Seeds & seedlings

Overview

Seeds and seedlings are the starting material from which crops are grown. The group spans field crop seeds such as cereals, oilseeds and forage, vegetable and horticultural seeds, flower and ornamental seed, and living propagation material such as seedlings, plug plants, grafted plants, cuttings, bulbs and rootstock.

This material is defined less by bulk weight than by biological quality — variety and purity, germination rate, vigour, and whether it is open-pollinated, hybrid or treated. For living seedlings, age, size and health status matter as much as the variety itself, because they travel and establish differently.

On Digibition, seed companies, breeders, nurseries and propagation specialists publish verified profiles, so growers, cooperatives and horticultural buyers can discover and compare them by specialization and country.

What to check when sourcing

When you source seeds and seedlings, the fundamentals are variety identity, biological quality and the documentation that moving plant material requires. Confirm the exact variety and whether it is open-pollinated, hybrid or treated, and ask about germination rate, purity and any seed treatment or coating that has been applied.

For seedlings and other living material, discuss plant age and size, health status and how the material will be packed and transported, because living stock is time-sensitive. For cross-border movement, confirm phytosanitary documentation and any variety or scheme requirements your market applies, and treat certifications such as certified seed or organic status as examples of what to ask for and verify directly.

Use the directory to shortlist suppliers by specialization and country, then contact several and compare their offers, documentation and delivery windows before you commit. This is general information, not legal, veterinary, food-safety, or regulatory advice.

What to check when sourcing seeds and seedlings

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between seeds and seedlings?

Seeds are the dormant propagation material sown to grow a crop, while seedlings are young living plants already germinated and grown on, ready to be transplanted. Seedlings save establishment time but are time-sensitive and more demanding to transport than seed.

What is the difference between hybrid and open-pollinated seed?

Open-pollinated varieties generally come true from saved seed, while hybrid (F1) seed is produced from controlled crosses and is usually bought fresh each season because saved seed does not reliably reproduce the parent. Each suits different growing goals, so confirm which a lot is.

How do I find seed and seedling suppliers?

Use the Digibition directory to filter by this specialization and by country, then open each company profile to review its products, certifications and specializations. You can message suppliers directly, or add several to a quote list and request quotes from all of them at once.

What does germination rate tell me?

Germination rate is the share of a seed lot expected to sprout under test conditions, usually shown on the label with a test date. It is an indicator of lot quality, not a guarantee of field results, which also depend on soil, weather and handling. This is general information, not legal, veterinary, food-safety, or regulatory advice.

What should I check before a large order?

Confirm variety identity, germination or health status and any treatment, and settle documentation, packing, delivery timing and minimum order quantity against your planting season. Where possible, request lot details or a small trial quantity and agree quality and rejection terms in writing before committing to volume.