Frequently Asked Questions
What is Valhalla Hall?
Valhalla Hall is a family-run pollinator and heirloom seed farm in Marion County, Florida, centered on heirloom growing, seed preservation, pollinator habitat, gardening, sustainable living, and sharing what we learn from the land.
What are heirloom seeds?
Heirloom seeds are open-pollinated varieties preserved and passed along over time, often valued for their history, genetic diversity, flavor, appearance, adaptation, or other traits growers thought worth keeping.
What does open-pollinated mean?
Open-pollinated plants reproduce through natural pollination. When properly isolated from compatible varieties, saved seed can generally produce plants with characteristics similar to the parent.
Can I save seeds from the plants I grow?
Many open-pollinated varieties are suitable for seed saving. Cross-pollinating species may need isolation, timing, hand pollination, or other techniques to keep a variety true to type.
Are heirloom seeds GMO?
No. Heirloom seeds are not genetically engineered varieties.
Do seeds expire on the date printed on the package?
Not necessarily. A packed-for, sell-by, or planting-season date does not automatically mean seed becomes unusable after that date. Viability generally declines gradually, and how fast depends on the species and on storage.
How should I store seeds?
Cool, dry, and dark, with as little swing in temperature and humidity as you can manage. Heat and moisture are the two things that shorten seed life most.
Do you guarantee germination?
We take seed quality seriously, but we cannot guarantee every seed. Germination depends on species, storage, temperature, moisture, planting depth, light, growing medium, dormancy requirements, and other conditions.
Are all seeds suitable for Florida?
No. Heirloom varieties come from many climates. Read the requirements of each variety before planting.
When should I plant my seeds?
Planting dates vary by location, climate, frost dates, temperature, and season. Florida planting schedules can differ substantially from northern states, so a packet written for a northern garden may steer you wrong here.
Why didn't my seeds germinate?
Temperature, moisture, planting depth, light, dormancy, growing medium, and storage can all affect germination. Start by checking the requirements for that particular species.
Where do you ship?
Within the United States only. We do not ship seed internationally. Some seed is restricted from shipment to particular states or locations under federal, state, or local agricultural rules; where a restriction applies we will remove the affected item or cancel the order and refund it. Full detail is on our shipping page.
How long before my order ships?
Orders are generally processed within 3 to 5 business days. Processing days are Monday through Thursday, excluding major holidays, and that is separate from however long the carrier takes.
Can seeds be returned?
Seed is generally final sale once shipped, because storage conditions after delivery cannot be verified. Incorrect, missing, damaged, or potentially defective products are handled separately — see our returns policy.
Can I visit the farm?
Valhalla Hall is a private working farm and is not open for unscheduled public visits.
How quickly will you answer my email?
Customer service hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM ET. Please allow one to two business days for a response.