You are looking up at your window, and with it comes the irresistible urge to get your hands dirty and cultivate a little slice of paradise in your own backyard or balcony. But before you can bask in the satisfaction of homegrown tomatoes or the sweet crunch of homegrown carrots, you need one crucial ingredient: seeds!
Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a curious newbie, this post is your guide to the best places to find high-quality vegetable seeds to jumpstart your homegrown bounty. From local havens with friendly experts to online retailers bursting with variety, we'll explore the top options to get your vegetable garden dream flourishing.
So grab your gardening gloves, get ready to dig in, and let's find the perfect seeds to transform your backyard into a thriving oasis!
Amazon: United States/ International
Survival Garden Seeds are heirloom, Non-GMO, and open pollinated. They are Carefully selected from chosen varieties with excellent track records for germination and productivity.
Handy Pantry specializes in micro-greens. Their certified organic sprouting seeds are the healthiest foods you can grow yourself. Their sprouting kits include everything you need to start sprouting microgreens, baby greens and sprouts today.
Naturez Edge is a veteran-owned small business on a mission to empower you to cultivate a thriving garden, naturally. Naturez Edge understands the importance of healthy living and environmental responsibility.
Naturez Edge's products are designed to be effective and easy to use, so you can enjoy the satisfaction of a flourishing garden without harming the environment or your loved ones.
Organo Republic is a small family business that cares. Their seeds are coming from the most sustainable United States suppliers and constantly being checked for high germination rates to ensure customers get the best NON GMO seeds possible.
Explore over 4,500 varieties of high-quality heirloom seeds and non-GMO seeds. Heirloom seeds offer the chance to grow unique, open-pollinated plants that have been passed down for generations. This ensures genetic diversity and helps preserve our agricultural heritage.
Farmer Valley offer seeds with a minimum 93% germination rate and easy-to-follow online guides to help you along the way.
Shopee: Philippines/ South East Asia
The Greenery is a leading supplier of premium seeds in the Philippines, specializing in pre-germinated lettuce varieties from the United States and Europe. It also offer a diverse selection of fruit and vegetable seeds, sourced locally and across Southeast Asia.
The Greenery partners with trusted growers to ensure their seeds are of the highest quality, delivering optimal germination rates and vibrant, healthy yields.
Ramgo Seeds
The Philippine market has recognized Ramgo Seeds as the largest and most reliable distributor nationwide, because of its credibility and well-known reputation to the farm dealers and crop financiers.
Its quality and dynamism has reached and influences the metropolitan culture through its availability in their store outlets, various supermarkets, hardware stores and local department stores.
East West Seeds
East-West creates varieties that are not only disease-resistant and high-yielding, but also thrive in the heat, humidity, and unpredictable rainfall patterns of the tropics.
This unique approach empowers smallholder farmers to cultivate bountiful harvests, improve their livelihoods, and contribute to a more secure food supply in these regions.
Tips for Germinating Seeds
Tropical Seeds: A World of Their Own
Unlike your average tomato seed, tropical seeds can be a surprising bunch!
Some sprout on their own, even inside the fruit. Others take a nap (dormancy) and need a wake-up call to germinate.
Here's the thing: tropical climates come in many flavors, so there's no one-size-fits-all approach.
The one constant? Warm soil! Most tropical seeds need it around 75-85°F to sprout.
Forget the instant gratification you get with regular seeds. Tropical seeds take their sweet time, anywhere from a few days to a year! (Don't worry, most are much faster than a year.)
Ready to try something new? Tropical seeds can be a fun challenge and super rewarding. Just remember, they require a different approach than your typical garden veggies.
Bonus tips:
Stubborn seeds? A warm water soak can help break dormancy.
Keep it toasty! Many tropical seeds need consistently warm soil.
Patience is key! Some seeds take a long time.
Plant 'em fresh! Tropical seeds lose their power to sprout faster than regular seeds.
Cold shock for some: A few temperate seeds like leafy greens need a fridge nap before planting.
How to Store Seeds
Here are some tips to extend the life of seeds:
Reducing humidity is the most-important factor in extending the life of seeds. In general, relative humidity below 60% is best for seed storage. Avoid storing seeds in sheds or garages where they may be exposed to high humidity in the summer.
Store your seeds in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight. Exposure to temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit will greatly decrease the viability of your seed for future planting seasons.
Seeds can be stored in sealed containers, plastic bags, and wax or paper envelopes. When seeds are stored in sealed containers, ensure that moisture is not trapped within the container; if you see condensation forming inside the jar or container, you may have issues.
A refrigerator can be a good option for seed storage that can extend the storage life by several years. Seeds stored in the refrigerator should be in a sealed container. When seeds are removed from cold storage, let the container reach room temperature before opening the container to avoid condensation on the seeds within the container.
If you have grown and harvested seeds yourself, make sure that they are thoroughly dry before storing the saved seeds.
If you want to check for viability before planting, do a germination test.
Expected Storage Life
Different seeds have different expected shelf life, even with the best conditions. Parsnips are notoriously short-lived seeds. Tomatoes, lettuce, beans and peas benefit most from careful handling. Keep in mind that the older the seed, the lower the germination and vigor.
For this reason, some choose to mix in new seed with the old when direct seeding or seed at a higher rate to account for a reduced percentage of plants that may germinate after several years of storage.
Seeds have greater longevity than you may think. With proper storage, you can often successfully utilize commercial seeds for several years beyond the “sell by” date. This allows you to save money by not purchasing new seed every year, and it also allows you to hang onto your favorite varieties in the event there are issues with availability in the following season.
Below are the expected storage life of several popular vegetable seeds when stored properly.
2 YEARS
Corn
Lettuce
Okra
Onion
Parsley
Parsnip
Pepper
3 YEARS
Bean
Broccoli
Carrots
Celery
Kohlrabi
Peas
Spinach
4 YEARS
Beet
Cabbage
Fennel
Kale
Mustard
Pumpkin
Rutabaga
Squash
Swiss chard
Tomato
Turnip
Watermelon
5 YEARS
Brussel sprouts
Collards
Cucumber
Endive
Muskmelon
Radish
Happy planting! With so many great seed companies to choose from, you're well on your way to a thriving home garden filled with fresh, delicious vegetables. Don't forget to consider your climate and desired varieties when making your selections. Now get out there and get your hands dirty – the rewards of homegrown food are well worth the effort!
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