Frequently Asked Questions

Happy Valley Seeds is an Australian owned and operated business, based in Sydney, NSW. We are a family owned team and have been helping Australian gardeners grow since 2012. You can read our story on the About Us page.

Sorry, no. As we are an online business, we do not allow pick up of seed orders. All orders are dispatched from our Sydney warehouse by Australia Post and our courier partners.

No, it is optional. However, we recommend registering to view your previous orders and check out faster.

You can pay by credit or debit card, PayPal, or direct bank transfer. Card and PayPal payments clear instantly and your order joins the packing queue straight away. Bank transfers take 2-3 business days to clear before your order enters the queue, and unpaid orders are cancelled after 7 days.

Any additional payment options available for your order are shown at checkout, and all payments are processed securely.

Cannot see PayPal? You are probably inside the purple Shop Pay screen, which only offers cards saved with Shop. Tap Back to return to the normal checkout and PayPal is listed under Payment. Step by step, with screenshots: Pay with PayPal or a different card.

We understand that it can be frustrating when you realise an omission on your order or find another awesome seed variety after it has already been placed. Generally speaking, once an order has been placed, we are not able to make changes to it. Our seed orders shipping staff do their best to try and accommodate changes when possible, but we cannot guarantee that they will be able to do so.

If you need to try, email support@happyvalleyseeds.com.au straight away with your order number.

Because our dispatch process is automated and orders move to the warehouse quickly, we generally cannot cancel an order once it has been placed. If you need to try, email support@happyvalleyseeds.com.au immediately with your order number and we will do our best, though we cannot guarantee the order can be intercepted before packing. Once an order has been dispatched, it cannot be cancelled.

If something arrives faulty, damaged or not as described, you are always covered. See our Return & Refund Policy.

We certainly do our best to combine orders when possible, which can help save on shipping costs. However, this is not always possible due to the way our dispatch system works. Depending on when pick-up times are scheduled and what staff are working that day, sometimes orders have to be sent out as separate shipments. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and assure you that our team always does their best to try and combine orders whenever possible. Thank you for your understanding!

If separate orders are combined into one parcel, only the highest applicable shipping tier is charged.

Not paid yet? Change it in the Delivery section of the checkout before you press Pay now. If an old address is stuck there, our checkout help page shows where to tap, with screenshots for phone, tablet and computer.

Maybe, but please be quick. Email support@happyvalleyseeds.com.au in writing straight away with your order number and the correct address. We use automated shipping labels and our dispatch team works fast, so a change is only possible if the order has not yet been packed, and even then we cannot guarantee it. Once an order has been dispatched, the address cannot be changed.

Please double-check your address at checkout, including unit number and postcode. If a parcel is returned to us because of an address error, reshipment is charged at the actual carrier cost. Full details are in our Shipping Information, section 5.

That is Shop Pay, Shopify's built-in memory. It saves your details the first time you buy from any Shopify store and fills them in next time, sometimes with an address you no longer use, and always without PayPal. The fixes are quick once you know where to look:

• Wrong address: in the Delivery section, tap the address line and choose Use a different address, or simply retype the fields if they are open.
• Shipping options missing: the Shipping method list only appears once the address is complete. Finish the address and it loads.
• No PayPal: PayPal is never offered inside the purple Shop Pay screen. Tap Back to the normal checkout and choose PayPal under Payment.

All three, with screenshots from a phone, tablet and computer, are on our checkout help page. Still stuck? Email support@happyvalleyseeds.com.au with your address and what you want to order and we will send you a checkout link with everything set.

Shop Pay is Shopify's accelerated checkout. It remembers your address and card so you can pay in a couple of taps on any Shopify store. It is optional. To keep the plain checkout, tap Not now next to "Save my information for a faster checkout" just above the Pay now button, and no Shop account is created. If a 6-digit code request pops up, you can close it and carry on as a guest.

To leave Shop Pay for good, enter your mobile number at shop.app/pay/phone-optout. Shop then removes your saved details and every Shopify store shows you the plain checkout. It is Shopify's service, so we cannot switch it off for individual customers ourselves. Full walkthrough: Stop Shop Pay from taking over.

Add your items to the cart, head to checkout, and enter the code in the discount code box, then press Apply before completing payment. One discount code can be used per order and codes cannot be stacked or added after an order has been placed.

