Where to Buy Heirloom Vegetable Seeds Online
Where can you buy heirloom vegetable seeds online? You can buy them here, at Madeline's. Our Seeds & Bulbs collection carries heirloom, non-GMO vegetable seeds, sold as themed collections and single-crop packs so you can start a whole garden or fill one gap. Because Madeline's is a marketplace, you can order seeds together with garden supplies in one cart.
Heirloom seeds are open-pollinated varieties passed down over generations, which means you can save seed from your harvest and grow the same plant again next year. That is different from hybrid (F1) seed, which does not grow true from saved seed. Most of the picks below come from Survival Garden Seeds, which packs heirloom, non-GMO seed in resealable, long-storage packets. All picks are real and in stock.
Heirloom seeds you can order right now
- Family Home Garden Heirloom Seed Kit, 30 Varieties ($29.99): Thirty non-GMO vegetable and herb varieties in one kit. The simplest way to start a full home garden from scratch.
- 20-Variety Vegetable Garden Starter Seed Collection ($19.98): Twenty beginner-friendly heirloom vegetables. A good first garden if thirty feels like a lot.
- Italian Heirloom Vegetable Seed Collection ($11.98): Roma tomato, Marconi pepper, lacinato kale, eggplant, and more, chosen for classic Italian cooking.
- 12-Variety Heirloom Pepper Seed Collection ($13.98): A dozen hot and sweet peppers for a salsa or container garden.
- Heirloom Bell Pepper Seed Collection, 5 Colors ($8.98): Five sweet bell peppers in different colors. An easy single-crop pack for beginners.
- 5-Variety Heirloom Cabbage Seed Collection ($8.98): Green, red, and Napa cabbages for spring and fall planting.
- Heirloom Melon Seed Collection, 6 Varieties ($9.99): Watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew for a summer garden.
- Rare Exotic Vegetable and Fruit Seed Collection ($11.98): Romanesco broccoli, watermelon radish, lemon cucumber, and more for gardeners who want something unusual.
- Complete Heirloom Survival Garden Seed Kit, 100 Packets ($99.99): One hundred non-GMO packets for a large food garden or a seed vault. The most complete option.
Browse the full range in the Seeds & Bulbs collection, or shop the maker directly at Survival Garden Seeds.
How to choose heirloom seeds
- Start with a collection, not single packets. A 20 or 30 variety kit gives a new gardener a balanced mix without having to plan the whole garden at once.
- Match the seeds to your season and space. Peppers, melons, and tomatoes want warm summer weather, while cabbage and kale prefer the cooler ends of the season. Container gardeners can lean on the pepper and rare-vegetable packs.
- Check the days to maturity. Short-season gardeners should favor varieties that mature quickly so the crop finishes before frost.
- Heirloom means you can save seed. Because these are open-pollinated, you can save seed from your best plants and grow them again next year.
- For a gift, a starter kit works well. A themed seed collection is a practical gift for a new gardener or a new homeowner.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to buy heirloom vegetable seeds online?
A curated marketplace like Madeline's is a practical option, because it gathers heirloom, non-GMO seed from independent makers so you can shop collections and single crops and order together with garden supplies. The Seeds & Bulbs collection includes vegetable, herb, and flower seed.
What are heirloom seeds?
Heirloom seeds are open-pollinated varieties that have been grown and saved over many generations. Because they are open-pollinated rather than hybrid, you can save seed from your harvest and grow the same variety again the next year.
Are heirloom seeds the same as non-GMO or organic?
Heirloom seeds are non-GMO by definition, since they are traditional open-pollinated varieties. Organic is a separate certification about how the seed is grown. A seed can be heirloom and non-GMO without being certified organic.
How long do vegetable seeds stay good?
Most vegetable seeds stay viable for several years when stored cool, dark, and dry. Survival Garden Seeds packs seed in resealable packets made for longer storage. Germination rates slowly decline over time, so plant older seed a little more thickly.
Which heirloom seeds are best for a beginner?
Beginners do well with a starter collection plus a few forgiving single crops like bell peppers, kale, and cabbage. See our guide to the best beginner vegetable seeds for a first garden.