8 seed catalogs and heirloom picks Wisconsin gardeners plan over now for next year’s garden
Even as the first frost creeps closer, savvy Wisconsin gardeners are already dreaming about next spring. September and October are the perfect months to curl up with a seed catalog, save seeds, and pick out heirloom varieties that thrive in our short, cool growing seasons.
This list rounds up trusted catalogs and time-tested heirloom picks so you can plan smart and plant with confidence. Grab a warm drink and let’s get your garden dreams growing.
1. Jung Seed Co.
Randolph, Wisconsin has been home to Jung Seed Company since 1907, making it one of the oldest names local gardeners reach for. More than a century of family ownership means these folks understand exactly what grows well in our unpredictable Midwest climate.
Wisconsin gardeners love flipping through the Jung catalog because it blends dependable classics with newer introductions, plus plants, bulbs, and garden supplies all in one place. Their staff has weathered the same late frosts and short seasons you have.
Fun fact: J.W. Jung started the company by selling seeds door to door with a horse and buggy.
That old-fashioned trust still shows up in every catalog page today.
2. Seed Savers Exchange
Just across the border in Decorah, Iowa sits an organization that has quietly rescued thousands of vanishing plant varieties. Seed Savers Exchange specializes in heirlooms, those old open-pollinated types passed down through families for generations.
What sets this group apart is its mission. Every packet you order helps preserve genetic diversity, which matters for Wisconsin gardens facing changing weather and new pests each season.
Gardeners in Wisconsin appreciate that many of these varieties were originally grown by immigrant families in the upper Midwest, so they already carry a history of surviving our winters and blooming through our summers.
3. Heritage Flower Farm
Tucked away in Mukwonago, Wisconsin, this award-winning nursery has built its reputation on a jaw-dropping collection of over 1,000 heirloom plants, many started from seed. Walking the grounds feels like stepping into a living history book of flowers.
While the farm focuses on plants rather than mail-order seed packets, its expertise is a goldmine for anyone hunting down antique varieties. Think heirloom hostas like H. ventricosa, yarrow, and old-fashioned perennials that once graced grandmothers’ gardens.
For Wisconsin gardeners planning fall-sown perennials such as poppies and phlox, a visit or a chat with their knowledgeable staff can point you toward picks that will settle in before the ground freezes.
4. Nature & Nurture Seeds
Regional adaptation is the whole point here, and it shows. This Michigan-based company curates a special selection they call Wisconsin Heirloom Seeds, chosen because they handle Midwest weather swings with ease.
Two standouts tell the story perfectly. The ‘Pride of Wisconsin’ melon and the fiery ‘Beaver Dam’ pepper both carry names that nod straight to our state’s growing heritage.
Because these varieties were bred and saved by local families, they mature within our shorter frost-free window. That reliability is exactly what Wisconsin gardeners crave when planning a garden that actually finishes ripening before October’s chill.
Your Wisconsin Garden Changes Every Week. Your Plan Should Too.
Gardening in Wisconsin changes quickly throughout the season. Every Friday you’ll receive a simple weekly plan showing exactly what to plant, prune, fertilize, harvest, and protect so you never miss the right timing.
5. Driftless Seed Supply
Named for the rugged, unglaciated Driftless region, this company leans hard into local roots. They grow and source vegetable, flower, and native prairie seeds that are regionally adapted to the Midwest’s quirks.
Certified organic options are front and center, which appeals to gardeners who want clean soil and pollinator-friendly beds. Their native prairie mixes are especially handy right now, since fall is prime time to scatter seeds that need winter’s cold to sprout.
Wisconsin gardeners planning to add coneflowers, prairie sage, or brown-eyed Susans will find seeds here that were essentially born to thrive in our neck of the woods.
6. Seed Treasures
Small-batch and proudly hands-on, Seed Treasures operates out of Stanley, Wisconsin. The folks here cultivate and harvest their heirloom and open-pollinated seeds by hand or with small equipment, so every packet feels personal.
Buying from a tiny in-state grower means the varieties have already proven themselves in northern Wisconsin conditions. That is a real advantage when you are gambling on a short season and cool nights.
Look here for old soup beans like ‘Jacob’s Cattle’ with its white and maroon splashes, or hardy tomatoes that shrug off chilly evenings. Supporting a local seed keeper keeps rare genetics alive right in our own backyard.
7. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
If a seed catalog could double as coffee-table art, this would be it. Baker Creek is famous coast to coast for its enormous collection of rare heirlooms, from purple-podded ‘Cherokee Trail of Tears’ beans to jewel-toned tomatoes you will not find at any garden center.
Wisconsin gardeners chasing something unusual gravitate here for the sheer variety and the gorgeous photography that makes planning genuinely fun. Their catalog is thick, colorful, and packed with global finds.
Choose short-season varieties from their vast lineup, and you can bring wildly unique produce to your table while still beating our first fall frost. Adventurous growers rarely leave disappointed.