If the box is hiding from you (on mobile it sits inside the order summary), our step-by-step guide with screenshots shows exactly where to find it on phone, tablet and desktop.

We keep pricing consistent in both directions. When prices rise after you order, we never come back asking you to pay the difference. In the same way, orders placed before a promotion are not repriced, and we do not cancel earlier orders so they can be re-placed at sale prices. The price at the time you place your order is always the final price.

Promotions apply only to orders placed while the promotion is running. Worth knowing: sale discounts apply to products, not shipping, and some items (such as $1 clearance packets) are excluded from storewide offers, so the difference is usually smaller than it first appears.

Yes. All prices on our website are in Australian dollars (AUD) and include GST where it applies. What you see on the product page is what you pay, plus shipping at checkout.

A Happy Valley Seeds gift voucher is a great way to give the gift of gardening to your loved ones in Australia to show them that you care about them. Indeed, it is also a great way to introduce them to the joys of gardening! Not only will they be able to choose their favourite type of seed, but they'll also have the satisfaction of growing their own plants from scratch.

Our gift vouchers can be used any time and are valid for three years from purchase. Make sure to tell the voucher expiry date so your loved ones can use it before it expires. Moreover, do not forget to specify that the voucher is redeemable only on Happy Valley Seeds.

We also have a range of special combo seed packs with carefully selected seeds for your loved ones who need to get started in their new garden.

Enter the voucher code at checkout and the balance is applied to your order. Gift vouchers work like a payment method, so you can use one together with a discount code. Any unused balance stays on the voucher for next time. Vouchers are valid for three years from the date of purchase.

Yes. You can see your exact postage before you pay, and no, you do not need to enter any card details or create an account. All that is needed to work out postage is your suburb, state and postcode, because the price depends on where the parcel is going and how heavy it is, not on your payment details.

There are two easy ways to check. Use Estimate shipping on the Cart page, or press Check out and enter your suburb and postcode. The shipping options and prices appear above the payment section, and nothing is charged until you choose one and press Pay.

See it step by step, with real screenshots from our checkout: How to see your shipping cost before you pay.

Standard letter post starts at $3.95 (untracked, up to 200g) and $5.95 (201-400g), with a tracked upgrade for $3 more. Parcels are $10.95 (401g-2kg) and capped at $16.95 for anything over 2kg. Express starts at $16 and is not available for WA. Signature on Delivery can be added for $3.95.

WA orders carry a $6 government quarantine fee and TAS orders a $3 biosecurity fee. The exact options and prices for your basket are always shown at checkout, and the full rate card lives on our Shipping Information page.

Yes, for seed packet orders. If your order is $40 or more after discounts and contains only standard seed packets, it ships free as an untracked letter. Allow 4-12 business days after dispatch for letters to arrive.

Free shipping does not apply to orders containing seeds sold by weight (for example 5g, 400g or 1kg), seed potatoes, garlic bulbs or other planting stock, large combo packs, garden tools and bulky items, or custom seed packets. Full details on the Shipping Information page.

Two parts: packing time plus transit time. Orders are typically packed within 1-4 business days of cleared payment (weekends and public holidays excluded); the current processing update is always shown at the top of our Shipping Information page.

Transit then depends on the service you choose at checkout: Express 1-3 business days, Standard tracked 3-10 business days, untracked letters 4-12 business days. Remote areas can take a little longer, and WA orders pass through mandatory quarantine inspection, so please allow 2-3 weeks for WA.

If you chose a tracked service, your dispatch email contains the tracking number (worth checking your spam folder if it has not appeared). Tracking activates on the carrier's first scan, which can take 1-2 business days after dispatch, so an empty tracking page early on is normal.

WA orders show as Pending until quarantine inspection is complete, which can take up to 10 business days. Untracked letters have no tracking; that is the trade-off for the lowest postage price, and you can add tracking to any future order for $3 at checkout.

First check your tracking (if you have it) and ask at your local post office or collection point, then check the timeframes. An order qualifies as missing when it has not arrived within:

• Standard or untracked: 20 business days after dispatch
• Express: 5 business days beyond the carrier's estimated delivery date
• WA orders: 25 business days after dispatch (quarantine adds time)

Still nothing? Email support@happyvalleyseeds.com.au with your order number and any tracking details and we will chase it. A delayed order is not a lost order, so a little patience with the postal network usually pays off.

