Topic: Seed Catalogue Comparison

[sandersj89]

It must have been a wet day on Saturday as I spent a fair bit of time going through some seed catalogues mapping out my plans in the veg garden/allotment for next year. Once I had the basic list together I decided to compare companies to see who is the cheapest or who has the best range.

I started with the HDRA list as my gut feel suggested they were cheapest and had the best choice, below you will see my first stab at selection with Average Pack Contents (APC) and price listed beside each choice. Where possible I then tried to match this selection in other lists, Thompson & Morgan and Suttons. Where a direct match was not possible I have tried to include something comparable. I lost the will to live at that stage so have not compared to others such as Chiltern Seeds yet.

It seems my feel was right, HDRA works out cheapest by some way. They also have a far longer list and have better pack sizes for larger seeds on the whole. If it were not for the fact I can get the T&M stuff at 50% discount I would be ordering most of my stuff from them. I will be ordering some specifics from HDRA though as I want to try some of the more unusual varieties.

I have not placed the order as yet, still want to compare prices with some other producers, Tuckers have not issued this years catalogue yet for one.

Note my selection does not include spuds or onion sets, this is purely seeds. I still have to select spuds and summer onion sets along with a gooseberry, a couple of currents and some rhubarb!

Sorry the lists below are not in table format, seemed impossible to align them evenly. If anyone wants a copy of the spreadsheet I have used feel free to PM me. It is in Excel. Also if anyone thinks I have any duff selections in there I would love to hear.

Hope some one finds this useful.

Jerry

HDRA         
Crop   Variety   APC   Price
Aubergine      Black Beauty   47   1.58
Borlotto Bean      Barlotta   75   1.7
French Bean      Modus      115   1.58
Runner Bean      Disiree   65   1.7
Beetroot      Bolt Hardy   310   0.98
Chard         Bright Lights   95   1.95
Sprouts      Peergynt   72   2.05
Sprouts      Seven Hills   240   1.24
Calabrese      Waltham   145   1.1
Cabbage      January King   350   0.98
Carrots         Resita Fly   475   1.82
Carrots         Stella   475   1.41
Carrots         Cubic   475   1.24
Cauli         White Rock   65   1.7
Courgette      Parthenon   10   2.85
Cucumber      Tanja   10   1.41
Kale         Westland Winter   47   1.7
Leeks (E)      Hannibal   215   1.41
Leeks (L)      Atlanta   145   1.41
Spring Onion      Ram Rod   760   1.24
Parsnip      Tender & True   570   1.41
Parsnip      Gladiator   475   1.52
Sweetcorn (E)      Sweet Nugget   48   1.58
Sweetcorn (L)      Kelevdon Early   48   0.98
Pumpkin      Ghostrider   10   1.52
Squash         Marina di Chioggia   15   1.41
Sweet Pepper      Marconi Rossa   45   1.52
Chillie         Early Jalapeno   32   1.41
Lettuce G      Little Gem   475   0.98
Lettuce R      Oakleaf   500   1.34
Lettuce Cut&Come   Belize   240   1.58
Tomato Cherry   Tumbler   16   1.95
Tomato Medium   Alicante   48   1.24
Tomato Large      Red Brandywine   24   1.41
Tomato Outside   Ferline   20   2.22
         
