Friends Quarterly Blog

February 4, 2026

--Leslie R. Dye, MD, FWCPDOH

“According to the World Conservation Union, invasive alien species are the second most significant threat to biodiversity, after habitat loss”.

Bad Seeds

While most of my gardening memories from childhood are good, there are some, like weeding in the hot summer, that are not. But one of the joys was having a canned tomato or frozen green bean from last season’s garden in the middle of winter. But even choosing seeds can be complicated.

It seems that there are scams and cautions about everything, including purchasing or receiving plant seeds. As the winter chill sets in, many fantasize about spring sowing and start planning their upcoming gardens by February or early March. Not only do we want good seeds that will germinate, but we also want to avoid introducing invasive species into our biome.

So far, artificial intelligence cannot plant seeds (I might be wrong on this one)!

Here are some tips that can be helpful:

Using Seeds obtained from produce

Seeds harvested from fruits and vegetables purchased at a store may or may not produce fruits or vegetables when planted. Many are hybrid products (cross-pollinated to produce a desired effect) and, even if they sprout, they likely won’t yield fruit or vegetables. You may have better luck with produce purchased at a local farmer’s market, particularly “heirloom” varieties.

How to test your seeds

A simple germination test can determine if seeds (particularly seeds packets from an earlier season) will be good for planting. Every year that a seed ages results in a lower germination rate, but some seeds may last more than one year (lettuce seeds often last 3 years).

Test larger seeds by placing them in a glass of warm water. If the seeds are floating after about 15 minutes, they probably will not sprout.

For smaller seeds (tend to float in a glass of warm water regardless)

Dampen a paper towel and place about 10 seeds in a fold, then place in a Ziplock bag.
Check on the bag daily to make sure the towel stays moist.
Depending on the species, it may take a few days to a couple of weeks.
If seeds sprout (unless hybrids), they should be good for planting.
The same test can be done using sand in a shallow container instead of a bag, if you want to transplant the sprouts into soil.

Seed label terminology

It is also important to understand the terminology when purchasing seeds:

Non-GMO: seeds have not been engineered genetically
Heirloom: seeds that have been saved and passed down from one generation of small and local farmers to the next without any modification. Technically, heirloom varieties must have been passed down for at least 50 years.
Organic: seeds have been harvested from plants grown without synthetic fertilizers, genetic engineering, pesticides, or irradiation.
Open-pollinated: seeds from plants that have been pollinated by insects, wind, birds, humans, or other natural methods.
Hybrid: seeds from plants that have been cross-pollinated with different-but-related plants over several generations.

Look for companies that clearly label their varietals and if you are growing a non-GMO garden, find those who have signed the Safe Seed Pledge, a commitment by seed companies to not knowingly buy, sell, or trade genetically engineered (GE) seeds.

(Facebook seed and plant swap group)

Seed Swaps and Seed Libraries

There are Facebook groups that one can join to swap seeds. It is a fun and relatively inexpensive way to enhance your garden. Some sites, like “Ohio Seed and Plant Swap” have trade only. Many seed swaps occur at the end of January.

The annual seed exchange in Waynesville is February 5 at 5pm-6:30 pm at The Mary L. Cook public library. Per the annual seed exchange website from the library, “Come join us for the annual seed exchange. Bring seeds if you have them or just come and make new friends and get some seeds to start your own little garden.”

On February 17 at 6pm, there is a “Seedy Tuesday,” at the Lebanon Public Library that includes a seed swap and a presentation about unusual vegetables.

There are also seed libraries.

A seed library is a place where community members can get seeds free or for a nominal fee for the public benefit. Many seed libraries are open in public libraries and community centers. For some communities, getting folks to garden and grow some of their own food is the focus. For other communities, seed libraries may be created as an important step to develop a network of seed savers, to create locally adapted varieties, to respond proactively to climate change or loss of gene integrity due to GMOs or to preserve genetic diversity. Seed saving is something humans have done for over 10,000 years.

Many save their seeds after harvest to donate, but some donate leftover seeds after planting. Among other information, seed labels from libraries may provide the plant name and indicate how likely the seeds are to produce plants resembling the parent. The term “easy” in this context has nothing to do with ease of growing the plant.

For more information go to link: https://seedlibraries.weebly.com/

Some garden centers offer free seeds to charitable organizations, or for school or church projects.

Risks to be aware of:

Invasive Species: Seeds from outside your region can become invasive and outcompete native plants, harming local ecosystems.
Genetic Contamination: Swapping open-pollinated seeds with hybrids (F1) means saved seeds won't grow true to type; foreign genetics can also disrupt local plant populations.
Mislabeled or Counterfeit Seeds: Online sellers or unvetted swap participants might mislabel seeds or sell AI-generated false promises, leading to disappointment.
Pests & Diseases: While low risk, there's a possibility of spreading plant diseases or pests if seeds aren't properly handled, especially across different regions.
Patent Issues: Saving and sharing seeds from patented hybrid varieties is illegal.

How to swap safely:

Know Your Source: Prioritize local swaps and seed libraries where participants often understand regional needs.
Label Clearly: Always label seeds with the variety, date, and location/source to ensure clarity for others.
Focus on Heirlooms/Open-Pollinated: Choose these for saving seeds, and avoid hybrids if you plan to regrow from saved seeds.
Research: Verify sellers online and know what's appropriate for your specific local climate and ecosystem.
Communicate: Set clear expectations about what's being shared and encourage responsible sharing.

Beware of planting seeds from invasive species

Invasive plant species are any non-native (or alien) plants in the ecosystem that, according to the US Forest Service, “by their introduction cause or are likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.” https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/invasives/index.shtml

If you are interested in a list of invasive plants in Ohio, you can look at the Ohio Department of Agriculture website at: https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/plant-health/invasive-pests/invasive-and-noxious-plants/invasive-plants

(Lonicera maakii, the Amur honeysuckle, an invasive plant species in Warren County)

What to do if you receive them:

Do NOT open or plant the seeds.
Do NOT throw them away in the trash.
Keep the sealed packet and original packaging.
Report them to your state's Department of Agriculture or the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for proper handling.

Why these seeds can cause a problem:

Invasive Species: The seeds could be invasive plants that outcompete native species, disrupt ecosystems, and harm agriculture.
Pests & Diseases: They might carry foreign insects or plant diseases, posing a threat to U.S. crops.
Brushing Scam: Sellers send unsolicited items to create fake, verified reviews, boosting their online sales.

Unsolicited Seeds sent by mail

While we can be careful of the seeds we purchase, some seeds have been mailed to senders, without solicitation. In February 2025 Texas authorities became aware of a package from an unknown sender in China that contained “unidentified seeds and a liquid container.” Since that time, more than 1,000 packages of unsolicited seeds have been sent to 109 locations throughout Texas. The concern is the introduction of invasive species that threaten agriculture and our ecosystems. Many of these packages were processed by China Post, the Chinese communist regime’s official postal service. These have also been discovered in Alabama and New Mexico.

These efforts are likely part of a global “brushing scam.” “By sending unsolicited, low-value items to residential addresses, sellers could post false-positive reviews under the name of a “verified” owner, thereby boosting sales,” according to investigators.

Intrepid gardeners, the snow will melt!

Take precautions now to make 2026 your best harvest ever!

Facebook | Website | Contact Us