MINNESOTA MASTER GARDENER SEED TRIALS

Welcome to the Minnesota Master Gardener Seed Trials page

Each year master gardeners participate in the annual seed trails - testing out how well seeds grow, taste, texture, bloom times, and more! Selection of annual trials are made with consideration to try new varieties, vegetables that are currently considered “hot” for the year, harvest times, health interests, and general interesting choices. Participants also provide recommendations at the end of each year. Education and outreach programs are developed using seed trial results. Each yearly trial includes six varieties and usually includes five vegetables, one herb, and two flowers.

In 2025, 255 Master Gardeners from 48 counties tested Parsley, Parsnips, Mini BokChoy, Container Friendly Slicing Tomatoes, Orange Cauliflower, Red Beets, Nasturtium and Rudbeckia. Additionally, gardens were represented in home gardens, as well as 16 community gardens, two school gardens, nine Learning/Teaching/Giving gardens, and one urban farm.