Find out where to buy reliable veggie garden seeds that are proven performers in Tasmania’s unique climate and soils.
The best place to get your seeds
The best vegetable seeds are often heirloom varieties that have been grown successfully by local growers over decades. They are varieties that do well in our local climate and our local soils. The best place to find them is the seed catalogues of local seed suppliers!
This blog post provides info about Tasmanian small businesses that grow vegetables for the purpose of selling their seed to the general public. They often also source vegetable seeds from other local vegetable gardeners.
My experience is that Tasmanian seed growers are passionate about their seeds and are keen to hear feedback from customers. They often specialise in certain seed categories. In many cases germination rates are tested so only seeds are sold that have a high likelihood of germination. They are constantly on the lookout for more locally grown varieties. All the growers mentioned here have an online shop so they can sell to Tasmanians right around the state.
The list below is in alphabetical order and used info that the growers provided on their web sites. It is a work in progress. If you know of a local company that should be added, or if you feel that something here is incomplete or incorrect, please email Food Garden Group blog coordinator Max at foodgardengroup@gmail.com and this blog post will be updated.
Give our local seed suppliers a go! You won't regret it!
Dave's Seed
From their web site: “Vegetable gardening has been a passion since I was a child. I germinate over 100,000 vegetable, herb and flower seeds a year, so I know the pain of poor-quality seeds or varieties not suited to Tasmania’s cool climate. My seeds are either home-grown, sourced from quality market gardeners or from wholesalers around the world.”They specialise in: Tomato, Chilli, Capsicum, Eggplant and Lettuce varieties.
Where they sell their seeds: Dave has a stall at the Cygnet Market (first and third Sunday of the month) and Franklin Market (the fourth Sunday) between August and April of each growing season.
Online shop: their range of veggie, herb and flower seed packets is available at https://www.davesseed.com/daves-seed-sale/
Provenance Growers
From their web site: “We are a market garden and edible plant nursery in lutruwita/Tasmania providing produce, edible plants and preserves to home cooks, chefs and gardeners. We grow using organic and regenerative principles, with no herbicides or pesticides. We run our nursery with only salvaged plastic pots.”They specialise in: the most delicious varieties of edible plants that are suited to growing in the Tasmanian climate
Where they sell their seeds: Salamanca Market site 204 (middle isle of stalls) 8.30-3pm Saturdays
Online shop: for their full range of seeds see https://www.provenancegrowers.com.au/retail-shop/seed
Rangeview Seeds
From their web site: “Rangeview seeds is a company in Winnaleah near Scottsdale run by one man with help from his family and friends. We are developing our range at an incredible rate. Adding new varieties almost every week.”They specialise in: seeds for sustainability, those seeds that produce foods, homemade medicines, clothing, shelter, anything practical.
Where they sell their seeds: Allan’s Garden Centre in Prospect, Launceston
Online shop: Their full range of seeds is available at https://rangeviewseeds.com.au/store/
Seed Freaks
From their web site: “We are enthusiasts for authentic Australian grown heritage seeds, nurturing our passion through over 400 varieties of open-pollinated and heirloom seeds. As seasoned regenerative farmers and market gardeners turned seed cultivators, we’re dedicated to fostering plant seeds that are acclimatised to local conditions, creating robust crops that reflect the rich biodiversity of nature’s bounty.”They specialise in: Rare and wonderful varieties, particularly heirloom tomato and bean varieties, that you will never see on the very limited Australian supermarket shelf.
Where they sell their seeds: At the South Arm market. Follow them on Facebook or Instagram to find out which markets they go to.
Online shop: The Seed Freaks online shop is at https://seedfreaks.com.au/shop
Southern Harvest
From their web site: “We are a family-run business in the foothills of Mt Wellington in southern Tasmania. We grow seed and use trial-gardens to ensure that we have selected the best quality and variety of seed. Regular germination tests ensure that all our seed has the best chance of success. We also have a network of local growers who supply us. Some are certified organic, but all use only natural, biological or organic methods to ensure seed of excellent quality and free of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.”They specialise in: A wide range of heirloom (heritage) varieties as well as newer varieties that perform well in their trials and taste great.
Where they sell their seeds: The following nurseries stock a range of their seeds: Chandlers-Sandy Bay, Station Nursery-New Town, Clennetts Mitre 10–Kingston+Huonville, Royal Tas. Botanical Gardens Shop, Harmony Nursery–Lauderdale. Please ring them to find out whether they have in stock what you need.
Online shop: Their online vegetable seeds catalogue is at https://www.southernharvest.com.au/vegetable-seeds-catalogue and their seeds can be ordered online at this site.
Tasmanian Natural Garlic & Tomatoes (TNG&T)
From their web site: “Our farm is located at 338 Four Springs Road in Selbourne, on the eastern edge of the Meander Valley in Northern Tasmania. We do not use pesticides or synthetic sprays.”They specialise in: Organically and biologically produced garlic and tomatoes, and also sell capsicum, melon and a few other seeds in season.
Where they sell their seeds: Koonya Garlic Festival (February each year)
Online shop: TNG&T’s online shop can be found at https://www.tngt.com.au/shop.html
Tassie Seeds
From their web site: “Tassie Seeds offers the home gardener a select range of open-pollinated, heirloom and hybrid seeds of early productive gourmet varieties. Our main passion is growing our own seeds, and we currently grow 70% of our range at our Bridgenorth Farm. Seeds are selected from our trials garden and are perfect for the cool maritime climate of Tasmania and other similar regions.”They specialise in: They select and sell varieties that they know will grow well and consistently in a cool maritime climate such as Tasmania. They grow and source early varieties because Tasmania has late springs, but short summers and cool winters.
Where they sell their seeds: They sell 400+ vegetable and flower seeds, mostly to home gardeners via markets in the Launceston area, our website and Ebay.
Online shop: The full range of seeds is available at https://tassieseeds.com.au/shop/
The Lost Seed
The Lost Seed used to be a Tasmanian seed business. Then they moved to Southern Queensland. Now they have announced that in early 2025 they will relocate their business to North-West Tasmania. If you want to know more, keep an eye on their web site at https://www.thelostseed.com.auVeggie & Flower Garden Seeds
From their web site: “Veggie & Flower Garden Seeds was founded by myself (Bec), with my partner Rob and brother Sam who also works in the business. We have our trail patch just outside of Hobart, Tasmania, where we grow and document lots of our varieties as well as save the seed of some very special varieties. Our office is just nearby down the road.”They specialise in: They specialise in hard-to-find flower seeds and stock a huge range of flower, veggie, herb and native quality seeds.
Where they sell their seeds: they sell online only
Online shop: order your seeds at https://veggiegardenseeds.com.au/collections/vegetable-seeds
Thank you, Denby, for contributing info about Northern Tasmanian seed suppliers!
More seed-related blog posts on the Food Garden Group blog:
- Are heirlooms ‘good’ and hybrids ‘bad’? – Heirlooms and Hybrids
- How to sow in your garden - Sowing in your Garden
- Why and how to sow in punnets - Sowing in Pots and Punnets
- Harvesting your own seeds - Seed Saving Made Easy
- How long do seeds remain viable? - The Life Expectancy of Seeds
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