Buying Seeds for your Garden

Let’s talk about buying seeds for your garden. The why? The what? The where?

Now that you’ve decided what to grow and where to grow it in your garden, you can buy seeds based on what you’ve decided to grow.

*Note: This is a collaborative series between my father, Boyd White, who has been gardening for nearly 40 years, and myself {Becky}. Scroll down to see all the posts in our gardening series.

Unfortunately, growing from seed isn’t as simple as saving some seeds from the produce at the grocery store like I {Becky} once thought. For one, the variety may not grow well in your area. Another reason you may not be able to grow from these seeds is that the seeds are typically hybrid. {See the “Hybrid Seeds” section below.}

But you CAN grow seeds yourself! Let’s explore this topic together…

Buying Seeds for Your Garden: Why?

There are several reasons I, Becky, could give for growing from seed:

Seeds aren’t as expensive as buying plants.
It’s rewarding to see the fruit of your labor-from start to finish.
You can have better control over how your seeds are grown.
You don’t have to wait for plants at the store to be in-stock or in season.
You can grow a wider variety of plants instead of relying on your local nursery.

Two Kinds of Seeds

There are primarily two kind of seeds you can buy: 1- heirloom and 2- hybrid seeds.

As one might imagine, there are gardeners who highly prefer heirloom over the hybrid. At the same time most hybrid seed fans are convinced these are a better all-around choice. So, what’s the difference?

Heirloom Seeds

When you think of heirloom, you might think of something that is passed down generation to generation. And you would be correct in thinking that as it applies to this kind of seed.

Heirloom seeds are typically older, usually a minimum of 50 years old. They are open-pollinated* plants and seeds and have developed well-established, stable genetic characteristics that will reproduce exactly what the parent seed was. Heirloom seeds are not genetically modified.

*Open-pollinated means the plant is naturally pollinated by either the wind or bees, butterflies or other insects.

Hybrid Seeds

Hybrid seeds are exactly as the name sounds. They are a hybrid of two flowering plants of the same kind.

This is the result of careful human-controlled cross-pollination {not natural open pollination} between different varieties of the same species of plants. To accomplish this, pollen is taken from the male flower of one plant and transferred to the female flower parts of a different plant {still of the same kind}. Once the ovary of the female flower is pollinated, it swells to form a fruit. The seeds that develop inside are considered hybrid seeds.

Many believe the label “hybrid” automatically means these seeds are “genetically modified” (GMO). But they are NOT the same thing.

There are, however, GMO seeds on the market, so beware. We do not recommend GMO seeds.

Heirloom or Hybrid? Which One Should You Use?

It depends on who you ask! Seriously.

Seasoned gardeners will greatly differ on their answers. And both sides are equally as passionate about their answers. Melissa K. Norris, a well-known homesteader, says heirloom seeds are a must for her, while my father has used primarily hybrid for many, many years.

There are pro’s and con’s to both kinds of seeds. And just because you decide to buy heirloom of one kind of plant doesn’t mean you have to buy all heirloom. As you experiment, you may find you like to mix and match the two.

Gardeners that use heirloom seeds say their veggies taste better than hybrid seeds. The seeds can also be saved year after year after year, which allows you be more self-sufficient.

The plants that come from hybrid seeds are typically prettier and more uniform looking than heirlooms, if that matters to you. Hybrid seeds are typically less susceptible to disease and may even produce a larger crop than heirloom. Hybrid seeds, on the other hand, cannot be saved for more than two years. {I, Becky, can usually save them two years if they are kept in a cool, dry place.}

Buying Seeds for Your Garden: Where?

Seeds can be bought directly from a retail store near you, but I’ve found that online companies have a larger variety and will be more readily available when you’re ready to order.

The following U.S.-based companies are those which have quality seeds at a reasonable price, those that offered the kinds of seeds I wanted to grow, or those who have received high praise from other experienced gardeners.

Note: I, Boyd, have attempted to provide some information about each that might help you determine from which company to purchase your seeds.

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds What started as a hobby in 1998 has grown into North America’s largest heirloom seed company! Located in Mansfield, Missouri, Baker Creek is well-known and well-loved for their incredible selection of rare heirloom seed varieties.

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange: Known for its heirloom seeds that are suited to the climate of Mid-Atlantic and Southeast USA. Located in Mineral, VA, it’s a worker-run cooperative company. A majority of the seeds offered by Southern Exposure are certified organic and almost all are open-pollinated. No seeds offered are chemically treated.

Burpee is one of the oldest (founded in 1876) and most well-known seed companies in the USA. Burpee has bred some of the most famous vegetable varieties, including Burpee’s Big Boy Tomato. Burpee Seeds is also known for introducing reliable naturally-bred hybrid seeds. Known as a great place for buying vegetable seeds.

Johnny’s Seeds: Known as a top choice for market gardeners and homesteaders especially those with larger garden plots. They not only sell gardening seeds but also supplies for home gardeners and small farmers. Johnny’s is known for its dependable disease-resistant varieties and market crops with short maturity dates. Their seed kits and growers guides also have a lot of detail!

Territorial Seed Company, exclusively heirloom and organic, is known for its high-quality vegetable seeds, detailed growing tips, and online garden planner. Based in Cottage Grove, OR, Territorial offers high-quality vegetable seeds with a variety of maturity dates so you always have something fresh to harvest from your garden. Excellent garden planner and garden guides.

MIGardener: Since starting in 2011 this company has grown to become quite a competitor in providing as many as 750 different variety of seeds to choose from. Some of the lowest cost seed packets in the industry while offering high quality seeds. You may want to peruse their blog, too.

Eden Brothers specialize in hard-to-find flower seeds, herbs, and heirloom vegetable seeds. Based in Arden, NC, Eden Brothers just might be the perfect place to find that rare flower that you remember from years ago but just can’t find locally.

Seeds For The South: A regional company out of Graniteville, SC, in business since 1994, they are committed to finding the best vegetable varieties to grow in zones 7, 8 and 9. They also guarantee their seeds will germinate or your money back. Although offering quality seeds, their varieties will be some-what limited due to the area they serve (planting zones 7, 8 and 9).

Renee’s Garden Seeds: Widely regarded as a pioneering innovator in introducing international vegetables, flowers and especially herbs to home gardeners and gourmet restaurants. Non-GMO certified organic.

I hope that helps give you a head-start on buying seeds for your garden.
Happy Gardening!
~Becky