Seed categories

• Open-Pollinated Seeds: naturally pollinated by wind, insects, or animals, typically producing the same plant, same vegetables, same seeds that you can save and re-seed. Abbr. OP.

• Heirloom Seeds: open-pollinated seeds that are passed down for generations (at least 50 years), and valued for their historical aspect. Abbr. HL

• Hybrid Seeds: created by crossing 2 parent plants of different varieties for specific qualities (e.g., disease resistance or high yield). It is more difficult to make your own hybrid seeds. Abbr. HY ; Aka F1 seeds.

• Organic seeds: produced by farmers who follow the USDA organic standards. They can use non-synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Abbr. OR or OG. Source: USDA.

• Conventional seeds: produced by farmers who are not certified USDA organic. They can use approved synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Learn more: USDA, Science Direct

• Treated seeds: have been treated or coated with a pesticide or fungicide in order to prevent pests or disease.

• Pelleted seeds: coated with clay or chalk in order to facilitate handling, spacing, and germination.

• Inoculated seeds: coated with beneficial bacteria (like rhizobia) to help plants, such as beans and peas, fix nitrogen in the soil. Improves growth and yield in poor soils.

• Stratified seeds: have been exposed to cold, moist conditions in order to break dormancy and improve germination rate (e.g. onion, leek, spinach, carrots)

• Seed tape, paper, mats: ready-to-plant piece of paper embedded with seeds. This is used to ensure a regular spacing between very small seeds.

• GMO or GE seeds: genetically engineered. These seeds are not available to vegetable gardeners, they are mostly used for corn, cotton, and soybeans.  Source: USDA

• Determinate varieties: Plant grows to a set size, produce fruit all at once, and then stop. Great for small spaces and harvesting at one time. E.g.: determinate tomatoes, potatoes, beans, squash, peppers, etc.

• Indeterminate varieties: Plant keeps growing, flowering, and producing fruit throughout the season. Perfect for continuous harvest. E.g.: indeterminate tomatoes, potatoes, beans, squash, peppers, etc

• Bush/compact/dwarf varieties: Plant grows in a compact, bushy form.

• Pole/climbing/vining/runner varieties: Plant grows as long vines that need support (like stakes or trellises). 

• Self-pollinating plants: Flowers can pollinate themselves, so it produces even if you have only 1 plant. E.g. tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, beans, peas.

• Cross-pollinating plants: Flowers need to be pollinated by another flower. E.g.: squash or cucumbers need to be pollinated by another flower ; apples or blueberries need to be pollinated by another variety.