Calling all seed experts :)

[4390evans]

Please move if not in the right place.

I've been moved to the seed dept in the store now that people are looking to replenish stocks.

I need/want to know all about seeds, even if you think its useless info tell me!
I know what F1 var are, distances, times of year to sow, seed saving. Most is just common knowledge but I really want to delve further into the life of seeds and find out as much as I can. I like my customer and want to help as much as possible.

Can you guys help me out, most of what I know I have got off here anyway, I am trawling through the net too, so any links would be most appreciated.

Thanks guys

[veggiechicken]

Don't want you to think that nobody's read your post but I don't know how to answer your questions.
If I went to a GC to buy seeds I might ask you to recommend, say, the best courgette or earliest fruiting tomato, or what could I grow in a pot etc so I would expect you to be familiar with the seeds that you sell. Perhaps I''d ask you what are the advantages of F1 seed over non-F1 - and why do they cost more?

[happyhumph]

Yes - it's a tricky one to answer as such a big subject area. Could you ask someone who already works in that department what the most common queries are then familiarise yourself with those areas? Or possibly get to know what is sowed that season?

[seasprout]

Knowing what an award of garden merit might be useful.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/trials...f-garden-merit

[Guest]

Another vote here for you knowing the seeds you sell. What toms are greenhouse or outside. Any veg that are resistant varieties. Height and spread.

However in all my time of buying seed I don't thing I have ever asked in the shop for help except where abouts are they.

[Snadger]

I may be wrong, but I would imagine flower seeds would be a bigger seller than veg seeds? If so you would need to know your hardy annuals,half hardy annuals, biennials and perennials.
Unfortunately th only way you would know the growth habits of these is if you had grown them.
This is possibly where your experience in the plant department may come in useful.

[Bigmallly]

I think the majority of info is on the packet.

[Nicos]

Just a thought....
Do you sell gardening books?
Might it be worth leaving a few near to the seeds so people can pick them up and refer to them?
If they find them easy to follow/useful info, you may get a few more sales of both seeds and books.

[veggiechicken]

However in all my time of buying seed I don't thing I have ever asked in the shop for help except where abouts are they.

...........and where are the reduced price seeds!

[johnjohn]

I need/want to know all about seeds, even if you think its useless info tell me!

Can you guys help me out, most of what I know I have got off here anyway, I am trawling through the net too, so any links would be most appreciated.

Thanks guys

Knowledge of seed saving might be useful? There is a link to other links here:
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ml#post1397063

[rary]

The information on the seed packet is a guid, important to keep to the guid for depth to sow, veg. spacing can be reduced may give smaller produce, seed sowing time varies a lot, as an example marigolds, sow out doors April/May where I stay its May/June a bit late for sowing outside, usually aimed for the last expected frost date. The one thing I would recommend that you do is keep a note of how easy or difficult the seeds are for sowing and growing. What ever you do it is nice to see you are interested in the customer and not just a sale, so thanks some day it could be me buying seeds......... naw, only if they are reduced in price

[KevinM67]

I like my customer and want to help as much as possible.

Aahhh, I"d love to be young and naive again.

When you get older, and bitter and twisted like the rest of us 'old uns' you'll discover that dealing with the public is a 'one way love' - they're never happy, always want more, talk and treat you like a piece of dirt and will happily recount to their friends how they trampled over you to get a 'good deal'.

Once they grind you down - you'll be strutting round that Garden Centre like Basil Fawlty.

This post obviously comes from years of experience.

[veggiechicken]

I'd love to be young again, Kelvin
Now don't knock Evans' enthusiasm. She's right to want to know more about the products she's selling
Good luck Evans!

[KevinM67]

^^^^^ but why should we lie ??? - let's not molly cuddle Evans, wrap her up in cotton wool, and lie to her ?? - the public are self serving monsters, that will gobble her up on their way to satisfy their greedy means.

Everyday, when my son comes home from school, I tell him he better have enjoyed it, because life is cr@p when you leave and go into the world of work.

At 8 years old, he's petrified and cries himself to sleep at night.

(I'm joking here, before Social Services are called)

[veggiechicken]

If you're nice and helpful to people, they will treat you in the same way. You're obviously horrid, Kelvin, and have been treated in the way you deserve