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: Growing for Fall and Preserving the Harvest
- Date & Time: Monday, July 28, 6:00pm
- Location: Glendale Branch
- Description: Get as much out of the growing season as possible. This is the time to get ready for August, September, and those first few days of October. Plus, find out how to preserve all those tomatoes.
- Register Here
- Event: Basics of Hydroponics
- Date & Time: Tuesday, July 29, 6:00pm
- Location: Fort Ben Branch
- Description: Join Master Gardener Jo Ann Klooz to learn how you might grow your own gardeny-goodness, whatever the outside temperatures might be.
- Register Here
- Event: Cover Crops – Improving Your Soil’s Health
- Date & Time: Thursday, August 07, 11:00am
- Location: Haughville Branch
- Description: Planting cover crops in your garden is a very easy way to improve your soil’s health. Join Kevin Allison to learn about soil health, cover crops, and receive free cover crop seeds as you think toward fall.
- Register Here
- Event: Cover Crops – Improving Your Soil’s Health
- Date & Time: Tuesday, August 12, 6:00pm
- Location: Fort Ben Branch
- Description: Planting cover crops in your garden is a very easy way to improve your soil’s health. Join Kevin Allison to learn about soil health, cover crops, and receive free cover crop seeds as you think toward fall.
- Register Here
- Event: West Perry Gardening Group
- Date & Time: Friday, August 15, 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.
- Event: S.H.E. Event 2025
- Date & Time: Saturday, August 16, 11:00am
- Location: Central Library
- Description: The Indianapolis Public Library’s African American History Committee will be partnering with S.H.E.(She has Everything) Indy event to bring the S.H.E. event to Central Library, a platform for Black owned businesses to increase their customers and revenue.
- 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
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