Get ready for the 2025 HEPL Seed Library! We love hearing about your gardens every year, and we know the Seed Library is very important to library users. Our hope is that with the HEPL Seed Library, you will explore how wonderful gardening can be, no matter where you are in your gardening journey.
In 2025, we will open in two phases. On February 10, we will start circulating select varieties that require early starts or other care that means you need to start working with them earlier. At HEPL, we call these Level 2 seeds, and they include:
- Vegetables, herbs, and flowers that need to be planted indoors several weeks before they can be planted outdoors. This includes plants like tomatoes, peppers, lavender, asters, and strawflowers.
- Native plants that require preparation, like cold moist stratification before being planted outside. This includes plants like rose mallow, mistflower, and rattlesnake master
On March 3, all varieties will be available.
One of the top suggestions that we receive each year is for biodegradable packaging options. We intended to transition 40% of our collection to biodegradable packets this year, increasing that percentage each year until the entire collection used biodegradable packets. Unfortunately, the packaging we selected was backordered, and we weren’t able to find a comparable option that would allow us to stay within our budget. Our goal is to begin transitioning to biodegradable packaging in 2026.
Visit the Seed Library page for a complete list of seeds and growing guides. Don’t forget to tag us (@hamiltoneastpl #heplgrowers) if you post pictures of your garden!
How does the Seed Library work?
Once the Seed Library is open, you can come to the Fishers or Noblesville Library to get a maximum of 15 seed packets per library cardholder for the 2025 growing season. We follow the honor system, so no need to check in with a staff member unless you have questions. You are not required to return seeds, but we do welcome donations of most varieties of harvested seeds to share again with our community. If you have gardening questions, you can email the Seed Library team at [email protected].
Can I get seeds for my school/community group/nonprofit?
We love working with schools, community groups, and HOAs to beautify Fishers and Noblesville! If your group would like to partner with us, please do not take packets from the catalogs since this quickly depletes our collection. Instead, contact us at [email protected], and we will discuss options customized to your needs.
What kinds of seeds do you have?
There are 145 seed varieties in HEPL’s collection this year, including vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, and even a native grass. The seeds are non-GMO and open-pollinated. We do not include hybrid plants in the collection. You’ll find old favorites as well as fresh varieties each year. We also label our plants by difficulty level so you can choose plants that you’ll find the most success with.
Each year, we rotate in a few new varieties to offer you an opportunity to try something new. For 2025, we included ground cherries, cleome, Mountain Princess tomatoes, culver root, lovage, mistflower, Bishop’s Crown peppers, wingstem, and more!
Can I donate seeds?
Yes! We welcome your donated seeds, although we are unable to accept varieties like squash and pumpkins that cross-pollinate easily. We have a short donation form that you can fill out when you come to the library.
Upcoming HEPL Gardening Programs
Wildflowers
Thursday, March 20 | 6pm-7:30pm | Fishers Library
Learn about wildflowers, how they are uncultivated, and grow freely without our help. Presented by Hamilton County Master Gardeners Seeds of Knowledge. Registration requested.
Gardening for Butterflies & Bees
Thursday, April 3 | 6pm-7:30pm | Fishers Library
By using the right kinds of plants and flowers that butterflies love to feed on, you can have a yard full of butterflies throughout the growing season. Many food crops are dependent upon pollinators and pollination. Growing flowers and plants that attract pollinators and enhance pollination is vital for everyone. Presented by Hamilton County Master Gardeners Seeds of Knowledge. Registration requested.
Gardening Help and Resources from Hamilton East Public Library
One of the pleasures of gardening is that there’s always something new to learn, whether this is the first year you’ve tried a garden or you’ve been gardening your entire life. The library has a large gardening book collection. You might also try our Gardening with Kathy videos on YouTube, from starting seeds indoors to saving seeds, and gardening needs in between.
For even more information and updates, check HEPL’s Bright Ideas email newsletter, visit the Seed Library webpage for a complete list of plants, watch HEPL’s social media, or email us for more information at [email protected].