Garden seeds -- in November?

Yesterday, an interesting post came across a regional preparedness website as follows: “Order garden seeds NOW. Today, I went to my favorite garden seed sites to find out that many are not printing catalogues this year AND they are out of some of my favorite varieties, forcing me to try different ones. If you have saved some seeds you are way ahead.  If not, a seed exchange may be considered in the early spring to share extras.”

We’ve been so busy with our relocation that I haven’t given any thought to gardens, much less seeds. Is this person correct? Is a seed shortage already in the works?

Curious, I did a little poking around online and came across a post called “Top 12 Garden Seed Catalogs 2020” which mentioned: “Update: Some companies, in order to save on waste and money, no longer print paper catalogs… Their catalogs are online only. While I do love curling up with a cup a tea and a stack of catalogs, consider doing the same with a tablet. I encourage companies to save all the trees they can, and besides… you get faster service with online ordering anyway!”

While this cheery note hardly bespeaks dire circumstances, it is certainly a break with tradition for seed companies not to send those seductive and colorful paper catalogs in the mail each January.

I also logged onto my favorite seed company’s website, Victory Seeds, and all seems normal (or as normal as can be in 2020). They have catalogs available upon request. However …

When I clicked on a random vegetable — corn — many many varieties are already sold out for 2020. Not everything, but a lot more than I expected.

Same with beans.

Other veggies (broccoli, carrots) seem well-stocked. Yet other veggies (peas, lettuce) have mixed results — some seeds are in stock, others are sold out.

Now granted, I haven’t gone through every seed company or even every vegetable within a particular seed company. Nonetheless, I think the person who posted that comment is correct. You may want to beat the rush and order garden seeds NOW. We don’t know what next year will bring, and garden seeds are a relatively cheap investment.