Seed Library

Free seeds are available for pick-up at all Library locations each growing season. In addition to free seeds, check out resources and attend workshops about growing and using plants from your seeds!

Seeds Available: March - September (while supplies last) Limit: 5 packets per visit


An open card catalog drawer with seed packets in it.
Available Seeds While Supplies Last

Vegetables

  • Beans – Drying (Black Garbanzo)
  • Beans – Snap (Royal Burgundy)
  • Broccoli
  • Carrot
  • Cucumber
  • Eggplant
  • Greens (Swiss Chard)
  • Husk Cherry
  • Lettuce
  • Okra
  • Peas
  • Pepper – Spicy (Serrano)
  • Pepper – Sweet (Corno di Toro Rosso)
  • Radish
  • Squash – Winter (Acorn)
  • Tomato – Cherry
  • Tomato – Slicing
  • Turnip
  • Watermelon

Herbs

  • Basil – Common (Large Leaf Italian)
  • Basil – Unique (Lemon)
  • Callaloo
  • Cilantro
  • Parsley
  • Roselle/Hibiscus (Asian Sour Leaf)
  • Thyme

Flowers

  • Black Eyed Susan (Sweet)*
  • Coneflower
  • Cosmos
  • Marigold
  • Milkweed*
  • Nasturtium
  • Strawflower
  • Sunflower
  • Wildflower Mix (Indiana Blend)
  • Zinnia

*Most will not be available until mid-late summer

Sweet Peppers 3471646 1920
Coneflowers Seed Library 2022
Tomato Cluster
Thai Basil Young Plants Close Up Picture Id1299764306
Marigold Flower
Cilantro
Milkweed Seed Library 2022
Sunflower
Carrots
Cucumbers
Lettuce
Radishes 1623915 1920
Jalapenos 1320629 1920
Swiss Chard


2027 Seed Packet Art Contest

Anyone 14 years of age or older is eligible to submit artwork online. For artists 13 and younger, please have Library staff assist in sending physical artwork to the Programming Department (Attn: Seed Packet Art Contest). One entry per person. Deadline: September 30, 2026.

Seed Donations

Seeds may be donated using donation envelopes available at any Library branch. Donations must include common name, month, and year seed was saved, and name of saver (if hybrid or treated, that must also be noted). Any donations that do not include these items or that are not in the donation envelopes will be removed.

Seed Library Survey

Let us know what you think! Fill out our Seed Library online survey.


Recommended Seed Tasks

A chart of recommended seed tasks by month.

Refer to this convenient monthly chart to learn when to start seeds indoors, when to plant outdoors, which plants are container friendly, and more!

Download and print the Recommended Seed Tasks chart.


