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By Lynn Calder, Orange County Master Gardener volunteer
Visit any garden center or nursery — and even many grocery stores — and you’ll notice racks of tempting seeds for growing a variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers, often in beautiful packaging and for only a few dollars a pack. Catalog and online companies offer hundreds of seed options for organic, heirloom, unusual and hard-to-find plants.
Packages of seeds. (Photo by Lynn Calder.)
Author Barbara Kingsolver describes a favorite winter activity this way: “I have seen women looking at jewelry ads with a misty eye and one hand resting on the heart, and I only know what they’re feeling because that’s how I read the seed catalogs in January.” (Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life).
Planting seeds is an act of hope and anticipation, and it feels like magic when plants emerge from seeds you have sown yourself!
Through our Community Seed Library, Orange County Master Gardener volunteers offer you another way to experience the delight of planting seeds — free of charge.
What is a seed library?
The Orange County Master Gardeners launched the Community Seed Library to encourage new gardeners to start planting, to inspire experienced gardeners to grow a wider variety of plants and to supply community gardens, churches, schools and local organizations with seeds.
We distribute free seeds to improve the community’s sources of healthy and affordable food and to provide more options for planting habitat for pollinators. Master Gardener volunteers offer training on seed starting, seed saving, seasonal gardening topics and more. The Seed Library has distributed over 30,000 packets of seeds to individuals and local organizations in the last two years.
Community Seed Library at PlantFest Oct. 8, 2022 (Photo by Lynn Calder.)
How do you “borrow” seeds?
Master Gardeners distribute seeds in several ways. Volunteers have seeds on hand and provide information on seed starting and seed saving at Master Gardener events such as the monthly Dig Deeper talks, offered on most third Saturdays of the month at the Orange County Public Library in Hillsborough. Dig Deeper lectures are free and open to gardeners at all levels of experience. Next spring, seeds and information will be offered at the Eno River and Carrboro farmers markets and seeds will be available as supply allows in the lobby of the Orange County Extension Office (1070 US 70 West in Hillsborough, across from DMV).
Please take only what you plan to use and, unless indicated otherwise, take no more than three packages. Community gardens, school, church and other organization gardens may request a larger amount or specific type of seeds; Master Gardeners will try to partner with as many organizations as their seed supply allows.
How do you “return” seeds?
You can return seeds at any time by donating excess seeds in commercial packaging (new or open packs) or seeds that you have saved from your own garden plants. Financial contributions are also appreciated to purchase seed packaging material like seed envelopes and information labels.
Community Seed Library at PlantFest Oct. 8, 2022 (Photo by Lynn Calder.)
Where do the seeds come from?
Master Gardeners are grateful for the generous donation of seeds from local and regional sources. Seeds have been donated by Southern States Cooperative (Carrboro), Weaver Street Market (Hillsborough), Burpee, Seed Savers Exchange, Cherokee Seeds, Botanical Interests, Baker Creek, Orange County Partnership for Young Children, Box Turtle Bakery, Master Gardener volunteers, local growers and community residents. In 2022, Orange County Master Gardeners were awarded a grant through the NC Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Association to support and further expand the Community Seed Library program.
Checking seed germination
As seeds offered through the Seed Library are donated, they may be a year or two old. The seed envelope indicates the year they were packaged. Proper seed storage is essential to their success in your garden; seeds should be stored out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry place (around 40 degrees F is best). Unfortunately, we do not always know how the seeds were stored before we received them.
A simple way to help you determine whether seeds are viable and will germinate is to conduct a germination test. Follow these steps suggested by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
Other questions about the Community Seed Library?
If you have other questions about this program, would like to request a specific amount or type of seed for your organization or would like to donate seeds, please contact Orange County Master Gardeners at ocmgardeners@gmail.com or 919-245-2061.
Seedlings sprouting
Tips for gardening with seeds
Many plants, particularly vegetables, annuals and herbs, can be grown from seed. The advantages of planting seeds, rather than purchased transplants, include lower cost and a greater variety of plant choices. Select seeds for plants that will grow under the sun, soil and moisture conditions where they will be planted.
