Seed Library: Donate a Seed, Take a Seed
Donating seeds is a wonderful way to support our community and promote biodiversity. Bring in your heirloom, non-hybrid seeds to share by planting them, and let some of them grow to maturity. When you harvest the next generation of seeds, return some to the library so other people can check them out. You can borrow up to 5 seed packets at a time.
Donating Seeds: Recommended Harvesting/Seed Techniques
- Label the seeds clearly with the plant species, variety, and the year they were harvested.
- Bring your seeds to the 3rd floor of the Fredericksburg Branch or Porter Branch and place them in the basket by the Seed Library.
- Read Seed Saving for Beginners and Grow A Row to get even more tips.
What's in the Seed Library right now?
Donating seeds not only helps others grow food and plants but also contributes to preserving genetic diversity in local ecosystems. We keep the available seeds to the seasonal calendar. Browse the lists below. Available while supplies last.
Grow a Row / Adopt a Crop
The library invites community members to become seed stewards. The "Grow a Row" program encourages gardeners to dedicate a portion of their garden to cultivating specific crops. By increasing the harvest of these targeted plants, volunteers help significantly expand the variety and quantity of seeds available for everyone to share.
Fall Gardening Advice
Virginia Fall Planting Guide: Your Seasonal Success Plan
Ready to plan your autumn garden? Discover the ideal timing for fall planting and learn which crops thrive in our climate with this helpful guide from Meadow's Farms.
Fall Vegetable Gardening | Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication
With this guide, extend your growing season by planting a fall vegetable garden, allowing you to harvest fresh produce even after the first frosts. Authored by Diane Relf, retired Extension Specialist, Horticulture, Virginia Tech, and reviewed by Edward Olsen, Consumer Horticulture and Extension Master Gardener Specialist, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech.
Fall is for Planting Natives
Add hardy plants to your landscape, and make sure to think regionally. Why? Native plants have advantages because they're adapted to your region's climate.
How to Plant Wildflowers in the Fall (YouTube video)
Ensure a good seed-to-soil gardening plan to have quicker blooms for the springtime.
Virginia Cooperative Extension October Tips: Trees, Shrubs, and Groundcovers
By Diane Relf, Extension Specialist, Environmental Horticulture.
MGACRA Fall Vegetable Gardening Presentation, opens a new window
Get all the details about Fall gardening and planting, created by Renee Ford from the Master Gardeners Association of the Central Rapahannock Area.
Did you know that we're in zones 7a/b?
Garden Zones 7a and 7b refer to specific hardiness zones within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which helps gardeners determine which plants are most likely to thrive in their region based on climate conditions, particularly minimum winter temperatures.
- Zone 7a has a minimum average winter temperature range of 0°F to 5°F (-18°C to -15°C).
- Zone 7b has a minimum average winter temperature range of 5°F to 10°F (-15°C to -12°C).
These zones are part of a broader system that divides the United States into 13 zones based on temperature extremes. In Zone 7, winters are relatively mild compared to colder zones, allowing a wide variety of plants to thrive, including many perennials, shrubs, and trees.
Typical plants for these zones include roses, lilacs, lavender, and some fruit trees. The growing season in Zone 7 typically extends from early spring to late fall, making it a good region for many types of flowers, vegetables, and ornamental plants.
A Month-by-Month Guide to Vegetable Gardening
Monthly information on general garden design, planning, maintenance, and pest and disease detection from the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Click the icon to see To Do Lists and more. To see all months, go here.
