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The Heritage Seed Library

The Heritage Seed Library (HSL) maintains the national collection of heritage and heirloom vegetables and aims to conserve vegetable varieties that are not widely available, sharing seed with our members to grow and enjoy.
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2026 HSL Seed List is now open!

HSL members will receive exclusive access to over 150 rare varieties, including 14 brand new additions.

Browse the seed list

Get involved with HSL

Home growers, schools, communities, organisations and public gardens can support the work of the Heritage Seed Library by becoming a seed guardian and growing seed for us. You can also support us by becoming a Garden Organic HSL member and get free seed every year!

Introducing the Heritage Seed Library

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    How the Heritage Seed Library works

    The seed library holds over 800 varieties of seeds, including rare landrace varieties adapted to specific growing conditions, heirloom varieties saved over generations and varieties no longer available to buy.

  2. Book of heritage seeds

    Why we grow heritage seeds

    The Heritage Seed Library is a vital resource to connect people with seed, keep our heritage alive and increase biodiversity.

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    This year’s Heritage Seed Library seed trials

    This year at Ryton, we are trialling four re-discovered heritage varieties to check for health, cross-pollination, and description.

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Grow your heritage varieties

Are you growing HSL varieties this year? Browse our growing instructions to give your seeds the best start. 

View our growing instructions

Requesting your seeds from the 2026 Seed List

  • The 2026 Heritage Seed Library Seed List opens Tuesday 18 November 2025 and closes 31 March 2026. 

  • To gain access to the Heritage Seed Library Seed List, you must become a member of Garden Organic and the Heritage Seed Library.

    Garden Organic Membership starts at £3.25 a month, and Heritage Seed Library is an additional £1.75. You can join at www.gardenorganic.org.uk/join

  • If you are struggling to log in to your member dashboard, please reset your password at www.gardenorganic.org.uk/members/login. You'll receive an email asking you to reset your password. If you're still unable to log in, contact our membership team: [email protected].

  • Individual Heritage Seed Library members can order six packets of seed. Group members can order 12 packets of seed.

  • Please try refreshing the membership dashboard page. If your details still aren't up to date, please contact our membership team on [email protected].

  • We get a lot of traffic to our website in the first few days of the seed list launching! If the Seed List isn't loading for you, or is coming up with a 505 error, please try again later.