Ahead of the 2025 gardening season, one of my first posts on the blog was titled “Where to Buy Garden Seeds.” There was a heavy emphasis on the seed catalogs we requested, what we liked about each one, and the ones we purchased seeds from. This year, I’m doing things a bit differently by dedicating a post to each seed catalog. In each post, I’ll review the catalog, go over the things I like and dislike about it, and score the catalog. The first installment will be Pinetree Gardens catalog, but before digging into the review, here’s how I’ll score all the catalogs.
Scoring Criteria
I’m going to be looking at the following areas and applying them to each catalog we receive:
- Number of pages – 1 point per page over 100 pages; minus-1 point per page under 100 pages.
- New varieties – 1/2 (.50) point for each new variety for 2026.
- Total number of seeds – 1/4 (.25) point per seed.
- Selection of “Specialty Seeds” – By “Specialty Seeds,” I mean any specially designated seeds that are separated from the other seeds. Examples are All-American Selections, Italian Gourmet, and Indigenous Royalties. – 1 point will be awarded for each specialty category.
- Images – 1 point if there is an image for every seed; 1/2 (.50) point if fewer.
- Non-Seed Offerings – 1 point for each category (fertilizers, seed-starting items, merchandise, weed control, pesticides, garden gear, etc.)
- How Is it Organized/Ordered? – 1 point if its order is a positive; minus-1 point if it’s a negative.
- Beauty – This is completely subjective, but it’s my way of determining if it’s aesthetically pleasing to look at. Does it include original artwork? Are the images crisp and clean? Is the text easy to read? A maximum of 10 points can be awarded.
- What Sets it Apart or Makes it Unique? – This is another subjective category. What about a catalog makes it stand out from the others? A maximum of 10 points can be awarded.
Links to Other Reviews
Pages – 55 Points
Seed Savers Exchange’s (SSE) 2026 catalog has 155 pages.
New Varieties – 8.5 Points
SSE is offering 17 new seed varieties for 2026.
Total Number of Seeds – 158.25 Points
SSE is selling 475 vegetable, 120 flower, and 38 herb varieties for a total of 633.
Specialty Seeds – 1 Point
Seed Savers features one type of specialty seed. They’re called the “From the Collection” seeds, which are varieties that are featured by the company on an annual basis. To quote the catalog, these seeds “were entrusted to SSE for preservation in our seed bank to ensure they are protected and available both today and for generations to come.” They are designated in the catalog with a copper badge.
Images – 1 Point
There is one image for every item sold.
Beauty – 10 Points
The SSE catalog features beautiful, clear images that highlight the differences between the different varieties. The font is large and easy to read. I also love the non-seed images. It’s a lovely catalog to look at.
Non-Seed Offerings – 5 Points
Seed Savers has non-seed offerings in the categories of apparel, books, garden tools, kitchen gifts, and seed saving tools.
Unique Quality – 9 Points
As a seed catalog, it’s pretty standard. It does everything you would expect without missing anything. However, it’s the non-seed content where the catalog really shines. There are numerous stories, growing tips, recipes, and more. SSE is a non-profit that is devoted to preserving seeds and helping gardeners to best use the vegetables they grow. This dedication shows in the catalog.
How Is it Ordered/Organized? – 0 Points
The seeds are categorized into vegetables, herbs, and flowers, with each category being alphabetized. That is a positive. However, the tomatoes are organized by color rather than “type,” which makes it a bit difficult to find specific varieties. That’s a negative.
Review
We received Seed Savers Exchange’s 2025 catalog, which was our first experience with the company. However, we didn’t purchase any seeds from them last year and weren’t expecting to receive a catalog for 2026. But since we did receive one, we are giving it a very detailed look through and have found so many seeds that we’re interested in. We also love the company and everything they stand for. If you’re dedicated to the preservation of seeds and food cultures, SSE is a seed company that you’ll love.
One Rabbit Riot 
Leave a comment