Having a 3.5 acre garden I order a lot of seeds. I also use a lot of different companies so I can get the varieties I want and because of price. So how do you know which seed company to order from?

1. Check out what kind of seeds the company sells. Heirlooms, hybrids, open pollinated, etc. Seed companies don’t sell GMO seeds so you don’t need to worry about that. Some seed companies only sell heirlooms and some sell a wide variety of seeds.
2. Shipping and other fees. Some companies offer free shipping and some the shipping is quite high (in my opinion). The other thing to note is where the company is located. I am in Canada and order from both USA and Canadian companies. I have stopped ordering from Johnny’s because the fees are too much for me (shipping, duty, and can’t remember what else they charged me).
3. The location of the seed company. For some people supporting a small or local business is important. Almost all provinces and states will have little seed companies.
4. There is no uniform price. Every seed company charges what they want and have different quantities. When I order seeds my calculator and USA/Canadian exchange calculator gets a work out. I order thousands of sweet corn seeds and $0.01 makes a difference. If I’m ordering 5,000 seeds I can save $50.
5. It’s easy to go overboard when ordering seeds. I often buy seeds for two or three years and store them a cool dry location. They still germinate really well in year two or three. Some people store their seeds in a fridge or freezer, just make sure they are in a water tight container. To prevent going overboard is to have a plan. I know how many feet of carrots I want to plant, know how many seeds I need per 50′, and than order a little extra in case of bad germination. Prep a garden plan, know your spacing, and order seeds accordingly.
6. Check reviews, ask your friends or neighbors what companies they use, or find gardening groups online. Unfortunately there are some bad seed companies out there. 90% of the time seed companies have been good, but I have encountered some rotten apples (seeds didn’t germinate, outrageous fees, etc.)

Happy seed ordering!