The Seed Library
Pick up free seeds to start your vegetable, herb, or flower garden free! The Indianapolis Public Library Seed Library is available at all our locations during regular branch hours from late March through September. One packet of each type of seed per household. In addition to free seeds, check out resources and attend workshops about growing and using plants from your seeds. We provide materials and programs to make gardening in Indianapolis a doable goal for beginners.
Tune in online for a a Gardening Storytime – a great way to read up on beginning gardening projects for kids. For kids, gardening offers a way to get messy and watch the payoff for their hard work, in the form of growing veggies and beautiful flowers. You can say, “Hey! I grew the thing! Look at the thing that I grew! Isn’t it pretty?” Imagine the Instagram fun!
Programs
- Event: Garden Pests & Diseases
- Date & Time: Tuesday, June 03, 6:30pm
- Location: Michigan Road Branch
- Description: Join Master Gardeners to learn about the things that annoy and bother your garden (and the things you don’t need to worry about).
- Register Here
- Event: Growing Herbs
- Date & Time: Monday, June 09, 2:00pm
- Location: Beech Grove Branch
- Description: Join Shirley Ulicni to learn about growing your own herbs! Whether you have a large garden space or a single container or pot, you can have fresh, tasty herbs!
- Register Here
- Event: Plant Prop Swap: Part 2
- Date & Time: Monday, June 09, 5:00pm
- Location: Martindale-Brightwood Branch
- Description: Give your plants a haircut and come to Martindale-Brightwood to swap the trimmings at this house plant propagation swap!
- No Registration Required.
- Event: Sensory Gardens
- Date & Time: Tuesday, June 10, 6:00pm
- Location: Nora Branch
- Description: Gardens feed all of your senses – taste, sight, smell, touch, and hearing. Join a Master Gardener to explore how gardens are especially great for neurodiverse children and adults.
- Register Here
- Event: Succession Planting
- Date & Time: Tuesday, June 10, 6:00pm
- Location: Central Library
- Description: Join a Master Gardener to learn how you can harvest and plant in the same space repeatedly over a season!
- Register Here
- Event: West Perry Gardening Group
- Date & Time: Friday, June 20, 10:15am
- Location: West Perry Branch
- Description: Gardens are essentially a place of sharing and gardeners know that we learn a lot from each other–whether you’re just starting or experienced. Sessions will feature seasonal discussions, resources–like our Seed Library–and connections with other gardeners.
- No Registration Required.
View on Demand
Learn on Demand Video: Seed Saving
Join Anika Williams from the Pike Branch of The Indianapolis Public Library as she harvests milkweed seeds on site and discusses the Seed Library available there.
Reading Recommendations from our Staff
Browse these featured staff book lists to help improve your gardening in Indianapolis skills. See all our gardening book lists.
Gardening in Indianapolis Resources
Follow Purdue Extension, one of the best ways to learn about gardening in Indiana. Browse their recommended online resources:
- Free Gardening Docs from Purdue Extension Purdue also has a fine YouTube channel with informative videos. As always, the Extension’s information is tailored specifically for Hoosier gardeners.
Gardening for Kids
- Gardening Storytime Online
- Plants for Kids Book List – Experiments and Activities for Backyard Botanists
Subscribe to NextReads to receive Home, Garden & DIY reading recommendation in your inbox monthly. Book suggestions are linked to our catalog for easy requesting. It’s FREE! See a sample issue. Subscribe to NextReads!