Seed Library
Donate a Seed, Take a Seed
Donating seeds is a wonderful way to support our community and promote biodiversity. Bring in your heirloom, non-hybrid seeds to share by planting them, and let some of them grow to maturity. When you harvest the next generation of seeds, return some to the library so other people can check them out. You can borrow up to 5 seed packets at a time.
To donate seeds, please follow recommended harvesting/seed saving techniques.
- Label the seeds clearly with the plant species, variety, and the year they were harvested.
- Bring your seeds to the 3rd floor of the Fredericksburg Branch or Porter Branch and place them in the basket by the Seed Library.
- Read Seed Saving for Beginners and Grow A Row to get even more tips.
What's in the Seed Library right now?
Donating seeds not only helps others grow food and plants but also contributes to preserving genetic diversity in local ecosystems. We keep the available seeds to the seasonal calendar. Browse the lists below. Available while supplies last.
Gardening Events & Programs at the Library
Hands-on Gardening Workshops for Children, part of a series
Save the Pollinator Flower Show, part of a series
Summer Gardening Advice
2026 Pest Management Guide: Home Grounds and Animals
The Virginia Pest Management Guide (PMG) series lists options for management of major pests: diseases, insects, nematodes, and weeds.
Late Summer Gardening Advice from Lewis Ginter
Southern Exposure Growing Guides
Includes seasonal and seed-saving guides. | Summer Guide
Ultimate Guide to Gardening in Virginia
Looking to get into gardening in Virginia, but not sure where to start? This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about gardening in Virginia, from the best plants to grow to how to deal with pests and weeds.
Virginia’s Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide
, opens a new windowRecommended Planting Dates and Amounts to Plant | VCE Publications
Virginia’s Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide: Recommended Planting Dates and Amounts to Plant
Did you know that we're in zones 7a/b?
Garden Zones 7a and 7b refer to specific hardiness zones within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which helps gardeners determine which plants are most likely to thrive in their region based on climate conditions, particularly minimum winter temperatures.
- Zone 7a has a minimum average winter temperature range of 0°F to 5°F (-18°C to -15°C).
- Zone 7b has a minimum average winter temperature range of 5°F to 10°F (-15°C to -12°C).
These zones are part of a broader system that divides the United States into 13 zones based on temperature extremes. In Zone 7, winters are relatively mild compared to colder zones, allowing a wide variety of plants to thrive, including many perennials, shrubs, and trees.
Typical plants for these zones include roses, lilacs, lavender, and some fruit trees. The growing season in Zone 7 typically extends from early spring to late fall, making it a good region for many types of flowers, vegetables, and ornamental plants.
A Month-by-Month Guide to Vegetable Gardening
Monthly information on general garden design, planning, maintenance, and pest and disease detection from the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.
Click the icon to see To Do Lists and more. To see all months, go here.
