Have questions? We got answers!

Ordering & Shipping

When will my seedlings arrive?

We ship seedlings Monday through Wednesday via FedEx 2-Day. Orders placed early in the week typically ship within 1–2 business days, though fulfillment may take a little longer during busy periods.

Orders placed after Wednesday afternoon typically ship the following week. Most customers receive their seedlings within 2 business days of shipment.

Can I order seedlings now and choose a future ship date?

Yes! You can order your seedlings now and choose a later delivery week when conditions are right for planting in your area.

At checkout, select your preferred week from the "When would you like to receive your seedling order?" dropdown menu. We'll ship your seedlings during that week, weather permitting.

Do you ship seedlings throughout the United States?

Yes! We ship seedlings throughout the United States where permitted. Because agricultural regulations can vary by state and plant variety, some products or destinations may have restrictions.

Can you ship seedlings to a PO Box?

Unfortunately, no. We ship our seedlings via FedEx, which does not deliver to PO Boxes. Please provide a physical delivery address when placing your order.

Can I choose my own seedlings?

Yes! You can order individual varieties and build your own seedling collection. We also offer curated seedling bundles if you'd like us to help with the selection.

Will I receive the exact varieties shown in a seedling bundle?

Our curated seedling bundles are based on season and availability, so varieties may occasionally change. If you need specific varieties, we recommend ordering individual seedlings instead.

When Your Seedlings Arrive

My seedlings arrived. What should I do first?

Open your seedlings as soon as they arrive. They've spent the last couple of days traveling in a dark box and will be ready for some light, water, and fresh air!

We recommend planting them as soon as possible.

If you can't plant them right away, stand the seedlings upright in their tray and add approximately 1/4" of water to the bottom of the tray so they don't get thirsty. Keep them in a bright location until you're ready to plant.

Watch our Plant Care Instructional Video!

My seedlings look wilted or stressed after shipping. Will they recover?

Seedlings sometimes arrive looking wilted, yellowed, or stressed after spending a couple of days traveling in a dark shipping box. This doesn't necessarily mean the plant is unhealthy.

Open your seedlings immediately and give them light and water. We recommend planting them as soon as possible. Most healthy seedlings recover quickly once they're back in good growing conditions.

If you're concerned about the health of your seedlings, take a few photos and contact us. We're happy to help!

How soon should I plant my seedlings after they arrive?

As soon as possible! Your seedlings are ready to grow and will be happiest once they're transplanted into their new home.

If you can't plant immediately, keep them upright, hydrated, and in a bright location until you're ready.

My seedlings are small. Are they ready to plant?

Yes! Our seedlings are intentionally shipped young and are typically 2–4 inches tall. Young seedlings transplant easily and can quickly establish their roots in their new growing environment.

Plant size and appearance will vary depending on the variety. Some seedlings naturally grow taller or faster than others.

Growing & Plant Care

Can I grow your seedlings in soil and hydroponic gardens?

Yes! Our seedlings are grown in plugs that can be transplanted directly into traditional soil gardens, raised beds, containers, and most hydroponic growing systems.

Our plugs are cylindrical and approximately 1.5" wide x 1.5" tall. If you're purchasing seedlings for a hydroponic system, we recommend checking the dimensions of your system's grow cups or planting ports to make sure our plugs will fit.

If you're unsure whether our seedlings will work with your hydroponic system, feel free to contact us and we'd be happy to help!

How do I plant my seedlings in soil?

Water your garden before planting so the soil is moist. Carefully remove the seedling from the packaging and plant it so the top of the plug is approximately level with the surrounding soil.

Plant spacing varies considerably by variety, so we recommend following the spacing requirements for the specific plant you're growing.

Keep newly transplanted seedlings well watered while their roots become established, especially during warm weather.

How do I plant my seedlings in a hydroponic garden?

Our seedlings arrive ready to be inserted into most hydroponic growing systems.

Carefully place the seedling plug into your system and follow the manufacturer's instructions for water levels, nutrients, lighting, and plant placement.

If you're growing larger fruiting plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, or eggplants, keep in mind that they generally need more space and light than herbs and leafy greens.

Can I grow your seedlings indoors?

Yes! Many of our seedlings grow very well indoors when provided with adequate light.

Herbs and leafy greens are especially well suited for indoor growing. Fruiting plants such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and eggplants generally require stronger light and more growing space.

How do I know which seedlings are right for my climate or growing zone?

What grows best depends on your climate, season, and growing setup. We offer seasonally appropriate varieties throughout the year, but growing conditions vary considerably across the country.

If you're unsure what to plant, contact us and we'd be happy to help you choose varieties for your garden.

I live in a really hot climate. Can I still grow your seedlings?

Absolutely. We ship seedlings to hot climates throughout the country.

