Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions



Is our seed stock true to type?

The seeds we supply are to the best of our knowledge true to species, variety or cultivar and are always from carefully selected, reputable estates and suppliers from around the globe. There may be a very small percentage of seedlings which will bear some variation to each other, due to the nature of pollination.



How do we know our seeds are viable?

We renew our stock to keep our seeds that are available for sale as fresh as possible. Each month we test our seeds for viability by splitting open a handful from each stock to make sure the embryos are still white and healthy inside. If the seed stock is still deemed viable, we then follow this with germinability tests, where we test germination rates under the required conditions. The rates of germination must remain over 70% within the first two months for the stock to remain available for sale.



How do we ensure the freshness of our stock?

Apart from changing over our stock frequently we also keep all our seeds within cold, dry storage to maintain maximum lifespan.



Quantities of seeds per pack:

The number of seeds per pack is indicated on our sale pages. This will be the minimum number of seeds per pack. We occasionally have seeds on sale ‘per weight’.



How are germination instructions issued?

We devise our own germination instructions from experience of growing – and these instructions are printed within English on the seed packs. If you require germination instructions within a language other than English, please email us at info@heartwoodseeds.co.uk.



How do I know what time of year to germinate the seeds?

The germination process can be carried out at any time of year, providing the conditions can be met (some seeds will require a period of cold stratification to break dormancy, such as within a standard refrigerator). A heated propagator is ideal for the germination of all our seeds on sale.



What methods of payment are accepted?

We accept international payment through PayPal and all major debit and credit cards such as Visa, Maestro, Mastercard. Payments are made securely through our website. Please note that where payments are made using currencies other than in pounds sterling (GBP £) your card company (or PayPal) will convert the payment using their own exchange rates at the time of sale.



How do we deliver orders?

Orders will usually be dispatched within 1-3 working days. UK mainland orders are sent via Royal Mail First Class. International orders are sent via Royal Mail Airmail. Please see our ‘Delivery and Packaging Charges’ section for full details of delivery charges. Shipping fees reflect the actual cost of shipping, including packaging.



Contact and/or complaints

Should you have any trouble with your order, please email info@heartwoodseeds.co.uk as soon as you are able to and we will try to deal with your query or problem as quickly as is possible.