I thought that I would tease all of you a little. The first seed catalogue (catalog for those of you that insist) of the new season arrived today. It is from Twilley Seeds who sells to market growers. A quick thumb through shows lots of new "All American Selections" that look good. Juliet tomatoes will be a "must plant" since I've eaten them and found them to be quite good.

Do any or all of you really look for the AAS designation when deciding on which varieties to use? They are tested U.S. wide in many zones under many conditions so should be nearly bulletproof for growing.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), November 10, 2000

Answers

I'm so jealous! That is one of my favorite pastimes, during the long dreary winter months, looking through the wish books and planning the next years' gardens! As to your question, no, I haven't actually looked for the AAS designations, but may have to after this. Jan

-- Jan in Colorado (Janice12@aol.com), November 10, 2000.

I just got one too!! Thompson and Morgan catalog for 2001. My family thinks I'm wierd because I get so excited about getting seed catalogs. And your right Jan, it's a great pick me up to be able to plan your garden in the middle of a cold blustery winter. - Kathy

-- Kathy (jubilant@ncweb.com), November 10, 2000.

Guess I'll have to get a Twilley catalog and order some of those Juliet tomato seeds, on behalf of my newest grandaughter, who is named Juliet! My daughter and son-in-law will be tickled pink!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), November 11, 2000.

I sit here jealous that I am catalogueless.

-- Edward G. Weaver (edzreal@postmaster.co.uk), November 11, 2000.

Where's mine? I'm going into catalogless withdrawl!!!!!

-- Phyllis (almostafarm@yahoo.com), November 11, 2000.

Shoot, folks. I'm still rememorizing last years catalouges.

Notforprint, I have grown several of the AAS selectins. They did very well for me here in unpredictable Texas, although I have a definite leaning toward open-pollinated everything.

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), November 11, 2000.

Kathleen suppose the Juliet tomatoe is red? Would they be tickeled red? Another thought to all of you who don't have your catalogs yet is many of them do have websites IMHO not as good as the paper ones but might keep your sanity until they arrive. gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef123@hotmail.com), November 11, 2000.

The Juliet tomatoes are of the small cluster type. They are somewhat cylinderical in shape as opposed to round or slightly tear drop like the Roma.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), November 11, 2000.

Got my Thompson-Morgan catalog too but haven't had any peace to even look in it. Usually don't really get into the catalogs until after Christmas. I get a real charge out of starting tomatoes, peppers, egg plant,cabbage, cauliflower & etc. Trouble is our family of 5 has grown and fled and they and their kids usually raise their own and then here I am with all these plants. We poked them in the ground and everyone of them grew. Trouble was so did the weeds and since Dad has back problems it was a constant battle with weeds. They got away from me but we still had too much food. We canned and froze and dried and gave away. Right now there are brussels sprouts, kale broccoli to be used in the garden. But I'm still anxiously awaiting those new seed catalogs. It's an addiction.

-- Clare Baldwin (clare_baldwin@hotmail.com), November 11, 2000.

I'm not ready for one yet. Still cleaning up the garden and doing other stuff, I wouldn't have time to look at one. I like to get them right before Christmas.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), November 15, 2000.

mmmmm..catalogues..drool.. Was it nice and shiny with that new catalogue smell? Were the colors bright and enticing? And the nice crisp pages that have yet to be dog eared scribbled on spilled on thumbed through.... I wish I had a catalogue.

-- Alison in Nova Scotia (aproteau@istar.ca), November 16, 2000.

After I put my garden to sleep,I know it won't be long before my collection of seed catalogues arrives in my mailbox. I get them from all over the continent and spend many a hour looking and looking, finally deciding what new items (heritage only) I will add to my collection, and finally in my garden. Without full colour catalogues I'd go stir crazy during the long Canadian winter. Long live the seed catalogue, paper edition. I love my online version, but, they're not quite the same......are they.

-- James F Willett (jim_willett@yahoo.com), January 18, 2001.