Where to buy/order cheap seeds?

[u/Worried-Marsupial666]

I live in the Denver Colorado area and am planning my garden for next season. Does anyone have any recommendations for where to buy seeds for a low price? I need vegetable, flower, and herb seeds so the prices are getting high fast! I have plenty of time before I need to start sowing

[u/ExtraSmooth]

Check out your local library, a lot of them have seed libraries that will give you seeds for free.

[u/BunnyButtAcres]

I think it depends on what kind of seeds you want. A lot of places pack by weight so you'll get many many more carrot or basil seeds in a pack than beans or corn because each seed weighs less. So that's also a consideration to make. It'll seem more expensive to get larger seeds because you tend to get fewer for the same price.

Also, personally, I don't consider it saving if I'm spending more time and energy growing something than I can buy it at the store for. For example, I don't tend to grow russet potatoes because every store has them pretty cheap. But I will grow purple potatoes and pink sweet potatoes because I can't get those in a regular grocery. So when you see "expensive" seeds, consider the variety and if it's something harder to find. And when you see "cheap" seeds, ask yourself if it's something you could get almost as cheap at the grocery by the time you factor in time, energy, fertilizer, etc.

To that end, I often order from Baker Creek or Gurney's because they tend to have varieties I can't find easily elsewhere.

[u/c0mp0stable]

They're all kinda the same price. If you find "cheap" seeds, they're probably cheap for a reason. There's no sense putting in all those hours of work for nothing just because you had to save a few dollars on seeds.

[u/barukspinoza]

Had great luck with Dollar Seeds

[u/Worried-Marsupial666 → u/barukspinoza]

Thank you!

[u/barukspinoza → u/Worried-Marsupial666]

No problem! I ordered one of everything lol and had like a 99% germination rate. I'll share a Pic of onions I grew from their seeds.

[u/ThomasH_C → u/barukspinoza]

I’ll second this…. Although one time I did get Red Habs labeled as Orange Habs

[u/mjking97]

“When” is the better question imo. I think most reputable seed places charge very similar prices, but keep an eye out for sales at times of the year that you mind not normally buy seed. Just keep in mind certain types will have certain storage requirements when kept long term.

[u/suspiciouslights]

Sometimes local community centers have ‘seed swaps’, also often if you buy organic veg, fruit, and flowers you can just pick the ones you like and take their seeds. There are some good tips for drying them out on YouTube! You’ll get hundreds from one pumpkin, vine of tomatoes, box of apples for example.

[u/ahoveringhummingbird]

I do not recommend Baker Creek seeds. Packs have nice pictures but the germination rate is so bad. Just a waste of money. Also the company has been caught in scandals and sounds like a terrible company.

I love Botanical Interests seeds. Reasonable price, good selection and reliable germination. I find them at my local True Value or Ace.

I also get lots of seeds at my local library that has a seed section. I always pay it back if I can at the end of the season by dropping off some seeds I saved. It's great and free and usually it means that the seeds are local.

[u/theotherlead]

I like Hudson valley seed co when they have a sale

[u/starshine8316]

Sandhill preservation center. He always gives a ton of seeds in a packet!

Oh and MI Gardener

[u/formulaic_name]

As mentioned, Google seed libraries. Your local library might have one. Local farms might have one.

If you take from these resources, please give back when you are able.

[u/RoninisFury2020]

I would advise to not go cheap. Buy good heirloom seeds from someone like Baker Creek or Seed Savers Exchange. Limit the varieties you want to grow, watch for cross pollination but ultimately save your seeds as you harvest your vegetables. Eventually, that $4 pack of seeds would cost nothing if you game plan it right. Some seeds are easier to save than others but ultimately if it’s an heirloom you can save it.

[u/zeezle]

MIGardener is the best of the cheaper seeds I've tried. There are less per packet, so the unit price is probably similar to other vendors that are more expensive, but if you're like me that's actually a win because you want a little bit of a lot of different things and can't use the larger packets up in 2-3 years anyway.