Plant Tolerance Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Basil Container Friendly; Prefers Full Sun Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Save Seeds Save Seeds Save Seeds
Beans - Drying Prefers Full Sun Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Save Seeds
Beans - Snap Container Friendly; Part-Sun OK Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Save Seeds Save Seeds
Black Eyed Susan; Native to Central Indiana Frost Tolerant; Prefers Full Sun Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Can Be Planted If Cold Stratified Save Seeds Save Seeds
Broccoli Frost Tolerant; Part-Sun OK Plant Indoors Plant Indoors Transplant Outside Plant Indoors Plant Indoors; Transplant Outside Transplant Outside
Callaloo Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Plant Into Soil; Transplant Outside Plant Indoors Plant Indoors Plant Indoors; Save Seeds Save Seeds Save Seeds
Carrot Container Friendly; Frost Tolerant; Prefers Full Sun Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil
Cilantro Container Friendly; Part-Sun OK Plant Indoors Plant Into Soil; Transplant Outside Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Save Seeds Plant Into Soil; Save Seeds Plant Into Soil Save Seeds
Coneflower; Native to Central Indiana Frost Tolerant; Prefers Full Sun Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil; Plant Indoors Plant Into Soil; Plant Indoors Plant Into Soil; Transplant Outside Plant Into Soil Save Seeds Save Seeds Save Seeds; Plant Into Soil Save Seeds; Plant Into Soil
Cosmos Container Friendly; Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Plant Into Soil; Transplant Outside Plant Into Soil; Transplant Outside Save Seeds Save Seeds Save Seeds
Cucumber Container Friendly; Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Plant Into Soil; Transplant Outside Plant Into Soil
Eggplant Container Friendly; Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Plant Indoors Transplant Outside Transplant Outside Save Seeds Save Seeds
Greens (Swiss Chard) Container Friendly; Frost Tolerant; Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Plant Into Soil; Transplant Outside Transplant Outside Plant Indoors Plant Into Soil; Transplant Outside
Husk Cherry Container Friendly; Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Plant Indoors Transplant Outside Transplant Outside Save Seeds Save Seeds Save Seeds
Lettuce Container Friendly; Frost Tolerant; Part-Sun OK Plant Indoors Plant Indoors; Transplant Outside Plant Into Soil; Plant Indoors; Transplant Outside Plant Into Soil; Transplant Outside Save Seeds Plant Into Soil; Save Seeds Plant Into Soil; Save Seeds Save Seeds
Marigold Container Friendly; Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Plant Indoors Plant Into Soil; Transplant Outside Plant Into Soil Save Seeds Save Seeds Save Seeds
Milkweed; Native to Central Indiana Frost Tolerant; Prefers Full Sun Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Can Be Planted If Cold Stratified Can Be Planted If Cold Stratified Save Seeds Save Seeds Save Seeds; Plant Into Soil Save Seeds; Plant Into Soil
Nasturtium Container Friendly; Prefers Full Sun Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Save Seeds Save Seeds
Okra Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Plant Into Soil Save Seeds Save Seeds
Parsley Container Friendly; Frost Tolerant; Part-Sun OK Plant Indoors Plant Indoors; Transplant Outside Plant Into Soil; Transplant Outside Plant Into Soil; Transplant Outside Plant Into Soil
Peas (Sugar Snap) Container Friendly; Frost Tolerant; Part-Sun OK Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Save Seeds Plant Into Soil
Pepper Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Plant Indoors Plant Into Soil; Transplant Outside
Radish Container Friendly; Frost Tolerant; Prefers Full Sun Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil
Sour Leaf/Hibiscus Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Plant Indoors Plant Into Soil; Transplant Outside Save Seeds Save Seeds
Squash (Acorn) Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Transplant Outside; Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil
Squash (Patty Pan) Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Plant Indoors Transplant Outside; Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil
Strawflower Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Plant Indoors Transplant Outside Transplant Outside Save Seeds Save Seeds
Sunflower Container Friendly; Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Transplant Outside; Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Save Seeds Save Seeds Save Seeds
Thyme Container Friendly; Frost Tolerant; Part-Sun OK Plant Indoors Plant Indoors Plant Indoors; Plant Into Soil Transplant Outside; Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil
Tomato Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Plant Indoors Transplant Outside; Plant Into Soil Transplant Outside Save Seeds Save Seeds
Turnip Frost Tolerant; Part-Sun OK Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil
Watermelon Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Transplant Outside, Plant Indoors, Plant Into Soil Transplant Outside; Plant Into Soil
Wildflower Mix Prefers Full Sun Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Save Seeds Plant Into Soil; Save Seeds Plant Into Soil; Save Seeds
Zinnia Container Friendly; Prefers Full Sun Plant Indoors Transplant Outside, Plant Indoors, Plant Into Soil Transplant Outside; Plant Into Soil Plant Into Soil Save Seeds Save Seeds Save Seeds

Upcoming Programs

Seed Library Support Seed Library Support Wayne Branch

Work with fellow volunteers to pack seeds for our 2026 Seed Library! Measure out bulk seeds into envelopes that community members can take home and grow.

Seed Library Support at Fort Ben Seed Library Support at Fort Ben Fort Ben Branch

Work with fellow volunteers to pack seeds for our 2026 Seed Library! Measure out bulk seeds into envelopes that community members can take home and grow.

Seed Library Support at East 38th Street Seed Library Support at East 38th Street East 38th Street Branch

Work with fellow volunteers to pack seeds for our 2026 Seed Library! Measure out bulk seeds into envelopes that community members can take home and grow.

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Book Lists & Resources

Book Lists for Adults

Resources for Adults

  • Grow Your Gardening Skills In addition to free seeds, check out resources and attend workshops about growing and using plants from your seeds. The Library provides materials and programs to make gardening in Indianapolis a doable goal for beginners!

Book Lists for Kids

Resources for Kids

  • DIY Online Storytime: Read Right Now! Gardening
    Making a connection between gardening and food is an important skill for small children. Where does food come from BEFORE it is in the grocery store? We can help you get started learning about where food comes from!
  • DIY Terrarium & the Hydrologic (Water) Cycle
    To see how the hydrologic cycle works you can make your own miniature model of the earth in a terrarium. A terrarium is a little garden inside a clear, sealed plastic or glass container. You can probably find the things you need for your terrarium at home or in your own backyard: small stones go in the bottom of the container, dirt, and a small plant or two. You can also plant seeds and watch them grow.


Made possible by The Indianapolis Foundation Library Fund through a grant to The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation.