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Whether you’re longing for a bounty of home-grown vegetables or want to spruce up your landscaping, there’s no better time than now to get your seeds in the soil. While healthy, nutrient-balanced soil (or the right growing medium for starting plants indoors) is crucial for a thriving garden, many gardeners overlook one key factor: seed quality.
High-quality seeds germinate at a higher rate, are more disease-resistant, and produce bountiful plants. In honor of the growing season, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite high-quality seeds and seedling plants to get you started.
1. Brandywine Pink Tomato Seeds or Plants
Those looking for a large, flavorful tomato can’t go wrong with Burpee’s classic Pink Brandywine. Dating back to 1885, this heirloom beefsteak variety is known for its sweet flavor and generous size, ready for harvest about 80 days after planting. While it’s recommended to start Brandywine seeds indoors in early March, Burpee offers Brandywine plants for anyone late to the game. They also offer organic and non-organic seeds.
Grower Experience: “I’ve grown this heirloom tomato variety from Burpee many summers. The taste transports me back to my grandmother’s kitchen where she’d slice them thick for BLTs, and I’d always steal one from the cutting board because I couldn’t wait.”—Glenda Taylor, garden writer and tester
Get the Pink Brandywine Tomato Seeds or Plants at Burpee from $4.95
2. Bean Seychelles Seeds
Great for growing on trellises, Seychelles are a type of pole bean that produces dark green stringless pods up to 6 inches in length. You can directly sow Bean Seychelle seeds into your garden beds, and they’ll typically germinate within 6 to 10 days and reach maturity in around 55 days. Park Seeds offers this variety in both organic and Cruiser-treated options, and in quantities of 50, 100, or 1,000 seeds.
Get the Bean Seychelles Seeds at Harris Seeds for $3.45
3. Queeny Lemon Peach Zinnia Seeds
Brighten up your landscaping or cutting beds with the Queeny Lemon Peach Zinnia. These beautiful multi-tone flowers feature layered petals and large 3.5-inch blooms that attract bees and butterflies alike. The blooms open greenish-yellow with a deep pink center, gradually maturing to a rosy yellow and peachy pink. The Queeny Lemon Peach Zinnia thrives in full sun.
Get the Queeny Lemon Peach Zinnia Seeds at Burpee for $8.95
4. Sungold Hybrid Tomato Seeds or Plants
Whether you snack on them off the vine or throw them in a summer salad, there’s nothing quite like the taste of the Sungold Hybrid Tomato. These golden-orange cherry tomatoes mature in 65 days, bearing large clusters of the small, sweet fruit. They do best in full sun and can grow to be 48 to 60 inches tall.
Grower Experience: “Initially, I wasn’t keen on growing yellow/orange tomatoes, but Burpee’s little Sungold jewels are seriously tasty! The stems bore heavy clusters of dime-sized golden tomatoes that were perfect for salads and snacking.”—Glenda Taylor, garden writer and tester
Get the Sungold Hybrid Tomato Seeds or Plants at Burpee from $6.45
5. Organic Herbs and Veggies Seed Variety
Gardeners who want to grow a variety of fresh produce without sourcing seed packets for each plant type can take advantage of The Home Depot’s variety pack of organic herbs and veggies. It includes 20 seed packs for popular garden staples such as tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, onions, carrots, beans, zucchini, peas, and radishes, as well as a variety of greens and herbs.
Get the Organic Herbs and Veggies Seed Variety at The Home Depot for $35.90
6. Strawberry Blonde Marigold Seeds or Plants
If you love classic orange marigolds, the Strawberry Blonde Marigolds from Burpee deserve a second look. These easy-to-grow, sun-loving plants feature pastel flowers in shades of rose, pink, and yellow that vary depending on the temperature. Warm weather brings out yellow and pink tones, and the flowers appear in pink and plum tones in cooler temperatures. These are the same marigolds you know and love, but with stunning bicolor blooms.
Get the Strawberry Blonde Marigold Seeds or Plants at Burpee from $6.95
7. Sugar Cube Hybrid Cantaloupe Seeds
Every summer garden deserves delicious cantaloupe, and Burpee promises that the Sugar Cube Hybrid is the most disease-resistant variety on the market. The Sugar Cube Hybrid seeds produce small melons that weigh 2 to 4 pounds, with deep orange flesh packed with sweet flavor. You can start enjoying your bounty about 80 days after planting this seed.
