13 Best Places to Buy Vegetable Seeds: Organic, Heirloom, Non-GMO
It’s almost spring and the seed catalogs are rolling in! Decisions, decisions… If you’re trying to figure out the best places to buy heirloom, non-GMO, and organic vegetable seeds, look no further!
From big to small, this list highlights 13 awesome seed companies to support, including our favorite places to buy flower, herb, and vegetable seeds for our organic garden. With 15 years of gardening experience under our belts, let’s just say we’ve done our fair share of seed shopping.
I’ve also included a quick lesson on types of seeds so you’ll be familiar with the terminology as you browse. For specific variety recommendations, refer to this list of our favorite summer crop varieties to grow or our top cool season vegetables for spring and fall.
Note: This article was originally published in February 2019.
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Types of Seeds
- Non-GMO – Just say no to GMO! Every company on this list of places to buy vegetables seeds has signed the Safe Seed Pledge, meaning they pledge to not buy, sell, or trade genetically modified seeds.
- Organic – Organic seeds are harvested from plants that were grown and processed using certified organic farming practices (e.g. no chemical pesticides). As much as possible, we try to buy certified organic seeds; they’re better for the environment, pollinators, and farmworkers alike! Not every company on this list is completely organic, but most offer organic options.
- Heirloom – An heirloom refers to a variety of vegetable or plant that is at least 50 years old and is either open-pollinated or self-pollinated (not hybrid), according to the Seed Savers Exchange. An heirloom variety usually has a story or special significance, such as a history within a particular community, culture, farm, or family.
- Hybrid – Hybrid seeds (usually denoted with an “F1” or “F2”) are created when two different varieties are bred or cross-pollinated, either by nature or people. The goal is typically to enhance beneficial attributes like natural disease resistance or a higher yield. Since their offspring won’t “breed true” to the parent plant, hybrid seeds aren’t ideal for seed-saving, but they are NOT genetically modified.
RELATED: Not sure if your old seeds will still grow? Come learn: how long do seeds last? Also see seed storage tips and best practices, and when to start seeds indoors – with charts for every growing zone!
The Best Places to Buy Garden Seeds
1) High Mowing Organic Seeds
We discovered High Mowing Seeds a few years ago, and they quickly became our top favorite place to buy organic vegetable seeds. They offer a diverse selection with hundreds of wonderful vegetable, herb and flower varieties that are 100% certified organic and non-GMO. Bred to perform well when grown in organic conditions, their garden seeds are strong, resilient, and will respond well to a natural approach in the garden.
High Mowing is an all-around fantastic small company. Based out of Vermont, they pride themselves on sustainable practices and high quality in all aspects of their operations. We were honored to partner with them to create our very own flower seed collection: the Homestead and Chill Prized Pollinator Collection!
**January 2025: Use this link and code “DEANNACAT” to save 10% off orders $50 or more!
2) Botanical Interests
Botanical Interests has a really great selection with many of your favorite standards, some unique varieties, and a decent array of certified organic vegetable seeds as well. Botanical Interests seed packages are beautiful, with pretty painting-style images of the plants. Their prices are also very attractive!
You can often find Botanical Interest seeds in local garden centers and nurseries – making impulse buys or a quick pick-up of “oops, I forgot that!” very convenient. This is a huge benefit for those who like to shop in person instead of online.
My good friend Kevin from Epic Gardening purchased the reputable seed company in 2023 when the owners were ready to retire, keeping all of the staff and integrity in the transition. Use code “deannacat3” to save 5% off gardening supplies, raised beds, OR Botanical Interest seeds at Epic Gardening.
3) Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Johnny’s is a larger seed company based in Maine, but they’re 100% employee owned and overall pretty awesome. At Johnny’s, you will find a huge and diverse selection of garden seeds, including many certified organic vegetable seeds at a fair price. Their site is also very clean and easy to navigate. I especially like being able to filter by attributes like particular disease resistance, maturation dates, organic-only and more. It makes browsing for varieties that would work well in our garden a breeze.
4) Seeds Now
Seeds Now is a family-owned and operated business based out of Southern California. The overall selection of different varieties of veggies, herbs, and flowers is quite good. This is a great place to get organic potato and garlic seed too – they offer a nice selection of both! Their packaging isn’t as “Instagram worthy” as some other seed companies out there, but hey, whatever.
