Description
Garden Organic is a British charity for organic gardening, and its Heritage Seed Library keeps more than 800 rare and old vegetable varieties alive by sending their seed to members each year.
It was founded in 1954 by Lawrence Hills as the Henry Doubleday Research Association, which is still its legal name, and has used the name Garden Organic since 2005. Its base is at Ryton near Coventry, where Coventry University bought the site in 2019 and the charity stayed on as tenant. Members get a magazine, organic growing advice and free entry to its gardens and to RHS gardens.
The Heritage Seed Library is an add-on to membership: around £1.75 a month, or £21 a year, on top of a membership from £3.25 a month. Each winter members choose six packets from the seed list, which had 166 varieties for 2026 and was open from November to the end of March. Groups get twelve. The seeds come from volunteer Seed Guardians, gardeners, schools and community groups who grow a variety and send the seed back. Seed is sent only to members in England, Scotland and Wales.
Strengths
- Members can grow varieties found in no shop, and keep them going by saving seed.
- The seed is produced by volunteer Seed Guardians, so gardeners can take part in keeping a variety alive.
- For about £60 a year in total, members get both the seeds and organic gardening advice.
Weaknesses
- The seeds can’t be bought on their own, only received through a membership.
- The seed list is open only from November to March, with six packets per member.
- Members in Northern Ireland don’t receive seed, and the charity’s site blocked automated access when checked.
Who it is for
Vegetable gardeners and allotment holders in Great Britain who want to grow heritage varieties and are happy to order once a year through a membership.
Sources
- Garden Organic: Heritage Seed Library, how to request seeds from the 2026 seed list, how the seed library works, join (blocked automated access, November 2026; facts from search results)
- Wikipedia: Garden Organic