Comments regarding High Altitude Gardens

I am an experienced gardener growing vegetables, flowers and herbs at 8,000 ft in the Colorado mountains. I have been ordering seeds from High Altitude Gardens (Seeds Trust) for almost 15 years. I LOVE this company - when Bill's seeds arrive in the mail the packages are BURSTING with life. I love to grow as many kinds of specialty tomatoes and other long season vegetables as I can - especially since I was told upon arriving on this mountain that I could not. Ha! Siberian Tomatoes, Candy Mountain Corn and Northern Bush Pumpkin have proven otherwise - we once grew a pumpkin bigger than my head! These are just a few of my favorites. Every year I must have Kinko 6" carrots - absolutely to die for - we blow the city folks minds with these.
The germination rates have been rock solid - year in and year out. I often have leftover seed which I just can't seem to throw away and this year was the first time something actually didn't germinate. I checked the package and realized I had mistakenly planted broccoli from 1996! However the Brussels Sprouts did germinate and they were from 1995! These seeds are tough - and as you can tell I am not very organized.
My children especially love Purple Pole Beans, Sugarsnap Peas, Italian Mt. Basil and Nasturtiums.
When we first moved to the mountain we didn't have running water for the first 3 and a half years so we hauled it to the garden by hand. We had such success that first year with Bill's seeds that I feel his seeds were directly responsible for jump starting our confidence and abilities in future years. The garden is now over 13,000 sq. feet - and still growing.
I always order from High Altitude Gardens first - the seeds are quite affordable. The seed packages are also very informative with great tips for companion plants as well. Bill McDorman is committed to teaching seed saving - which is so important and sharing strong, open pollinated, short season seeds from around the world. Don't even get me started on the wildflower selections - just great! I can't say enough good things about this company - if you live at high altitude - or not - do yourself a favor and try these exceptional seeds. Thank you Seeds Trust!

I bought a few packets of native seeds last year. The purchase went smoothly and I received my seeds quickly. I was quite happy with the variety of species available, the quantity of seeds vs. price of the packets I bought, and the number of plants I have grown from these seeds. I'll be back for more seeds from this company.

I have ordered from this company off and on since the late 1980s and have always had excellent results with them and their seeds. Only once was there a probem with an order and it was handled VERY politely and they were MORE THAN FAIR in taking care of the problem. They refunded the money for a packet of seeds AND sent the seed packet that was missed in the order. I will continue to do business with this company.

The only thing is that I wish they sent out an annual catalog.

Way to go, Mr McDorman!!!

I have ordered from this company for the last few years. Their seed has always performed well and I've gotten more than my money's worth. I'm on my third year planting green beans with seed saved from the original crop.

Once they had sent me an incorrect item and they sent me a replacement for free. I never did plant the free (incorrect) cilantro.

Their web site is very helpful and informative. They cater to high-altitude gardening but their selection is very good and appropriate for my area (upstate New York).

This is a terrific company which deserves greater utilization and comment. Although the name "High Altitude" may lead some gardeners to consider this a regional seed source, many of the heirloom and wildflower varieties grow very well at lower altitudes, including sea level. I have grown vegetables and wildflowers from High Altitude Gardens at 50 feet (Davis, California), 4,500 feet (Reno, Nevada), and 6,000 feet (Ketchum, Idaho) with excellent results. Many of the perennials and self-sowing annuals growing in my Nevada garden are from seed sown in 1991. I have enjoyed countless hours just seeing my old friends lewis flax, wild sunflower, oxeye daisy, siberian wallflower, and many others come back each year. Prices are very reasonable and you can customize wildflower mixes (they will help you) and obtain all the information you need to grow vegetables and flowers from around the world. This is a very ethical company involved in serious seed saving of heirloom, little known, and endangered plants. Please give them a try -- you'll be hooked!

I would like to recommend High Altitude Gardens. They have a Siberian tomato collection that is outstanding. I figure if they can grow it in Siberia, I can grow it in my Montana garden. I have had great success with the Sasha's Altai (medium size red tomato). I had to top my Galina (yellow cherry tomato) plants at 6 feet one year because I couldn't pick any higher. They are also a seed saving resource involved with international community projects. I have never spoken to them, but have been ordering since 1996.