Seeds might seem like a small expense, but any seasoned gardener will tell you—they add up fast. Whether you’re planting vegetables, herbs, or colorful blooms, buying multiple seed varieties can quickly turn into a surprisingly pricey shopping trip. Fortunately, you don’t need to drain your wallet to grow a thriving garden. With a little know-how and resourcefulness, you can get your hands on a wide range of seeds at little to no cost. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that the government and other public programs offer free seeds—if you know where to look.
Getting Free Seeds From the Government
The first place to go to get free seeds is the USDA.
The U.S. National Plant Germplasm System is a website managed by the USDA. It allows users to search for and order seeds. Type in ‘kale,’ for example, and you’ll see a slew of varieties. Available seed varieties will have a shopping cart icon to the right.
But hold on. There’s some important fine print on the website that’s worth mentioning:
NPGS germplasm is not available for individual, home, or community gardening, or for home schooling or K-12 public or private school projects.
The NPGS distributes plant germplasm to professional plant breeders and other career research scientists. Requests from producers will be considered individually, when NPGS germplasm is not readily available from commercial sources. Requests for educational purposes are usually considered only from college/university faculty and students when NPGS material is integral to the project. Educational requests submitted by students should be accompanied by an endorsement from a sponsoring faculty. Any requestor may be required to provide additional information about their order, including a detailed explanation of intended purpose and proof of affiliation or professional status. Please view the short video on the NPGS for more details.
So, what they don’t want is you ordering the seeds and denying heirloom seed and commercial seed sellers potential business.
That said, the USDA encourages educators, scientists, seed savers, and public gardens to use the service. Like the USDA, I encourage home gardeners to find other ways to source seeds. Supporting heirloom seed sellers, for instance, is an important way to encourage seed saving and biodiversity.
Other Ways to Get Free Seeds
Here are a few ways to source seeds for free (or cheap):
- Online gardening forums and Facebook groups. Lots of home gardeners are eager to share or trade seeds with like-minded people. Want to get your hands on a certain variety? Ask the people in a Facebook gardening group. You may be surprised at how many people answer your request.
- Etsy. There are many seed sellers on Etsy that offer seeds for a steal. You might have to take some time to browse through tons of listings, but eventually, you’ll find something that fits your needs.
- Promotions. Many towns offer free plant material around Arbor Day or other environment-related holidays or events. Promotional materials may include live plants and seeds.
- Friends and family. Ask people that you know whether they have any seeds to spare. I often have a lot of excess seed each year, and I love giving it away to eager gardeners—especially people who are new to the hobby.
- Ask for them as gifts. Is your birthday coming up? Ask people to give you seeds instead of other junk you don’t need! It’s an inexpensive but very thoughtful gift for a gardener.
- Seed swaps. Spring is usually the time when seed swap events are popping up all over the place. Because of the pandemic, it’ll be harder to find in-person events where you can source cheap or free seeds, but some organizations are going virtual and carrying on the yearly tradition anyhow.
- Save your own seeds. What better way to save money on seeds than to save your own? It’s a rewarding process that requires a bit of know-how, but if you can master seed saving, you’ll always have stock on hand and ready to go.
Growing a Garden Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune
While getting free seeds from the government might sound like the ultimate gardening hack, it’s clear that the USDA’s offerings are better suited for researchers and educators than home growers. Still, that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. With a little creativity and community connection, you can fill your garden beds without emptying your wallet. Whether you’re swapping seeds with fellow gardeners, attending local giveaways, or saving seeds from last season, affordable gardening is well within reach. Your green thumb doesn’t need a gold budget—just some resourcefulness and a little dirt under your nails.
Readers, do you have any ideas for getting free or inexpensive seeds? If so, leave a comment below.
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