Which stores accept EBT for garden seeds and plants? Home Depot vs Ace debate

Yes, eligible food-producing seeds and plants can be purchased with CalFresh benefits! The USDA specifically allows this to help households increase their food security. From personal experience, I know these places definitely accept EBT for seeds and food plants: - Walmart (as you mentioned) - Target (garden section) - Many local nurseries - Farmer's markets - Some grocery stores with garden sections Regarding Home Depot and Ace, it's inconsistent. Some Home Depot locations will accept EBT for eligible plants/seeds while others won't. It really depends on how their POS system is set up. Ace Hardware is typically a no-go since most are independently owned franchises and don't participate in SNAP/CalFresh. Pro tip: Call ahead and specifically ask if they accept EBT for "food-producing plants and seeds" - not just "Do you take EBT?" because the cashier might say yes thinking about other items.

home depot by my house DOES take ebt for the veggie plants n seeds but not for like flowers or decorative stuff. i bought tomato plants + zucchini seeds there last month with my ebt card. the cashier knew exactly which items were eligible when i checked out so it wasnt awkward or anything

To clear up some confusion: Home Depot and Ace Hardware aren't authorized SNAP retailers at the corporate level. However, there's a complication - some individual Home Depot locations have separate garden centers that may have their own SNAP authorization. The safest options for using CalFresh EBT for seeds and food-producing plants are: 1. Grocery stores with garden sections (Safeway, Raley's) 2. Walmart & Target 3. Certified Farmers Markets (many have Market Match programs that double your EBT dollars!) 4. Local nurseries that specifically advertise EBT acceptance I recommend checking out the Certified Farmers Markets in your area. With Market Match, you could potentially get $40 worth of seeds and plants for only $20 in EBT spending. That's the best value for stretching your benefits!

I tried using my EBT card at Ace once for tomato plants and they looked at me like I was crazy lol. Most of the smaller hardware stores don't take EBT at all. Walmart definitely works though!

Been trying to reach my county office for 3 days to clarify what stores in my area are authorized for seeds/plants with CalFresh. Kept getting disconnected or stuck on hold forever. So frustrating when you just need a simple answer! Finally used Claimyr.com and got through to a live person in under 10 minutes! They confirmed that while any SNAP retailer CAN sell eligible seeds/plants, not all choose to program their systems to distinguish between eligible garden items (food-producing) and non-eligible ones (flowers, etc). They also sent me a list of local retailers in my county that definitely accept EBT for garden supplies. Worth checking out their service if you're having trouble getting answers from your county office. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

Home depot does NOT take ebt for plants!!! At least not the one by me (riverside). I learned this the hard way after filling my cart with vegetable seedlings and herb plants. The cashier was nice but said they just cant process ebt cards at all, even for eligible items. I was so embarrassed standing there with a cart full of stuff I couldnt buy. Maybe they should have signs saying what payment types they accept!!! Wasted my whole afternoon and bus fare for nothing.

Has anyone tried 99 Cent Store? I bought some veggie seeds there last year with my EBT and it worked fine! They usually have seeds in early spring for super cheap, but their selection is hit or miss. Also Dollar Tree sometimes has seeds that you can get with EBT. BTW I tried growing cucumbers from Walmart seeds last year and they grew SO WELL! Had cucumbers all summer from just one packet that cost like $1.50 with my CalFresh. Definitely worth trying to grow your own stuff!

For those interested in the official USDA policy, here's the exact rule: SNAP (CalFresh) benefits can be used to buy seeds and plants that produce food for the household to eat. This includes vegetable seeds/plants, fruit trees, herbs, and even mushroom spawn. The confusion happens because while this is a SNAP rule, each retailer has to: 1. Be an authorized SNAP retailer 2. Have their point-of-sale system programmed to recognize which plants/seeds are eligible This is why experiences vary so much between stores and even between different locations of the same chain. The most reliable options are usually grocery stores and retailers that specifically advertise EBT acceptance for garden items. But the real gold mine is farmers markets with Market Match programs. They'll often match up to $10-20 of your EBT funds when purchasing seeds and plants, effectively doubling your buying power.

My sister who works at home depot told me they're not supposeto take ebt technically but sometimes the machines dont know the difference between food plants and regular plants so it might work anyway lol. But if u get a manager who knows the rules they might cancel it

Just wanted to share my experience from last week! I went to the Target in Modesto and they definitely accept EBT for vegetable seeds and starter plants. I bought tomato seedlings, bell pepper plants, and packets of lettuce and spinach seeds with no issues at all. The cashier even knew exactly which items were eligible when I asked. One thing I learned - make sure to check the plant labels carefully. They had some tomato plants labeled as "decorative" that wouldn't qualify, but the ones in the vegetable section were clearly marked as food-producing. The prices were pretty reasonable too, about $3-4 per plant. Also seconding what others said about farmers markets! Found one near me that does Market Match and got $20 worth of herb plants for just $10 in EBT. They had basil, cilantro, oregano, and even some fruit tree saplings. Way better selection than the big box stores and the vendors were super helpful with growing tips!

I've been growing my own vegetables with CalFresh for three years now and wanted to share some additional tips! Beyond the stores mentioned, I've had success at these places: - Food 4 Less (they have a small garden section in spring) - Smart & Final (limited selection but takes EBT for seeds) - Some Lowe's locations (call first - it's hit or miss like Home Depot) One thing I wish I knew when starting: buy a soil thermometer! Seeds won't germinate if the soil is too cold, and I wasted money my first year planting too early. Also, cherry tomatoes and green beans are super productive - you'll get way more food per plant than regular tomatoes. For anyone worried about not having gardening experience, start small! Even a few pots on a balcony or windowsill can grow herbs and lettuce. I started with just basil and cilantro in containers and now I have a full backyard garden that saves me about $50/month on groceries. The initial investment in seeds/plants pays for itself pretty quickly, especially with these crazy 2025 food prices! The Market Match program really is a game-changer if you can find participating farmers markets. Some even have classes on container gardening specifically for people with limited space.