Total         53.12

T&M         

Aubergine      Black Enorma   40    2.69
French Bean      Opera   75    1.99
Runner Bean      Disiree   50    2.99
Beetroot      Bolt Hardy   400    1.49
Chard         Bright Lights   80    1.99
Sprouts      Peergynt   40    2.69
Sprouts      Trafalgar   40    2.69
Calabrese      Trixie   40    1.99
Cabbage      January King   500    1.29
Carrots         Resita Fly   350    2.09
Carrots         Sytan   1000    1.49
Carrots         Carson   500    1.69
Cauli         White Excel   45    2.09
Courgette      Parthenon   5    2.99
Cucumber      Tiffany   4    3.99
Kale         Dwarf Green   1000    1.19
Leeks (E)      Lyon   400    1.29
Leeks (L)      Porvite   200    1.49
Spring Onion      Onion Feast   500    1.49
Parsnip      Tender & True   550    1.49
Parsnip      Gladiator   300    1.89
Sweetcorn (E)      Conquest   25    1.89
Sweetcorn (L)      Conqeror   30    1.49
Pumpkin      Mars   10    1.69
Squash         Avalon   12    1.99
Sweet Pepper      Gypsy   10    2.19
Chillie         Heatwave   25    1.99
Lettuce G      Sherwood   300    2.29
Lettuce R      Lolla Rosa   250    1.69
Lettuce Cut&Come   Salad Leaves Blend   400    1.69
Tomato Cherry   Tumbler   8    2.49
Tomato Medium   Alicante   100    1.69
Tomato Large      Red Brandywine   30    1.59
Tomato Outside   Ferline   15    1.99
         
Total          67.66

SUTTONS         
Crop   Variety   APC   Price
Aubergine      Black Beauty   100   1.79
Borlotto Bean      Borlotto Firetongue   110   1.79
French Bean      Sprite   130   1.79
Runner Bean      Enorma   45   1.99
Beetroot      Bolt Hardy   250   1.09
Chard         Bright Lights   90   1.59
Sprouts      Peergynt   35   2.29
Sprouts      Braveheart   65   2.69
Calabrese      Waltham   0   0
Cabbage      January King   450   1.19
Carrots         Maestro   660   2.49
Carrots         Chantenay   1800   0.99
Carrots         Eskimo   660   2.49
Cauli         Candid Charm   45   2.69
Courgette      El Greco   10   2.99
Cucumber      Palermo   5   2.99
Kale         Dwarf Green   400   0.99
Leeks (E)      Lyon   300   0.99
Leeks (L)      Rami   180   1.49
Spring Onion      White Lisbon   550   0.99
Parsnip      Tender & True   300   0.99
Parsnip      Gladiator   350   1.79
Sweetcorn (E)      Sundance   35   1.69
Sweetcorn (L)      Applause   35   1.49
Pumpkin      Becky   20   1.79
Squash         Cobnut   12   2.99
Sweet Pepper      Gypsy   20   1.99
Chillie         Early Jalapeno   25   2.29
Lettuce G      Little Gem   900   2.09
Lettuce R      Lolla Rosa   500   1.59
Lettuce Cut&Come   Salad Bowl   1300   1.19
Tomato Cherry   Tumbler   7   1.99
Tomato Medium   Alicante   60   1.19
Tomato Large      Buffalo   9   2.99
Tomato Outside   Incas   30   2.59
         
Total         63.96

[Kerry]

hi,
i'm really pleased to see that i'm not the only one who spends ages making lists and comparing prices. the planning (and dreaming) is all part of the fun.
your lists confirm my feelings that t+m are really expensive, you can get the same thing way cheaper elsewhere-makes you wonder why the prices are high and how they get their custom. mind you, how do you get 50% off!!!???
for the main part i use kings, mr fothergills and the hdra catalogue-i find kings by far the cheapest.
i use excel for my sowing spreadsheet/database-print it all out and laminate it-doesn't matter if it gets muddy!
thankyou for your lists-always interesting to see what others buy-at least my lists aren't as looooong as yours!
happy planning all.

[sandersj89]

how do you get 50% off!!!???

T&M run a scheme for allotments. They send out special order forms and you get 50% discount and £1 delivery I think. Get your allotment secretary to give them a ring.....

Jerry

[aquilegia]

I must admit to doing this too. I'm even so sad that I did this with the 2004 catalogues this summer because I couldn't get out and garden and I needed to do something (I'd sprained my ankle). I cannot wait to get more catalogues so I can do the 2005s!

T&M are so expensive - but in the flowers at least there are some really gorgeous and unusual ones and they keep tempting me with free offers.  ::)

[Kerry]

thankyou Jerry :)

[Phil]

I'm not being paid by the HDRA or anything, but another selling point of the HDRA is that they are an ethical producer of seeds (there are others too).  The world seed industry is dominated by multinationals like Monsanto, who are not only into GM, but use their monopolistic power as an economic weapon against producers in smaller countries.  I'm not going to change the world through my choice of runner bean seeds, but as an ethical consumer in a developed country, I do have a choice, I might as well make the most of it.  