In regards to price, Seeds Now prices are very competitive! They’re on the lower end for most seeds I have seen out there. A bonus is that for each garden seed type, they often offer an even more affordable “sampler pack” size of seeds – great for someone with a more petite garden or who wants to try just a small amount of something.
5) Adaptive Seeds
Adaptive Seeds is a small company based out of the Pacific Northwest, near Sweet Home, Oregon. All of their seed crops are grown on their personal certified organic farms! With a slogan of “Bringing Biodiversity Back”, their seed is 100% organic, and not treated or sprayed in any way.
While they do offer a great selection of seeds that could be grown well in any climate, they also bring to the table some excellent varieties for gardeners specifically in the Pacific Northwest or similar climates. Adaptive Seeds specializes in early-maturing, northern-adapted, winter garden, and cooler weather crops. Even though we’re in California, our temperate coastal climate is perfectly suited for many of their offerings.
Since they’re a very small operation, they do seem a little slower to ship than some other seed companies. Their prices are competitive with other organic sellers. Like Johnny’s and Seeds Now, Adaptive has basic, plain packaging.
6) Seed Savers Exchange
Seed Savers Exchange is a non-profit organization based near Decorah, Iowa. Their mission is: “We conserve and promote America’s culturally diverse but endangered garden and food crop heritage for future generations by collecting, growing, and sharing heirloom seeds and plants.” After hearing nothing but good things about Seed Savers from many of their happy customers, I knew they needed to be included on this list.
In addition to a standard seed “shop” page, there is an entirely separate “exchange” page that you can join – and exchange saved seeds with other home gardener’s across the U.S. I saw SO many varieties I have never heard of there! Very, very cool. The prices through Seed Savers are very reasonable as well.
7) San Diego Seed Company
I first connected with San Diego Seed Company over on Instagram and we’ve become fast friends since. This small, sustainable, woman-owned business is definitely one to support – especially if you live in Southern California or a similar climate! Their focus is offering organic and heirloom varieties that are regionally-adapted for SoCal climates, including veggies, fruit, flowers and herbs. Check them out!
8) Peaceful Valley Farm Supply
With a site domain of www.groworganic.com, you can see where Peaceful Valley’s agenda is. Based out of Nevada City, California, this company is all about supporting the movement for organic, sustainable, small-scale agriculture.
In addition to tons of heirloom and certified organic vegetable, herb, and flower seeds, Peaceful Valley specializes in bare root fruit and nut trees, fruit vines, and even has mushroom cultivation kits. They also have a large selection of potatoes. I think the very first seed potatoes we ever ordered were from here, many years ago! Everything comes in pretty seed packages, with fair prices.
9) Territorial Seed Company
Territorial Seed Company is based out of Cottage Grove, Oregon, owned by a husband and wife team who strive to live a simple and self-sufficient life. The website boasts a large selection of veggies, fruit, herbs, and flowers, including both seeds and living plants like bareroot fruit trees.
They carry both organic and conventional options, often times in the same listing – so use a keen eye when you are placing items in your cart! To avoid any confusion, there is an “organics only” section on their site if that is important to you. Like some other companies, Territorial offers many sizes of garden seed packages by weight, allowing you to adjust for your needs. In looking at their prices, I feel they’re very reasonable and in line with others!
10) Renee’s Garden Seeds
Renee is very proud of her seed company, and the pledge to offer unique, high quality, non-gmo, heirloom and organic vegetable seed varieties. Renee’s Garden Seeds are said to be tested and successfully grown in all major U.S. growing zones. Selections are made with home gardeners in mind. Her tagline is “The Garden to Table Seed Company”. While there may not be quite as many different varieties available as some sites, this company has your basics covered, and then some!
The packages of garden seeds are very pretty, with artistic watercolor images of the crops. Seed packages are offered in just one size, but at very reasonable prices. Our local Ace Hardware garden center carries Renee’s, so we often pick up miscellaneous packs of things there as needed, and have always been satisfied with the results.
11) Kitizawa Seed Co.
Based out of the California Bay Area, Kitizawa is America’s oldest Asian seed company. The business started in 1917! Offering a selection of over 500 traditional Japanese heirloom varieties, this is the place to go if you love Asian veggies as much as we do. Napa cabbage, eggplant, daikon radishes, edamame, bok choy, and komatsuna mustard greens anyone?
Nothing here is certified organic, but like everyone else on this list, Kitizawa has signed the safe seed pledge against GMOs. Fans of Kitizawa rave about their high successful germination rates.
