SEED + BULB

20TH ANNUAL GARDENING SHOW

Porter County Master Gardeners are excited to bring a vibrant Seed and Bulb Area to our Gardening Show. Attendees can explore an extensive selection of seeds and bulbs, from beautiful flowers to vegetables and an array of bulbs. Our goal is to inspire budding gardeners and seasoned green thumbs alike to cultivate their own gardens and bring their outdoor spaces to life. Join us for a day of discovery and plant some seeds of inspiration!

THE SEED EXCHANGE IS BACK!

The Indiana State Chemist and Seed Commissioner requires the PCMGA to comply with its Non-commercial Seed Sharing/Exchange Policy. The requirements of the policy differ between flowers/non-food-producing plants and vegetables/fruits. Therefore, please note the rules listed below:

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR DONATION SEEDS + BULBS

No wet seeds or bulbs will be accepted for exchange.
No seeds for invasive species will be accepted.
All seeds must be free of any foreign material.
Patented seeds or varieties protected by the Plant Variety Protection Act will not be accepted.
Packaging rules (below) apply to all types of seeds/bulbs.
All donations must include your name and contact information.

FOR FLOWERS/NON-FOOD-PRODUCING SEEDS + BULBS

Seeds and bulbs will be accepted for exchange at the Gardening Show ONLY if properly packaged.
We reserve the right to limit quantities of seed donations at the Gardening Show. We will accept no more than 25 seed packets per paid admission. Of those packets, no more than 15 of a single seed type (e.g. marigolds) will be accepted. Bulbs will be limited to no more than 10 paper bags (3-7 in each bag).
You can also donate seeds, seed heads, or bulbs at any of the Seed Cleaning Sessions listed below. Packaging not required.

FOR VEGETABLE AND FRUIT SEEDS

Seed packets will not be accepted for exchange on site at the Gardening Show.
You can donate seeds at any of the Seed Cleaning Sessions listed below. Packaging not required.

PACKAGING GUIDELINES

Package seeds 20-25 (count) in paper envelopes no larger than 3” x 5”.
Package bulbs 3-7 (count) in paper bags (no soft bulbs, please).
Label each seed packet or bag with plant name, description and planting instructions. Include as much information as possible: perennial, annual, biennial; color; height and width; bloom time; full sun, part sun or shade.
Packages must state the harvest month and year for the seeds.

ACQUIRING SEEDS + BULBS AT THE GARDENING SHOW

Each paid attendee for the Gardening Show will receive 3 green tickets and 3 red tickets for acquiring seeds and bulbs.
Green tickets may be used to acquire flower and non-food-producing seeds (one ticket per package) or bulbs (two tickets per bag). Green tickets may also be accepted for gardening books and magazines.
Additional green tickets (one ticket per packet) can be exchanged for the donation of flower and non-food-producing seeds either at the Seed Cleaning Sessions or the Gardening Show. Additional green tickets will be issued for no more than 25 seed packet donations. For example, if you donated 20 flower seed packets, you will be given 20 green tickets and those can be used to obtain the equivalent of what you donated.
Red tickets may only be used for acquiring vegetable and fruit seeds (one ticket per packet). No additional red tickets can be acquired through seed donation or purchase in compliance with the Non-commercial Seed Sharing/Exchange Policy of the Indiana State Chemist and Seed Commissioner.
At 3 pm on the day of the Gardening Show, all remaining seeds and bulbs of any type will be available on a first come first served basis (no tickets needed, limit 10 seed packets per person).

SEED CLEANING + BULB BAGGING SCHEDULE FOR THE 2026 GARDENING SHOW

It’s Seed Cleaning Time! Each fall we collect and prepare seeds for the Seed & Bulb Exchange at January’s Gardening Show. Join us for fun, hands-on seed cleaning sessions at the Porter County Public Library (Valpo, Rooms A&B) this fall!

Bring seeds from your garden (labeled with your name, phone, and seed variety), or help clean what others have shared. Training is provided—just come ready to work, chat, and laugh! We need lots of seeds this year, so every contribution helps. Friends and neighbors are welcome. Lunch at Culver’s in Valpo is optional but always fun!

📩 Questions? Contact Rick AmRhein at 219-263-8342 or rick.amrhein@valpo.edu.

You're invited to join us for these seed cleaning sessions:

Wed, Oct 1 at 1:00–3:30 pm

Thu, Oct 16 at 10:00 am–12:30 pm

Thu, Oct 30 |at 1:00–3:30 pm

Wed, Nov 19 at 10:00 am–12:30 pm

Tue, Dec 2 at 10:00 am–12:30 pm

All seed cleaning meetings will be held at:

Meeting Rooms A & B
Porter County Public Library
103 Jefferson Street
Valparaiso, Indiana

Please review the Requirements and Guidelines above before attending any seed cleaning or bulb bagging session.

THANK YOU TO OUR PAST SEED + BULB DONORS

2026 DONORS COMING SOON!

Botanical Interests, Broomfield, CO
Burpee Seed Co., Warminster, PA
Chesterton Feed & Garden Center, Chesterton, IN
E&R Seeds, Monroe, IN
Four Seasons Landscaping, Valparaiso, IN

Johnson's Farm Produce, Hobart, IN
Philips Ace Hardware, Valparaiso, IN