[Multiveg]

Tuckers, though not got catalogue (WHERE IS MY TUCKERS CATALOGUE), can be cheaper that HDRA on seeds (including the organic ones). Also, Tamar is reasonably cheap.

Grrr - why are there so many options...!!??

[carloso]

do HRDA charge to be a member i think they do, and was been a member taken into account to get the seed reduction prices ?

all good and well if you dont have to jion to get the cheaper prices but memeber ship should be added to the cost of the seed really to give a true figure

ok ok im just wondering put the gun down and gimmie the answer lol

carl
most interested

if anyones wondering i did my budget different i reckoned on if i had everything i wanted for 150quid then id be well on the way to saving, which included the full range of veg we use plus new ones to new us and new types of fruit etc although some still having to be bougth as you do also its my fiorst yr so additional cost for greenhouses etc (which i might add so far i have 2 8*6 for the total cost of zero pounds of which i intend to modify one into coldframes and i now have the option of a 12 * 8 for free again i might add these are advertised in the local paper) so its keeping the cost down and i might add thanks to tips from people on here i have saved loads  thank you !!! ;)

[Multiveg]

Can't think off hand what the membership rates are for HDRA, but you gain free entry to Ryton, Yalding, Audley end gardens, the gardens up near Scunthorpe (can't think what that is called either)... so membership is probably worth it. Plus you'll be funding (albeit small amounts) organic research....

[Mrs Ava]

I seem to have 20 quid in my mind.....

[sandersj89]

do HRDA charge to be a member i think they do, and was been a member taken into account to get the seed reduction prices ?

The prices I quoted for HDRA are for non members, membership is £24 per year (standard). If you are a member you can take 10% off the prices I quoted above.

HTH

Jerry

[sandersj89]

And the winner is, (until I get the Tuckers catalogue at least), Kings Seeds.

Very impressed with their pricing and catalogue in general. Good choice of varieties and nicely laid out. Free postage for orders over £10 as well.

I have not listed the varieties on this post but if anyone wants any detail just shout as the formatting is not great on the board.


Jerry



           HDRA     T&M     Suttons     Nicky     Fothergill     Kings
Crop                  
Aubergine                 1.58     2.69     1.79     1.00     1.59     1.39
Borlotto Bean            1.70     -       1.79     2.00     -       1.29
French Bean              1.58     1.99     1.79     1.65     1.69     1.09
Runner Bean              1.70     2.99     1.99     2.35     2.99     1.99
Beetroot                   0.98     1.49     1.09     1.10     1.29     0.80
Chard                       1.95     1.99     1.59     0.95     1.99     0.99
Sprouts (E)               2.05     2.69     2.29     1.85     2.45     1.69
Sprouts (L)               1.24     2.69     2.69     1.85     2.99     0.99
Calabrese                   1.10     1.99     -       1.10     2.45     1.69
Cabbage                   0.98     1.29     1.19     0.80     1.15     0.80
Carrots 1                     1.82     2.09     2.49     0.90     1.99     1.89
Carrots 2                   1.41     1.49     0.99     0.90     0.99     0.69
Carrots 3                    1.24     1.69     2.49     1.09     1.99     0.80
Cauli                            1.70     2.09     2.69     2.15     1.35     1.69
Courgette                 2.85     2.99     2.99     1.50     1.69     1.29
Cucumber                 1.41     3.99     2.99     3.50     1.45     1.49
Kale                             1.70     1.19     0.99     1.49     0.99     0.99
Leeks (E)                     1.41     1.29     0.99     1.10     1.29     1.25
Leeks (L)                   1.41     1.49     1.49     1.25     1.15     0.99
Spring Onion              1.24     1.49     0.99     0.95     1.75     0.80
Parsnip 1                     1.41     1.49     0.99     0.90     1.15     0.90
Parsnip 2                  1.52     1.89     1.79     0.90     1.75     1.09
Sweetcorn (E)               1.58     1.89     1.69     1.25     1.75     1.50
Sweetcorn (L)                 0.98     1.49     1.49     -       1.75     0.99
Pumpkin                            1.52     1.69     1.79     1.95     1.99     0.90
Squash                    1.41     1.99     2.99     1.25     1.65     0.90
Sweet Pepper             1.52     2.19     1.99     2.50     2.09     0.99
Chillie                           1.41     1.99     2.29     1.50     1.39     0.99
Lettuce G                 0.98     2.29     2.09     0.90     1.15     0.90
Lettuce R                 1.34     1.69     1.59     1.10     1.65     1.25
Lettuce Cut & Come again    1.58     1.69     1.19     2.45     1.45     0.90
Tomato Cherry          1.95     2.49     1.99     1.75     2.25     2.25
Tomato Medium            1.24     1.69     1.19     1.50     1.29     0.90
Tomato Large            1.41     1.59     2.99     1.25     1.39     1.49
Tomato Outside          2.22     1.99     2.59     1.35     1.15     0.90
                  
