When the 2012 R.H. Shumway’s Illustrated Garden Guide arrived in my mailbox, my first reaction was, “…this isn’t a seed catalog, it’s a tabloid-sized magazine!” That isn’t the only way this beautifully designed and illustrated seed catalog is unique.

Right out of the gate, you are presented with a colorful display of vegetables. The illustrations and design of the catalog are nicely done in 19th century vintage style, complete with old style fonts and random-yet-organized placement of items. The first and last eight pages of the catalog are in color; but after that, the true style is revealed—the catalog is printed in black and white, on newsprint-esque stock. The company has been selling seeds for 142 years.

The first set of color pages feature a selection of vegetable, herb and flower seeds, with a mention of their online garden planning software. Starting out the black and white pages are seed starting supplies. After that, an impressive alphabetical listing of vegetables begins. Many of the pages have the phrase “Good Vegetables for Better Health” at the top.

One nice touch of the catalog is that non-seed items are mixed in with the pages; usually products for pest control, tools, harvesting, etc. About the mid-point of the catalog, after the index, you get a break from the vegetable offerings. A nice selection of berries, fruit, field corn, and farm and field seed await you. 

Back to the veggie listings we go. After going through several pages of vegetable selections, I arrived at the tomato listings. The favorite part of a seed catalog for many gardeners, this time it holds a hidden gem. I couldn’t finish this post without mentioning the Tomato Holder product. It reads, “There are two sure ways to avoid cutting yourself when slicing tomatoes.  1. Have someone else hold the tomato.  2. Use this tomato holder… Aluminum… Great invention.” I knew these folks had a sense of humor! 

Rounding out the black and white pages of the catalog are more “Good Garden Helpers”, as they say; primarily pest control products and fertilizers. The catalog finishes strong with eight color pages of flower seed listings, some rare.

The only squabble I would have with the catalog is that organic fertilizers or soil improvers were hard to find. Most of their pest control product listings were humane and/or natural, however.

The online catalog does feature some of the beautiful vintage illustrations for its products, but mostly has color photographs. This can be useful if you are interested in a particular veggie, and would like to see what it “really” looks like. In my opinion, the real Shumway’s catalog is their print version, and a real work of gardening art at that.

More catalog reviews… 

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Buy at Amazon

Gardener's Log Book from NYBG

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features: · Sturdy waterproof cover to protect pages from rain and muddy soil · Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds · Five years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when · Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and disease control, and container gardening · Useful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting · Space for listing your favorite sources and suppliers.

Buy at Amazon

Burpee Organic Coconut Coir Concentrated Seed Starting Mix, 16 Quart

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

ORGANIC COCONUT COIR: Made from recycled coconut husks, coir is a light, sustainable growing medium that holds the perfect amount of moisture for starting seeds. 100% biodegradable soil alternative. Environmentally friendly and a renewable alternative to peat moss. OMRI listed and certified organic. IDEAL GROWING MIX: Improve seed germination and root growth with this premium coconut fiber mix, which improves nutrients absorption! Great for flower, vegetable, herb, and more plant types. OMRI listed. Naturally disease and pathogen resistant, it will help you grow healthy live plants. EASY TO STORE & EXPAND: Each compact coconut coir brick expands into 8 quarts of seed starting mix, providing 16 quarts total. Just add water to expand! Dehydrated bricks save space until planting. Once expanded, coconut coir provides a quality growing medium for all types of plants—indoor plants, house plants, outdoor plants, and more! NATURALLY CONSERVES WATER: Renewable coco coir has excellent moisture retention and better air circulation than peat. This eco-friendly, premium seeds starting mix combines well with other potting soil and compost for container plants & raised beds. 100% GUARANTEED: Burpee is committed to the success of all gardeners. We treat each order with care to ensure healthy seeds, plants, soil mixes, and gardening supplies are sent in excellent condition. If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, we aim to make it right!

Buy at Amazon