Update on birthday party bags idea

[reetnproper]

Hi all,

Well the pumpkin competition idea went down really well (with the parents being even more enthusastic than the already excited kidlings) and all the pumpkins were sown almost immediately on returning home (so I'm told ).

I usually use wilkos or lidl pumpkin seeds and have never had a problem with them but, this year I had bought a Sutton Seeds packet 'Big Max', mainly because I saw them, realised I hadn't got any yet and bought them in case I forgot next time I was in town.

Unfortunately, out of 24 seeds, only 8 have actually germinated (we're now 4 weeks since sowing) and I'm not best pleased. Each parent followed my instructions to the letter and all the families have managed 1 seedling but as each child took 2 seeds each and 3 of the families had 2 children at the party which means they had 4 seeds to plant, this is a pretty poor average in my opinion.

Even my own 3 girls (yes the 19yr old entered into the spirit of things as well ), who sowed their seeds under my watchful eye, have only produced 2 seedlings out of 6 and one of those looks pretty weak.

As it happens, I had begun to suspect there was a problem and so I had nipped out to Lidl and purchased 2 packets of their 'Big Max' seeds (29p each). I sowed 6, using compost from the same bag I'd sown the others in and 4 came up within 7 days. I've the other packet to sow today and will give these out to replace the failed seeds from the actual party. One of the other mums (also a grower) has a fair few pumpkin seedlings from their own sowing and has offered these if I don't have enough but I'm so disappointed with the Suttons Seeds.

Just goes to prove that you don't always get what you pay for

Regards

[northepaul]

I had terrible trouble last year with pumpkins not germinating....thanks for the warning!

[Florence Fennel]

I hope you're going to let Suttons know Reet? They should replace the seeds and I would think they ought to compensate you in some way, particularly as this was a birthday treat. It's worth a try.

[jackie j]

I agree with flo deffo worth complaining to Suttons, never know they might send you a big box of various seeds to compensate and as a good will geture.

[Hilary B]

I have 20 pumpkin seedlings (from 20 seeds). They all germinated within 7 days in the heated propogator, and in another 7 days on the windowsill all have at least 1 true leaf. These are to give away (tomorrow), for a 'competition', who can grow the biggest pupmkin by late October. T&M , the very big type (hundredton or some such name). Should be interesting.
If you got poor germination, definitely report and ask for replacements!

[pipscariad]

So glad that the party bag idea went down well, but how disappointing that the germination was so poor. I'm with the others here, you should definately get in touch with Suttons, they need to know that there was a problem with that batch of seed if nothing else, and you should get a compensation of some sort.

I've just sown 6 of Suttons 'Hundredweight' pumpkin seeds (part of my freebie pack from the RHS challenge ) and they've all germinated... Wasn't expecting 100% success rate, so if they all reach maturity not sure what I'll do with all the pumpkins!