Definition

Noun: A printed publication, typically in booklet or magazine format, that lists and advertises various types of seeds available for purchase, often including descriptions, illustrations, cultivation advice, and prices.

Usage

A seed catalog is used by gardeners and farmers to browse, compare, and order seeds for planting. It serves as a primary reference and shopping guide for the planting season. - The gardener spent the winter planning her vegetable garden using her favorite seed catalog. - Many seed catalogs now offer online versions in addition to their traditional printed copies.

Advanced Usage

• As a marketing tool: Seed catalogs are often carefully designed to market seeds by showcasing attractive photographs and promising descriptions of plant yields or flower blooms.
  • The company's seed catalog is a masterpiece of marketing, making every tomato variety look irresistible.
• Historical record: Older seed catalogs are collected and studied as historical documents that show the evolution of plant varieties and gardening trends over time.
  • The library's archive of 19th-century seed catalogs provides insight into the heirloom vegetables of the era.

Variants and Related Words

• Seed catalogue: An alternative spelling, more common in British English.
• Garden catalog: A broader term that may include seeds, plants, and gardening supplies.
• Plant catalog: Similar to a garden catalog, often focusing on live plants in addition to or instead of seeds.

Synonyms

• Seed list
• Seed directory
• Planting guide (when it includes substantial advice)

Related Phrases

• To thumb through a seed catalog: To browse a seed catalog casually.
  • On a cold January day, there's nothing better than thumbing through a seed catalog and dreaming of spring.
• To order from a seed catalog: To purchase seeds using the order form provided in the catalog.
  • We ordered all our heirloom bean varieties from a specialized seed catalog.

Noun

1. a list advertising seeds and their prices