Are you wondering where you can buy seeds online in Canada this year? Check out this list of popular seed companies that ship to Canadian addresses.
All of these companies carry non-GMO seeds, and you can find a variety of flower, herb, and vegetable seeds to buy online.
Almost all of these companies are Canadian, but I do have one USA company on this list that I recommend, too.
Wintertime is the perfect time to buy your seeds!
Yes, even though there may still be snow on the ground, it's time to start thinking about what you want to plant in your garden this year.
By ordering your plant seeds online before spring arrives, you'll have access to more varieties before they sell out. Plus, you'll be able to get a jump-start on the growing season.
Whether you're container gardening on a balcony, or have a full garden bed at your disposal, ordering your seeds early will set you up for success later in the season.
(and if you're planning on growing vegetables for the first time, you can check out my list of the easiest vegetables to grow from seed.)
Jump to:
I used to buy all of my seeds at work (which was a big box store that had a designated garden centre). But when COVID hit, we ran into an issue where seeds couldn't be sold during the province-wide lockdown.
We had so many customers who were frustrated because they couldn't buy their seeds in-store and, honestly, I had no idea where you could buy seeds online.
But now that I've done my research, I've found several companies that sell vegetable seeds online, as well as seeds for herbs, flowers, ornamentals, and gardening supplies.
For those wondering, all of these companies are committed to selling non-GMO seeds.
In fact, I haven't found a single brand that sells GMO seeds to home gardeners.
(GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism, which basically means the seeds were genetically engineered instead of cultivated through pollination.)
I've included links to all of the website homepages, as well as any available catalogue order forms.
I've also included details about each company and the current shipping prices within Canada. I hope you'll find this list useful!
🫘 Six Tips for Buying Seeds Online
Before we dive into the list, here are a few things that you should keep in mind when shopping for seeds online.
- Make a Plan: Seeds catalogues and websites are designed to encourage you to spend your money. Don't get caught up in the pretty pictures - make a plan so you know exactly what you need to buy! This is especially important if you're container gardening and have limited space.
- Pay Attention to Hardiness Zones: This is less important when buying annuals, as they are unlikely to survive year-to-year. But if you're shopping for perennial plants or edible plants that are supposed to come back after winter, you'll want to make sure that the plant is suitable for your hardiness zone. If you're not sure which zone you're in, click here to find your Canadian hardiness zone or click here to find your American zone if you're in the United States.
- Find Out How Many Seeds You're Getting Per Plant: Seeds are best used the year you buy them (the vendors at my garden centre job would throw out any seeds that didn't sell at the end of the growing season), and their ability to grow can diminish if they're not stored properly. So you don't want to buy too many seeds or too many of a similar kind if you can't use them up or share them. This can be tricky, as not all websites list the number of seeds that are being sold at each price point. For example, one company may list red beets as 100 seeds for $4.25, while another may just list a "packet" for the same price, or give you the weight in grams. If you're not sure what's being offered, reach out to the company to find out.
- Buy Plants to Suit Your Growing Area: If you're container gardening, look for varieties that are good for containers. These are usually compact varieties, but read the descriptions to be sure.
- Look for Easy to Grow Varieties: This is especially important if you're new to gardening, as your plants will have a better chance of surviving. Most seed suppliers will list which varieties of each plant are easy to grow and are resistant to diseases.
- Only Buy What You Want to Grow/Eat: This seems obvious, but again, those catalogues and websites can be enticing! Think about how much care the plants will need, and how much time you want to invest in your garden before you overcommit yourself. You want this process to be enjoyable - not stressful.
🇨🇦 Canadian Seed Companies That Offer Online Shopping
Here's a list of the Canadian seed companies that I'm familiar with.
I've so far bought seeds online from Veseys, West Coast Seeds, OSC, Kitchen Seed House, and Baker Creek Heirloom seeds. I've ordered from all of these companies multiple time and feel comfortable recommending them.
The other companies listed are reputable, but I haven't ordered from their websites myself (yet!).
(I'm currently waiting for my first order from William Dam to arrive. Stay tuned!)
West Coast Seeds
Order a 2023 West Coast Seeds Catalogue (digital version also available)
This company is located in Delta, BC. They are known for their certified organic, non-GMO, heirloom, and open-pollinated seeds.
Out of all of the catalogues that I've received so far, West Coast Seeds has the nicest one. It's full of gardening tips and charts to help you grow everything successfully.
Their website is also very user-friendly.
I have ordered seeds from this company multiple times now, and I will continue to buy from them. Almost all of the seeds I bought grew really well (and what didn't grow well was my own fault).
Also, I love that their seed packets have a ton of information on them! It's so helpful!
If you like to grow green beans, you should definitely check out their Ferrari green beans. They're great for containers!
Shipping Rates: Shipping within Canada is a flat rate of $9.99 shipping and handling for orders up to 500g. For shipments over 500g, standard Canada Post rates apply. To estimate, add $3.00 per additional kg. over 500g. Eg: 700g - shipping & handling charge of $9.99 + $3.00.
