Actually seed catalogs are not that regional; you just need to think regionally when you read the catalog.

The first thing you need to know is how long the growing season is in your location. “Frost-free days” is a little misleading, as the average last frost date and average first-frost date each year can vary by 2 weeks earlier or later.

Consider your season length and select appropriate varieties. Most of us have short growing seasons, so choose varieties that mature relatively quickly. For instance, here in Bozeman, Montana we have an average of 112 days in our growing season, but not every day will be conducive to plant growth. We plant a 63-day corn here to be sure we get corn. While it’s tempting to grow longer-season corn, and we often do experimentally, if we want to count on our harvest, we select short-season crops.

For flowering plants, look in the catalog description for the number of days to flower or days to harvest for vegetables, and purchase varieties with relatively short seasons. You also can grow your own transplants, or purchase them from your local nursery.

Hope this helps!