Cold Stratify Seeds

Many seeds seem to magically sprout with zero effort—the wonders of nature! But there are some seeds that require a special treatment before they will even germinate in a climate that has temperatures below freezing. This process is called cold stratification. There are two ways to accomplish this. 1) Place them in the ground in fall and let them go through a winter. They will sprout next year, but not flower. The following year, having gone through two winters, they will return and bloom as expected. 2) Create a “false winter.” To do this, you’ll trick the seeds into thinking they have been in the ground for an entire year, when in fact, they have simply been refrigerated for 2 ½ or more months. Learn more about cold stratification, and be on your way to gorgeous blooms.

Why cold-stratify seeds are worth the extra effort

  • 112 cold stratify seeds
  • Direct sow in fall or refrigerate seeds to mimic winter conditions
  • Annual and perennial varieties for continual blooms and harvests
  • Flowers, herbs, and vegetables suitable for all hardiness zones

Why cold-stratify seeds are worth the extra effort

  • 112 cold stratify seeds
  • Direct sow in fall or refrigerate seeds to mimic winter conditions
  • Annual and perennial varieties for continual blooms and harvests
  • Flowers, herbs, and vegetables suitable for all hardiness zones

The best cold-stratify seeds to set your garden apart

Are you looking to level up your gardening game? Now that you've mastered all the beginner-friendly seeds, it's time for a little bit of a challenge.

The seeds in this collection aren't your typical run-of-the-mill garden seeds that everyone else in your neighborhood is growing. These vegetables, herbs, and flowers are truly special. All of the seeds in this list require cold stratification to germinate—meaning, these seeds have to go through a true or false winter before they'll even sprout.

The cool thing (no pun intended) about cold-stratified seeds is that they tolerate colder temperatures. These hardy plants are far from delicate, and while they do need a little extra attention to germinate, once established these varieties don't require much extra care.

From native flowering perennials like Yarrow Colorado Mix, to common culinary and medicinal herbs like Common Oregano and Munstead Lavender, you might be surprised by some of the varieties in this collection. Even asparagus is technically a cold-stratify seed!

Cold-stratify seeds in the garden or in the refrigerator

The process of cold-stratifying seeds can take a couple of different forms: 1) Plant the seeds in fall and let them go through a winter. They will sprout next year, but not flower. The following year, having gone through two winters, they will return and bloom as expected. 2) Create a false winter by refrigerating the seeds for at least 2 ½ months. Plant seeds in the spring and they'll readily sprout, thinking that they've lived through an entire year already.

Fall-sowing seed is certainly the easiest method and the most natural, but the refrigerator method is perfect for gardeners whose growing regions doesn't experience below-freezing temperatures, or for gardeners who are short on time. Learn more about cold stratification here, and be on your way to gorgeous blooms and delicious herbs in no time!

The highest-quality cold stratify seeds on the market

At Eden Brothers, we know exactly how much of an investment gardening is. We understand how carefully you research seeds before you make your final purchases. We're well aware how much money you spend on seeds, but what's even more important is the time and energy that you put into each and every seed. That's the reason why we strive to supply the highest quality seeds on the market. We stand by the Safe Seed Pledge that we took, guaranteeing that our seeds would always be free of GMOs and fillers.

Order your cold-stratify seeds today and we promise you won't be disappointed. If you follow our recommended planting instructions, even the most lifeless-looking seeds will be bursting with life after a brief cold spell.