Your gardening answers; Use seed catalogs as learning tools.

• Position: Weeklies

"What is the best seed catalog?''

There is no "best'' catalog among the hundreds that exist. Consider that you are using the catalog as a learning tool; the catalog that fully answers your questions is the best for you.

Catalogs vary greatly from one seed or plant supplier to another. Catalogs occupy several categories. There are suppliers that provide a general listing of annuals and perennials, flowers and vegetables, trees and shrubs, and those that focus on just vines, or only clematis. Each may be the best in its category.

A subgroup would include general catalogs that are locally based. They may provide seed that is better suited to New England. Examples are Pinetree Garden Seeds, PO Box 300, New Gloucester, ME 04260; Johnny's Selected Seeds, 955 Benton Ave., Winslow, ME 04901-2601; and Stokes Seeds Inc., PO Box 548, Buffalo, NY 14240-0548.

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