An article by that name was in the Scottish Daily Mail today and referred to a report from "Which-Gardening" on 27 September. The 99% was in ref. to flower seeds, and Veg seeds were 40%.
Having ordered from DT Brown this year (Due to good Prices) instead of Organic Gardening I had only 9 parsnips out of two 10 Metre rows, ONE Sierra Lettuce out of 3 sowings at approx 3 week intervals.
To get the article go to the Mail Online, enter "seed companies" in the search bar and the article will come up.
And I was blaming the Scottish Rain for my problems this year !!!!!
Yes my husband just pointed this article out to me.
Annoying. :)
I'm exonerated!!
My daughter sowed 2 packets of flowers at the allotment last year and got none. This year she sowed some she got free with a barbie magazine and had about 50% show.
Pedro,welcome to A4A :)
Welcome to A4A Pedro ;D
Welcome to A4A.
Hi, pedro, welcome to the site ;D
thanks for letting us know it's not all our fault ;D
That is not what the Which report says. I have just read it and it was rather encouraging, especially with regard to the viability of vegetable seeds.
14 suppliers of veg seed had germination of over 80%. Those that were singled out for supplying substandard vegetable seed were Johnsons, DT Brown, Marshalls.
just read the article, not just the above firms, also unwins, suffolk herbs, fothergills, dobies ..best were t&m..shame their service isn't that good
It's time serious gardeners got back into the habit of saving their own seed again.
One pinch of my own parsnip seed sown in a 3 and a bit pot to test viability had them growing like cress. Picture shows transplants.
(http://downtheplot.com/images/autumn_sown_parsnip.jpg)
Why, betula?
Because I fail so often, but I have always gone for the smaller (& UK) firms - & their support.
I had read Which some time ago but preferred to stay loyal.
Tim
have you tried real seeds?
I'm no expert but i had no germination problems with their seeds
and they meet your criteria, small UK firm
lbb
www.realseeds.co.uk
I have mentioned before I get my seeds from the cheap shops (Lidl Aldi, Netto & Wilkinsons) getting excellent results.
The only one I actually counted was the geraniums. 5 seeds for 39p (buy one get one free call it 20p) I got three geraniums 2 red one white) I make that three fifths. Is that 5/100 = 20. X3 = 60%. ?
Not sounding good but I am happy with a geranium plant for less than 7p.
With vegetable seeds, there are legal requirements regarding germination rates. When it comes to flowers, there are none, which is why they can get away with selling stuff like Meconopsis in garden centres, when it has no chance of germinating!
lbb - of COURSE.
And Simpsons et al!
Sorry but if T & M came out on top then the survey is worth less than a pinch of parsnip seed in my opinion. I never, ever get good germination rates from them.
In the italian seeds ( sorry Tim ) they give the germination rates on the back, they also pack enough seed to keep you going for years and are sold for prices far less than people like Msrs Moles.
The only seeds I have problems with are B&Q~~could be unlucky maybe!
Lidls seeds I have only ever had success with... BUT.....with lidls I am not sure if their seeds are standard throughout the packet. for example with their pumpkin and squash seeds I got two different types of pumpkin and squash from the same packet. Maybe thats why they are cheap.
Never had a problem with Wilkos either!!
*****Raisedbed***** when you say Italian seeds do you mean Franchi seeds?
Duke
Saw this mentioned in the Telegraph on Saturday. I use D T Brown (currently) and am trying to recollect how successful my seeds have been - have enough trouble remembering what I planted where without where I got them from !
Anyone seen a response from the seed suppliers ?
From DT Brown, I bought 3 types of leek, Japanese leek/salad onion and Broccoli White Eye and White star. Leeks etc in seedbed, broccoli in root trainers. No germination problems (but one of the leeks (apollo F1) and one of the Japanese packets were less than generous).
If anyone knows of another source for Leek Apollo F1 (apart from Marshalls!) please let me know.