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Burpee has been around since 1876 and has introduced generations of gardeners to seed starting. But today’s gardeners have access to a wider range of seed companies than ever before. Whether your passion is heirloom preservation, organic or non-GMO growing, budget-friendly options, or just being able to find seeds locally when the notion strikes, there may be another company that better matches the way you actually garden.
For Rare Heirloom Varieties: Baker Creek
Baker Creek offers an incredible 1,000+ varieties of pure non-GMO heirloom herb, vegetable, and flower seeds! Heirlooms are valued for their genetic stability, intense colors, and unique flavors you can’t find in the produce aisle. If you love filling your garden with interesting plant varieties that you can save and replant year after year, Baker Creek is worth a look.
It is common knowledge among gardeners that Baker Creek is one of the go-to names for heirloom seeds. But I think some people don’t realize it is also a go-to for gardeners who want to grow something truly out of the ordinary. These aren’t just classic “Grandma’s garden” heirloom seeds. Their catalog is packed with rare heirlooms, international varieties, exotic-looking flowers, and vegetables with wild colors and unusual shapes.
I’m talking real conversation-piece plants: celosia flowers that look like brains, carrots that grow to the length of your middle schooler’s leg, and corn that grows solid black. You name it. If you want to try growing something that makes people stop, stare, and ask what on earth is growing in your garden, Baker Creek probably has it in the catalog.
You know you will be getting quality seeds from Baker Creek because they test their germination rates twice a year, which is double the federal standard. And if you find that you are still having issues, they guarantee their seeds for two years, no questions asked. Two years.
Unfortunately, Baker Creek only has one brick-and-mortar store located in Missouri, so they will only be available to most people online. They are also a tad more pricey per packet, but they do always offer free shipping for orders based within the U.S.
For Historical Heirloom Seekers: Seed Savers Exchange
Seed Savers Exchange is also known in the gardening community for its wide range of heirloom seeds. Although several brands carry heirloom seeds, Seed Savers is more for gardeners with an interest in preserving old historical varieties and genetic diversity instead of going on a botanical treasure hunt. The vibe at Seed Savers is about education and participating in a larger gardening mission.
The cool thing about Seed Savers is that the organization itself is made up of gardeners and seed stewards who share and swap all these unique varieties of seeds. Anyone can send in their family’s heirloom seeds if they want those varieties preserved for future generations.
Once seeds are submitted and cataloged, they can be made available for the public to purchase or request through the exchange. Every year, Seed Savers publishes a Yearbook with seeds documented as part of the exchange. It feels less like shopping a regular seed catalog and more like participating in a living archive. How amazing is that?!
You can order your own Yearbook or browse the seeds they have currently listed online. There are currently over 14,000 listings you can check out on their website, wow!
For Beginner Gardeners: Botanical Interests
Botanical Interests is another alternative seed brand I reach for when I can spend a little extra cash and indulge in a more premium product. Their seeds hit that rare balance of availability and variety while still being generally affordable.
Botanical Interests has become very popular specifically with backyard flower gardeners, and I personally am obsessed with their seed shakers. There are several themed options available, each packed with thousands of flower seeds, which makes them a fun choice if you want an easy way to fill in a pollinator patch, cottage garden, or cut flower bed.
Their packets are illustrated by hand and contain tons of growing and planting information that is genuinely helpful for beginners. Botanical Interests basically teaches you how to grow the plant right on the packet. If you are still getting your sea legs and feeling a little insecure about your gardening skills, their instructions are some of the most helpful I’ve seen.
I have been gardening for decades, and I personally do not think Burpee packets offer quite the same level of built-in guidance for beginners. I end up doing a lot of extra Googling for suggestions when I use them. If you are just starting out, I would point you toward Botanical Interests because the packets give you more of the support you need to feel confident from the start.
For the Best Value and Everyday Availability: Ferry-Morse
It’s nice to splurge on hand-painted seed packets from an online boutique brand once in a while, but most of the seeds in my regular garden rotation come from Ferry-Morse. They carry the kinds of tried-and-true vegetables, herbs, and flowers that everyday gardeners actually reach for season after season, and they make it easy to stock up without blowing the whole garden budget.
