Question 1

Where do your seeds come from?

Accepted Answer

We are excited to be able to offer you seeds from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.

Question 2

What USDA Hardiness zone will your seeds best grow?

Accepted Answer

We choose our variety selection based on what does well in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, USDA hardiness zones 5 - 10. Our seeds generally will also do pretty well in the Midwest.

If you live in the Deep South, look for pepper and tomato varieties with good disease resistance, and for southern peas that are vining types.

If you live in the Northeast, North, or Pacific NW, when looking for summer crops like tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, melons, peanuts, and okra, choose ones with early maturity dates (listed at the beginning of the variety descriptions).

In the Pacific NW, some especially heat-loving crops like cotton, okra, and roselle don’t grow well.

It is also good to ask. your neighbors what is growing well for them or ask your local gardening group. There are a lot of resources available to help you determine what seeds grow best in your region.

Question 3

How long will seeds last?

Accepted Answer

Most seed will last for 2-4 years if stored in a cool, dry, dark place. For best quality, seed needs to be fully dry before storing. Most seeds will keep best if stored in an airtight container in the freezer.

Be aware that germination goes down over time, so you may need to sow more of your older seed to get the number of plants you want.

We do recommend you invest in seed saving supplies. This will help keep your seeds for a longer period of time. Some types of seed, like onions and parsnips, lose viability much more quickly. For these it is best to buy or save new seed each year.

Question 4

How should I store my seeds?

Accepted Answer

Store your seeds in a cool, dry, dark place, and keep them protected from insects. An airtight container in the freezer works best for most seeds.

A good rule of thumb is that the sum of the temperature (in Fahrenheit) and the percent humidity should be less than 100 (the seed storage index). For example, seeds stored at 50% humidity and 40 degrees Fahrenheit will have a seed storage index of 90 (50 + 40 = 90). In general, the cooler and drier you keep your seeds (the lower the seed storage index), the longer they will last.

Question 5

How long before I can harvest?

Accepted Answer

Days to maturity is generally given at the beginning of the description for each variety.  Maturity will vary with your own location, time of planting, weather, etc.  The days to maturity shown on the seed variety packet and in the description is based upon zone 7a (Central Virginia)

For example, beans planted in June (when it’s hotter and days are longer) will mature faster than beans planted in April. For most crops we give the number of days from sowing. For certain crops, like tomatoes and broccoli, we give the number of days from transplanting to harvest.

Question 6

What does "heirloom" mean?

Accepted Answer

The most conservative definition is: any variety dating to 1940 or earlier. This is the definition we use for our catalog. After 1940, most new plant varieties were bred for large-scale chemical agriculture - for regular irrigation, chemical fertilization and use of chemical pesticides. Newer varieties are often less hardy than heirlooms. However, this is a complex question, and some folks think that "heirloom" can be applied to some post-1940 varieties. ("Heirloom," like "antique," is a term than is often adjusted over time.)

With each of our seed catalogs we have an heirloom category which tell you which seeds are heirloom. This section is continually being updated with heirloom varieties being added. If for some reason we have missed categorizing a seed in the "heirloom" filtered category, it will be stated in the description of the seed variety.

Question 7

Are your seeds organic?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the seed varieties in our online catalogs are all organic.

Question 8

Can I buy seeds in bulk?

Accepted Answer

This is something we hope to be able to offer in the future. We are a small company and we just don't have enough inventory/storage space to sell large seed orders at low bulk prices. However, please sign up for our newsletter below to stay update on what's happening around the homestead.

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