Topic: Seed Company Comparison

[sandersj89]

I have been doing a little research on seed catalogues and costed out seeds one against the other. I have based it upon a selection of crops covering most of the day to day stuff I grow. Note this does not include seed potatoes and onion sets. If any wants a full breakdown or the spreadsheet I used let me know and I will email it to them as the data set is too large to post here in full.

Following is the summary table comparing a range of catalogues. It is impossible to do a true like for like comparison across all the list as not all companies carry the same stock.

I have included a range of veg seed but not covered all crops.

As expected the larger companies come out the most expensive and they do not seem to carry the more exotic varieties.


In summary the companies work out costing the following including the cost of postage:

T&M         74.44   http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en

DT Brown      50.22   http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/acatalog/

Simply Vegetables   60.10   http://www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk/

Simpsons Seeds      50.90   http://www.simpsonsseeds.co.uk/

Kings         45.26   http://www.kingsseeds.com/

Tuckers         47.00   http://www.edwintucker.com/

Nicky's         52.61   http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/
   
HDRA         59.79 http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/

Tamar         47.54   http://www.tamarorganics.co.uk/

Real seed      40.60 http://www.vidaverde.co.uk/


On the face of it Real Seeds are the cheapest but their list is limited and does not include all the crop groups so would not supply all my requirements. Having said that most of their stuff is non F1 so you can save seed for following years and they give you instructions on how to do so.

No surprise that T&M are the most expensive, but I also soon lost patience with their catalogue. It was very badly laid out and awkward to use.

My favourite catalogue was Simply Vegetables, very easy to follow and good images.

I also find Simpson and Kings very very good, closely followed by HDRA.

I am still mulling over who I will use for the seeds I need but I am leaning towards HDRA at the moment where I can get a 10% discount.

Also do not forget Alan Romans site for a limited range of seeds at very cheap prices.

Jerry

[Slugger]

Hi Jerry - thanks for this very useful and timely analysis. Like you, it does not surprise me that T&M are the most expensive, though to be fair they do have a massive range and I have no problem at all with the website. I tend to use them because of the selection, but also like Simpsons, Nicky's and Robinsons (who you do not have) which are a lot cheaper - Simpsons in particular I can thoroughly recommend.

However, you have also thrown up a few I don't know, so I'd better get checking them out too....!


Thanks again

[Slugger]

Sorry - forgot to mention Seeds of Italy - a bit more expensive then Simpsons, but the only internet source I could find for Borlotti and Butter beans. Well worth a try!

[sandersj89]

Slugger

All the companies except DT Brown and the Real Seed Company above offer Borlotti but they tend to call them: Barlotta Bean, Lingua di Fuoco.

Tamar Organics are cheapest at £1.25.

Glad you find the list of use. I could not include all seed companies as it would take weeks of effort!  :o

Jerry

[myrtle]

Thanks for that Jerry,  nice to know that the firm I use, Tuckers ('cos they are in Devon and I like to shop locally where poss) is in the lower half of that list. 
Were you able to compare the quantities in each packet of seeds on all sites?  When I received some tomato seed from Nicky's there were only 6 seeds for £2.59. Whereas in Tucker's packets and the packets of seed I buy in Spain there are always loads.

[Slugger]

All the companies except DT Brown and the Real Seed Company above offer Borlotti but they tend to call them: Barlotta Bean, Lingua di Fuoco.

Thanks Jerry - yes Lingua di Fuoco are becoming more widely available, but Butter Beans? (or are they known as something else too?!) ???

[sandersj89]

Were you able to compare the quantities in each packet of seeds on all sites?  When I received some tomato seed from Nicky's there were only 6 seeds for £2.59. Whereas in Tucker's packets and the packets of seed I buy in Spain there are always loads.

I did this last year but not this, last year the results indicated the smaller operators have larger average pack contents. It is not so much an issue with things like brasicas  but can be with things such as peppers/tomatoes as you say.

Jerry

[Gillian]

Yes I agree Simply Vegetables is the best catalogue - the photographs alone make you want to buy the whole lot!
Did you have a look at the Victoriana Nursery catalogue?
I have just ordered raspberry canes from HDRA they seemed to be around the cheapest mainly because they don't charge any shipping on orders over £25.

[Merlins Mum]

Thanks Jerry, that's very interesting.  I've ordered the bulk of mine from D T Brown, so I'm pleased to see they're not the most expensive.

MM

[Delilah]

Eee by gum you've put alot of work into that so thank you very much for all your hard work  :D

[colleenemp]

Wow. Ta for the list!

[Mothy]

Just wanted to say thank you Jerry, as I've followed some of the links from your very interesting post....you put a heck of a lot of work into that!!!

[redimp]

Excellent selfless service Jerry - thanks.  Have looked at Real Seeds many times and really like the look of their stuff - have now asked for a catalogue and have also ordered a Simply Vegetables catalogue.

[powerspade]

Ive tried all the top seedsmen, I do not go by the price alone Qualitiy also is a issue I found that JW Boyce of Ely in Camb, very good. The Bean & pea seed is sold in 1/2 pints, pints as well as packets.  The catalouqe has no fancy pictures but plain wholesome and very full selection of new and old vatirties of veg etc. I have used them for the past 7 years and have no complaints.

[djbrenton]

Unfortunately Boyces are around 2 1/2 times the price of Moles like for like.

eg Aquadulce -  Boyces 340g - £5.40, Moles 500g - £2.90
Feltham First -   Boyces 400g - £4.99, Moles 500g - £2.50

[kcarlisle]

Does anyone have any experience of growing things from Seeds of Italy - I love the idea of growing real Italian tomatoes etc but want to know if it is worth it!

Thanks!

[cheddarpaul]

Oh I boughy my latest lot of seeds from Wallis seeds after a recommendation from an old timer on our lottie. Dead cheap as they come in plain white envelopes with no real instructions...

Did I do wrong I wonder??

[djbrenton]

Most of the tomatoes I grew this year were from Seeds of Italy.
San Marzano Redorta - largest plum tom you'll ever see
Montecarlo F1 - large beefsteak sent as apology for out of stock ( I don't buy F1 tomatoes)
Costoluto Fiorentino - great mishapen beefsteak
Principe Borghese - vine tomato buil for sun-drying
Cuor di Bue - fabulous pink heart shaped toms

All did spectacularly well grown indoors and plants I gave away apparently did well outdoors too. The one thing about seeds of Italy is that you get lots of seed so it's worth combining with someone else and splitting the packs.
I also grew celeriac, cannellini, borlotti, giant snowpea, endive, radicchio, chicory, wild rocket, cavolo nero, chard and cardoon from them to good effect. The only failures were scorzonera ( didn't germinate ) and capers (ditto)

[sussexcliff]

I can't vouch for them yet but at 50p per packet I really think you have to look at www.alanromans.com. Over £5 there's no postage.  Not the range of Plants of Distinction but pretty good.

No catalogue, no pretty packets, just seeds and fast.

[jennym]

....- I love the idea of growing real Italian tomatoes etc but want to know if it is worth it!

For the first time this year, I grew Roma VF tomatoes from Mr.Fothergills "Mediterranean flavours" range, and found it to be an excellent plum cooking tomato. I have masses frozen, pureed, dried, and used in chutneys. Good sturdy bush type, and I used little support. The seeds weren't cheap, but I didn't have to use them all, so still have loads left for 2006. Would thoroughly recommend these to you.