure, obtained to strive it. Bought to strive it. Yeah.
Margaret: California natives, fascinating.
Joseph: Yeah, and what’s fascinating is she has lots of California native annuals. Clearly the perennials I can’t develop as a result of it snowed yesterday. However there’s lots of California native annuals that germinate when the rains come, I suppose within the fall and, are sort of winter, spring, fall cool-season annuals for California that truly do fairly good in my Midwestern summer season. So Clarkia is a big genus, and yearly I simply must order new species of Clarkia from Seedhunt, simply to see which of them are going to do nicely for me right here within the Midwest. [Above, a Clarkia williamsonii from Seedhunt at Joseph’s.]
Margaret: That’s nice. So Seedhunt. O.Okay, in order that’s one, and that’s one I’ve by no means heard of. In order that’s fascinating. After which people who find themselves listening who after all are from the West could want to bask in among the perennials and so forth as nicely [laughter].
Joseph: Sure, for certain. Yeah, if you’re out on the West Coast, I’m certain they hopefully have heard of it already. However yeah, it’s such a extremely tons of stuff that I don’t suppose you’re going to seek out in any the standard catalogs.
Margaret: Some other kind of ones from different areas of the nation?
Joseph: So the opposite one which’s additionally out West is known as Alplains. And once more, it’s this one man who goes and collects seeds, and he’s someplace, I believe he’s in Colorado, so he’s sort of within the Mountain West. And once more, it’s all these, I’d say 90-plus p.c native species from that area. However actually fascinating.
I actually prefer it as a result of this big listing of all these species, once more, I’ve by no means heard of, however he additionally, every itemizing has lots of details about the place the native inhabitants that the seeds initially got here from is from. So I’m actually into hardy cactus proper now. And there’s a species, Echinocereus reichenbachii, which ranges actually extensively by way of the West to excessive elevations and up north and south. And so there’s varieties which might be from zone 4, and there’s varieties which might be from zone 7, and he has all these completely different listings. So I can sort of pick those from the upper altitude or the northern vary which might be probably to outlive my winters.
Margaret: Now, after all, that genus of cactus simply kind of flowed off your tongue and I do not know what you mentioned as a result of I don’t suppose…what?
Joseph: Echinocereus reichenbachii[above].
Margaret: Fascinating. Don’t realize it.
Joseph: In order that they’re typically known as hedgehog cactus. So the standard hardy cactus for us within the East are the prickly pears, Opuntia.
Margaret: Sure.
Joseph: And I hate them a lot as a result of they’ve the little glochids, the little hairs that stick in your pores and skin for what seems like days afterwards. So Echinocereus is a extremely stunning genus, plenty of very hardy species. They’re spiny, however they don’t have these little hairs. In order that they don’t embed themselves in you. I discover them much-
Margaret: Friendlier [laughter].
Joseph: Sure, friendlier, and actually, actually, actually enjoyable to develop.
Margaret: And so if you develop a cactus from seed it’s a perennial. So is it a winter-sown factor or how lengthy an funding is that earlier than you see one thing come up?
Joseph: They really germinate actually quick. They don’t want any sort of chilly remedy or something. Some species do, I believe Opuntia do, however they germinate fairly quick. So their seed is surprisingly teeny and the seedlings truly don’t wish to dry out as a result of they’re so small at first. However they germinate inside matter of some weeks. And after they first germinate, they’re the cutest little… as a result of they arrive up and so they’re already succulents. So the little tiny cotyledons are all fats and swollen and so they’re like little flowers all spherical. I don’t know, they’re so cute. They usually’re actually gradual. The primary six months they simply look teeny. However then they begin rising fairly quick, and so they begin getting as much as flowering measurement and even three years after sowing.
Margaret: So it was an funding plant, however it’s not one thing you’re going to seek out in any other case until you probably did it.
Joseph: No, no, there’s actually not. I imply, particularly yow will discover the species on the market, however usually what you’ll discover on the market are the southern varieties or the lower-altitude varieties that aren’t going to be as hardy. After which I additionally like that I can develop a packet, I can develop 100 of them, and that provides me some variation, as a result of with seed, you get this glorious genetic variety. And so the primary winter I plant them out and I often lose 1 / 4 of them that aren’t fairly as hardy, however the remainder survive. And I sort of get to do virtually like a little bit little bit of mini-plant breeding simply by rising an enormous seed inhabitants and discovering which survive the winter. The winter simply kills off the weaklings [laughter].
