A seed library lends or shares seed. The Port Colborne Public Library's Seed Library began in 2018 and provides quality heirloom seeds to the citizens of Port Colborne. We carry both vegetable and herb seeds. Some seeds have more than one variety.

Our seed collection

Browse our collection of open-pollinated seeds and take home the varieties that interest you. Grow your plants through the summer. In the fall, save some seeds for us and share them with your library so we can start the cycle all over again.

 Seeds in our collection
  • Basil - Sweet, Genovese
  • Bush bean - Jade (green)
  • Bush bean - Rocor (yellow)
  • Bush bean - Royal Burgundy (purple)
  • Pole bean - Neckargold (yellow)
  • Pole bean - Scarlet Runner 
  • Pole bean - Isabel (green)
  • Beets - Early Wonder Tall Top
  • Broccoli - Green Sprouting
  • Broom Corn
  • Cabbage - Copenhagen Market
  • Carrots - Danvers Half Long, Little Fingers
  • Cauliflower - Amazing
  • Celery
  • Coriander (Cilantro)
  • Corn - Buhl Sweet
  • Cucumber - Telegraph, Field
  • Dill
  • Eggplant
  • Fennel
  • Garlic Bulbils
  • Leeks - Lancelot, Jolant
  • Lettuce (Bib, Butterhead, Leaf/Saladbowl)
  • Luffa (sponge) gourd {Chinese Okra} 
  • Marigolds
  • Milkweed
  • Okra - Clemson Spineless
  • Orach - Red
  • Oregano
  • Pac Choi (Pak Choy)
  • Parsley - Flat leaf
  • Peas
  • Peppers - (California Wonder, Cayenne Long Slim)
  • Pumpkins - (Connecticut Field, Sugar Pie, Long Pie)
  • Radishes - French Breakfast
  • Sage
  • Squash - Winter - Acorn
  • Sunflower - Large Grey Stripe
  • Thyme
  • Tomatoes - (Beefsteak, Golden Queen, Tiny Tim)
  • Turnips - (Purple Top White Globe, Golden Globe)
  • Watermelon
  • Winter Melon - Juanne Canary
  • Zucchini - Black Beauty

Returning seeds

You can return or donate heirloom/open pollinated seeds by following these easy steps:

  1. Collect seeds from your ripe heirloom vegetables.
  2. When dry, put the seeds into a container and label with the seed variety and year.
  3. Drop off your seeds to the library.

We will add them to the collection so that people can check them out next year.

Seed library activities

We love to share gardening tips and tricks in programs and activities. See what's happening for upcoming events.

Additional resources

In the Non-fiction room there are plenty of books available for checkout including planning your garden space, seed starting, maximizing yields, harvesting your vegetables and saving seeds.