Allotments 4 All

 millions of credits cards are glowing in the dark, millions of cheque books are quivering in pockets and bags - the seed catalogues are coming in  ;D

which ones are your favourites for fruit and veg - mine would have to be Kings, it's like a magazine you can't put down and for spuds it would have to be Tuckers, so many varieties to choose from  :)

I get all the main ones and some off beat ones.. bought some yellow Mangetout from Real Seeds this year and will def., be looking at their cat...
8)

I think Moles Seeds take a bit of beating.  They are basically wholesale, and have imposed a minimum order value of £5.00.  I would find it very difficult to order less than £5.00.

valmarg

I have only had Thompson and Morgans so far - but to be honest, I really have lots of seeds, so am only on the look out for those...'oooooo...unusual....interesting.....novel....' types.  Oh, and sweetcorn, I have no sweetcorn!  I liked the look of Tims corns so might give those a whirl.

Thanks ...had not heard of Moles, have just ordered a copy.

I love reading the catalogues :D

I get some of my seed from Kings, but mostly from JW Boyce their seeds are far better in quality, I buy my onion sets, shallots and potato seed at my local pet/garden shop in Bargoed

I like Simpsons Seeds. This year I had my spuds from Tuckers but I thought I'd try Alan Romans this year, does anyone have experience of ordering from them?

barkingdog

E-J I have used Ovation as my main Sweetcorn.. from T+M for the last three years and have been really pleased with the results..
;D

Keep supporting the family - or, at least, British growers - like Simpsons & Real Seeds.

QuoteThis year I had my spuds from Tuckers but I thought I'd try Alan Romans this year, does anyone have experience of ordering from them?

All of my seed potatoes & onion sets come from these 2, both are top class.
Last year Mr Romans wrote some instructions on my invoice, great to get a personal touch from people, his book is also very instructive.

Nickys is good for seeds

http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/index.htm (http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/index.htm)

Thanks for starting this thread, Calendula.  As someone fairly new to growing edibles I'm finding this most informative.   :)

G x

Had a quick look at the sites mentioned so far and I'm impressed with them all.

Will have a much more indepth browse when I get the chance to  ::)

Good thread.

Quote from: flossie on September 15, 2006, 22:18:06
Thanks ...had not heard of Moles, have just ordered a copy.

snap, thank you valmarg. just love their logo, very wind in the willows!
Sx

I can recommend Alan Romans for quality, price and service.

Organic Seed Catalogue is excellent !!

www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk
seeds of italy
and then your usual suttons or T&M


BUT LETS NOT FORGET THE LIKES OF YOUR LOCAL NETTO - ALDI ETC for cheap deals next yr !!!


carl

Last year mine mostly came from Mr Fothergills, with some coming from B+Q and a neighbour who saw an offer in a paper and gave me what they sent.

I've got most of the seeds for next year already, saved some from cucumbers, a strange tomato variety a plot neighbour gave me and some peppers called 'Apple' which are small but very sweet.

I think I only need about 6 packets, cauliflowers, cabbage and lettuces, radishes (mixed pack next year).

I'm not doing onions next year , I don't think you really get much better than the supermarket for the space they take, best used for something else.

spuds I might get from our local market, they had a good variety last year and prices seemed good, would like to try and find a potato fair.

PS I've just updated teh blog as well.

I have to agree with Valmarg  Moles seeds for me class one seed and they are very quick to dispatch your order. You can also get some of your veg seed treated of them for various diseases

Quote from: worldor on September 16, 2006, 16:42:27
I can recommend Alan Romans for quality, price and service.

do you have a link to the website? thanks

http://www.alanromans.com/default.asp

There you go.   :)

G x

I am now a convert to real seeds, moles new to me but I have ordered a catalogue, alan romans also new to me so will probably split my spud order this year with them and tuckers and simpsons are good 'cos they have a specialist list of chillis and peppers, suffolk herbs another beautiful catalogue to read but I believe they are owned by Kings  :-\

there are so many so I guess a question would be who to avoid - I always think T&M are so expensive but they always seem to have something unsual

some lovely person on this list could compile a web list of links and put it in the wiki (if not already done)  ;)

Quote from: Georgie on September 18, 2006, 13:26:02
http://www.alanromans.com/default.asp

There you go.   :)

G x

thanks, just wasn't appearing when I googled for it  ;D

I know what you mean.  I had to do a bit of ducking and diving to find it too.   ;)

G x

Quote from: calendula on September 18, 2006, 13:52:42

some lovely person on this list could compile a web list of links and put it in the wiki (if not already done)  ;)

Hi

Looks like its been done

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_mambowiki/Itemid,61/

Lakeviewallotment

Thanks for this list.  It will keep me amused for ages ;D

use it with this and you will forget to look at the clock

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/veg_planner.asp

Thought you might be interested in this -

Hi Tim , thanks for pointing that out to us. It's great to feel appreciated, especially at this time of year when we're up to our necks in seeds all over the living room!
If appropriate, you could post the following info:
Yes, Real Seeds is what used to be VidaVerde - now we're back in the UK we thought the new name was easier for people.
The new 2007 catalogue has *just* gone on-line now, except for a few things still waiting to be harvested.
he paper version will be out in about 4 weeks, when it gets back from the printers.
And we have now put up a copy-right-free guide to seed saving that can be downloaded and printed out for free. Copy & distribute!


Specific answers to questions in the list:
Actually we can take orders overthe web with an ordinary credit card now - a paypal account is an optional part of the process.

The paper catalogue is _smaller_ than the web one; we put all sorts of limited stock things (<20 packets available) on the web.

Many thanks - Ben

Thanks for posting that Tim. Downloaded the seed saving guide, and it looks quite simple. I'm inspired to have a go myself - once I get my garden

http://www.powen.freeserve.co.uk/Links/supplierslinks.htm

A link someone created....and I can't remember who did it now!

just received my catalogue from Moles - wow and it included a lovely 2006/7 year planner from october this year to september next

I have so much work to do today and will not be able to resist it  ::)

Have used Alan Romans this year. Not a vast choice and no peas or beans yet but they are trying to address this.They are from T&M but have no outer packing so I'm a bit stuck for sowing times on some!! Still, who's complaining for 60p per packet
Helen

I used DT Browns this year, another gardener on our site told me that DT Browns are part of moles, so going to try moles for next years seeds, their catalogue is huge, half inch thick and a4 size

 :o

I just ordered Moles on the strength of this thread. Sounds like a lovely winter read Simon!

;)

katynewbie

you will know when it arrives by the thud on the carpet, prices do seem high but you are buying in bulk, lowest amount for carrots is 10,000 seeds, but it works out cheaper then buying loads of packets

My very first Moles catalogue arrived today, its huge!  What an amazing variety of seeds.  The quantities are rather large.  May look into sharing packets with fellow lotty friends.

I love the real seeds catalogue- worthwhile even just for the reading material- have used their trail of tears french bean for several years now -indestructible and tender beans.  For standard varieties would recommend Wallis seed- ultra cheap (you dont pay for glossy catalogue and packet) huge range, huge amounts, and you can order different sizes of pack. They also have quite large range of organic seed.