Margaret: Oh, cool. So Alplains—and there’s like alpine crops and so forth there.
Joseph: Alpine crops, lots of desert crops, all from the Mountain West. However simply all types of issues like Phlox, which I believe I do know, however I solely know among the Japanese species actually. There’s all these Western species that I’ve by no means heard of and I’m like, “Ooh, I wish to strive all of them.”
Margaret: Some other catalogs that you just’re taking a look at proper now? After I say catalogs, after all, that’s what we all the time known as them: seed catalogs. And lots of these, there’s no paper model anymore, you already know what I imply? Or there by no means was in a few of these circumstances; it’s a web site often.
Joseph: Yeah, I don’t suppose something I had on my listing to speak to you about has a paper model. Truly, the postage for these little, nicely, perhaps one, however one other one I actually love is Hayefield Seeds. That is Nancy Ondra’s. She had a backyard weblog for a very long time. She’s within the Philadelphia space, I believe. And on her web site, she has this splendidly eclectic listing of seeds, many collected from her personal backyard, a number of of her personal choices of issues like variegated sunflowers or morning glory with yellow leaves, or lots of old school annuals which might be too tall so that you’re not going to seek out them on the backyard facilities. It’s lots of fascinating old school annuals off-the-beaten-path stuff. You by no means fairly know what you’re going to seek out in her listing; there’s greens, there’s flowers, it’s perennials. It’s only a very private sort of listing of crops that she loves. And he or she’s a implausible gardener. [Above, Nemophila ‘Penny Black’ from Hayefield at Joseph’s.]
Margaret: Oh, that feels like such enjoyable.
Joseph: It’s actually enjoyable as a result of I really feel such as you get this little window into what she likes to develop, and sometimes it’s one thing {that a} variegated type popped up in her backyard and she or he’s saved for years. So it’s actually enjoyable, I really feel like I’m getting a little bit piece of her gardening spirit each time I order from her catalog.
Margaret: You remind me in regards to the choices and the oddballs that present up. And my buddy Ken Druse despatched me some. He likes, as you do, to get uncommon issues after which develop them out from seed and see that are the most effective ones. I like pokeweed, which perhaps lots of people don’t like, however I find it irresistible. And he has varied yellow-leaved and variegated-leaved varieties that he had some seedlings of. And so he despatched me a few of these and it’s actually enjoyable. It’s simply enjoyable to see what they’re going to develop up into.
Joseph: Yeah, that’s very the kind of factor that you just’re going to seek out. She virtually definitely has variegated pokeweeds. It’s the kind of factor you’re by no means going to seek out it on the large field retailer.
Margaret: No, positively not.
Joseph: However it’s a actually cool and really actually stunning native plant. So she has lots of these kinds of issues which might be perhaps a little bit off the overwhelmed path, however actually, actually enjoyable to develop [laughter].
Margaret: So the place will we go subsequent to spend some extra money [laughter]?
Joseph: Effectively, my subsequent listing… So those I’ve talked about to date are sort of probably one individual, their private ardour. However my “yow will discover something you need” is Jelitto Perennial Seed, which most likely individuals have heard of.
Margaret: Oh certain. In Germany, sure.
Joseph: Yeah, primarily based in Germany and doubtless one of many greatest perennial seed producers on the planet. So it’s just about completely perennial seeds. It’s an enormous listing. They do promote lots of wholesale, so lots of wholesale growers are shopping for from them, however they promote retail. And very nice: They do have an workplace within the us. So regardless of tariffs and every little thing else, you possibly can nonetheless get seeds from them.
Margaret: Oh, he mentioned the T phrase. Oh expensive [laughter].
Joseph: Oh expensive. Yeah. However Jelitto is, I imply, one, it’s probably the most complete listing of any sort of perennial you possibly can think about from seed most likely you’ll discover wherever. So all types of issues, which is absolutely, actually enjoyable.
Additionally they have a extremely fascinating line of what they name their Gold Nugget seed line, that are their pretreated seeds. In order that they take seeds that usually would take a chilly interval and all this sort of stuff to germinate, and it’s their commerce secret, how they do it, however treating it with some sort of plant hormones most likely in order that they’ll germinate in two weeks. So should you don’t wish to fuss with, “Effectively, I’ve to take the Lewisia seeds [photo top of page] and put them exterior for the winter after which carry them in and all, dah, dah, dah, dah,” you possibly can simply order the Gold Nugget type, and so they germinate like your Zinnia would.
