FAQ - Can we help?
Here in our help section you’ll find many answers to frequently asked questions.
Are your seeds open-pollinated?
Yes, our entire range consists exclusively of open-pollinated varieties – this is something that’s really important to us.
Are all your seeds organic?
Unfortunately not all varieties are available as organic seed.
Are your seeds GMO-free?
Yes – our seeds have not been genetically modified in any way.
My seeds aren’t germinating - what should I do?
There are various reasons why seeds fail to germinate: the seeds might be too old, or they might not have been stored properly, or maybe they weren’t sown in the right conditions.
Contact
The best way is to write to us, either by e-mail or using our contact form, as we aren’t contactable by phone.
Returns
Yes, you have the right to cancel your order for 14 days following receipt, which means that you can send back unopened seed packets without needing to give a reason.
You can find all the information on returning your order here.
Orders and delivery
No, there is no minimum order value.
Most seed orders are sent by standard post - or by registered mail for larger-value orders. International shipments are sent as tracked deliveries. Larger orders, such as those with multiple seed kits, are sent as a DPD parcel delivery.
Unfortunately international orders - especially those outside the EU - are sometimes subject to delays. This is often due to customs procedures, which can take 1-2 weeks.
We don’t have a retail outlet and unfortunately orders cannot be collected.
Questions about products
Yes - if a variety in our shop is listed as ‘out of stock’ we are in the process of sourcing it again. Sometimes if harvests have been poor this can mean waiting until the following year.
The seed quantity per packet is listed in the product details for each individual seed type.
The best before date is shown on our seed packets. However, we’re currently in the process of updating our packets and there are still some packets in our shop that don’t display this information. Generally we recommend sowing the seeds in the upcoming season.
We’re currently in the process of changing how we date our seeds. Previously the date we printed on our seed packets was when they were packed. However, we received so many queries about how long seeds would keep for that we decided to switch to printing a best before date instead. As a result, both kinds of date marking are currently in circulation. The text printed with the date will clarify whether this is a ‘best before’ date or a packing date (“abgefüllt am” in German).
We print “Zierpflanzensamen” on the packet because many seed varieties can only be sold under the category of ornamental plant seeds for legal reasons. The seeds affected by this are mainly vegetable seeds. Many of the old heirloom varieties are not currently listed by the Plant Variety Office and cannot therefore be sold as vegetable seeds. In order to save these varieties from disappearing altogether we sell them as “ornamental plant seeds”.
From left to right, the symbols on the seed packets stand for: germination temperature, month for sowing indoors, month for sowing outside, planting distance and sowing depth.
Our aim is to achieve plastic-free packaging for our products and shipping. The main material we use is responsibly sourced paper. Only the adhesives and bindings still contain other materials.
Seeds
Yes, our entire range consists exclusively of open-pollinated varieties – this is something that’s really important to us. This means you can harvest seeds from the plants you grow using our seed and when you sow this seed the following year you’ll get nearly identical plants. We don’t have any hybrid seeds in our store.
“Open-pollinated” is a term used to describe plant varieties that breed true-to-type - i.e. their seeds will produce offspring that closely resemble the parent plant, retaining the same characteristics. In practical terms this means that you can propagate these plants by saving your own seed. By contrast the offspring of varieties that are not open-pollinated - i.e. hybrid (F1) varieties - will exhibit different characteristics, so normally they are not suitable for propagation.
These are plant varieties that have been cultivated over many generations and often have a long history behind them. These concepts cover a vast range of hugely diverse varieties. Often they are adapted to local environmental conditions. Many of them are very vigorous and disease-resistant, others need more care and attention. They are all “open-pollinated” - i.e. they are suitable for saving your own seed.
Most seeds will keep until next year, or even longer, without any problems. There are a few species, though - mainly tropical plants, such as coffee - whose seeds remain viable for just a few months. If you’re unsure don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Service team.
Most cultivated plant seeds will remain viable for 2-5 years. Some tropical plant seeds remain viable for less than a year. Many European wild plant seeds can remain viable for decades.
Storing seeds properly can preserve their viability for significantly longer. A dark, cool place is perfect. The absolutely ideal option would be to store your seed packets in an airtight screw-top jar and keep it in the fridge.
Yes – our seeds have not been genetically modified in any way. The abbreviation GMO stands for “genetically modified organism’’ and the genetic modifications involved can make plants resistant to pesticides and weedkillers or more resistant to disease. This may initially sound like something beneficial – but there hasn’t yet been sufficient research into the knock-on effects these changes may have for nature and biodiversity, or indeed for humans when these plants enter the food chain.
Unfortunately not all varieties are available as organic seed. For flowers and exotic plants in particular, it’s difficult to obtain seeds produced organically. Our organic varieties include the word ‘organic’ after the plant name and have the EU organic logo and our certification number printed on the packet. So it’s very easy to tell which seeds are organic.
Organic seed comes from plants produced using ecologically sustainable, organic growing methods. Unlike conventional seeds, which are often grown using chemical fertilisers and pesticides, organic seeds are produced in accordance with rigorously monitored organic farming guidelines.
