Top Sites to Buy Garden Seeds Online
Buying seeds online can seem a little intimidating. There is so much variety and so many different websites. How do you know which places are reliable with good germination rates? Where do you find the most interesting varieties? Where do you look when other places are sold out? Where’s the best place to find seeds online and get a great value?
Get out of the cycle of not-knowing and instead buy with confidence, knowing that you’re going to get what you paid for. This list of my favorite places to buy seeds online is based on availability, variety, and overall experience, so I’m confident you’ll find your future favorite suppliers on this list.
What are the best places to find seeds online?
1. High Mowing Seeds
High Mowing Seeds is a great place to buy seeds online because they are certified organic and offer a wide variety of certified organic seed options. Their products come from independent farmers who are working to make a sustainable living through sustainable farming practices. You can easily purchase Certified Organic Seed at High Mowing by visiting their website or in-store locations.
High Mowing Seeds focuses on organic seeds only and has over 700 varieties available as of the time of writing. They also offer gardening supplies and specialized cover crop seeds for use in the garden or the organic farm.
- 100% certified organic seed: High Mowing Seeds are certified organic and can be ordered directly from them.
- Wide variety of Certified Organic Seed options: You can find many different types of certified organic seed at High Mowing, including vegetable, flower, cover crop, and more.
- Source products from independent farmers: Many of the products you will find at High Mowing come from independent farmers who are working to make a sustainable living through sustainable farming practices.
- Easy to order and purchase: You can easily purchase Certified Organic Seed at High Mowing by visiting their website.
2. Hudson Valley Seed Co
Hudson Valley Seed Co is a unique small business and seed company that not only sells seeds but focuses on the art of gardening and the beauty of nature. They describe themselves as “farmers and storytellers” and when you look at their special art packs for their seeds, you can see why. Every seed has a story, and Hudson Valley Seed Co takes it upon itself to be the one to share that history and message at the forefront of its operation.
They produce most of their own seeds for sale on their certified organic farm in upstate New York. They only sell Non-GMO, open-pollinated heirloom seeds, but they also offer lots of garden-inspired art and gardening supplies too.
They provide a good variety of seeds that should suit any market farmer or home gardener, although some of the rarer heirlooms are best sourced elsewhere. Unless you’re searching for a particular variety of rare seeds, you’ll probably find what you’re looking for here.
I encourage you to order at least a couple of packs of their Art Pack seed varieties so you can see the care and beauty they put into sharing the message of that seed variety.
3. Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Johnny’s Selected Seeds is a great place to buy seeds online because it is an employee-owned business and has a wide variety of seeds. This means that you are supporting your local community and employees.
- Johnny’s Selected Seeds is an employee-owned business: This means that you are supporting your local community and employees.
- The company has a huge variety of vegetable seeds: You can find everything from leeks to tomatillos at Johnny’s Selected Seeds.
- The website provides information on planning and growing as well as detailed guides for specific vegetables: This will help you grow plants successfully even if you’re not familiar with gardening terminology.
You can find everything from leeks to tomatillos at Johnny’s Selected Seeds. The website provides information on planning and growing as well as detailed guides for specific vegetables. This will help you grow plants successfully even if you’re not familiar with gardening terminology.
They sell both organic and conventional seeds, so if you’re on a budget or not interested in organic varieties, you can find some great varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers here.
You can also order flower bulbs and garlic for fall planting, although these tend to sell out quickly so make sure you order early (during the summer if possible) so that you can get the varieties you want.
If you’re in need of gardening supplies, Johnny’s has you covered there too. They developed a relationship with Eliot Coleman to market some of his small-scale gardening tools, and have flame weeders, Jang seeders, and more.
Their robust Growers Library means that you can find tons of information about what to plant when and how, including spreadsheets to calculate planting and succession dates. If you’re scaling up to market farm status, Johnny’s will become a key source of supplies and information for your market farm.
4. Seed Savers Exchange
Seed Savers Exchange is a great place to buy seeds because they are a non-profit that focuses on promoting and preserving heirloom open-pollinated seed varieties. The Safe Seed Pledge by Seed Savers guarantees that all the seed they sell are safe for planting, and are untreated and non-GMO.
Each seed variety also has detailed planting instructions on the site as well as the scientific name for each variety clearly marked.