2024 update: Kitizawa seeds are now available exclusively through True Leaf Market.
12) MIgardener
As the name suggests, MIgardener hails from Michigan, though this small seed company offers a diverse selection of heirloom vegetable varieties that will grow well in any climate. The owner Luke started MIgardener in 2011, quickly growing through his social media presence and infectiously positive attitude.
“We believe gardening should be made fun and accessible to anyone of any skill level,” says Migardener – and that accessibility extends to their generously affordable seed prices. You can browse their site by type of vegetable, or narrow it down by characteristics like “cold hardy”, “container friendly”, “for pollinators” or “partial sun”.
13) PineTree Garden Seeds
Last but not least, let’s talk about PineTree Seeds. This small family-owned operation is located in New Gloucester, Maine. Their site includes selections of over 1300 varieties of seeds, including many heirlooms and organics. In addition to vegetable seeds, they offer an impressive array of flower and herb seeds, plus an assortment of tools, gardening gear, books, live plants, soap making and crafting supplies. Between the excellent selection and very reasonable prices, PineTree is easy to love.
Due to questionable company ethics, Baker Creek was intentionally not included on this list.
And that concludes our list of places to buy garden seeds.
I hope this article helped you discover some new awesome companies to buy garden seeds from! This list obviously isn’t comprehensive to every single organic vegetable seed seller out there, but I tried to include the most highly-recommended and ones we personally love to support. Did I miss any other great resources? Please let us all know in the comments!
You may also enjoy:
- Garden Companion Planting Chart, Plans, and Benefits
- How to Make DIY Seed Starting Mix: The Best Recipe
- How to Test Seed Germination: Easy Paper Towel Method
- 7 Useful Seed Starting Supplies for Success Indoors
- How to Start Seeds Indoors: The Ultimate Guide + Seedling Care Tips
99 Comments
Macey
LOVE LOVE LOVE the blog!!! I’m so excited for you And All of us that follow! I can tell you that you have really stimulated me to step up my game. I started looking for caterpillars this year and I paid attention to our Monarch butterflies. We have plenty of the milk-weed plant as we have 19 acres that we just let go to it’s natural stare of growing, and wildlife refuge (We used to bush-hog it all, previously it was a horse farm). In 2013 we purchased our first flock of chickens, have always “put out a garden”, Wild berry pick, jelly/jam maker, and this year will help the monarchs and am starting a bee hive! I’m most excited re the bees! IG is ever so powerful to align and educate others with similar likes. Happy to have stumbled upon your IG , I admire your garden, enthusiasm and music!
I started to reply to this thread because my neighbor and friend co-garden our garden plot, she worked at D** splicing DNA!! I hated to know that but awareness is important. I have always grown an organic garden , ..one year I needed help harvesting over 100lb of potatoes, and she says “I know the scientist that sliced this DNA” 😳😩😢!! Still friends and still co-gardening the organic , non-GMO way!!!
DeannaCat
Macey – Wow! You are SO blessed to have all that property! Yes, please do me the favor and use it to makes my (and many of our) dreams come true – tons and tons of space for milkweed and monarchs and other blooming flowers for alllll the pollinators! It sounds like you’re up to so many good things over there! Keep it up, and thanks for saying hi!
Tiffany
LOVE LOVE LOVE your website Deanna. THANK YOU so much for all this precious information!
DeannaCat
No, THANK YOU Tiffany, for the love and enthusiasm! You are precious. ;P
S
Wanted to add a rec for Fedco seeds. They’re out of Maine and somewhat more geared towards northern gardeners but are super transparent on where they source their seeds from. They are also cooperatively owned and their catalog is hilarious. I find their smaller seed packets and low shipping costs helpful for home gardeners.
DeannaCat
You had me at hilarious catalog. Anything funny or snarky is right up my alley! We’ll have to check them out. Thank you for the suggestion!
Isaac
I love the blog and thank you for doing it. I am excited to see what new post will come up.
DeannaCat
Thanks for saying “thanks” Isaac! I look forward to sharing more and more every week 🙂
Rebecca
Great read as always, thankyou!
I just wanted to comment that while I’ve bought seeds at roughly half of the places you’ve listed I mostly shop Seed Savers Exchange. We have always had almost 100% germination rates with their seeds, the varieties always seem nicely vigorous and the next generation when I harvest the seeds have always grown to type with the same vigor.
