Zinnia, tomato and zucchini seeds for free? We’re in!   

You don’t need an Indianapolis Public Library card to take advantage of their incredible free seed program, available at all 31 branches throughout Indy from March to September.

Just walk into any branch and ask about their in-house seed collection. From there, you’ll get access to dozens of seeds you can grow at home. Jill Edwards is the Adult Program Specialist for Indianapolis Public Library, and said the libraries use much of the same technology to sort and categorize seeds as they do books in the library.

However, the process of getting the seeds can vary by branch. 

“Every branch is a little different. Some of them are like here at Martindale-Brightwood, where you can just walk up to the drawer and find what you need. Some of them, like at West Indianapolis, you go to the desk and they have a little checklist that you say, ‘I want this, this and this.’ Because they don’t have space to have it out,” Edwards said. 

 

Library staffs across the city are focused on keeping seeds that will eventually grow into popular produce on hand at all times. From just a couple of years overseeing the program, Edwards said there are a couple clear favorites. 

“Flowers in general are popular. People love flowers. But, we’re in Indiana, and people love their tomatoes! They love their peppers. We’re kind of passed the prime time for starting those, but there’s nothing that says you can’t still start them, and they won’t still grow,” Edwards said.

The seed collections available at IPL branches are mostly easy to grow in containers, and don’t need a lot of maintenance. Ensuring that most of the seeds can grow well in containers is something Edwards said was crucial to the program. Because while the existence of food deserts across the city is well known, another barrier exists for folks wanting to grow: not all soil is the same.

Depending on someone’s neighborhood, they may not have access to uncontaminated soil from which to grow their own produce at home. 

“There are a lot of folks that we know who have heavy metals in their soil. That doesn’t mean you can’t garden, but it does impact what you might choose to garden there you might choose to keep in a container,” Edwards said. 

That’s why the library also offers free lead tests for people who may be concerned about the safety of their ground soil. If you’re not sure, IPL branches offer lead tests. Just take one home, put your soil in a bag, bring the bagged soil back to your local IPL branch, get it tested. The library will coordinate sending you the results from IU – Indianapolis, free of charge. Seeds that are easy to nurture in containers are also made clear on the front of seed packets, along with other important information about how to best grow the produce. 

For gardeners seeking extra support for how to grow their own food, or experienced growers seeking a boost in production, IPL offers education courses and books. Check those out here!

 

*Available seeds include:

Flowers
Coneflower
Marigold
Milkweed
Nasturtium
Sunflower
Yarrow
Zinnia

Specialty (limited)
Butternut Squash
Callaloo
Cover Crop – Crimson Clover
Cover Crop – Spring Oats
Culantro
Epazote
Four O’Clock
Green Beans – Pole
Lettuce – Romaine
Mexican Sunflower
Okra
Oregano
Roselle (Sour Leaf)
Swiss Chard
Tomatillo
Turnip
Wildflower Mix – Indiana

Herbs
Basil – Genovese
Basil – Thai
Cilantro
Dill
Garlic Chives
Mexican Mint Marigold
Parsley
Thyme

Vegetables
Black Beans
Carrots
Collard Greens
Cucumbers
Green Beans – Bush
Lettuce – Leaf
Kale
Peas – Snow
Peppers – Jalapeño
Peppers – Sweet Bell
Pumpkins
Radishes
Spinach
Tomatoes – Cherry
Tomatoes – Slicing
Zucchini

*Seed availability varies depending on location. If a seed packet you’re looking for isn’t available at your branch location, ask library staff to check if they’re available at another location.