We’re sharing the perfect locations to purchase heirloom seeds for house gardens. I’m sharing my favourite seed firms, plus reader suggestions and a few distinctive seed sources to analyze.
These heirloom seed firms will allow you to carry quaint flavors, scents, and colours again to your backyard for lovely and scrumptious crops.
What are Heirloom Seeds?
Heirloom seed varieties are handed down by means of generations in a household or neighborhood, like heirloom home items. This enables them to adapt their DNA to the native circumstances, creating distinctive and attention-grabbing variations. Most sources say the seed selection have to be not less than 50 years outdated to qualify as an heirloom.
Heirloom seeds develop True to Kind. This imply that should you save seeds, they’ll match the father or mother plant. See “What are Heirloom Seeds? (And Why it Issues)” for extra info.
Finest Locations to Purchase Heirloom Seeds
These are my favourite sources for heirloom vegetable seeds, plus reader favorites and one we wish to attempt. Most of those firms additionally provide some fruit, herbs, and flowers. Some provide heirloom potato varieties, onions, garlic and different root crops.
Observe: Many heirloom seed firms are experiencing increased than regular order volumes. Please be affected person together with your orders, and permit further time for supply.
1. Pinetree Backyard Seeds
Pinetree Backyard Seeds – I’ve been ordering from Pinetree the longer than another firm. They’re positioned in New Gloucester, Maine.
Their costs are cheap, they usually give smaller portions of seed per packet, so that you don’t find yourself with too many leftover seeds if in case you have a small backyard.
2. True Leaf Market
True Leaf Market has been offering seed underneath the manufacturers Mountain Valley Seed and Helpful Pantry since 1974. They supply seeds for house gardeners {and professional} growers, for planting and for sprouting.
Their web site additionally options associated merchandise, like rising kits, juicers, and fermentation provides. The corporate is positioned in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah.
3. Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds
Excessive Mowing Seeds is positioned in Walcott, Vermont. They provide 100% licensed natural seed. One distinctive part of their web site is their crops that develop nicely in excessive tunnels, a helpful possibility for market gardeners.
Their natural seed collections present a small low cost once you purchase a gaggle of seed packets. They embody a Bee’s Backyard Assortment for pollinators, a Container Backyard Assortment, and a number of other others.
4. Seed Treasures
Reader advisable Seed Treasures is positioned off grid in Northern Minnesota, a plus for northern growers. They specialise in preserving heritage open pollinated seeds. Some are heirloom seeds, others Native American crops or trendy open pollinated varieties.
5. Southern Publicity Seed Alternate
Southern Publicity Seed Alternate carries about 800 styles of greens, flower, herb, grain, and canopy crop seeds. Positioned in Mineral, Virginia, they specialise in varieties that carry out nicely within the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
They’re licensed natural, and provide many distinctive southern heirlooms like butterbeans and naturally coloured cotton.
6. Stover Seeds Firm
Stover Seed Firm is positioned in Solar Valley, California. They characteristic water clever selections and greens and herbs for western climates. In addition they promote massive portions of native forbs and grasses for landscaping.
7. St. Clare Heirloom Seeds
St. Clare Heirloom Seeds is positioned in Cecil, Wisconsin. They solely promote non-hybrid, untreated, heirloom varieties and open pollinated backyard seeds. Their web site is conversational, with issues like recommendations to be used of heirloom flowers. They’re a conservative, household run firm.
8. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds – Baker Creek has beautiful pictures within the print catalog and on-line. They’ve many uncommon heirloom seeds and open-pollinated varieties.
Their headquarters is in Mansfield, Missouri.
9. MIGardener
Amy says, “The MI Gardener has some nice seeds and are very cheap, most are $2!”
Luke Marion, founding father of MIgardener, has a preferred youtube channel. The MIGardener retail retailer is in St Clair, Michigan.
10. Seed Savers Alternate
Seed Savers Alternate – I like the concept of Seed Savers Alternate, they usually have a wonderful and galvanizing catalog. They share the tales of the heirloom seeds they characteristic.
I bumped into some issues with their seeds previously, however I feel it was associated to a transition on the group. Latest seed purchases carried out nicely.
11. North Circle Seeds
Positioned in Minnesota, North Circle Seeds companions with Midwestern growers, who produce regionally tailored seed utilizing chemical-free, sustainable and natural practices.
12. Territorial Seed
Linda shares, “I wish to inform you about one among my favourite heirloom seed firms, Territorial Seed in Cottage Grove, Oregon. They’ve been a favourite of mine for a few years.
I get pleasure from making an attempt one thing new, however of all of the locations I order from Pinetree and Territorial are my favorites. And Territorial has the perfect packaging of any of them, offering an image and nice directions.”
Michele agrees, “Different seed websites I like to recommend are Territorial Seed Co. (carries some good OP varieties, even some from our good Dr. Kepuler) and Annapolis Seeds (Nova Scotia). I like Baker Creek, too.”
13. Kitazawa Seed Firm
Could shares, “The Kitazawa seed firm (Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah) has a big stock of Asian crops. They are going to mail you a catalog, which has Asian recipes within the again.”