Margaret: In order that they’ve been conditioned already.
Joseph: Yeah, yeah. They’ve given all of the pre-treatments you want. And it could actually actually simplify should you’re sort of like, oh, do I wish to fuss with this factor wants sandpaper, after which soak them-
Margaret: Proper to stratify or scarify or no matter.
Joseph: All these sort of issues for lots of seeds, they’ve these good shortcuts, which might be actually a enjoyable, a simple option to get into some bizarre issues because you don’t wish to mess with all of the seed remedies.
And I like Jelitto, too, as a result of regardless of being a German-based firm, they’ve a extremely nice listing of U.S. North American native crops.
Margaret: Sure. Effectively, and naturally the German gardeners, German designers, nicely, lots of European designers, had an appreciation of our native perennials and so forth lengthy earlier than we did [laughter], horticulturally talking.
Joseph: After I was in faculty learning horticulture, all of the choices of native crops have been from Germany, our native crops, the primary choices of Echinacea and all this stuff. So I believe they really began appreciating our native prairie crops particularly earlier than we did.
Margaret: Sure. And celebrating them.
Joseph: In order that they nonetheless have actually nice… I imply, now now we have extra nice native plant nurseries and seed sources within the U.S., however they nonetheless are a extremely nice choice should you’re wanting for lots of native perennials the place they’re going to have nice choices and actually very high-quality seed, as a result of they do usually promote to wholesale growers. In order that they have been germination-tested, they’re very clear. You’ll be able to actually depend on excessive dependable germination from them, the place typically if it’s a yard operation, perhaps typically you surprise how, however it’s a really high-quality, excessive germination charges and actually, actually intensive listing.
Margaret: You additionally store at plant societies and so forth. And once I say store, it’s not like they’ve shops or once more, like a printed catalog or no matter. There are like seed swaps and on-line seed exchanges and issues like that. Numerous plant societies have that. And also you do this as nicely, don’t you? I imply, it’s kind of an alternate technique to get actually particular issues.
Joseph: So lots of plant societies have seed exchanges the place the members gather seeds from their crops, ship them into the society, after which there’s an choice for different members into get these seeds. And I do suppose that’s most likely, should you actually wish to get the rarest, most uncommon issues, the seed exchanges are often we will discover probably the most off-the-beaten-track crops. And it’s additionally, although, there’s one thing harmful about it, as a result of if I see one thing in Jelitto and I’m unsure if I wish to purchase it, I do know it’ll be there subsequent 12 months as a result of they’re an enormous firm. However should you see it on the seed trade listing, you’re like, it could by no means be there once more as a result of any person donated this 12 months. And there’s this sense of so many issues. I’m like, “Why did I order that?” However there’s that sense of, “Oh, if I don’t get it now, I’m going to overlook out.” [Laughter.]
Which makes it enjoyable. But in addition is fascinating to see what species you may get. So my prime society seed trade is the North American Rock Backyard Society, which I work for. I edit their journal, and I’m very concerned in. And it’s clearly as a result of the rock backyard society is a superb seed trade for alpine crops, however I believe rock backyard society individuals are simply, they’re just like the alpha plant nerd [laughter]. They simply love every little thing.
And so I’ve discovered one 12 months I grew some bizarre species of cosmos that I’ve by no means heard of that, some from Mexico I actually by no means seen it earlier than or since. So it’s simply, you by no means know what you’re going to seek out. Every kind of a great illustration once more of native species. The individuals are amassing seeds from lots of alpine species, lots of actually uncommon issues. And it’s actually enjoyable; the seed trade opens in December yearly, and it’s first-come, first-serve, and a few of these issues are very restricted amount. So there’s sort of this enjoyable sense of marking it in your calendar. And I’ve to rise up that morning, get on the seed trade and shortly work out what I would like and attempt to get my order in quick to ensure I get the cool issues earlier than they’re gone.
Margaret: So with one thing like this, like North American Rock Backyard Society or the Gesneriad Society, the Peony Society, the Primrose Society, there’s lots of these locations, and I even have an inventory of plant societies. Do it’s a must to be a member? I believe your members get first dibs, so to talk. [Above, Iris dichotoma that Joseph sources from NARGS.]
Joseph: I believe most of them, it’s a must to be a member to take part; it varies by society. I believe the Primrose Society, the primary spherical is simply open to members, after which they’ve a second spherical that’s open to all people.
Margaret: That’s what I keep in mind. That’s the one I’m remembering.