- Seed Savers Exchange promotes biodiversity and community-building: Seed Savers is a non-profit organization that promotes the preservation of heirloom seeds.
- Seed Savers Exchange offers a variety of seed options: Vegetables, flowers, and herbs.
- Their customer service is excellent: If you have any questions or problems with your order, Seed Savers Exchange has great customer service that can help you out.
5. Kitazawa Seed Co.
Kitazawa Seed Company is based in the United States and offers a wide variety of Asian vegetable seeds. It started in 1917 in San Jose, California and was one of the first seed companies in the US to focus on international varieties of garden vegetables.
You can purchase pre-selected seed assortments to try different types, and there is a good selection of vegetables, microgreen, and herb seeds available. Their seed selection is 100% non-GMO, and orders ship out quickly, often within one business day. If you’re looking to grow authentic Asian herbs and vegetables, this is your go-to seed source.
6. Hoss Seeds
Hoss Garden Seeds is a trusted supplier of vegetable, flower, and herb seeds that offers all of these features and more. You can purchase your Hoss Garden Seeds products directly from the website or in some select retail locations across the US. If you need help finding the right strain or variety of seed for your project, don’t hesitate to reach out to customer service via email or phone. They’ll be happy to help you find the right seed for your garden.
- The seeds have been reviewed by real gardeners: The seeds have been reviewed and tested by real gardeners, who found them to be reliable and suitable for use in gardens across America.
- Good quality: seeds are sourced from AAS Winners, Heirlooms, Collections, or our exclusive Hossinator Series, with a focus on seeds that have been tested in multiple gardening zones for flavor, yield, harvesting time, and more.
- Price: Hoss Garden Seeds often has lower prices than other seed companies, making them an affordable option overall.
- Pre-Selected Seed Collections: For the gardener who just can’t choose which varieties they want or are looking to experiment, Hoss has some pre-selected seed varieties that you can purchase in a collection.
7. True Leaf Market
True Leaf Market is an online independent, non-GMO seed company that has been around since 1974. They partner with many different independent seed companies to be the one-stop shop for all types of seeds from organic to non-organic, microgreens, sprouts, herbs, flowers, cover crops, vegetables, and more.
They have a large variety of options for you at really affordable prices. While some of the rarer varieties may sell out, they generally have very good stock, no matter when you’re purchasing. They even have a self-watering cat grass kit, if you like to spoil your cats and *try* to deter them away from your garden starts.
8. Botanical Interests
Botanical Interests is a small, family-run company based in Colorado that has been operating for the last 25 years. While they have a website for online ordering, you can often find these seeds in garden centers and local stores.
Ordering online is especially nice if you’re looking for easy-to-find categories like heat-tolerant greens or good container gardening varieties.
9. Burpee Seeds
Burpee offers a wide variety of both new and old seeds, varieties of plants, and disease-resistant plants. You can choose from hundreds of seeds to plant in your garden. The seeds are non-GMO and come from a seed company with a longstanding reputation. Germination rates test extremely high so if you’re just starting out as a gardener or have limited space to germinate seeds, this is a great option.
Prices for the seeds vary depending on the type of seed, but Burpee offers a variety of affordable options. Shipping restrictions also vary depending on the type of seed, but Burpee typically ships within the United States. They sell live plants in more varieties than pretty much every other online seed company.
What factors should you consider when choosing a site to buy seeds from?
1. Seed quality
When determining seed quality, you should consider a few factors such as the company’s certification, the variety of seeds offered, and the growing instructions provided. Seeds of Change is a popular choice among gardeners because it offers 100% certified organic seed and a variety of hybrid varieties. The company also provides detailed growing instructions for each variety. Another option for certified organic seeds is Plant Good Seed Company. This company sells seed collections which can be purchased individually or as a set. The seeds are certified organic and sourced from Southern California.
2. Seed selection
When choosing a site to buy seeds from, there are a few factors to consider. First, you’ll want to make sure the site offers organic and heirloom seeds. Second, check out the site’s exclusive varieties and award-winners. Third, read reviews before buying seeds to make sure you’re getting what you expect. Finally, store your seeds in a cool, dark place to prevent them from becoming contaminated by moisture or pests.
