Friday, January 21, 2011

Burpee Catalog: Tomatoes & More








The cover of Burpee Gardening 2011 catalog—probably the best-known catalog to North American gardeners—sets any tomato lover’s salivary glands into action—four large red and yellow tomatoes weighing in at 4 lbs. 6 oz. Yes, I’ve got to get down to business and figure out what I’m ordering this year.


For blog readers who prefer browsing a digital catalog instead of one made of pulverized wood chips, the home page of Burpee’s website features a horizontal list of tabs leading to vegetables, flowers, perennials, herbs, heirlooms, fruit plants, organics, seed starting, and gardening supplies. A tab at the bottom lets you order the 148-page print catalog.


The homepage also contains multiple links to helpful educational information, including six short videos (5 about flowers, one about garlic) and 50 short guides on how to grow everything from artichokes and arugula to watermelons and zinnias.


In addition to seeds, Burpee over the last several years has added seedlings ready for setting out in your garden. I’m a seed starter, but for those who want to start with plants ready to set out, Burpee is happy to oblige. I the Frugal Gardener might buy a packet of 30 seeds of Big Beef Hybrid tomato at $3.95, but you might prefer three plants at $12.95.


A new tomato offering caught my eye, Mountain Magic Hybrid, an indeterminate variety with 2 oz. fruit, described as a “scrumptious campari tomato” that “withstands the big three threats besetting tomatoes…: late blight, early blight, and fruit cracking.” Unfortunately, it’s available only as plants at $14.95 for three, not as seeds, so I won’t try that one.


Price of a sample seed order: Packet (350 seeds), Detroit Dark Red beet, $3.25. Packet (30), Big Beef Hybrid tomato, $3.95. Packet (50), Queen Sophia marigold, $4.95. Shipping: $6.95. Total: $19.10. Plus applicable taxes, of course.


To go to the Burpee website, CLICK HERE.

2 comments:

  1. My father and a neighbor man were great gardening buddies. And like all buddies, they gave each other nicknames. My dad was Burpee. The neighbor was Weller (another seed catalogue company). I can still hear Herm call across the street to my dad, "Hey Burp! How's the garden?" "Growing well, Weller! Growing well!" Thanks for the memory, Bob.

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