We are passionate about our role as seed stewards, and that passion shines through in every facet of our business. We sell only non-GMO and open-pollinated seeds, specializing in rare, heirloom, and fantastic new varieties. We grow much of the seed we sell on our Certified Organic farm in New York’s Hudson Valley. Our Art Packs set us apart in the seed industry, each one utterly unique and designed by a different artist, each one a celebration of the diverse beauty of the plant world. Inside each Art Pack is the story of the seed as well as detailed growing instructions, plant preferences, and more seedy facts. If you have never seen inside an Art Pack, take a moment to gently open one up and explore! 

Open-pollinated refers to varieties that are pollinated by natural means (wind, insects, birds, etc). The offspring remain true-to-type over many generations, meaning that when you save and plant seed from an open-pollinated variety, the plant that grows should resemble the former generation both in characteristics and yield.

Generally speaking, the opposite of an open-pollinated variety is a hybrid. Most people do not save seeds from hybrid varieties because the offspring are unlikely to look, taste, or yield the same as the parent. Having started out in 2008 as a community seed library, we remain committed to the history and ethos of seed-saving, and sell only open-pollinated varieties. 

An heirloom is an open-pollinated variety that is recognized and cherished by a community of growers. There are differences of opinion about how old a variety needs to be to be considered heirloom, but most people would agree that any variety that has been around for 50 years or more would qualify.

All of our seed offerings are open-pollinated, but not all would be considered “heirloom.” Some are newer varieties bred by great contemporary plant breeders for adaptability, resistance to disease and pests, remarkable beauty and/or flavor. As seed stewards, we see our role as double: to preserve historic heirlooms, and to foster these wonderful new varieties for future generations. We call these our “heirlooms of tomorrow.” 

The majority (though not all) of our offerings are Certified Organic, including all of the varieties we grow ourselves. Varieties that are organic will say so below the name of the variety on the product web page. It's also marked on our seed packs.

As a very general rule of thumb, most major vegetable crop seeds will remain viable for 3-5 years, and in some cases as long as 10 years. Some exceptions include alliums, parsnips, and spinach, which may only last 1 or 2 years. Others like amaranth are said to last up to 40 years! For flowers, most annuals typically last 1-3 years. Perennials tend to last 2-4 years. These estimates depend on the way seeds are stored. The ideal conditions for saving seeds is in a cold (but not freezing), dry, dark place. To learn more, check out this blog post.

Different varieties of seed need different conditions to germinate. For some (say a sunflower), the answer is as simple as planting the seed at the appropriate depth in prepared soil at the right time of year. For others (like Milkweed), the needs are more complex, as some varieties require prolonged exposure to cold to germinate, or need to be soaked or prepared prior to planting. The growing instructions on each product page indicate the number of seeds, number of days from germination to maturity, and whether the seeds should be sown indoors or directly into the ground. This information is also on every seed pack, and should be followed closely for best results.

Probably not! Different varieties have very different needs for germinating and growing happily. In temperate zones and colder, most varieties can be planted on or around your last frost date, but many of those can also be succession-sown throughout the season. (Most herbs, Asian greens and other greens, lettuce, root vegetables, beans, brassicas, and cucumbers fall into this category.) The fall garden can be nearly as lush as the summer, since many varieties do well up to last frost (especially Kale, Spinach, Turnips, Mache) and will continue well into winter with a little protection. Even in winter there is sowing to be done, since some of our favorite varieties need cold to germinate (like Milkweed and Poppies). Finally, if you have a window with enough light, many herbs and greens will grow happily inside at any time of year!

Our Pollinator Petal Patch and Good Bug Blooms Mix are great choices, but there are many others. Lacy Phacelia is also known as Bee's Friend; Milkweed is famous for being the go-to habitat for endangered Monarch Butterflies; and our Midnight Garden Mix can also help attract many of the nighttime pollinators we rarely see or think of! Marigolds and Borage make excellent companion plants in the vegetable garden, but most flowers (zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, etc) will bring bees and other beneficial insects to your yard. Birds can also make great pollinators, so our For the Birds Mix is another option. Peruse all of our pollinator attracting varieties, or grow your own flower meadow with our Wildflower Seed Shakers!

