Lured by the glossy, pretty seed catalogs that have been arriving in the mail lately I ordered my first batch of seeds for Freak of Nature Garden 2008. So far, all I've ordered from is Territorial Seed Company. I like their speedy customer service and most importantly I love their seeds.

Most of the catalogs I've pawed through don't impress me. I've no idea how their products will do in the Pacific Northwest and I'm not suckered in with their fake photography or "old timey" graphics.

I'll blog later in the season on what I'm trying this year. For now, I'll recap what I grew last year and how they did. My results may not match yours (hopefully, yours will be better) but if I can grow these anyone can...

TERRITORIAL SEED Co. http://www.territorialseed.com/

Beer Friend edamame (soy beans): These were the best edamame I've ever tasted. I'm sure being straight from the garden made a difference. However, the plants take space and they weren't the most productive bean plants I've seen.

Chiogga beet: These are mighty odd red and white striped beets. They were very tasty but small. They sure are odd to look at.

Veronica broccoli: This yellow-green, tightly woven broccoli was both easy to grow and tasty - and I'm not the biggest broccoli fan.

Purple Haze carrot: The outsides were deep purple and the insides were orange. Medium sized and not too sweet I didn't see the point of these other than they are purple. But that in itself is a good reason to grow them.

Painted Mountain corn: This ornamental corn produced stunning ears and husks in a wide variety of colors and combinations. You can't eat them but kids love 'em. They make great fall gifts.

Redbor kale: This is the only plant that's still growing in my garden. Dark purple leaves make this a standout. It's also one of the healthiest leafy veggies you can grow.

Outredgeous lettuce: Prolific and easy to grow. And dark red to boot.

Flasy Trout's Back: This romaine is beautifully spotted.

Red velvet: Another easy to grow red leaf. Every garden should have some red lettuce in it.

Roquette arugula: I love arugula for the spicy flavor it brings to salads. Unfortunately, I planted way too much. And to make things worse arugula goes from too-young-to-harvest to flowering with about five minutes in between. If you have room go for it.

All blue potatoes: A dismal crop. I won't try these again.

Minowase daikon: Likewise, I'll be buying my daikon in the store. Mine were either full of worms, rotting in the ground or both.

Prado red sunflower: These reddish-brown sunflowers were a nice change from yellow.

BURPEE http://www.burpee.com/home.do

Red lightning Hybrid tomato: A great plant - if only mine produced more than a few ripe tomatoes. Its return ticket has been canceled.

Black Pearl Hybrid tomato: A prolific producer - of green tomatoes. It will not make a return visit.

Cottage red marigold: Some were red. Some were orange. A lot were in between.

Toy Choi Hybrid: Bok Choi (or Pak Choi) is one of my faves and this didn't disappoint. I like it because it combines the crispness of cabbage with the tenderness of a leafy green. Great for stir fry.