Makes of seeds

[micsmum]

Hi all
Just picking your brains.
Have'nt got lottie yet but have been comparing seed prices as I maght neet to buy some in a hurry.
A local DIY,garden centre is selling Mr Fothergills seeds from between £1.45 - £2.99 per packet. The local co-op which is next to my lottie site as selling Unwins seeds from 99p _ £1.50
The packs seem to be thesame size. Does any one have any preferences and does the price make a difference to the seed quality!
Many thanks
Helen

[Muddy_Boots]

Apart from 'the gardner! ask Stephan  ( Clio).  He seems to have good source of excellent seeds for good prices.  Alternatively try swap shop!

Kate

[Ragged Robin]

...... or try Fothergills website, if you order over a certain amount you can get seeds for 10p a packet, they also have a end of line facility which  range between 50-150p a packet.

[MissBaritone]

Try your local Wilkinsons. Their own make seeds start at just 39p. Buy 2 packets and you get the 3rd free and I've always had excellent results from them

[The gardener]

I think it is a bit of either / or really.

I prefer to grow by 'variety' rather than by company, although even there, what grows up here in the wild and wooly north might not be as well suited for the south ( and vice versa)

As a member of the Allotments association I get my seeds much cheaper than those bought in shops.

Currently these are supplied by King's seeds.

In saying that this does not mean that my final bill is cheaper than if I had gone to the shops and bought run of the mill stuff.

What I do with the saving is buy F1 hybrid stuff, which is generally more expensive but my results are more guaranteed.

I am also a member of our garden club and we get 33% off with Suttons if our final order is over a certain figure ( I think this is £60.00??)

Then I am the site 'seed merchant' and I have an account with Marshalls who we find are the best onion suppliers, so we get a discount there as well, and this is subject to the ammount we spend.

So I think the best approach is buy collectively.

Another advantage of this is you can mix and match on the plot if you like.

[cleo]

I am pretty much with the gardener on this one. If you are not looking for a particular variety then for the more common things go for the cheaper option.

The `rub` comes if you want hybrids-and for cucumbers at least I would always take that option-the difference in price between retail and buying as a group to get a `trade` deal is staggering.

Stephan.

[john_miller]

Do they not print % germination on seed packets in the UK? If they do would not this be the first criteria to judge the value of seeds by?

[Len]

Thats a good point John I got some seeeds from Japan and every packet had germination % on.

[tim]

Packet size doesn't mean much. One lot of carrots I got (I tend not to look at price) was the same size as most other seeds, but only had 1/2 teaspoon of seeds for  £2.52!! OK - F1 and fungicided etc. Each one by hand, no doubt!
I shall treasure each one! = Tim

[jethro]

Why is it when i want a few seeds to germinate do they come? do they heck, but when i set a full packet they all come and i have too many.

Any suggestions?    :-/

[Mimi]

Donate to a friend Jethro

[tim]

Or, as I've said before, when you spill some, they all germinate?? = Tim

[micsmum]

Many thanks for the advice all. Am taking over the lottie this saturday (yipee!) and am going to give the Wilkinsons in either Walton on Thames or Aldershot a try.
Helen

[Mimi]

Hope that the soil is in better condition than mine is, Micsmum, and you can get away with a fork and spade and dont need a mini digger

[flowerbaby_uk]

fothergills are good as apart from  as pointed out by ragged robin you get to buy 10 p packets they also offer refund if failure of germination obviously subject to correct conditions  though have had excellent results from them and and also great results from morrisons 3 packs for a quid
regards flower

[micsmum]

My soil is clay and on a slope although the lotties still become waterlogged according to the one lottie holder we have met. The steward has said that the council should have done some work on it  (what I dont know - rotavating, I assume) by the middle of next week. He said that it was near the top. Ha! They were all disused and a mass of brambles! Still, me and 10 year old son don't mind. Hubby steering clear!!!
Will keep you all posted.
Helen  

[shifty581]

Hi All
I have got my seeds, my problem is when to sow them.ie:cabbage. sprouts. couliflowers. beans onion sets. I have a green house (cold). I have just got my first allotment, so I need help. Tony

[rdak]

Hi

It should say on the packet, or have a look at the Internet Links thread on the News Board- plenty of sites which will advise what to sow when.