So many! Tiny Tim Tomato, Summer Sunrise Tomato, Tom Thumb Pea, Little Gem Lettuce, Teddy Bear Sunflower, Blue Jade Sweet Corn, and Cornell's Bush Delicata are all dwarf varieties that will do well in containers or small spaces. Most of our lettuces and greens will also thrive that way, and nearly all of our herbs. Most of the flowers can be planted in an appropriately-sized container (excluding all the sunflowers except Teddy Bear), but the nasturtiums and Love-in-a-Mist have the most compact habit.  Learn all about container gardening with this blog post. 

The best varieties for growing indoors are the herbs (excluding a few varieties like Mammoth Long Island Dill and Stinging Nettle) and lettuces, especially the mixes, which are designed to be harvested early. With enough light, warmth, and space, you may also be able to keep some of the container varieties alive indoors. 

Not during the majority of the year. We primarily sell seeds, and, during certain seasons, bulbs and tubers. However, we do have a seedling sale every year in May. We plan on expanding out seedling offerings starting next year when we put our roots down at our new property in Accord, NY. Our seedling sale is geared towards local customers; we are unable to ship any seedlings. Sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of the page and be the first to hear about these and our other great events!

Our website can! On each variety detail page, you'll find plenty of information about starting the seed, transplanting the seedling (if applicable), growing the plant on, and harvesting your crop. Unfortunately, due to limited resources, we are unable to provide specific, comprehensive garden-planning help. Two books we recommend to newbie growers are A Way to Garden by Margaret Roach, and The New Organic Grower by Eliot Coleman. Plus, our blog has ten years-worth of gardening advice from our seedy staff.

You can indeed! Our wholesale program allows you to sell our Art Packs,  Seed Shakers, gift boxes, notecards, and calendars in your store, museum, garden center, gift shop, or other retail space.  If you're interested, email wholesale@hudsonvalleyseed.com for information and access to our wholesale website. 

Yes! The shop is now open 6 days a week. Our hours are Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday from 10am-4pm. We are closed Sundays and all major Holidays.  Come by and browse our curated selection of seeds, tools, fine art, and unique gifts.

If you'd like to order for local pick-up, choose the "pick up" option in our online checkout and we will email you when your order is ready. We're located at 4737 Route 209, Accord, NY 12404. Customer service can be reached at 845-204-8769.

In the past, we have enjoyed hosting tours and other fun events on our farm. However, we are currently unable to do so. We hope to have the opportunity to invite you to the farm in the near future, but in the meantime, we ask that you do not stop by the farm unannounced. Sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of the page and be the first to hear about all of our events!

We do not ship outside of the U.S. and Canada at this time. We ship most of our seeds and non-living items to Canada via USPS International Mail.

Philadelphia Flower Show Discount - $5 off orders of $40 or more.  This discount excludes any purchase of seasonal and tuber items, such as seed potatoes and dahlia tubers.

Your Cart is About to Expire Discount - This discount is a one time code and can only be used once per customer per year.  If you have used this discount in the past you will not be able to use the discount again. 

We offer a variety of shipping methods which can be chosen at checkout. Please allow two to four business days for order processing before your order will ship via your chosen method. Orders are shipped Monday through Friday only, with the exception of holidays. We do not ship on weekends.

You can select the following shipping methods:
USPS: First Class Mail, Priority Mail
UPS: Ground, UPS 3 Day Select, UPS 2nd Day Air and UPS Next Day Air

You may also opt for In-Store Pickup.

Once your order has shipped you will receive an email from HVSC with the tracking number and estimated arrival date. HVSC is not responsible for any shipping delays once an order has been handed off to your chosen carrier.

If you choose an expedited shipping method, please call or email us at mail@hudsonvalleyseed.com to verify your shipping method.

We do not ship outside of the U.S. and Canada at this time. We ship most of our seeds and non-living items to Canada via USPS International Mail. 

Shipping to Canada
We have many customers in Canada and successfully ship many packages across the border every day. We always recommend checking with CIFA regarding items you are ordering, particularly if you are placing a large order. Generally, quantities of small vegetable seeds (lettuce, tomato, kale) weighing less than 500g (seed weight not package weight), and large seeds (bean, corn, squash) weighing less than 1kg meet the 'small lot' import exemption and require no additional documentation. However, for very large orders, or in the case of certain vegetable types sent to certain provinces (for example, corn to BC), a Phytosanitary Certificate may be required. While these situations are rare, we advise checking CIFA for regulatory information before placing your order, as at this time we cannot provide a phytosanitary certificate.