Joseph: So it will depend on the society. Most of them do should be a member. After which often should you’re a member, you possibly can then order seeds and there’s a small charge to cowl the postage and every little thing for ordering the seeds. So that you’d must have a membership. After which often should you donate seeds, you then’re allowed to order much more. So there’s a restrict of, within the first spherical, you possibly can order 10 packets of seeds or one thing. However should you donated to the trade, you possibly can order, I don’t know, it’s going to rely on the society, 15. So should you don’t have seeds to share to the trade, you possibly can nonetheless order seeds. However should you do have one thing in your backyard you possibly can gather seeds from and ship in, then you possibly can you get extra crops from the exchanges.
Margaret: And one which’s not a plant society that’s very well-known, was the unique a part of Seed Savers Change, is now simply known as The Change. And most of us know the industrial catalog, the retail catalog, that they create yearly. However The Change was the hub, the start of it. And it’s what you’re speaking about, it’s kind of, it’s a digital seed swap, and you’ll go on and see who’s obtained what. And in that case, I don’t imagine it’s a must to additionally provide something; you should purchase from all of the listers, I believe, as they’re known as.
And it’s actually fantastic as a result of it’s an outstanding variety of issues [laughter]. I imply, you’re simply not going to see them wherever else. So it’s simply enjoyable. And yow will discover individuals in your area should you’re in search of issues which might be applicable in your area or no matter. I imply, all these heritage varieties and hand-me-downs with provenance, with nice tales to inform and so forth. So The Change at Seed Savers is sort of a enjoyable option to get into that world, too. Not a plant society per se.
Joseph: Yeah. Sure. Definitely for greens, should you’re into vegetable rising.
Margaret: Oh, completely. They usually have flowers and stuff, too. However I believe the greens is wonderful.
Joseph: The tomato choice is-
Margaret: It’s unbelievable.
Joseph: A whole bunch and a whole bunch of tomatoes, and it’s actually, yeah, and it’s actually enjoyable. I like, such as you mentioned, the tales. I believe there’s one thing actually enjoyable about not simply, nicely, “I purchased this factor,” however getting a way of the connection of any person collected this and donated it and shared it, and so they have among the background and stuff. It provides one other dimension to having fun with the plant past simply its operate in your backyard when you’ve gotten a little bit little bit of that backstory. And the opposite individuals who liked it and donated it to The Change.
Margaret: Is there one other one that you just wish to point out or something that you just’re searching down? Any venture you’ve gotten going? I imply, you’re all the time into some plant or different [laughter].
Joseph: The one I’ll point out is Silverhill Seeds, which relies in South Africa and is wonderful. However they’re a little bit bit, proper now, they’re taking a pause as a result of they don’t with the tariff state of affairs, they’re unsure how they will import. I believe they may begin importing to the U.S. once more. In order that they’re on a pause proper now. However I’ve gotten concerned with my native conservatory, and so I’m fascinated about South African crops that could be good for them. However definitely should you stay in Southern California, which is an analogous local weather to South Africa, or you’ve gotten a greenhouse place, there are actually cool to get actually uncommon South African species.
Margaret: Yeah. Oh my goodness. A number of the bulbs!
Joseph: Oh my God, wonderful.
Margaret: The bulbs alone, simply the bulbs—the variety of bulbs in South Africa is simply past perception.
Joseph: Astonishing.
Margaret: Effectively, Joseph, I’m glad we’re going to must do extra seed buying collectively, I believe, as a result of I think there’s much more. And perhaps some seed beginning [laughter]. I’d want a few of your suggestions, however thanks a lot for making time, and I’m sorry in regards to the foot of snow.
Joseph: Yeah, nicely, thanks a lot for speaking. This was an amazing distraction from all of the tree branches that broke off on this storm.
Margaret: And the T phrase and all that.
Joseph: Sure.
want the podcast model of the present?
MY WEEKLY public-radio present, rated a “top-5 backyard podcast” by “The Guardian” newspaper within the UK, started its sixteenth 12 months in March 2025. It’s produced at Robin Hood Radio, the smallest NPR station within the nation. Hear regionally within the Hudson Valley (NY)-Berkshires (MA)-Litchfield Hills (CT) Mondays at 8:30 AM Japanese, rerun at 8:30 Saturdays. Or play the Nov. 17, 2025 present utilizing the participant close to the highest of this transcript. You’ll be able to subscribe to all future editions on iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Spotify (and browse my archive of podcasts right here).
