Treat catalog fever with dose of reality

Gardeners already are longing for anything green and growing, so the seed catalogs that are arriving daily are a temptation. In addition to a break from winter, seed catalogs offer great selection, good prices and special collections. But beware, buyers: It's easy to get excited and order too much, too early, or just the wrong stuff. Here are a few tips for midwinter seed shopping in Minnesota:

Know about 'new'

The cover and the first couple of pages in most catalogs are devoted to the newest offerings. While they may look and sound incredible, many of these novel plants may not have been tested in our rather harsh growing conditions, even if the catalogs claim the plants are hardy to USDA Zone 4. If you want to experiment, go ahead. If you'd rather stick with tried-and-true vegetables, check out this list: www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1425.html.

Read up

Sure, most catalogs have splashy color photos, but they also offer a wealth of information. If you go beyond the photos and plant descriptions, you're likely to find germination guides, recommendations for other plants, garden layouts and design, even recipes. Many catalogs also have websites that offer search features and information.

Calculate the cost

Seed companies know we have a weakness for the latest thing, so they push new offerings, often at higher prices. Seeds that claim to be "New! New! New!" also tend to be more expensive, so make sure you know what you're paying for. Check the amount of seeds in each packet. There can be as few as 10 seeds per packet for new seeds.

Don't judge by pictures

Catalogs show plants at their very best, which may be a far cry from what you will actually see in your garden. Don't make your selections based on the pretty pictures alone. Look for details on sizes, yield and days to harvest for vegetables. For flowers, consider growing conditions (sun, shade, soil types), height, bloom time and the size of the blooms. (In real life, they may be much smaller than they appear in catalogs.)

Know the mail date

You can't assume that what you buy will be sent to you at the right time, in part because catalogs sell supplies as well as seeds. Be sure to request that seeds be mailed when you want to plant them.

Consider special seed

Look for pelleted seed, especially for lettuce, carrots and other very small seeds. Pelleted seed has been coated with a water-soluble material, which makes the seed larger and easier to handle. It can be more expensive, but it's worth it because it makes for more accurate planting and less thinning.

Don't be a nonstarter

Think carefully before you select tomatoes, petunias and other seeds that have to be started indoors six to eight weeks before being planted outside. Only the hardiest of gardeners have the follow-through to fuss with grow lights, heating pads and special seed trays required to start long-germinating seeds indoors and keep them going until they can get into the ground. Be sure you know which seed has to be started indoors and which can be sown directly in the garden.

Be certain of guarantees

Don't buy seed -- especially a lot of seed -- on price alone. Look for reputable companies and check out their guarantees. Many companies will return your money or let you select replacement seeds if you're unhappy with your purchase.

Get on the mailing list

Oh, if you aren't getting garden catalogs in the mail every week, go to www.mail ordergardening.com to find some that might interest you. Many catalogs are free. And if they don't get you excited about spring, nothing will.

Mary Hockenberry Meyer is a professor and Extension Horticulturist with the University of Minnesota.