Germination & Growing Policy

All seeds sold by Olive Seed Company are sourced from reputable commercial seed suppliers and are supplied with published germination rates based on testing conducted under appropriate conditions.

Seeds are living products. Successful germination and plant performance depend on many factors outside of Olive Seed Company's control, including but not limited to:

• temperature;
• moisture;
• light;
• growing medium and soil conditions;
• storage conditions after purchase;
• sowing depth and timing;
• weather and seasonal conditions;
• pests and disease; and
• any required pretreatment or stratification.

For these reasons, Olive Seed Company cannot guarantee individual germination results or subsequent plant performance.

Reporting Germination Concerns

If you believe there may be an issue with the germination or quality of your seed, you must contact Olive Seed Company within 30 days of sowing. This allows concerns to be investigated while the sowing conditions and results can still be reasonably evaluated.

When submitting a germination concern, please provide:

• your order number;
• the variety or varieties affected;
• the date the seeds were sown;
• approximately how many seeds were sown and how many germinated;
• whether the seeds were started indoors or direct sown outdoors;
• relevant details about the sowing and growing conditions; and
• clear photographs of the sowing setup, trays, pots or growing area associated with the concern.

Please retain the original seed packet and any unused seed while your concern is being reviewed. Olive Seed Company may request photographs of the original packet and remaining seed and, where appropriate, may request that a substantial unused portion of the seed be returned for further evaluation.

Germination concerns reported more than 30 days after sowing may not be eligible for a refund or replacement.

Exceptions will be made for varieties whose published growing instructions require stratification, other extended pretreatment, or a germination period that reasonably exceeds 30 days. In these circumstances, concerns must be reported promptly following the applicable germination period.

If seeds are intentionally sown outside the reasonable planting period for your growing zone, photographic documentation of the sowing and growing conditions is still required. Delayed sowing does not extend Olive Seed Company's responsibility for environmental, seasonal or growing conditions outside of our control.

How Germination Concerns Are Evaluated

Germination concerns are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The review may include the supplier's documented germination results, seed lot information, other reports involving seed from the same lot, the information and photographs provided by the customer, and other relevant information.

As part of the review process, Olive Seed Company may conduct its own germination test using seed from the same commercial seed lot supplied to the customer. The results of that testing may be considered alongside the supplier's documented germination results and other available information when determining whether there is evidence of a seed-quality issue. Where a germination test is conducted in response to a customer concern, the results may be communicated to the customer as part of the review.

Poor or unsuccessful germination alone does not establish that seed was defective. Refunds or replacements are not automatically provided based solely on unsuccessful germination and may be offered when the available information reasonably indicates a seed-quality issue or at the discretion of Olive Seed Company.

Incorrect Variety, Off-Type or Mislabeling Concerns

If your seeds germinate but you believe the resulting plant is not the variety ordered, please contact Olive Seed Company as soon as the discrepancy can reasonably be identified.

Please provide your order number and clear photographs showing the plant and the characteristics giving rise to the concern. Depending on the crop and stage of growth, photographs of flowers, fruit, foliage or other identifying characteristics may be required.

Olive Seed Company recognizes that some varietal characteristics cannot reasonably be confirmed until later in the growing season. These concerns will therefore be assessed separately from germination concerns.

Claims may be difficult to evaluate where the identity or origin of the plant can no longer reasonably be verified, including where plants, labels, pots or growing areas have become mixed.

Damaged, Missing or Incorrect Items

Please inspect your order upon receipt. If an item is damaged, defective, missing, or you receive an item different from what you ordered, please contact Olive Seed Company promptly so the issue can be evaluated and corrected.

Returns

Olive Seed Company has a 7-day return policy, meaning you have 7 days after receiving your order to request a return.

To be eligible for a return, an item must be:

• unused;
• unopened;
• in its original packaging; and
• have its original seal completely intact.

Opened seed packages cannot be returned under the general return policy. This does not prevent Olive Seed Company from requesting the return of opened or remaining seed as part of an investigation into a reported seed-quality concern.

To request a return, contact oliveseedcompany@gmail.com and include your order number and the item(s) you wish to return.

Approved returns must be sent to:

Olive Seed Company
11927 20 Ave SW
Edmonton, AB T6W 0E1
Canada

Customers are responsible for return shipping costs on standard returns. Approved discretionary returns are subject to a 15% restocking fee.

Sale items, gift cards, custom products, special orders and personalized items are final sale.

Refunds

Once an approved return has been received and inspected, you will be notified whether the refund has been approved.

Approved refunds will be issued to the original payment method, less any applicable restocking fee, within 10 business days. Please remember that your financial institution may require additional time to process and post the refund.

If more than 15 business days have passed since you were notified that your refund was issued, please contact oliveseedcompany@gmail.com.

Exceptions / non-returnable items
Certain types of items cannot be returned, like ANY opened seed package, custom products (such as special orders or personalized items). We also do not accept returns for hazardous materials, flammable liquids, or gases. Please get in touch if you have questions or concerns about your specific item. 

Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns on sale items or gift cards.

Questions regarding returns, refunds or germination concerns can be directed to oliveseedcompany@gmail.com.