Get the Sugar Cube Hybrid Cantaloupe Seeds at Burpee for $6.45
8. Teddy Bear Sunflower Seeds
Whether you’re looking for a sunflower you can grow in a container or border your garden beds with, Burpee’s Teddy Bear Sunflower is an excellent choice. These compact sunflower plants reach about 2 to 3 feet tall and span 14 to 16 inches wide. From mid-summer to fall, they produce vibrant double blooms that grow as large as 6 inches. When fully ripe, the sunflower heads produce seeds that attract birds.
Get the Teddy Bear Sunflower Seeds at Burpee for $6.95
9. Park’s Whopper CR Improved Hybrid Tomato Seeds
Those looking for a large, meaty tomato that produces an abundant amount of fruit right up until the first frost will enjoy the easy-to-grow Park’s Improved Whopper Tomato. These crack-resistant tomatoes grow at least 4 inches across and are resistant to many common diseases, making them a reliable addition to most gardens.
Get the Park’s Whopper CR Improved Hybrid Tomato Seeds at Park Seed for $6.95
10. Sweet Success Cucumber Seeds
The award-winning Sweet Success Hybrid Cucumber is an English burpless variety that produces fruits up to 12 inches long. The nearly seedless cucumbers feature a bitter-free flavor that leans slightly sweet. Sow the seeds directly in your garden soil, and these sun-loving fruits will reach full maturity in 58 days.
Get the Sweet Success Cucumber Seeds at Burpee for $6.95
11. Genovese Basil Seeds or Plants
Add the fragrant dark green leaves of Genovese Basil to your herb garden for easy access when whipping up a pesto. Burpee offers both organic and non-organic Genovese basil seeds as well as convenient starter plants. These seeds can be started early indoors or sown directly into the garden after all dangers of frost have passed.
Grower Experience: “If I’m making caprese salad, this is the basil I want. Its aromatic flavor adds just the right touch to fresh tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.”—Glenda Taylor, garden writer and tester
Get the Genovese Basic Seeds or Plants at Burpee from $5.45
12. Butterstick Hybrid Summer Squash Seeds
Summer squash is a garden staple, and the long harvest period of the Butterstick Hybrid Summer Squash makes it a top pick. This bright yellow zucchini features a sweet, nutty flavor that makes it perfect for stir-fries, roasting, grilling, and more. Sow its seeds directly into the garden soil, and you’ll be enjoying fresh summer squash in about 50 days.
Get the Butterstick Hybrid Summer Squash Seeds at Burpee for $5.45
13. Calypso Cilantro Seeds or Plants
Whether planted in an herb garden or container, the slow-bolting Calypso Cilantro produces a long-lasting bounty of flavorful leaves for salsa, guacamole, and more. This versatile seed can be started indoors or planted directly in the ground or in a pot outside after the danger of frost has passed. Expect to harvest about 50 to 55 days after planting.
Get the Calypso Cilantro Seeds or Plants at Burpee from $5.95
14. Summer Wave Large Blue Torenia Plants
Add an elegant splash of color to your front porch with the Summer Wave Large Blue Torenia plants. When planted in a hanging basket or container, these flowers cascade over the side, showcasing their delicate structure and purplish-blue hue. Often called “wishbone flowers” for the two stamens that meet in the center like a tiny wishbone, Torenias thrive in partial shade, making them ideal for porches, decks, and covered patios. Burpee offers these plants in a pack of four.
Get the Summer Wave Large Blue Torenia Plants at Burpee for $21.95
15. Lemongrass Seeds or Plants
Burpee’s Lemongrass is a fast-growing, sun-loving plant that thrives in gardens and containers. Its grassy texture and motion can add visual interest to flower beds, or it can be added to herb gardens and harvested for its tangy floral flavor. Lemongrass is a staple in many dishes, including seafood, curries, and teas, and can even replace lemon zest in some baked goods. Burpee offers lemongrass starter plants as well as seed packs.
Get the Lemongrass Seeds or Plants at Burpee from $6.95