Our seeds are not chemically treated.
Sowing
1. Sow your seeds at the right time, be patient and follow the instructions on the packet. By doing this you’ll avoid most potential problems.
2. Keep the sowing compost moist at all times, but not too wet, until the seeds germinate. It shouldn’t be wet enough to release water droplets if you squeeze it in your hand.
3. Seeds should be covered with a layer of earth roughly as deep as they are wide. 4. Warmth and light are really important factors when sowing seeds. Most seeds will germinate well at average temperatures of 20°C. But do check the instructions on the seed packets as many varieties need significantly warmer conditions - or might even need a period of cold temperatures.
Detailed sowing instructions are available here
For most cultivated plants nearly all the seeds will germinate - or at any rate more than 75% should do so. For some wild plants, though, it’s natural for only half the seeds to germinate - or for some to germinate straight away and others not until some months later.
We can’t issue a guarantee but we will happily provide support if you encounter problems - just write to us and let us know.
This can vary considerably. Some seeds need cold temperatures to germinate - while some tropical seeds need temperatures above 25°C. You’ll find information about individual varieties in the product details in our shop and on the seed packets.
These seeds need a cold period (winter) because the mechanism inhibiting germination breaks down at temperatures around 5°C. Sometimes these seeds germinate during the cold phase, sometimes only later, when conditions become warmer. If you’re sowing these seeds directly outdoors the best time is from October to February. But you can also give these seeds an artificial cold treatment (cold stratification) in your fridge.
Detailed instructions are available here.
Seeds that need light to germinate contain photoreceptors that trigger germination - they should be sown by scattering them on the compost surface, or covering them only very lightly with sand, so that they remain exposed to the light. For these seeds we’ve indicated a sowing depth of “0 cm” in our shop and on our seed packets.
This varies a great deal. Some kinds of seeds germinate after just two days - others will take two months. The product information in our shop includes an average germination time (in days), but actual germination times can vary if temperatures are unfavourable.
Sowing & growing problems
There are various reasons why seeds fail to germinate: the seeds might be too old, or they might not have been stored properly, or maybe they weren’t sown in the right conditions. Seeds should always be stored in a place that’s as dry and dark as possible, and relatively cool. A few things can go wrong at the sowing stage. Whatever the problem might be in your case, please don’t hesitate to contact our customer service team by email or using our contact form: our aim is to help you grow your seeds successfully.
It might be that the seeds didn’t germinate, perhaps because the conditions weren’t right, and that wild plants are growing there instead. These wild plants may have suppressed the plants you intended to grow.
Not really - although it is important to know that pumpkins and squashes can very easily cross-fertilise. Sometimes this can happen with ornamental gourds grown in the vicinity of edible squashes and pumpkins. Some ornamental pumpkins can contain toxins which can then also be formed by the plants grown from self-harvested seeds. Fortunately these substances have a bitter taste which makes them easily identified - so don’t eat any pumpkins or squashes that taste bitter.
The holes are made by seed weevils, but because the beans have been frozen for a period the seeds no longer contain any living weevils. The seeds’ ability to germinate is not compromised at all as the weevils don’t eat the embryo part of the seed.
Many cucumber varieties can become bitter-tasting if the plants are stressed. Conditions such as extreme heat and drought can trigger this reaction, and some old varieties are especially susceptible. The compounds that make cucumbers bitter are mildly toxic so bitter cucumbers shouldn’t be eaten.
This is generally due to the relatively common problem of blossom end rot, which happens due to calcium deficiency. Although garden earth generally contains sufficient calcium, shop-bought composts tend to contain relatively low calcium levels. Especially in dry conditions the plants can then struggle to absorb enough calcium. Some varieties are especially susceptible while others are almost never affected. The best solution is to remove all the affected fruits and add garden lime to the soil.
Retailers and partners
Yes. You can register directly in our Retailer Shop or write to us at trader@magicgardenseeds.com
Yes - if you’re interested in working with us we’d love to hear from you. Write to us at trader@magicgardenseeds.com.
Questions about Magic Garden Seeds
That’s something we ask ourselves all the time! The name was an intuitive, spontaneous choice - it wasn’t something we analysed or thought about. The “Magic” element might make you think firstly of the magical plants in our range. But for us gardening, and seed sowing in particular, always has something magical about it. And our aim is to offer you inspirational seeds for your own magic garden.
For us, “magical plants” are those plants traditionally endowed with magical or mystical qualities. These plants have been used in rituals across various cultures and different spiritual practices worldwide. Shamanic incense herbs such as White Sage would be one example - or protective plants such as Houseleek.
Can’t find the answer you’re looking for?
Maybe your question is a different one? Absolutely no problem!
Our customer service team and plant experts are here to help you and will answer any question you have as quickly as possible.
New to the world of seeds?
Why not try one of our beginner varieties ...
Here you’ll find plant varieties and themed kits with seeds that germinate reliably almost wherever they’re sown.