Photograph the damaged packaging before opening it, then open carefully and photograph any damaged items inside. Email us within 3 business days with your order number, the photos and a short description, and please keep all the packaging until we have resolved it. We will make it right.

No. We ship Australia-wide, including WA and TAS, but not outside Australia. Biosecurity rules make international seed shipping impractical for everyone involved. If you are overseas and want to treat a gardener in Australia, a gift voucher is the perfect workaround.

Due to our automated shipping process we cannot always monitor or cross reference items travelling into WA or TAS. It is important and the responsibility of each customer to be aware of their state's import rules for seeds/plant matter.

Please refer to your state's biosecurity restrictions for importing seeds.
WA:
agric.wa.gov.au: importing seed into Western Australia
TAS:
nre.tas.gov.au: guide to importing

We accept no responsibility for any shipping delays, inspection fees or fines incurred due to customers importing seeds that require quarantine inspections, or that violate the state's import rules.

The practical details:

• WA orders: a $6 government quarantine inspection fee applies per order. WA orders are packed on Thursday and dispatched on Friday each week; order by Wednesday 11:59pm Sydney time to make that week's batch. Every WA seed order is inspected by Quarantine WA at Perth Airport, which can take up to 10 business days, so please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Express is not available for WA.
• TAS orders: a $3 biosecurity fee applies per order, and each seed line item is limited to 1kg.
• Restricted items: varieties that cannot travel to certain states are marked on the product page, for example "NOT to WA" or "NOT to TAS". To stay compliant, we remove and refund any prohibited line items from orders headed to those states.

Full restricted lists and details: Quarantine Policy and Shipping Information, section 10.

The short answer, No - we don't sell GM seeds.

At Happy Valley Seeds we sell 100% NON-GMO seeds.

When it comes to seed safety, human health and food security, Australia takes a very cautious approach. Australia has rigorous controls in place to ensure that all seeds sold in Australia are of the highest quality and meet strict safety standards. In terms of seed safety, Australia is a world leader. As a result, most Australian seed companies, including Happy Valley Seeds, can guarantee that their seed products are 100% non-GMO. This helps to protect our environment and our agricultural industry. No wonder, Australia has one of the most stringent bio-security regulations on the planet for the seeds for sowing. You can be confident that the seeds you buy in Australia from an Australian company, Happy Valley Seeds, are safe for you and your family.

We also honour the Safe Seed Pledge: we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants.

Not all of them, and we would rather tell you exactly how it works than pretend otherwise. Like most commodities in Australia, seed relies partly on imports. Our range reaches us in two ways:

1. Australian growers. We work directly with a number of local seed growers who supply us with fresh seed each season, and the Australian wholesalers we buy from also source from local growers. Most of our chilli and tomato seed, for example, is grown here.
2. Imported seed through Australian wholesalers. For varieties that are not grown commercially in Australia, or not in the quantities gardeners need, our wholesalers import from established seed producers overseas.

Every imported seed lot enters the country under the Australian Government's Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON), which are among the strictest seed import rules in the world. Shipments are inspected on arrival by the Department of Agriculture, and some species must also pass laboratory testing or treatment before they are released. Seed that does not meet the conditions does not get in.

Whatever its origin, every variety we sell is non-GMO (we honour the Safe Seed Pledge), passes germination testing before it goes on sale, is stored in our temperature and humidity controlled seed room, and is backed by our six-month germination guarantee. Where a variety is certified organic, that certification applies to the seed no matter where it was grown.

We do not print country of origin on packets because it can change from season to season, depending on which grower has the best seed lot.

Yes. We stock a certified organic range of more than 80 varieties, and organic varieties are marked (Organic) in the product name so they are easy to spot. You can read about the certification behind the range on our Organic Certification page.

All of the above. Our range includes open-pollinated heirloom varieties you can save your own seed from, and modern F1 hybrids bred for vigour, uniformity and disease resistance. Hybrids are clearly labelled F1 in the product name, so you always know which type you are buying. None of it is genetically modified.

Seed viability depends on many factors, including storage conditions (temperature, humidity, light) and seed type. Under ideal storage conditions, most seeds will remain viable for years. However, if seeds are stored in less than ideal conditions, they will begin to lose viability more quickly, even if they have an extended sow-by date on the seed packet. Hence, we do not write sow by date, as seed viability depends on how our customers store the seeds once received. Best before date will not keep the seed viable if, for example, seeds are stored in a non-ideal location once received.

