Seed Library

What is a Seed Library?

A Seed Library is a self-perpetuating collection of seeds donated and shared by members of our community. Hosted at all library branches, seeds are available free of charge to any library patron. You don't need a library card to use the seed library, but we'll be happy to make one for you.

The idea is simple: you borrow from a selection of vegetable and flower seeds at any time during the year, plant them in your garden, and watch them grow. When it’s time to harvest, let a plant or two go to seed, and bring some of the seeds back to the library for other gardeners to enjoy.

Seed Starting Tips

Know your seeds - some should be started indoors 6 – 8 weeks before planting outside (peppers), some should be directly sown outside (beans).
Before planting your seeds, pre-soak in a damp paper towel for 24 hours.
Pre-moisten soil and plant the seeds in containers that allow for air flow and drainage.
Plant the seed at a depth approximately 3 times the length of the seed. Label each container to keep track of which plants are which.
Once planted, keep seeds warm and humid to encourage germination, between 19 – 24 degrees Celsius. To do this, cover with a clear lid or plastic wrap. Remember that seeds don’t need a lot of light until they have sprouted.
Once your seeds have sprouted, keep them in a sunny place. You may want to consider using a grow light.
Remove the lid or covering once seeds have sprouted. Keep soil moist and fertilize weekly.
Check for overcrowding. If you have planted multiple seeds in the same pot, pull weaker/smaller sprouts to give the larger/stronger sprouts room to grow.
‘Pot up’ if necessary – if your seedling is outgrowing its container before it is time to plant outside, you may want to pot it up into a slightly larger container.
‘Harden off’ your plant - up to a week before you plant outside, let your seedlings sit outside in a sunny spot for a few hours each day so it gets used to outside conditions.
Plant outside after the threat of frost has passed, usually after Victoria Day weekend.

Seed Saving Tips

Seeds must be fully dry before storage to prevent the seeds from breaking down and failing to germinate the following year.
Store seeds in a dark, cool, and dry place like the back of the fridge over winter in envelopes. A special tip is to place a silica packet with them to absorb any moisture.
You can save seeds from heirloom or non-hybrid plants. It is not recommended to save seeds from hybrids or GMOs. Hybrid sees may result in weak and unhealthy plants due to their mixed parentage.
Label the seed packets preferably in paper envelopes with the plant's name, season harvested, best growing conditions, and any other relevant information available.
For guides on saving seeds, visit Southern Ontario Seed Saver or explore the large selection of gardening guides and books in the library's catalogue.