Farmer Nathan and I love browsing seed catalogs in the winter, dreaming of our summer garden, and possibly getting carried away with our seed orders. (We can’t be the only ones! 😉 ) We’re always excited to try new varieties, colors, and flavors…but some cultivars aren’t happy to meet us and our good and steamy Southern summers. The Southeast has its own special set of growing challenges, so we thought it would be helpful to bring you a list of southern seed companies that cater to the unique growing challenges of heat, pests, disease, and clay.
If you’re new to gardening or this is your first season down South there are a few things to look for when browsing those tempting seed catalogs in the middle of winter. We have a previous blog post listing keywords and phrases to look for in any seed catalog. So don’t forget to check it out.
While this doesn’t intend to be a comprehensive list of Southern Seed companies, we hope this list helps jumpstart your vegetable gardening success.
Don’t live in the South?
If you’d like to see a comprehensive list of seed companies from around the United States, check out this list. Growing seeds cultivated or developed for your region is so rewarding. Check out the Complete List of Heirloom Seed Companies on the Sunshine Farm website.
Southern Seed Companies
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
If you’ve been growing in the South for any period of time, you’ve probably come across South Exposure. Thet off about 800 varieties of seeds with an emphasis on cultivars that grow well in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. They preserve heirlooms and open-pollinated varieties and support organic and small-scale seed growers. We’ve ordered seeds from them for many years and have always been pleased. We were super excited when they introduced the Carolina Bell Pepper. At long last a variety that will survive!
Sow True Seed
Based in Asheville, NC this seed company aims to support regenerative agriculture, sustainable food by providing open-pollinated seeds. We’ve just recently discovered Sow True Seed, but were excited to grow their bushy pickling cucumber variety in our garden last year. We put away plenty of pickles to keep Farmer Nathan happy until next growing season!
Bradshaw Seed Collection
A retired horticulture professor spent decades collecting heirloom seeds from around the southern United States. Limited quantities of his seed collection can be purchased online each year. A great source especially if you’re interested in heritage beans and peas!
Heavenly Seeds
While their website will not wow you, this small seed company is based in Anderson, SC and offers excellent quality seeds. They offer open-pollinated and heirlooms including many from the Bradshaw collection mentioned above. They also include some (non-GMO) hybrid seeds developed by agricultural university experiments. The owner’s 40+ years experience in the seed industry shows in the fine seeds they offer. We’ve grown their cucumbers, cowpeas, kale, broccoli, and more over the years.
Baker Creek
What’s fun about this catalog is you can learn what country and places these heirlooms have come from. This helps us make an informed decision on what may grow well here. If you have the choice between a variety that grows in the chilly Yukon versus ones from the tropics, pick the one that came from a similar home to the one you’re growing it in! We discovered our favorite most pest and disease resistant winter squash in their catalog and have grown it ever since.
Eden Brothers
Based in North Carolina, this seed company focuses more on flowers rather than edibles. However, they do have a solid selection of vegetable seeds including some heirloom varieties. If you’re looking to add some biodiversity to your garden with flowers and herbs, they would be a great place to browse and learn what cultivars do well in your area.
Park Seed
Based in Greenwood, South Carolina, they have been in the seed business since the 1860s and have been growing in the South since 1918. Today their heirloom seed options are limited. But if you are looking for some good hybrids acclimated to the southern heat and humidity, they would make a great choice. As we have been personally shifting to open-pollinated/heirloom seeds, we have not ordered from them yet. We browse their catalog each winter though!
Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Sometimes a fancy hybrid wins the day. If you’re struggling with a particular pest or disease and still really want to grow something, turning to a hybrid bred to resist your specific nemesis is a great route. While not based in the South, Johnny’s Seeds have always reliably grown for us plus several local farms we’re connected with in our area. They have organic options and do not sell or grow genetically-modified seeds.
Honorable Mentions
Two other southern seed companies that we have not personally ordered from, but might be great options for your garden:
South Ga. Seed Company
A small family-run seed business, they grow open-pollinated and heirloom non-GMO seeds in the mountains of Georgia.
Seeds for the South
This southern seed company grows varieties and cultivates specifically for zones 7, 8, and 9.
