Organic gardening is the practice of producing crops by avoiding the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and growth regulators. Instead, organic growers use cover crops, manures, compost, and natural fertilizers to maintain soil fertility; hand or mechanical cultivation and mulch to manage weeds; and disease resistant seed varieties, crop rotation, natural biological cycles, and beneficial insects and birds to manage pests. See the articles and videos on our website for more information.

Yes. 100% certified organic seeds are harvested from plants grown without synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides and therefore, harbor no residues from these chemicals. Organically grown seed produces hearty, robust plants already adapted to organic growing conditions. As an organic gardener, you are supporting the entire cycle of sustainable organic agricultural practices, which begins with organically grown seed. In October of 2002, the USDA established the National Organic Program which states that organic farmers must use certified organic seeds to grow crops.

No. Organic gardening is easy and safe for you, your family, and the planet. Visit the Learning Center of our website for informative articles, videos, growing instructions and gardening tips to support your successful organic garden.

In addition, every gardener’s experience can be enhanced by knowing what grows best in his or her area. The back of our seed packets includes a map of the U.S. along with recommended planting times for different regions. While most of our seeds are widely adapted to most growing regions, our product descriptions may contain information about the specific variety’s adaptability to special conditions.

Our annual vegetable, herb, and flower seeds can be grown almost anywhere in the world, you just have to plant them at the right time of year for your climate. Cool season crops are planted in spring and fall, while warm season crops are grown in summer. Gardeners in the northern tier have shorter seasons and may need to select early maturing or frost-tolerant varieties. Gardeners in the south have longer, more flexible planting windows and may want to look for heat-tolerant varieties. These are noted in the variety descriptions.

To plan your garden, the most important piece of information you need to know is your last spring frost date and first fall frost date. Ask an experienced gardener in your neighborhood, or inquire at a local plant nursery. You can also contact your local Cooperative Extension office. Our “Grow Guides” for each crop provide detailed information on when to plant based on your frost dates.