During periods of extreme heat, your plants may benefit from afternoon shade or shade cloth to reduce heat stress. Keeping plants adequately watered is especially important while newly transplanted seedlings establish their roots.

Some varieties tolerate heat much better than others, so feel free to contact us if you'd like recommendations for your climate.

How often should I water my seedlings after planting?

Water needs vary depending on the plant, weather, soil, container size, and growing environment.

If the weather is warm, water your seedlings almost every day for the first 2 weeks so they will have the best chance of establishing their roots.

Do I need to harden off my seedlings before planting them outside?

Our seedlings are ready to transplant when they arrive, but any young plant can experience stress when suddenly exposed to intense sun, heat, wind, or cold. If you have those current conditions in your garden, gradually introducing the seedlings to their new environment can help reduce transplant stress.

About Our Seedlings

What size are your seedlings?

Our seedlings are generally between 2–4 inches tall when shipped. Size varies naturally depending on the plant variety and stage of growth.

Are your seedlings organic?

Our seedlings are grown on our organically managed farm using organic cultivation practices. We do not use synthetic fertilizers and use organic-approved pest management practices.

While our farm is not currently USDA Certified Organic, we are committed to organic growing methods and treatments.

What is your growing medium made from?

Our seedling plugs are made from coco coir, peat, and binder. The growing medium allows our seedlings to be planted directly into either soil or hydroponic gardens.

Why are there multiple plants growing from one plug?

Some varieties grow best when multiple seeds are sown together, so you may occasionally receive a plug containing more than one plant.

This is intentional for certain varieties and isn't an indication that anything is wrong with your seedling.

Should I separate multiple seedlings growing in the same plug?

We sow the amount of seeds we expect to grow best per plug, so under normal conditions they're not meant to need separating. Some of our customers enjoy trying to carefully separate them so they get multiple starts from one plug, but please note that separating young plants can also damage their roots and create unnecessary transplant stress.

If you're unsure about a particular variety, contact us and we'd be happy to help.

Do you sell seeds too?

Yes! In addition to live seedlings, we offer seeds and other garden supplies to help you grow your own food.

Plant Health & Troubleshooting

My shipment was delayed or my seedlings arrived damaged. What should I do?

Seedlings are a living product and, as such, we are unable to accept returns and have a no-returns policy. We do, however, always want to make sure our customers are satisfied, so please contact us within thirty (30) days of receipt of your unsatisfactory seedlings. Photos are required for our horticulture experts to properly assess plant health. Seedlings are living organisms, and should be treated as such, and should be opened from their shipping box and planted as soon as possible upon receipt. We will gladly provide credit, a refund or ship replacement seedlings for any affected seedlings that don’t recover after 1 month of receipt. For sustainability reasons, we try to avoid shipping fewer than 6 seedlings at a time to help reduce packaging waste.

Our full Refund and Returns Policy can be found here.

There are pests on my plants. What should I do?

Aphids and other pests may appear on your plants. The greens are still safe to eat but there are a few methods you can try to help get rid of pests…

throw away the infected plant
spray water on the plant which may help wash away pests
remove the plant and wash the pests away with water and then put the plant back into the tower
spray the leaves with a combo of warm water and a couple drops of dish soap...this is an organic and not a harsh method vs some of the other types of pesticides
spray it with pesticide (not our preferred method but there are organic solutions such as Azera and Monterey B.t.)

The longer a plant is in your soil or hydroponic garden the greater the chance that nature (e.g., bugs) might move in. The surest way to get rid of pests is to just remove the infected plant...you can just throw it out or give it a good rinse of water if you want to keep the leaves to eat.

Inventory & Availability

When will out-of-stock seedlings be available again?

We grow continuously and update our inventory every week as new seedlings become ready.

If something you want is currently out of stock, check back soon!

When do you add new seedling varieties?

We grow seasonally appropriate varieties throughout the year and update our selection as the seasons change.

Check our website regularly to see what's growing at our farm and available for your garden.

Garden Supplies & Support

Do you sell gardening supplies and hydroponic gardens?

Yes! In addition to seedlings, we offer garden supplies and growing systems for both soil and hydroponic gardens.

Our goal is to help you with more than just the plants. We want to provide the seedlings, supplies, and support you need to successfully grow your own food.

Do you offer help planning my garden?

Yes! If you have a few quick questions, you're always welcome to contact us and we'll do our best to point you in the right direction.

For customers looking for more in-depth help designing, organizing, or troubleshooting their garden, we also offer garden consultations.

Do you offer wholesale or bulk seedling pricing?

Yes! We offer wholesale and bulk seedling options for farms, schools, businesses, nonprofits, garden programs, and other organizations.

Email us at support@cercacultivation.com to learn more.

Do you donate extra seedlings?

Yes! Giving seedlings back to our community is an important part of our mission.

We donate surplus seedlings to local nonprofits, schools, community organizations, and underserved communities through our local seedling donation program.