Author Topic: Ordering seed for next year (Read 5632 times)

cornykev · « **Reply #20 on:** November 16, 2006, 16:21:48 »

:D Glad you took advice on seeds Clay your right to wait for bargains but 50p you can't beat it, did you check the messages on the site about seedfest and the poor or no service people were getting . :o :o

May the corn be with you.

valmarg · « **Reply #21 on:** November 16, 2006, 18:22:37 »

I would recommend Moles Seeds if you want large quantities of seeds (veg and fruit plants - not flowers). The minimum order requirement if £5.00, free P&P, and if you order by 30th November (a bit late now) you get 6% discount off your order, cash with order (ie credit card). After 30th November 3%. The fruit and veg are VAT free. You have to add VAT at the current rate on flower seeds.

Going back to the viability of seeds - I understand that the best crops of tomatoes can been seen at your local sewerage farm. You could even take the seeds out of a tin of tomatoes and grow them. I have learnt from experience NEVER, NEVER put tomato seeds in the compost bin!!

valmarg

kitten · « **Reply #22 on:** November 17, 2006, 17:29:00 »

Oh dear, my compost bin is going to be a right nightmare then, i've put potato peelings and tomato seeds in there! Oh well, we live and learn x

teresa · « **Reply #23 on:** November 17, 2006, 17:38:08 »

Kitten, to see a potato or a tom poking out the side of a compost bin you know your compost is good you can always pull them out and add to top of compost.
Should see my OH rumaging in the bin for potoatoes puts a new meaning on fresh and organic tatties. hee hee.

miniroots · « **Reply #24 on:** November 17, 2006, 18:04:55 »

I'm writing down all those seed companies - I've not heard of most of them.

I'm new on the forum too - Hello Kitten!

Last year I wanted to get some blue potatoes - can't remember what they're called - but couldn't find anywhere stocking them - does anyone have any ideas?

saddad · « **Reply #25 on:** November 17, 2006, 18:08:34 »

I disagree Valmarg... tomato seeds in the compost are a great indicator of soil warmth... for planting out tenders like squash... Tomato seedlings are very distinctive and easily weeded out!
;D

cornykev · « **Reply #26 on:** November 18, 2006, 15:39:53 »

:) If anyone can grow potatoes from a peeling in a compost bin then I'll be planting them next year. lol ;D ;D ;D

May the corn be with you.

redimp · « **Reply #27 on:** November 18, 2006, 16:17:53 »

Quote from: philcooper on November 16, 2006, 13:26:34

Back at the original question - the liength of time seed is viable depends on the type of plant and how the seed is stored.

See http://matcmadison.edu/mchristoffel/plants/seeds/viability.htm for an indication of how long each seed lasts in average conditions. Cooler and drier conditions increase the viable life; warmth and damp reduce it.

The seed is collected this year for for sowing next, so if your stockist looks after the seed well, it doesn't matter when you buy it. But, as has been pointed out, the favourite varieties quite often sell out.

The size of packet you buy depends on how much you want to sow and how long it will last. There is no problem in buying a large packet of tomato seed, which seems to keep for ever, but you might as well throw parsnip seed away at the end of the year.

Phil

Having seen your list Phil (thanks - useful) I have had a disasterous year with leeks and the only ones that have done any good are some that went out of date in 2003. ???

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #28 on:** November 18, 2006, 19:21:11 »

Mine (Bleu de Solaise from Real Seeds) are small but doing fine. I'm sure they'd be bigger if we'd had any rain over the summer.

kitten · « **Reply #29 on:** November 18, 2006, 19:29:15 »

Quote from: miniroots on November 17, 2006, 18:04:55

Last year I wanted to get some blue potatoes - can't remember what they're called - but couldn't find anywhere stocking them - does anyone have any ideas?

Hi miniroots - I've seen a blue potato in a couple of my seed catalogues - it's called Edzell Blue - if you want to check it out you'll find it at www.organiccatalogue.com or www.dobies.co.uk. I'm sure some of the experienced allotmenteers will be able to offer more advice & recommendations, but that's what i came across so thought i'd mention it. missbabs x

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #30 on:** November 18, 2006, 19:41:49 »

There are quite a few blue varieties; that's the best known. I've never tried it, but I've heard good reports.

triffid · « **Reply #31 on:** November 18, 2006, 21:25:29 »

Evening all!

Loads of information already here, but this may be helpful to you, if you're trying to work out which seeds have long lifespans and which don't...

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,91/topic,23937.msg235295#msg235295

and, adding my tuppenceworth re favourite seed companies:
Dobies and Simpsons Seeds get my vote. ;D

miniroots · « **Reply #32 on:** November 19, 2006, 09:09:49 »

Thanks for that -
I'm going to try them next year; can't wait to see my friends' faces when I serve blue mashed potato!!

Robert - How do your little bleu de solaise taste? Are they nice?

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #33 on:** November 19, 2006, 09:34:26 »

I don't know yet; it's a late variety, and it's the first time I've tried it. I'm not going to lift any before Christmas.

valmarg · « **Reply #34 on:** November 19, 2006, 16:12:02 »

Quote from: saddad on November 17, 2006, 18:08:34

I disagree Valmarg... tomato seeds in the compost are a great indicator of soil warmth... for planting out tenders like squash... Tomato seedlings are very distinctive and easily weeded out!
;D
[Well we'll agree to disagree saddad.

The problem I had was, having spread the compost on the garden, and planted out with summer bedding, the next thing I knew was that the tomatoes were in competition with the bedding. To have weeded them out would have meant trampling all over the bedding, ie destroying the effect.

I'm sure if they had found tomato seeds in King Tut's grave in Egypt (I know wrong continent) they would have germinated.

I think the point is that you need to have a VERY hot compost heap to destroy the seeds, and the average heap is not hot enough, so you end up with what I had, summer bedding interspersed with tomatoes!!

valmarg
/quote]

dchisholm · « **Reply #35 on:** December 19, 2006, 16:37:34 »

Please don't ignore packetseeds.com in your considerations.

euronerd · « **Reply #36 on:** December 19, 2006, 22:01:09 »

dchisholm you will have an order from me as soon as all the festive fuss has died down :)

Geoff.

louise stella · « **Reply #37 on:** December 19, 2006, 22:34:19 »

HI there

Take a look at http://www.realseeds.co.uk/ - Glosterwomble put me on to them and I have ordered my seeds for next year from them. They only sell Organic seed and specialise in old varieties chosen for disease resistance and mmost of all FLAVOUR!

The company is run by a couple who are fanatic about what they do - if you are organic - this is the company to check out!

LOUISE

Merry Tiller · « **Reply #38 on:** December 19, 2006, 23:26:05 »

Anyone tried these?

https://www.pennardplants.com/seeds.html

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Author Topic: Ordering seed for next year (Read 5632 times)