        53.12     67.66     63.96     50.03     57.08     41.45

[aquilegia]

I got Kings catalogue yesterday (my first from them) and I was very impressed. THere selection of sweetpeas is fantastic too, but I'm not allowed to buy any more until I've got them to grow better!

It's very interesting that the three biggest, most well known companies are the most expensive overall. I will not be buying from them again!

[Multiveg]

Totally messed up the order form for T&M - couldn't decide which free seeds (you can just order that and pay for the postage and packing - might be worth it considering some of the seeds are £4+) and which free offers if I bought 1-2 items on the stated page(s). Even wanted to have the strawberries, but all in all, think I will just be ordering from HDRA and Tuckers (when it comes, please come soon, I am chomping at the bit).

[growmore]

HI All ,
           I get most of my seeds from Kings.I order them through our allotment society as we are members of the the,
" National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners" Which runs a seed scheme .
Anyone can join the   "National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners"
Individual membership is £15 pound a year but if 10 or more join as a club society etc it is £17-50 or £1-75 each..
I find the seeds are nearly 50% cheaper than buying them elsewhere..we each get a catalogue etc and order form .Ok this has no glossy photo's etc to it but it has advice etc  ,,, There is the  Choice of 700 vegetables and herbs Choice of 500 flowers and collections .All the seeds come foil packed in their own packets etc,,,There also seems to be a lot of new varieties each year,   Here is web address for
National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners,

http://www.nsalg.org.uk/index.htm
Cheers ..Jim..

[Mrs Ava]

Got my Tuckers today!  We are officially bankrupt now!  ;D

[Dorthe]

I most say that I had a sleepless night and decided to excitedly compare prices from the 3 catalogues i had:
 
T&M, HDRA and Suffolk Herbs.

Now I was also suprised to see that T&M was almost twice as expensive as the other 2 - and not even being organic!

Between HDRA and Suffolk Herbs there was only smaller difference, but with Suffolk Herbs coming out cheaper on the majority of seeds.

I like the idea that the seeds are organic and then there are cheaper as well!  :D

Unfortunately I have to wait to order until I have moved to my new house - which is next door to the allotment :-)

[Doris_Pinks]

Basic but cheaper than the organic catalogue is Van Hage.( British and Dutch seeds) You should see the size of their giant flak carrots!!  They do not have a vast selection, but have your basic beetroot etc at a much lower price.   www.vanhage.co.uk

[carloso]

well i dint stick to one supplier, i had some from Victoriana, HDRA,T&M, Parkers and local suppliers
its good not to keep yee eggs in one basket i think

carl

[Garden Manager]

I dont really have the time to start comparin prices, so thanks to jerry for his hard work in this area. It has certainly given me food for thought (no pun intended ;D).

I shall be having a look at some other companies (namely Tuckers, HDRA and Kings) to see if they do my favored varieties.

The key thing will be if any of them do Runner Bean 'White Lady' which i love and have had from T&M in the past.