5 Considerations for Buying Vegetable Seeds

And four places to buy them!

It’s the time of year when seed companies send out catalogs and gardening stores set out racks of seeds. There are dozens and hundreds and thousands of options! How do you know what to buy? Of course, you need to choose vegetables your family will eat and that grow well in your climate, but that doesn’t narrow things down enough.

Here is a vegetable seed buying guide:

1. Is the seed GMO? GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism.

You want to answer this with ‘no.’

2. Is the seed chemically treated? Most packaged vegetable seeds are treated via chemical or biological methods to make them hardier against pests and increase performance.

You want to answer this with ‘no.’

3. Is the seed hybrid? This is a first-generation cross between two specific, related plants to provide a new variety bred for certain characteristics. Seeds resulting from these plants are almost always sterile, so you cannot save the seeds to plant yourself next year. These plants usually are bred for faster growth and higher yield, but are often higher maintenance, requiring specific care to do well.

You probably want to answer this with ‘no.’

4. Is the seed organic? Certified organic seed is the best way to know you’re getting strong seeds without additives you don’t want to ingest. Yes, they cost more, but in reality, a package of even organic seed costs little compared to the fully grown vegetables in the supermarket later. It’s worth the investment, if you can find the variety you desire.

You want to answer this with ‘yes.’

5. Is the seed heirloom? Heirloom varieties have been around for a while. Seed growers have narrowed our choices considerably, even though it doesn’t seem possible when we see so many varieties on the rack. The key to a secure food system is diversity, so the more kinds of each vegetable available, the less chance a catastrophic year or two will eliminate that category entirely.

You probably want to answer this with ‘yes.’

So where can you get seeds for your vegetable garden?

Off the rack:
Pro: no planning ahead required
Con: limited to the usual.
Tip: Shop early, before the racks are picked over

From a seed catalogue:
Pro: greater variety
Con: easy to overbuy!
Tip: don’t be seduced by all the pretty pictures. What do you have room for? What will your family eat?

From a local seed exchange:
Pro: tested local varieties
Con: limited varieties
Tip: Ask if they’ll have the same varieties next year or if you should buy extra and store it, sealed, in your freezer. (Most seeds keep well if they are dry and cold)

Saving your own:
Pro: you know what you like
Con: takes time and effort
Tip: This can be a big job, different for each type of seed, so make sure you plan ahead and know what you’re up against.

For more information:
Seeds of Change Organic: Canada, USA, Puerto Rico

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds catalog free to USA only

Ark Institute Not organic, but GMO-free, non hybrid, nontreated

Salt Spring Seeds Canada only

West Coast Seeds Canada only

What do you consider when buying seeds? Any considerations you’d like to add?