*Corn shipments to British Columbia are prohibited. There are no restrictions on corn to other provinces.

*We are unable to meet requests for phytosanitary certificates.

*We strongly advise shipping to Canada via USPS International Mail; you will be able to select this option at checkout. Shipments sent via UPS often incur high import broker fees that are out of our control.

*We do our best to provide all of the required documentation and labeling on packages sent to Canada to provide the greatest relief to Canadian customers from import tariffs. Because most of our seeds are produced in North America and most of our products are manufactured here, most items in our catalog are exempt from duties. However, additional taxes such as GST may be assessed on arrival. The payment of these fees is the responsibility of the recipient. The Canada Revenue Agency and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency can provide you with the latest information.

*We do not ship any vegetative materials such as tubers, bulbs, seedlings, or trees to any international destinations, including Canada.

Shipping to International Locations Other Than Canada
Due to increasingly stringent laws surrounding the import of even small quantities of seed to many countries, in particular to the EU countries, we are unable to ship seed or plant orders to countries other than the US and Canada. We apologize for any inconvenience.
 We do continue to make international shipments of items in our catalog that are not seeds or plants. All orders outside of the U.S and Canada ship at your own risk. We do not guarantee shipments to other countries, and will not refund or reship missing international packages. If duties or taxes apply, you will be contacted by your customs office when the package arrives in your country. Any duties, taxes, or importation fees relating to shipping internationally are the responsibility of the customer and not Hudson Valley Seed Company.

Please be advised that we are unable to ship large or bulky items to a PO Box. If you purchase Hoops, or other large items, please provide an alternative mailing address.

UPS is not able to deliver to a PO Box. If you would like your order to be delivered to your PO Box, please select an option from the USPS at checkout.

We offer a range of shipping methods for you to choose from. All shipping fees are based on the weight and dimensions of your package, as well as the location. The shipping fee quoted will include all portions of your order.

Free Shipping on Seed Orders over $40
We are now offering free standard shipping to our customers! All *seed pack* orders over $40 will automatically qualify for free shipping at check out. Note that this applies to seed *packs* only; this promotion excludes Seed Shakers and Gift Boxes, as well as cover crop seeds due to their excessive weight. If you have completed a purchase with $40 worth of seed packs but are still seeing shipping charges, please be advised that those shipping charges exclude the seed packs in your order and are only the charges for the non-seed pack items in your cart.

Free Shipping on all orders over $150
All orders—including both seed and non-seed products—that total over $150 will automatically qualify for free shipping at check out.
Exclusions: Wire hoops, row cover, compost, soil/seed starting medium, garlic, shallots, fall-planted bulbs, potatoes, sunchokes, dahlia tubers and other live plant items. These items are either time sensitive and require special shipping (ie. live plant material) or are heavy and bulky items.

Free Shipping is only available for domestic orders shipping to the lower 48 states. Orders shipping to Canada, Alaska and Hawaii are excluded from this promotion.

 Orders to PO Boxes outside the Northeast are excluded from this promotion. We will contact you for updated information if you enter a PO Box as an address.

If you live locally it's absolutely possible to forgo the shipping expenses and pick up your order in person. At checkout, simply select 'Pick Up' under the delivery options. Your order will usually be ready in 2-4 days and we'll email you when it's ready.

Orders will be available to pick up for 30 days. All fully completed orders (ie: seeds + tubers) left longer than 30 days will be restocked.

*Please note that packages can only be picked up during our operating hours.

Current pick-up hours:
Monday through Friday 9AM until 5PM; Saturday 10AM until 4PM.

If your order contains any of our seasonal items (list below), those items will be shipped in accordance with spring/fall planting dates based on your location.

If you purchase seeds and a seasonal item at the same time, you will receive two shipments, a prompt shipment of any non-seasonal items, followed by a shipment of your seasonal items on or after the date listed on the shipping details section for the seasonal item you are ordering.

If there are multiple ship dates, the shipping quote you will receive will cover these multiple shipments.

Garlic, Shallots - Start shipping mid-late September.