I hope you wind up enjoying them as much as I have!
DeannaCat
Yes, we need to GET ON IT and check them out more! That’s great to hear about the germ rate too. Thanks for chiming in!
Patrice
This article is stunning! Thank you so much Deanna for putting it together. Not only is it informative, but beautifully laid out with all of the photos. I am truly inspired and look forward to shopping for seeds from these companies.
Heart to Table Giving Garden
DeannaCat
Patrice – Thank you so very much! I appreciate that feedback, since I do contemplate finding the right balance of text and photos. Best of luck in the coming growing season!
Adriana
Thank you so much for this excellent resource! I really enjoyed reading it, it was very helpful as I am just about to purchase my seeds for this season. One company I stumbled upon this year is Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, based here in Virginia. They are non-GMO and offer many organic and heirloom varieties. One thing I liked about them is that they offer varieties that are specifically well suited to growing in the mid-Atlantic and the South.
DeannaCat
Awesome! Thanks for giving them a shout-out! Hopefully others in your area will see the comment and take note! 🙂
Danielle
I second this — in North Carolina we’ve done very well with Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. Their catalog is enjoyable to browse and many of their offerings are specifically suited to climates in the Southeast. Helllllo humidity-enhanced fungal disease and pests!
C
Really quickly, while the non organic seed purchased may indeed have very little to no residue the main issues are not addressed in this factual statement. It is even more important to understand where they are grown, who grows them, how the seeds are grown and who benefits and loses in the process. Just as in non organic food Farming, the negative impacts spanning issues such as environmental and social justice are huge and wide spread. Many of these seeds are not domestically grown but rather grown in countries w lax environmental and labor laws. Seeds are a high labor product and like all high labor products have followed the cheap labor market to exploitative places. So, many things other then our own direct health to consider when making any purchase including seed. (Including what companies own the rights to seed which is another entirely different and huge topic).
I encourage anyone, who in this case is purchasing seed, to find out what percentage, if any are domestically grown as well as where they are purchased from as the majority of seed companies, local or not, do not grow their own seed and are simply re-sellers (they may trial them to see how well they grow in the area but will then purchase from a large seed house).
Of the companies listed above I can say with almost 100% certainty that Adaptive is the Only farmer grown (meaning they are Not resellers but are growing the seed themselves and/or directly working with other domestic farmers to produce seed at a fair cost) and stewarded seed. High Mowing is alsomdoing good work in the OG seed community and is involved in production and breeding.
Added to that list of farmer grown seed companies: Wild Garden Seed, Siskiyou Seed, Uprising Seeds, True Love, Grand Prismatic (Utah), Snake river seed (Idaho), Hudson Valley Seed Library, Fruition Seeds, Salt Spring Seeds, Turtle tree (buy in from biodynamic seed growers), Fedco (buy in and have a code w each seed so you can choose who you buy from), etc etc. A quick google search should give you the names of countless other small companies.
Seeds are indeed small but, just as the plants the rise from them, our capacity to do good by doing a little research and asking some questions is huge.
DeannaCat
Thanks for the comment, and additional list of seed companies to support! I did address (in part) the concern you raised, in the next paragraph, with the large HOWEVER. 🙂 Maybe not the domestic versus international question, but the larger environmental impacts of conventional farming, and social justice – in relation to the farm workers exposure. I appreciate the additional insight! As I said, I was even calling myself out – we all have room for improvement. Keep up the good work!
Katie Muncie
This was amazing! Thank you so much for the resource, I love that I don’t have to take notes of all these companies and can just come back to your blog when I have seeds on my agenda.
I want to very much support the mom and pop companies but kinda dont like having to search them out and read up on them all.
Lisa
Hi Deanna,
This is wonderful info. Thanks for the resources!
Can you comment on seed packet dates? If you have a packet that says, “sell by 11/2018” for example, is that still good to plant in 2019?
Thank you for everything! Loving the site!!
Lisa
DeannaCat
Hey Lisa! Sorry I didn’t mention that here – I went over it in my Seed Starting 101 post. 🙂 Those are the dates the company will guarantee the listed successful germination rate, like 85%, 95%, etc – how many seeds should sprout if planted. With time, the successful germination rate is likely decline, but you can TOTALLY still use old seeds. We use them for years after the date on the package, and simply sow a few extra in case the rates aren’t great. I hope that helps!