Edited February 2022: I am now a Brand Ambassador for West Coast Seeds! All of my links for this brand are affiliate links, and by using these links to shop you're supporting this website without incurring any additional costs.
Veseys
Veseys.com
Order a 2023 Veseys catalogue (digital version also available)
This PEI-based company is a popular option for non-GMO seeds, bulbs & perennials, fruits & berries, herbs, as well as other garden tools and accessories.
They've already sent me two catalogues in the mail (one had a code for free shipping!) and their website is easy to use.
I haven't had any issues with my orders from Veseys. They have an excellent variety of fruits, vegetables and flowers to choose from, and almost everything I bought grew well.
Their Little Gem lettuce does very well in the cooler months, and is very tasty.
Shipping Rates: shipping within Canada costs anywhere from $7.95 to $24.95, depending on the overall cost of your order. Heavy items may be subject to an additional freight charge.
Ontario Seed Company Ltd.
Order a 2023 OSC Catalogue (digital version also available)
OSC Seeds is one of the largest Canadian-owned and operated seed packet companies. All of their seeds are certified organic and non-GMO.
They offer a full line of products including over 30 herbs, 250 vegetables, 240 annuals and 100 perennials and biennials suitable for Canada's various climates.
I have so far only purchased the honey baby squash seeds (shown above) and they did not grow for me last year. I've never grown this kind of squash before though, so it was probably user error on my part!
Shipping Rates: the website does not list their shipping fees, but the minimum rate at checkout seems to be $8.45.
Kitchen Table Seed House
Kitchen Table Seed House is owned by two farmers, Kathy and Annie. Their certified organic seed company is located on Wolfe Island, a ferry ride away from downtown Kingston, Ontario.
All of their seeds are non-GMO and they offer open-pollinated seeds, meaning you can save the seeds from your garden and plant them next year.
Everything I grew from this company grew very well. I'm particularly fond of their Tango celery which grew all through summer and fall!
Shipping Rates: shipping within Canada range from $3.95 to $18.95, depending on the overall cost of your order and where the seeds will be shipped to.
McKenzie Seeds
This is another popular seed brand and one that I've used quite a bit since we sold these when I worked at the garden centre.
McKenzie Seeds carries a selection of flower and vegetable seeds, and they are all non-GMO. This brand is located in Brandon, Manitoba.
I have grown lots of seeds from this company, but I haven't ordered from them online. I usually just buy their seeds from my local Walmart.
Shipping Rates: McKenzie Seeds offers free shipping within Canada on seed packet orders $65.00. Otherwise, shipping costs $8.99.
William Dam Seeds
Download the 2023 William Dam Digital Seed Catalogue
William Dam Seeds is a family-run company located just outside of Dundas, Ontario. They supply Canadian farmers and gardeners with vegetable, herb, flower, and greencrop seeds.
They carry some organic seeds, and all of their seeds are non-GMO.
I just placed my first order with this company, so I haven't grown their seeds yet. I'll be sure to report back with my results later in the year though!
EDIT March 6, 2023: The order I placed on January 31st has JUST shipped. Apparently they prioritize shipments to the West Coast since their growing season starts earlier, and they try to wait for all of the stock to come in so your order ships in just one shipment.
Shipping Rates: shipping in Canada costs $8.95 for orders that are not oversized.
🇺🇸 An American Seed Company That Ships to Canada
I'm sure there are other American companies that ship to Canada, but this is the only one that I'm familiar with and have ordered from myself.
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Order a 2023 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Catalogue (digital version also available)
Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. sells only open-pollinated non-GMO seeds. You won't find any hybrid varieties at this company, and they're not certified organic (in case that matters to you).
I love the unique variety of seeds that this company carries! You can find so many cool seeds on their website.
If you like to grow tomatoes, I highly recommend their Black Strawberry tomato seeds!
Shipping Rates: on the website, it says that shipping to Canada costs $12.00 USD, and that was true in 2022. However I just placed an order and my shipping was only $8.00 (I only bought 3 small packs of seeds though).
Border Fees: Please note that orders $20 or more will be subject to duty and taxes.
Order Early! It takes about 6-8 weeks for orders to arrive to Canadian addresses. This is important to note in case you're ordering late in the season or need time to start seeds indoors before your last frost date.
Both of my previous orders took about 8 weeks to arrive.
EDIT March 6, 2023: My order actually arrived pretty quickly this year! Ordering early seems to be key with this vendor.
That's my whole list of places that you can order seeds from online in Canada.
Do you know of another great seed company that lets you buy seeds online and ships to Canadian addresses? Let me know in the comments below!
John Botting
Thank you for this posting. You have done a lot of work and I certainly appreciate it.
Shareba
Thanks for the kind words, John!
Matt
I second that. I used your page to shop quickly and found exactly what I need. Thank you!
Shareba
You're welcome! I'm glad that people are finding it useful.