Fall Bulbs - Start shipping mid-late October.

Dahlia Tubers, Potatoes, Sunchokes - Start shipping mid April.

Seedling Sale (live plants) - Available for in-person pick-up only. Our seedling sale is held each spring. Please sign up for our newsletter to receive alerts.

If you are a farmer or other Tax Exempt entity looking to purchase items from our website and regular inventory without sales tax, please email us at mail@hudsonvalleyseed.com before your purchase. Please include your Business Name, address and attach your Tax Exempt form. We will happy to assist you in completing your tax-exempt purchase. Please note that we are unable to remove your sales tax after your purchase is completed, so please contact before completing your purchase to ensure a smooth transaction.

Lost in Transit:
If you suspect your package has been lost in transit, please contact us immediately. If your order is shown as delivered, our policy is to wait seven days from time of delivery. Frequently the USPS will mark packages as "Delivered" when loading their trucks and not at the actual time of delivery. If you do not receive your package after that time frame, please contact customer service and we will either send you a replacement package immediately, or refund your order.

Suspected Stolen:
If you suspect that your order has been stolen or tampered with, please file a claim with the carrier. You may also need to file a police report depending on the order total. After your claim has been filed, please contact us with your claim number and we will provide any necessary supporting documents. HVSC is not responsible for any packages that have a proof of delivery. Business, Renters and Home Owners Insurance Policies likely cover indemnity.

Damage:
If your package arrives damaged, please contact us via email including pictures. For orders totaling $50 or more, we require that the purchaser file a claim with the carrier before we reship the order. Once the claim has been filed, HVSC will send out a replacement.

Please reach out to us via email at mail@hudsonvalleyseed.com or by phone (845) 204-8769.

Please inspect your package upon receipt and report any missing or damaged items within to us within 30 days at mail@hudsonvallyseed.com or 845-204-8769. We will gladly correct any mistakes we’ve made as quickly as we can. Defective, incorrect or missing items reported outside of the 30-day window will not be replaced.

Please let us know if you have growing and/or germination issues. We are always happy to help when we can. We test all of our seeds for germination twice each year and will do our best to provide solutions.

 Email us at mail@hudsonvalleyseed.com or call us at 845-204-8769.

If you have placed an order of Dahlias, Potatoes, Garlic, Shallots, Sunchokes, Spring or Fall-Planted Bulbs or live Seedlings, you may cancel your order within 7 days of purchase, granted that the order has not entered the fulfillment process.

Any seasonal items cancelled after the 7 day window will incur a 20% restock fee, which will be deducted from your refund. All live plant products, which include seedlings, dahlias, potatoes, sunchokes, garlic, shallots, and bare root trees, are non-returnable.

If you have experienced a quality issue with your seasonal item, please contact us within 7 days of receipt.

Yes, unopened, undamaged, non-seasonal items can be returned to us within 30 days of purchase for a full refund. Live plant and seasonal items such as tubers, bulbs, potatoes, garlic, etc. are non-returnable. When returning non-damaged goods, the buyer is responsible for shipping charges. We advise that customers returning goods select a shipping method that provides a tracking number in order to verify receipt of the goods to our office. Cash refunds are not available for products ordered via our website. Refunds will be made to the payment card used to place the original order. Refunds are made within three business days of receipt of returned goods at our office.

To begin the return process, please contact us to make arrangements before you send your items back. We will promptly advise you of the shipping address and help you resolve any concerns related to your order.

If you have received damaged or spoiled items, we will be happy to replace the items, if available, or to issue a refund or store credit. Unfortunately, due to system limitations, we are unable to issue refunds for any orders over 6 months. In the event that a refund is warranted 180 days or more after purchase, we will provide you with a store credit.

Email us at mail@hudsonvalleyseed.com or call us at 845-204-8769.

Donation seeds must be used for planting. Please do not use them for fundraising or resale. Groups must be a food or gardening focused not-for-profit organization and be able to say where the seeds will be planted. This could be a school or community garden organization that will be distributing seeds to gardeners in need. After reviewing applications, we will email qualified applicants with instructions on how to receive the donation package.

Use this Registration Form to nominate a group to receive free seeds. This can be your own group or a group you'd like to see receive free seeds. Please check contact info carefully. If the email address is incorrect we won't be able to get in touch!