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 Planning – Bullies & Pushovers
- Date & Time: Wednesday, March 26, 4:00pm
- Location: Martindale-Brightwood Branch
- Description: Come hear about which plants to avoid (and what to grow instead) from one of Indiana’s best-loved garden experts.
- Register Here
- Event: Starting Plants from Seeds
- Date & Time: Saturday, March 29, 11:00am
- Location: Eagle Branch
- Description: Whether you are container gardening, starting seeds indoors to transplant, or broke into a sweat at that consideration, this workshop is for you! Learn some of the basics from Master Gardeners for starting your own plants from seeds!
- Register Here
- Event: Planning Your Garden
- Date & Time: Saturday, March 29, 2:00pm
- Location: Lawrence Branch
- Description: Join Master Gardeners and other Experts to learn about the best ways to plan your garden. Leave with tips, tricks, and tools to plan your most successful year yet!
- Register Here
- Event: Smaller Space Gardening
- Date & Time: Saturday, March 29, 2:00pm
- Location: Southport Branch
- Description: Come hear Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp share about the right-sized gardener and growing with life’s changes.
- Register Here
- Event: Starting Sweet Potato Slips
- Date & Time: Monday, March 31, 6:00pm
- Location: Central Library
- Description: Did you know you can grow your own sweet potatoes? Join Jill to learn how to start your own sweet potato plants, get some tips for growing and storing them, and make your very own sweet potato plant babies (slips) to take home and grow!
- Register Here
- Event: Spring Festival at Wayne
- Date & Time: Wednesday, April 02, 12:00pm
- Location: Wayne Branch
- Description: Come for a variety of spring-themed activities. There will be stories, crafts, games, and prizes for all. You’ll even get to plant your own flower seed and take it home!
- 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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