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I grew up in a household that planted a garden every year, so gardening isn’t completely new to me. But after a few years away from it, I wanted to refresh my knowledge before starting a garden of my own. I decided to compare two seed brands I’d been seeing frequently: Ferry-Morse and Epic Gardening.
Both are geared toward home gardeners, but they take slightly different approaches to seed selection, education, pricing, and availability. Here’s what I found after trying both side by side.
At a Glance: Ferry-Morse vs. Epic Gardening
| Ferry-Morse | Epic Gardening | |
| Variety Selection | Expansive selection of common, heirloom, and organic varieties | More curated selection with specialty, heirloom, and organic varieties |
| Seed Packet Quality | Easy to open; includes a good amount of information on packet | Quality paper packets; QR code links to more information |
| Education and Gardening Resources | Good basic information and articles | In-depth videos and additional paid content |
| Price and Overall Value | Generally lower-cost options | Similar pricing, with some varieties costing more |
| Retail Availability | Easy access in common neighborhood stores | Primarily purchased online, based on my local shopping experience |
| Organic & Non-GMO | “Safe-Seed-Pledge” promise to not sell GMO seeds and a line of organic varieties | Non-GMO Project Verified, with organic varieties also available |
Variety Selection
With Ferry-Morse, you’ll find the classics; the herbs and vegetables I remember growing in my family’s garden can be found with Ferry-Morse. Their cherry tomato seeds, for example, as well as sweet basil, and sugar snap peas, are all staple varieties in my house. I’d recommend them as a solid choice for vegetable gardeners, flower beds, or those looking for easy access to lots of common varieties.
Epic Gardening offers more of a curated seed experience, in my opinion, with a selection that includes organic, heirloom, and specialty vegetable varieties. If you’re looking for more niche varieties they have some good choices there as well. A couple of the more unusual varieties they offer are the Cream of Saskatchewan Watermelon (a rare heirloom melon known for its suitability to cooler growing conditions) and the Triumph Summer Squash, a variety bred for its resistance to disease. These niche seeds make Epic Gardening a great choice if you’re looking to experiment in your garden!
Seed Packet Quality
Having purchased seed packets from both brands, I noticed that they were both made very well, although there were a few marked differences.
I found Ferry-Morse definitely easier to open and sturdy enough to store any leftover seeds without worry of spillage. I liked that each packet had a picture of the real plant on it, making it easier for me to identify the different varieties quickly. On the back, they provide key info for planting including days to germinate, depth, spacing, and height.
I also found their map very helpful. The map divides the states in different regions and has a key to tell you what months of the year it is best to start planting. Also important to note here, Ferry-Morse offers a “Guarantee-to-Grow” which means if you sow your seeds and they don’t germinate, you can return them and get your money back.
Epic Gardening’s packets weren’t as smooth to open, with some ripping happening when I lifted the flap. Their packets have an illustrated picture of the variety which look nice but are a little more obscure as far as identifying different varieties just by picture.
They also have planting info on the back as well as a QR code linking you to their website to give you further information. I appreciated that they gave instructions on how to start the seeds inside or outside. Epic Gardening also backs its seeds with a one-year satisfaction guarantee, so both brands provide some added peace of mind if your seeds don’t perform as expected.
Education and Gardening Resources
Ferry-Morse provides basic gardening articles, guides, and information on topics such as indoor seed starting and plant care. Education is useful here, but it isn’t as central to the brand as it is to Epic Gardening.
This is where Epic Gardening shines. Its core value is “teach the world to grow,” and education is a major part of the brand. It offers videos, articles, growing guides, and other resources designed to help gardeners at different experience levels. The company also offers a membership program with additional gardening resources and support.
Price & Overall Value
For many of us starting a new hobby or looking to delve deeper into our hobby, price matters a great deal.
Ferry-Morse has very competitive pricing in my opinion, making it a good choice for people growing large quantities or on a budget. You can even find them cheaper when your local retail stores offer promotions. I was able to find some herb seed packets for $2.99 per packet at my local Home Depot. Keep in mind, of course, that packet prices don’t necessarily tell the whole value story, since the number or weight of seeds can vary by variety and brand.
Epic Gardening offers a more premium experience, with specialty varieties and access to additional educational content, so its seeds tend to come at a slightly higher price. The price is usually not too much more, but if you’re buying in bulk or many different varieties it will make a difference. At the time of my comparison, a packet of basil seeds from Epic Gardening’s website was $3.49.
Retail Availability
Where Epic Gardening has broader education, Ferry-Morse has the retail availability.
When I went out to buy seed packets to compare these two brands, I went to several of my local retail stores, specifically Home Depot, Walmart, and Lowes. In every store I went to they carried Ferry-Morse seed packets and several of their other products. I was able to look at the different varieties they offered and pick which ones I wanted right there.
In comparison, I didn’t find Epic Gardening seeds at the local retailers I visited. I ended up ordering the Epic Gardening seeds online, which meant waiting for delivery rather than picking up packets during a trip to the store. However, I had much more success finding Ferry-Morse locally.
Germination and Seed Performance
Both brands are marketed toward home gardeners, and my experience with both was positive.
I conducted a little seed germination test by buying the same variety from both brands and putting them in a wet paper towel in a plastic bag, creating a greenhouse environment. After a few days in a sunny window, I checked both bags to see which had started sprouting and if there were any noticeable differences in the amount of seeds that sprouted.
This was a small at-home test rather than a controlled experiment, but it gave me a useful firsthand comparison. Under the same conditions, both performed very similarly, with most of the seeds sprouting beautifully.
Organic and Non-GMO
I was very excited to find out that both brands offered organic and non-GMO varieties. These labels give gardeners a little more insight into how their seeds were produced. Organic certification relates to farming practices, while non-GMO means the seeds have not been genetically modified.
According to Ferry-Morse, the company has carried non-GMO seeds since its inception in 1856. On their site, they even have an entire page dedicated to their “Safe-Seed-Pledge.” On this page, the brand shares how they hope to support agricultural processes that lead to safer soil and healthy people. They also share their values of choosing to not buy, sell, or trade genetically engineered seeds or plants, noting that agriculture is a key element in our lives so it needs to be protected.
Epic Gardening also offers non-GMO and organic seed varieties. The company says its seeds are selected to meet its quality standards, and individual varieties indicate whether they are organic. Founded in 2013, Epic Gardening says its seeds are Non-GMO Project Verified and responsibly sourced, with specific organic certification noted on individual packets.
Final Thoughts
So, which seed company should you choose? I believe the answer truly depends on your personal priorities, as both have a lot to offer gardeners of all stripes.
Choose Ferry-Morse for easy access close to home, its “Guarantee-to-Grow” policy, and competitive pricing. It’s a great choice for gardeners looking to buy a lot of seeds for a garden or raised beds, especially if you value the convenience of buying locally and the security of a germination guarantee.
Choose Epic Gardening for their educational content and their high quality varieties. Epic Gardening is a great choice for anyone who needs a little more guidance when it comes to gardening. The more curated selection and variety-specific growing resources may also appeal to newer gardeners who want a little more guidance when deciding what to grow.