How to Select Organic Seeds

1). Make a list of the types of plants you want to buy seeds for. Choose from vegetables, herbs, and flowering annuals and perennials. As you look for seeds, you can become more specific as to the exact variety of the seed you're looking for, such as narrowing your need for cucumber seeds to the Suyo Long or Fanfare varieties based on preference and availability.
2). Check with your local nursery or greenhouse to see whether it collects and packages its own organic seeds or whether it sells a manufactured organic seed. You may also find a select brand or two of organic seeds for sale in large garden centers often provided by Burpee or Ferry~Morse.
3). Search for organic seeds available online if you don't have organic seeds available in your town or you want more variety of plants than your local stores offer. Websites such as Seed Saver's Exchange and Heirloom Seeds (see Resources) specialize in heirloom organic seeds, so every plant listed in their catalogs will be an option for buying.
4). Opt to select seeds that are listed as "open pollinated" if possible, which means nature (wind, bees, etc.) has pollinated the parent plants and made pure seeds. These pure seeds, as opposed to hybrids, will produce a plant like the parent, which will make viable seeds for home collection.
5). Purchase the quantity of seeds you need for your property. Although seeds are cheaper in larger quantities, you want to be sure you have a use for all of those seeds within the next five years at the latest. Typically, flower seeds are viable for longer and can be bought in larger quantities while fewer seeds should be purchased for vegetables so that you can ensure fresh seeds every few years rather than keeping them for a long time.
6). Inspect your seeds when they arrive, and look for signs of molding or rot or crushed seeds that have been broken. Contact the store or website where you purchased your seeds to negotiate a return if the seeds are unfit for planting.
7). Store your seed packets in a cool, dry environment once you have purchased them, or plant right away following the directions on the packaging for depth and spacing for the type of plant you want to grow.