3. Customer service
Customer service is very important when choosing a site to buy seeds from. A company that is employee-owned, like Johnny’s Selected Seeds, is a good indication of commitment to customer service. Johnny’s has an easy-to-use website with helpful information for growers. They also offer free shipping and a 60-day return policy for unopened seeds. Another trusted site for buying flower seeds is American Meadows. They have a 100 percent success guarantee and provide helpful online chat support. However, they do charge for freight. Shipping times are standard and depend on the method of shipping chosen.
4. Shipping
There are three types of shipping: overnight, 2-day, and standard. Overnight shipping is best for buying seeds because it arrives quickly. Two-day shipping is good for items that need to be delivered quickly but don’t require the level of care that overnight shipping provides. Standard shipping is a good option for people who are not concerned about getting their seeds quickly.
5. Pricing
Pricing is a factor to consider when choosing a site to buy seeds from. It is important to compare prices and find the best deal possible. It is also important to read the reviews of different sites before making a purchase.
How can you ensure you get the best deal when buying seeds online?
1. Read the reviews.
When looking for reviews on seed retailers, be sure to read through them carefully. Pay attention to details, such as the quality of plants and care instructions. It’s also important to see if the reviewer has experience with similar plants to gauge whether any problems were user errors or actually a seed fault.
You generally want to see overall positive reviews but don’t put your stock 100% in them. Check other places for reviews, like social media or even YouTube, to see what people say about that company. Take them with a grain of salt, of course, because some people just like to complain.
2. Compare prices.
When buying seeds online, it is important to compare prices to get the best deal. While different companies have some varieties that are different, many seed varieties will actually be the same plants. Check the pricing on these and see how they compare with the number of seeds you get and the other facets of ordering (free shipping, turnaround time, etc.).
If you’re not picky about variety, you can order the best-reviewed seeds from whichever site makes the most economic sense. Planning your seed purchases ahead of time is important. If you are placing a big order, you might qualify for free shipping on a site with cheaper prices. But if you forget something and need to order one or two more seed packets, it may make more sense to pay a little more for each packet on another site that offers free shipping on small orders.
3. Check the shipping policy.
When buying seeds online, be sure to check the shipping policy. What’s the rate for shipping, and do they offer free shipping options? It’s also important to check the expected processing time. Some companies can turnaround orders really quickly, while others take longer. If you’re in a pinch and need seeds fast, this can make a big difference because one or two weeks in spring can make a big difference in your harvest especially if you’re growing long-day plants or live in a more extreme climate.
4. Compare the germination rates.
Most companies will share the germination rate on the seed packet but may not have the info available online. You can try to call their customer service or take notes on which seeds germinate best via a home trial. There is a minimum germination rate that’s required to sell and ship seeds legally, so rest assured that any seeds you buy online from a reputable company will have comparable baselines.
Some companies who specialize in heirloom varieties with lower than legally allowed germination rates will compensate by adding additional seeds to the packet without charging more. For example, a lower-than-average germination rate might mean they pack 10% more seeds in the packet.
If you’re working with heirlooms, germination rates may be naturally lower than production varieties (one of the reasons we have production varieties!), so keep that in mind while you’re doing your comparisons.
When is the best time to shop for seeds?
The best time to buy seeds is in the early winter after the seed companies have packaged their seeds for the next year. They usually start sending out seed catalogs in late fall and that should be your trigger to start planning next year’s garden in earnest. Some companies will post notices on their website with information about when their new seeds for this year will be ready.
Many seed companies have already sold out of their more popular or rarer varieties by the time spring rolls around, so it’s important to purchase seeds as soon as they become available. Seeds can last for three years with solid germination rates if they’re stored properly in a cool, dry place, although germination rates will start to go down as the seeds age. It’s important to test your older seeds before planting so you can plant the appropriate amount of seeds to achieve the germination rate you want.
What’s your favorite place to buy heirloom seeds?
The best place to buy heirloom seeds is High Mowing Organic Seeds. because they have a good variety of seeds, they’re a small company that’s local to my area, and they ship quickly. They do have a free shipping option, but the threshold is high. There are many other seed companies that also carry heirloom seeds as part of their offering as well, so feel free to check at your favorite seed company too.
Many seed sites sell heirloom varieties but don’t necessarily market themselves as an heirloom seed provider, so make sure you’re looking beyond the marketing at the actual seed varieties.