Be sure to read the seed package! Packages provide all kinds of useful information including instructions on when and how to plant the seeds; sun, soil and water needs; whether the seeds may be sown directly outside (in the ground or a pot) or should be started indoors and later transplanted outside; how quickly the plant will sprout and bloom or be ready to harvest; expected plant size; and traits and uses of the plant itself. Don’t forget to look inside the seed package, where many companies print even more tips.
When you plant seeds, consider the conditions when the plant will sprout and mature and whether it will reach maturity before the average first fall frost date. For example, seeds for cool season plants, such as lettuces, may be planted in the fall if the plant will mature before the first frost and the mature plant will tolerate frost. Some seeds planted in late fall or early winter will stay dormant until the soil is warm enough in the spring for germination, as long as a warm spell doesn’t cause the seeds to germinate and sprout before the last frost (which would kill new seedlings).
Sowing seeds directly outdoors
Seed packages will recommend whether seeds should be sown directly outdoors or started inside and later transplanted. If you are starting the seeds outdoors, take time to prepare the garden area: start with loose, weed-free, level soil, amended with organic matter like compost. You can learn about any particular amendments your garden area needs by having the soil tested. You can also plant the seeds in a container filled with appropriate potting soil.
An easy method for sowing seeds in straight rows is to stretch a string between two stakes and make shallow ditches along the string. Follow the package instructions for planting depth and spacing. While very small seeds are planted at a quite shallow depth, all seeds need contact with the soil and enough soil sprinkled on top to keep the seeds from washing away. Err on the side of sowing more seeds, not less; you can always thin the plants after they sprout. Water the seeds gently to maintain even moisture. Place a marker where you’ve planted the seeds so you don’t forget what you planted and to remind you that sprouting seedlings aren’t weeds! If you need to thin seedlings, you can snip off the top of the extra ones rather than pulling them up to avoid disturbing the tiny roots of those remaining.
Seedlings and mixed lettuces.
Starting seeds indoors
To start seeds indoors, you’ll need a container or seed-starting tray that drains well (egg cartons also work) and a soilless seed-starting mix. The seeds need to be kept moist. Many indoor growers use fluorescent or LED grow lights to ensure seeds receive enough light to sprout. You can find supplies for starting seeds indoors, including trays, clear domes, soilless mix, and lighting systems, at garden centers. The seed package will recommend the time for starting seeds indoors for appropriate transplanting outdoors.
In weighing the advantages of starting seeds indoors against buying transplants, consider the cost of supplies, space in your home for the seedlings and time involved. Additionally, plants started indoors need to be “hardened” — exposed to the outdoors gradually — to avoid shock before planting in their outdoor container or in the ground. This Fact Sheet from Colorado State University Extension provides detailed information about starting seeds indoors or outdoors in cold frames you can build yourself.
The Orange County Master Gardener volunteers hope you will take advantage of the Community Seed Library and experience the magic of growing plants from seeds!
Additional Resources
- A Gardener’s Guide to Soil Testing. NC State Extension. (Soil test boxes are available at the Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agriculture Center in Hillsborough. From April to November, the state does not charge for analyzing soil samples.)
- Vegetable Gardening: A Beginner’s Guide, NC State Extension.
- Central North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits and Herbs. NC State Extension.
- Starting Plants From Seed for the Home Gardener, University of Georgia Extension.
- Growing Plants From Seed, Colorado State University Extension.
Check us out!
Have a plant or garden question? Email the Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers at ocmgardeners@gmail.com or phone 919-245-2061.
Subscribe to The Garden Buzz, the Orange County Master Gardeners’ monthly newsletter, for local gardening news, events and tips. And visit our website, The Orange Gardener.
Come to our Dig Deeper With Us talks at the Orange County Library! They are on the third Saturday of the month, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Upcoming talks include:
Nov. 19: Everything Tools
Jan. 21: Winter Sowing
Feb. 18: Shade Gardening
March 18: Straw Bale Gardening
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