We are passionate about seeds and their longevity. That's why we invested heavily in a temperature & humidity-controlled area at Happy Valley Seeds to keep all our seed inventory at optimal conditions until they can be dispatched from here!

To store seeds long-term, you need to keep the given seed bag (tightly sealed) in an airtight glass mason jar or any airtight jar. A double plastic clip lock bag would be beneficial. This mason jar now needs to be kept in the refrigerator. It helps to put a silica gel pillow to absorb the moisture (but optional). When you want to sow the seeds, remove this mason jar from the refrigerator and leave it at room temperature for 6-8 hours, away from direct heat or sunlight, before opening the seed packet. Depending upon the variety, the seeds may last for 2-4 years or longer if stored this way. The biggest killer of seeds is humidity and fluctuation of temperature.

Yes. We guarantee our seeds will germinate for six months from the purchase date, provided they are stored correctly and sown following the growing instructions. If germination fails for reasons other than weather, growing conditions or hungry visitors, email us your planting details (sowing time, depth, soil moisture and temperature) and we will help you find the cause. If the seed is at fault, you are refunded the price of that seed, or we can send replacement seed if you prefer. There is no cost to make a claim.

Our liability under the guarantee is limited to the price paid for the affected seed, and the guarantee is in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. The full terms are on our Seed Guarantee page.

The usual suspects are temperature, moisture and timing. Every variety has a soil temperature range it needs to wake up, seeds sown too deep or allowed to dry out mid-germination will stall, and sowing outside the recommended season is the most common cause of all.

Check the sowing information on the product page, see What to Sow Now for what suits your climate this month, and browse the step-by-step guides in our Learning Hub. If you have done all that and still have trouble, email us your planting details and we will help troubleshoot. That is what our Seed Guarantee is for.

The approximate seed count is listed on each product page. Counts vary by variety because seed sizes differ enormously; a gram of tomato seed is a very different crowd from a gram of bean seed.

Our What to Sow Now page shows exactly what to plant this month in your climate zone, with a postcode lookup to find your zone. It covers every month of the year, so it is worth bookmarking.

Plenty. The Learning Hub gathers our step-by-step grow guides, seasonal sowing advice and gardening articles, all written for Australian conditions.

Most likely, yes. Many varieties are seasonal and return once fresh stock passes germination testing, often at the start of the next sowing season. Add the item to your wishlist so it is easy to find later, or email us and we can tell you when a variety is expected back.

While Happy Valley Seeds focuses on home or hobby gardeners, we may supply bulk quantities to many market gardeners, hobby farmers, and commercial growers across Australia.

However, commercial growing involves significant investment and risk. To ensure transparency, we ask all commercial customers to understand the following conditions of sale before purchasing:

1. Limitation of Liability: We take great care to source high-quality, true-to-type seeds with excellent germination rates. However, because we cannot control your local growing conditions (soil, weather, pests, or irrigation), we cannot provide a refund or replacement of your seed cost.

2. No Coverage for Consequential Loss: Commercial farming creates risks beyond the cost of the seed. We do not accept liability for any financial losses incurred during your growing cycle. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Cost of fertilisers, chemicals, or irrigation.
• Labour costs for land preparation, planting, or harvesting.
• Loss of expected yield, income, or profit.

3. We Are Retailers, Not Agronomists: We provide general growing instructions suitable for home gardeners. We do not provide site-specific commercial agronomy advice. As a commercial grower, it is your responsibility to determine the correct sowing rates, soil amendments, and pest management strategies for your specific climate and soil type.

4. Recommendation: Always Trial First. If you are planting a variety for the first time on a commercial scale, we strongly recommend purchasing a smaller packet to conduct a trial planting first. This ensures the variety performs well in your specific micro-climate before you commit to a large-scale crop.

By purchasing from us, you acknowledge and agree to these terms. Please refer to our legal terms of use.

We do! Custom printed seed packets are a favourite for weddings, baby showers, birthdays, corporate gifts, promotions and events. See the Custom Seed Packets page for options, artwork details and how to order.

Email us at support@happyvalleyseeds.com.au and our team will get back to you. We are available Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm NSW time, excluding public holidays. Postal address: PO Box 148, Riverstone NSW 2765. You can also use the form on our Contact Us page.