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
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.
Quote from: Kerry on October 05, 2004, 14:08:12
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
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. ::)
thankyou Jerry :)
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.
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...!!??
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 !!! ;)
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....
I seem to have 20 quid in my mind.....
Quote from: carloso on October 05, 2004, 20:23:59
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
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
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!
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).
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..
Got my Tuckers today! We are officially bankrupt now! ;D
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 :-)
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 (http://www.vanhage.co.uk)
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
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.
Got my new Suffolk Herbs catalogue today, good veggie seed prices compared to the "big" companies in there too! http://www.suffolkherbs.com/indexSHUK.shtm (http://www.suffolkherbs.com/indexSHUK.shtm)
I am disapointed
Suffolk herbs/Kings dont do runner beans!!!
Any other good value companies i could try instead?
Yes they do Richard - how could they not? :D
Look under beans, not runner beans. or try this link
http://www.kingsseeds.com/data/MO/includes/frameset.asp?SHOP=MO&LAN=UK&MAIN=Default
Runner Beans are on page 31 of the 2005 Suffolk Herbs catalogue.
Jeremy
Quote from: Richard F on October 12, 2004, 13:16:34
I am disapointed
Suffolk herbs/Kings dont do runner beans!!!
Any other good value companies i could try instead?
Kings certainly do, I have selected Butler from their list. Their web site is not very user friendly but the paper catelogue is very good.
Jerry
My mistake - thanks
I got a bit confused with the Suffolk herbs/Kings link. I looked on the Suffolk Herbs site (thinking it was King as well) and found nothing. There are two seperate sites it appears.
Suffolk Herbs are owned by Kings.
Kings are seed merchants and grow their own seed (unlike most UK suppliers). They supply many catalogues such as The Organic Catalogue.
(So Suffolk Herbs are amongst the "big boys")
On my calculations Tuckers are cheaper on catalogue price but when you consider the basic 35% discount that Kings offer to groups (in addition to the National Allotments' scheme) they come out cheaper.
On HDRA membership - typing HDRA membership in Google takes you staright to the information at http://www.hdra.org.uk/join.htm (http://www.hdra.org.uk/join.htm)
Phil
There are, of course, loads of other seed companies see www.plant-seed-mailorder.org.uk were there are over 30 offering vegetable seeds
Phil
We get a special cheaper deal from Kings thru FEDAGA (Federation of Edinburgh District Allotment and Gardens Association), also potatoes (allvarieties) are only £2 per 3 kg and onioon/shallots 80p kilo (Ithink). Excellent prices and we have found standard supplied to be very good.
That sounds sort of smug but isn't meant that way, just that we are lucky I think.
hi wicker :)
I am just down road you in sunny (not ) Fife .
Our allotment used to have a shop (so I was told ) but it bombed .
I am still trying to decide what I should grow in my plot .
mags
Hi. Mitzzy, we don't have a shop on site - couple of bigger sites in Edinburgh do tho. We have a site rep who contacts FEDAGA, collects orders and arranges delivery. Very satisfactory so far, for us anyway.
Still order some stuff from the other catalgoues tho as you sometimes want a special variety or soemthing a bit different.
I have just had an interchange of e-mails with the Kings web site providers.
They agree that it could be improved and are about to make the search facility more visible (so the fact that they hide runner bean under B should no longer be a problem)
Marcus was most appreciative of recieving comment - Morale - don't just winge to yourself or others who can do nothing about it, speak to those who can!
I did a comparison of three different seed companies last year, and Dobies won hands down. Have been very pleased with the results too!!
Has anyone ever bought from Seeds of Italy? Or compared prices?
They seem very reasonable (lots of seeds in the packets).
(http://www.seedsofitaly.sagenet.co.uk/)
Sarah.
Hi Sarah.....answered you somewhere else also, but yup, I have also bought seeds from them and agree, good service and loads of seeds for the money! Also, wait until the new year and they have a seed sale! It is a bit lucky dip but I received about 12 packs of seeds for about 4 pound last winter!
if you have the new kitchen gardener turn to the back and find the Doobies catalogue advert. if you ring them and quote the ref no. you'll get a free pack of seeds with a catalogue!! ;D
Has anyone used "Simply Vegetables" or its main catalogue "Plants of Distinction"?
WHERE DO YOU GET THE CATALOGUE ? I MAY BE A BIT THICK BUT THE WEBSITE DIDN'T HAVE A LINK. ??? (P.S. I'M NOT SHOUTING - LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR PUNCTUATION)
Quote from: growmore on October 08, 2004, 11:14:11
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..
