Where to order seed during the COVID lockdown?

I will probably also post in the growies forum, but wanted to try the Ontario forum for local answers.

I normally rely on Ontario Seed Company for heirloom seeds.  I had some saved seed in the cold room, but due to a leak they germinated and died over the winter.  I discovered this right around the time of the lockdown.  By the time I got to the Ontario Seed website, they were no longer taking orders because they have laid off most of their staff.

TSC carries McKenzie seeds and they also have heirloom varieties, and they seem to be still in stock for online orders, and taking 7-10 days to ship.  I don't order online much, but you are only allowed in the store for 10 minutes and looking at their website it looks like the store has been cleaned out anyway.

Does anyone have other recommendations for where to get seed in Ontario?

Hi! I added this to some other forums. No need to post again.  


I would try joining any local or regional Facebook groups and asking to buy, bum,  or trade for seeds,  if you have Facebook that is. That is how people like some friends of mine, who have extra, are sharing with others

I bought seeds from OSC before the shutdown, but also now Stokes (thorold, on) and annapolis seeds. Stokes is running slowly but sends updates and my order should arrive tomorrow.  Annapolis has yet to send me an update.

Canadian tire is doing online/phone orders and many hardware and feed stores are doing curbside pickup.

I have also been sharing excess seeds and seedlings with neighbors.

Etsy also carries seeds. Not sure if the public has realized that yet

Thanks for making this more visible, James.  I don't have Facebook, though I have looked at Kijiji and found people looking for seeds but not offering.

Catie, I will check out Stokes and Annapolis as well, thank you.  I'm worried that the stores would be cleaned out of seeds, I guess it can't hurt to call the closest Home Hardware and see if they would put some seeds together for me for curbside pickup, as long as they don't mind my list.  The location with the Ontario Seed Company at the back is closed due to COVID, but there's another one that has reduced hours currently, and I know they have at least some limited seed displays normally.

James Landreth wrote:Etsy also carries seeds. Not sure if the public has realized that yet

A lot of Etsy seed sellers are going on breaks now too. Still lot of variety. If using Etsy, make sure you check where the seller / shop is located. Seeds might be confiscated at customs or local state officials might seize plants. (Especially potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries, anything commercially grown in US-Canada - most places have restrictions). They might even go for other plants that could be "infected" due to the introduction. WoodlandCreationz seems to sell some interesting or rare tomatoes. All my seed from that shop germinated.

Seedwise.com might be another option. It's like Etsy, but dedicated to seeds only. Some of the sellers are in Canada.

here are some sources by snail mail or online that ive found
not in any particular order

seed savers exchange
Johnnys selected seeds
baker creek heirloom seeds
high mowing organic seeds
territorial seed company
Southern exposure seed exchange
Harris organic seeds

I got seeds today from Baker Creek.

I've ordered from https://www.terraedibles.ca/ and https://uharvest.ca/shop/ as well as https://www.heritageharvestseed.com/

Was happy with all of them.

We have bought a few odds and ends from Ebay.

Try Yoders out of Ohio.  They have regular and organic seeds shown in their catalogue  Also seed potatoes and onions but you have to search for them.  You will have to mail in a check with your order form.

I love Johnny Seeds (amazing bulk seed prices! Get like 10x as much for only $2 more).

However, Johnny Seeds is stopping all seed shipments, except commercial farmers, for a week, to catch up on orders.

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds is also great.

Both have an excellent selection of heirloom seeds of various vegetables.

I usually get my seeds from heritage harvest seed (manitoba) or from Greta's Organics (ontario). I did have orders in from both companies but they temporarily closed to catch up with the huge surge in demand. I did receive my heritage harvest order end of last week, and  they are now taking i think 100 orders a day. Greta's still hasnt updated my order status, which is coming up on one month now, so i guess they are still quite overwhelmed.

Mckenzie allows ordering from their website, and still had a number of interesting varieties last I checked. Terra greenhouses had a modest selection of vegetable and flower seed offerings online, if you live in the southern ontario/ gta area at least (no idea how far they ship from their greenhouses.)

I got some from Jung before they quit taking orders.
Got my Johnnys order in just in time too.
I couldn't get the phone to work so checked prices on their site and sent my order with a postal money order.
Since they already had my order they filled it.

We've sourced ours from a variety of small producers this year:

Terra Edibles: https://www.terraedibles.ca/
Urban Harvest: https://uharvest.ca/shop/
Hawthorn Creek: https://hawthornfarm.ca/

Hawthorn Creek seem to have the best germination rates, and fastest turnaround. Urban Harvest has been our go-to for years, but has been very slow to respond, and to fill orders this year. Terra Edibles we've had some mixed results with germination - certain varieties just aren't taking.

We've got squash seeds coming out our ears, so if you need any of those, drop me a PM.