Ferry-Morse and Burpee are both available online, but Ferry-Morse has a strong retail presence, with displays in over 10,000 stores nationwide. You can find their seeds at major hardware stores and home improvement centers (like Lowe’s and Home Depot), Walmart, as well as other mom & pop garden stores.
I also like that Ferry-Morse seeds are non-GMO across the line, with a wide selection of organic options if you’d prefer that type of seed. Their Guarantee to Grow means that if your seeds do not perform as expected, the company will replace them or refund your purchase, which adds a little extra reassurance, especially if you are trying a new variety or starting seeds for the first time.
Ferry-Morse may not be where I’d go for the rarest heirloom tomato or the weirdest flower I can possibly find, but that is not really the point. It is the brand I reach for when I want dependable seeds, a good price, and the ability to grab what I need while I’m already at the store. For everyday gardeners, that makes it one of the easiest alternatives to Burpee seeds to recommend.
For Larger Gardens and Market Growers: Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Johnny’s is an employee-owned seed company based in Maine that celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023. They are one of the nine original signers of the Safe Seed Pledge, and all their seeds meet the standard germination requirements of the Federal Seed Act. Not all of their seeds are organic, but they do offer hundreds of certified organic varieties of vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruits, and farm seeds.
I would recommend Johnny’s to gardeners who want to go bigger than just a backyard veggie garden or pollinator garden. They offer large-scale cover crops for farmers, pelletted seeds, and the ability to purchase your seeds by the ounce and pound (even up to 50+ lbs), not just by the individual seed packet.
Johnny’s is a great resource if you are a farmer looking to buy your rye or clover cover crop for the season or if you are a grower who sells frequently at the farmers market and you need to buy in bulk. They sell a lot of helpful tools and supplies you might need as a larger-scale gardener or homesteader and offer an incredible Grower’s Library on their website that has tons of cool resources to help you help your plants thrive.
The main trade-off is that Johnny’s is not as easy to browse in person. They only have one brick-and-mortar location, so most gardeners will be ordering online. You can shop for seeds and supplies at their store in Maine, but the location operates primarily as an order pickup center.
For trial-tested seeds: Territorial Seed Company
Territorial is a family-owned company that has been in business since 1979. They are well known for their extensive testing practices and commitment to producing high-quality seed. Territorial has earned a loyal following by providing proven seeds that gardeners trust. If you would like to buy from a family-owned company that takes your experience and how their seeds perform personally, you might like Territorial.
Every year they hold a “Seed Olympics” to evaluate a wide range of vegetable varieties to see how they actually perform before recommending them to customers. Rather than just buying and selling seed based on outside recommendations, Territorial personally tests hundreds of varieties side by side every year at their 75-acre research farm in London Springs, Oregon, to see which ones make the cut.
Not only do all of their seeds follow established germination standards prescribed by the Federal Seed Act, but Territorial also holds itself to standards beyond what is required. They test every lot of seeds they sell to give gardeners the best chance of success.
In addition to being dedicated to providing customers with quality seeds and plants, they work hard to operate their farm in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in an environmentally safe and responsible manner. They follow the Safe Seed Pledge, and their farm is certified USDA organic and Salmon-Safe.
Final Thoughts
Burpee might be one of the more recognizable seed brands, but honestly, that doesn’t mean it’s automatically the best fit for you. If you’re like me and love hunting down rare heirlooms, Baker Creek is such a fun rabbit hole. If you care about preserving varieties and supporting something meaningful, Seed Savers Exchange has a really beautiful mission. If you’re newer and want things explained in a way that actually makes sense, Botanical Interests is super approachable. And if you’re growing on a bigger scale or getting more serious, Johnny’s is kind of built for that. Then there’s Ferry-Morse, which is great if you just want something reliable, easy to find, non-GMO, and backed by that Guarantee to Grow without overthinking it.
At the end of the day, it really just comes down to what feels right for you and your garden. Whether you’re chasing something unique, supporting a mission, diving into the details, or just grabbing seeds you know will work, there’s no wrong choice. Just know that there are many other options for you to explore that might better align with your growing goals, budget, and gardening style.