The seed scheme catalogue comes from Kings seeds but you do need to be a member of the National Society of Allotments and Leisure Gardens..To use it ..We get ours sent in block to our local allotments society ..cheers Jim..
I spent days choosing my varieties but it all went astray when I sent £10 to seedfest and got in return
Tomato Yellow Pear
Lettuce Iceberg
Black seeded Simpson
Tom Thumb
Paris Island
Buttercrunch
Prize Head
Bibbi
Endive Broad Leaf Batavian
Leaf Chicory Rossa Di Verona Tardiva
Southern Pea Mississippi Cream
Chilli Peppers Serrano
Aubergines Black Beauty
Cucumbers American White Metki
Straight 8
Marketmore 76
Pickling Cucumbers West Indian Gherkin
Boston Pickling
Melons Orange Honeydew
Carrots Royal Chantenay
Scarlet Nantes
Tendersweet Imperator
Beetroot Ruby Queen
Cylindra
Parsnips
Turnips Seven Tops
Purple Top White Globe
Radishes Champion
China Rose
China White
Easter Egg
French Breakfast
Cabbage Mammoth Red Rock
Early Round Dutch
Late Flat Dutch
Golden Acre
Early Jersey Wakefield
Copenhagen Market
Red Acre
Michihili
Savoy Cabbage Invernale Mantovano
Cauliflower Di Jesi
Collard Georgia Southern
Vates
Spinach Bloomsdale
Giant Noble
+ 5 other varieties.
They've got a special Christmas pack of 50 assorted veg seeds for £10 and also 20 herbs for under £6.
I've still got some other veg seeds to buy but I've gone from an estimated £130 down to about £30 by choosing to try what they've sent. With 1800 sq yds to fill I'm well pleased.
Get most of my seeds from the states, brilliant value
Just to confuse even more Wilkinsons Wilko Brand are very good value in their own right.Problem is there selection is not available till after xmas.They are currently selling cheap and nasty toys!
Their onion sets and potatoes are very good value.
No I am not on commision.
Merry Tiller - who from? via the web?
Pak Choi,
I am just about to order some of my seeds from Simply Vegetables. There are a bit more expensice for most veg than Kings (who I send my main Veg order to yesterday). However, if you are into such things like peppers and tomatoes then you would love it. They have 5 pages devoted to peppers (I choose Cyklon) and a whopping 13 pages on tomatoes. I also quite liked their small courgette and pumkin section.
Thomas
www.seedfest.co.uk are an American supplier trading out of Aberdeen. They specialise in heirloom varieties. I've also bought from seedsofitaly. They have a great selection of Italian varieties.
iam new to this what does hdra stand for ?cheers
Mutty,Tis the Henry Doubleday Research Association, heres the link!
http://www.hdra.org.uk/ (http://www.hdra.org.uk/) DP
cheers doris
Thomasb - thanks for your note which I've only just seen. I agree that the catalogue looks delicious, and you're the first person I've heard from that has actually used these people (if you have?!) or at any rate, intends to.
Cheers, PakChoi.
Jim
You said a while ago
"The [Kings] seed scheme catalogue comes from Kings seeds but you do need to be a member of the National Society of Allotments and Leisure Gardens"
This NOT so. Kings run 2 schemes, one for allotment groups, the other for any group.
As I said earlier, discounts start at 35%. To get onto this scheme, start your own group - mine is the village gardening group - and phone Kings - 01376 570000 - ask for their groups' catalogue (and a colour one as the groups' list is just a list without descriptions) Make it clear that it is NOT the allotment groups scheme that you want
Phil
Quote from: philcooper on October 19, 2004, 14:04:39
There are, of course, loads of other seed companies see www.plant-seed-mailorder.org.uk were there are over 30 offering vegetable seeds
Phil
Thanks for that link. I found a website called Edulis. which told me about the Chilean Guave An evergreen box like plant the has edible red berries with a strawberry aroma. I'm sold I've just got to find one now.
Sarah O
Something's been puzzling me about F1's. If I developed a new strain of F1 hybrid, I suspect I'd have sole rights to produce it. My suspicion is reinforced by the news that Peer Gynt is being withdrawn from sale after this season. The only way a variety could be voluntarily withdrawn is if there were only one producer. The articles I've read don't say Fothergill's or someone are dropping it, just that it won't be on sale any more. So if all Peer Gynt or Shirley seed actually comes from the same producers, how do the various seed companies justify wildly differing prices?