Some final thoughts on gardening catalogs

One question I get all the time is what catalogs/webalogs don't sell Genetically Modified seeds? This topic has been a long-running thread on the Internet with lots of stuff written, lists of companies posted and incorrect information indicating that the home gardener has to be worried about inadvertently buying GMO seeds.

Why all the fuss? This isn't the place to argue the case, but many of us are not convinced food from GMO plants is safe for human consumption or for the environment in which we live. Their main use in agriculture is so crops can be more easily sprayed with weed killers. Forget the emerging science, the bottom line here is that they don't make the plants any better nutrition-wise or grow better, and thus they have no use in the home garden.

The good news is that I don't know of any home garden, seed catalog that sells GMO seed. In fact, I will say it and let someone prove me wrong: There are no GMO seeds sold to home gardeners. Some catalog companies may buy from suppliers who sell GMO to farmers, but they don't buy GMO seeds for home garden use. So ignore the either clever or unscrupulous seed houses that want to capitalize on the fear by advertising "we sell ONLY non-GMO seed." (I say shame on them). Everyone else does too.

Next, every year new gardeners want to know what growing zone we are in. The USDA Hardiness Zone Maps are all based on the average coldest temperatures expected in a region. Under such criteria we are officially classified as Zone 4. This zone is one that has winter temperatures down to 25 below. I can't remember when it has been that cold in the Anchorage area, but I can remember 25 below and colder, so it does happen. The infrequency, however, causes some gardeners to push us into Zone 5 with a minimum of 10 to 15 below.

The temperature zone system does not take into account the length of the winter or summer. The American Horticultural Society has a map of zones that takes heat into account, depicting how many days the temperature is above 86 degrees. Obviously, this doesn't help us at all.

Nor does the USDA map take into account how quickly the days get shorter in the fall and how fast they lengthen in the spring in Alaska. These things also have an impact on hardiness, as trees can't respond quickly enough to the changes.

In short, however, we can buy plants designed for Zones 4 and lower with no problem. It is worth taking a risk on plants designed for Zone 5 as long as you use mulch and plant in a good micro-climate.

Finally, some questions and comments about hybrid seeds versus heirloom seeds. Why all the fuss over heirloom seeds?

There is nothing evil when it comes to hybrids, which are first-generation plants bred to have specific characteristics of both its parents. The seed from hybrids usually doesn't have these characteristics. In addition, most all hybrids are patented and can't be reproduced legally. Heirlooms are generally seed from plants that have been around for forty years or so, the seeds of which are collected every year and will produce the same characteristics in the fruit year in and year out.

Heirloom lovers point out they are saving the diversity of the stock. They also note you can continually pick the best heirloom plants from which to save seed every year and "improve" the crop's genetics or even make your own heirloom once the genetics stabilize. It takes time, but what else do gardeners have?

An astute reader pointed out, however, that there are many hybrids that are better suited to fight diseases like powdery mildew or that are not as sensitive to conditions such as blossom end rot. This is true and is the reason hybrids are so popular. Again, there is nothing wrong with using hybrids for the right reasons.

One last thought on catalogs: Our local nurseries are the best in the country. They carry practically everything you might want to grow here, and what they sell is tried and tested. They are also pretty responsive to customer requests. Catalogs/webalogs are fun. They can even be useful. Occasionally they may have something you just can't get locally, but remember you don't necessarily need to buy from them.

Jeff Lowenfels is a member of the Garden Writers Hall of Fame. You can reach him at teamingwithmicrobes.com or by calling 274-5297 during "The Garden Party" radio show from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays on KBYR AM-700.