Where to Buy Garden Seeds Online in Canada
Want to buy your garden seed from Canadian farmers? Here are some online seed companies I like to buy from while living in western Canada!
I grew up in the pre-internet days, before folks bought their seeds online.
Back then, you purchased seeds through mail order and a cheque, or even through a phone call. If you weren't keen to buy directly from a seed company, your local hardware store was another wonderful resource for picking up your seed packets.
In those days, it seemed like seed catalogs were the way to go. Most gardeners would receive several in the mail in early spring.
I know our family did.
In the 90's I was just a little girl, but I would eagerly wait for those colorful spring seed catalogs to arrive in the mail.
Our mailman was quite grouchy, so my siblings and I would always wait until after he delivered the post, then we would race barefoot up our gravel driveway to see who got the mail first!
Funny story: we would try to cheer our grumpy mailman by leaving home baked cookies in the mailbox, but his attitude didn't sweeten any. One time, he slammed our mailbox door so hard, he knocked the entire thing over! The post was rotten at the bottom, and I can still hear my mom laughing yet!
Curling up on the window bench seat in our farmhouse kitchen, I would read every single description in those seed catalogs. A few varieties weren't enough; I wanted to grow everything!
Sometimes we would place a custom order. Other times, there was so much seed left over, we would fill in the gaps with a few packets of new seed from our local hardware store.
As an adult gardener today, I see a lot of value in placing custom orders.
You can choose varieties according to your garden soil, length of your growing season and even your budget.
With the age of the internet, it's easy to put what you want in your (virtual) cart, purchase it and Canada Post will see that your seeds safely arrives in your mailbox.
Tips for Choosing the Best Seed Company
There really isn't a "best" seed company out there. Everyone values something different, and there are lots of options to choose from.
I'm going to share my top 3 choices, but I'd love to hear about your favorite Canadian company in the comment section below.
As far as choosing a company goes, here are a few tips that will help you make the right choice for your garden and climate.
- Know the length of your average growing season, so you can buy from companies with seed varieties that will mature before your fall frost falls (I help you find the length of your growing season in my article here: How to Choose Seeds for Your Climate).
- Track which vegetable varieties grow well in your climate and soil, and stick with companies who sell that particular strain.
- Decide if you want to try seed saving (if so, you'll need to buy open pollinated or heirloom seeds), or if you're happy buying new seeds every year.
- If money is tight, keep an eye on the amount of seed in each packet. Some companies sell in small quantities, while others will sell large packets with 4x the amount of seed at the same price (get my best tips for saving money on garden seeds here).
And now, let's talk about where to buy garden seeds online in Canada.
These are currently my favorite seed companies!
Heritage Harvest Seeds
Heritage Harvest Seed is my favorite seed company! Located in southern Manitoba, they have a collection of incredible seeds that are all heirloom, making them the #1 choice for the home gardener who is also a seed saver.
I'm not fastidious about it, but whenever I have time, I like to save my own seed. It helps cut back on the costs of growing food and over time, plants acclimate to your specific climate and are heartier for it.
On the Heritage Harvest website, the owners take time to share some of the stories behind their seeds. I so enjoy reading about the history behind each one.
It's incredible to think that the heirloom varieties I grow now are the exact strain that other women used to feed their families, generations prior.
Heritage Harvest seed has a good selection of:
- Vegetable seeds
- Herb seeds
- Flower seeds (annual and perennial)
- Grains
West Coast Seeds
This incredible seed company is located on the west coast of British Columbia. I think it's safe to say that West Coast Seeds has the largest selection and most reasonable prices in western Canada, with a wide variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers to choose from.
Unlike some companies, they sell a variety of seed types that include:
- Heirloom seeds
- Hybrid seeds
- Open pollinated
- Organic seeds
Don't know what these seed labels mean? Check out my article: Understanding Garden Seeds: GMO, Organic, Heirloom & more
I usually place my order online, but I have spent many a winter day flipping through the pages of their beautiful seed catalogue, dreaming about what I'm going to grow in the spring!
You should know that West Coast Seed isn't limited to just seeds.
You can also get:
- Asparagus crowns
- Seed potatoes
- Onion sets
- Shallot sets
- Garlic seed
- And more!
Disclaimer: because I use this company so much, I recently became an affiliate for West Coast Seeds. If you make a purchase through my link, I'll receive a small commission. Thank you!
McKenzie Seeds
I've only bought online from McKenzie Seeds a few times. This is primarily because our local garden centre and hardware store carries a lot of their supplies, so I can buy their seed locally.
When I can, I prefer to save on shipping by buying directly from someone who has already gone through the hassle for me! 😉
This company has a great online website with a good selection of:
- flower bulbs
- flower seeds
- herbs
- garlic, onion & shallot sets
- potato sets
- vegetable seeds
Where to Buy in Eastern Canada
I've never lived in eastern Canada, or bought from seed companies who are on the east coast.
Based on the quick google search I did, it's evident that there are lots of small, seed companies who are happy to fill online orders!
But because I can't give an honest opinion or review on any of them, I'll just leave my easterners with this. If you're wondering where to buy garden seeds online in Canada, all 3 "western" companies I mentioned do ship Canada wide!
So if you can't find a company near you, one of these 3 could be a great option for you.
Cost of Shipping in Canada
Shipping costs vary according to seed company.
For most, unless you spend a minimum of $99, free shipping via Canada Post usually isn't an option. But don't worry! Seeds are light, and the cost of shipping is usually quite reasonable.
It's the onion sets, garlic seed or potato sets that can be more expensive, on account of the size and weight.
Can't Find a Variety You Want to Try?
I prefer to buy seed from Canadian companies whenever I can. The plants will be better acclimated to our cooler temperatures and shorter summers, and I like supporting our local farmers.
That being said, there are times when I can't find a specific variety of vegetable in Canada.
I don't have any qualms about turning to the United States for this seed (I did grow up there, after all!) and sometimes place an order with Baker Creek Heirloom Seed.
They ship to Canada, but you will have to pay duties and taxes on your purchase.
If you have a favorite Canadian seed company, I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