14. Mary’s Heirloom Seeds
Laurel’s favourite: “I’ve ordered from Mary’s Heirloom Seeds (Ben Wheeler, Texas) and he or she may be very useful and really personable. She is right down to earth and he or she is rising as an organization. I feel they’ve over 400 seed varieties and he or she takes the protected seed pledge.”
15. Sow True Seeds
Patty offers a shout out to Sow True Seeds: “Residing in SC, I’ve used the seed firm Sow True Seeds. They’re based mostly in Asheville, NC.
They’ve a smaller than standard choice, however it’s nonetheless fantastic and really helpful for somebody rising in a mountainous space, as they’ve sure varieties that do nicely in these circumstances. I’ve pre-ordered my garlic and potatoes from them for this yr.
They’re a small firm that may be very attentive to their clients. I additionally second the corporate Pinetree Seeds. I’ve had fantastic germination from them and respect the smaller portions within the packs (and the worth to go along with them).
16. Ohio Heirloom Seeds
Gigi’s alternative: “I like Ohio Heirloom Seeds too… I’ve actually loved their seeds and the man who owns it’s tremendous good. The seeds come packaged very properly, their costs are good they usually come shortly.
They’re positioned simply exterior of Columbus, Ohio. All varieties are open-pollinated, and often ship inside 2 days.
17. Heirloom Mountain Seedswoman
For Colorado gardeners, Shannon says, “You need to add Heirloom Mountain Seedswoman. It’s native to me so I like it they ship tremendous quick.”
Heirloom Mountain Seedswoman specializes on gardening within the harsh desert local weather. They provide distinctive heirloom tomato seeds, in addition to uncommon melon, watermelon, squash and pumpkin seeds.
18. Siskayou Seeds
Siskayou Seeds has a few of my favourite open pollinated seeds, together with Nutri-bud broccoli and Swan Lake melon. In addition they carry many heirloom seeds and seed collections, and permaculture centered crops.
19. Sow Proper Seeds
Sow Proper Seeds is predicated in Greenwood, Missouri. All of their seed varieties are heirloom and non-GMO. They’ve a Planter’s Library with gardening suggestions and rising guides.
20. Bear Mountain Seeds
The Bear Mountain Seeds homestead is positioned across the Buffalo Valley space, close to Bear Mountain in southeast Oklahoma. Carissa Byrn, who owns the corporate together with her husband, shared:
“It has been a mission of mine for a few years to protect as a lot seed as I can. Whereas we nonetheless have various heirlooms on the market on the planet, we have now additionally misplaced many over time.
I take each doable alternative to coach individuals on turn out to be self -reliant and sustainable. We take the Protected Seed Pledge and don’t knowingly purchase, promote or commerce genetically engineered seeds.”
21. Thresh Seeds
Becky and Dave Weeks function Thresh Seeds in Guthrie County, Iowa. Sharon says, “Nice small household seed firm. I’ve had wonderful germination charges, 2 years now and somebody really solutions the cellphone or returns your e mail, definitely worth the look.”
Their store by Area and Curiosity web page is a useful possibility on the web site.
22. Hudson Valley Seed Firm
Louann likes Hudson Valley Seed Firm. “They’ve lovely paintings, heirloom seed and open-pollinated seed. On-line and brick and mortar in Accord, New York.”
Artwork Packs – their artist designed seed packages – are lovely and distinctive.
From their web site:
“Like seeds, artists carry us magnificence, that means, and pleasure. Annually, we work intently with a various group of artists to create the visible seeds tales on our Artwork Packs. Visible artwork offers a window into the historical past, tradition, and tales surrounding seeds.“
Honorable Point out – Experimental Farm Community
The Experimental Farm Community Cooperative seed retailer is predicated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Most of their seeds are grown in Minnesota and New Jersey. As an experimental seed developer, they’ve varieties I’ve not seen on the market anyplace else.
Did I miss your favourite heirloom seed firm? Do you will have different questions on backyard seeds? Go away a remark and share your ideas.
A few of my Favourite Heirloom Seed Varieties
These are some (however not all) of my favourite heirloom seed varieties that do nicely in our northeast Wisconsin backyard.
- Opalka tomato
- Mortgage Lifter tomato
- Hungarian Coronary heart tomato
- Jimmy Nardello pepper
- Howden pumpkin
- Inexperienced Arrow peas
- Ailsa Craig Exhibition Onion
- Hole Crown parsnip
- Kalibos cabbage
- Early Purple Vienna kohlrabi
- Di Sicilia Violetto cauliflower
- Crimson Candy watermelon
Extra Gardening Articles
This text is written by Laurie Neverman. Laurie and her household have 35 acres in northeast Wisconsin the place they develop dozens of types of fruiting bushes, shrubs, brambles, and vines, together with an intensive annual backyard. Alongside together with her ardour for rising nutrient dense meals, she additionally enjoys historic historical past, lovely geese, and lifelong studying.
Final up to date in 2023.
