Seed Catalogues

[bluemoon]

Definitely get the Kings Seeds catalogue. I'm not that keen on Thompson & Morgan, they used to be very good but I've been very disappointed in the last few years.

I was going to say that! Also try Plants of Distinction, they sound expensive, but aren't and although it's a small catalogue compared to some, the quality is superb and the choice, although not massive, is a good range of types and varieties.

[coreopsis]

Home - moreveg.co.uk, vegetable seed company, vegetable seed, herb seed, flower seed, carrot, -I tried them this year and they are really good.
I also take some seeds from Suttons, Seeds, Flower seeds, vegetable seeds, flower plants, vegetable plants, organic seeds, seed potatoes, seeds.

[gojiberry]

I will enjoy looking through the catalogues when they arrive but I must restrain myself from buying anything as I already have 2 biscuit tins full of seeds. Mind you I have a couple of Suttons Seed £5 vouchers that need using in the next month or so.
Last couple of years I have had a fair bit of stuff from Marshalls.

Ian

[seasprout]

I was going to say that! Also try Plants of Distinction, they sound expensive, but aren't and although it's a small catalogue compared to some, the quality is superb and the choice, although not massive, is a good range of types and varieties.

MY favourite for veg, but I found the flowers varied in description to actual results.

[salilah]

I also usually look online - I think more varieties are shown?
Some good ideas (though expensive) from Sarah Raven
Welcome! | Sarah Raven's Kitchen and Garden

And probably my most favourite:
Seeds of Italy
you can download a catalogue
they have some great varieties, and really huge numbers of seeds in the packets - really excellent...

S

[Jon]

I usually buy seeds online and have used a number of the companies shown in the previous posts.

Dobies are OK - you can get cash back if you shop with them using Quidco.

I buy alot of my seeds from Garden Organic organicgardening.co.uk and have always received a good service from them.

[basketcase]

I buy alot of my seeds from Garden Organic organicgardening.co.uk and have always received a good service from them.

And the seeds still germinate four years later - and beat the fresh 'big company' ones for germination and quality too. (Ask me how I know... )

[valmarg]

I tend to agree with the comments about T&M. Not the best.

I also agree with the comments about Plants of Distinction and Seeds of Italy. They are very good.

If you want larger quantities of seed, the wholesale company Moles Seeds Moles Seeds - Flower and Vegetable Seed Suppliers are very good.

One I haven't used, but is recommended on here is nicky's seeds.

Apart from catalogues, you may be as well starting a thread on 'recommended varieties' to gain the experience of what growers have 'tried and tested'.

valmarg

[Rossa]

Everyone's in agreement on T&M.

Best for me has been King Seeds. They are the supplier to a lot of allotment associations via NSALG. My friend with an allotment in Manchester pays about 1/3rd to half the price on their website cos their site are members. He's used them for last 5 years and says they are consistent in quality, a good percentage, more than 2/3rds, germinate (a problem I found with Chiltern Seeds, not much germinated last year).

If you want more than that his team got a Silver Gilt award at Tatton Park this year using King Seeds though most of the veg they exhibited were grown in pots. I appreciate that skill comes into it as well, but that's no good if the seed is rubbish to begin with.

Going to try Real Seeds next year as I want some outdoor tomatoes that will do better than this year's results. As they're based in cold wet Wales, I'm hoping to pick up a variety or two that can cope with cold wet Yorkshire as well. Maybe try a Siberian variety.....lol

[Redic87]

i always use kings their great and well priced plus you can get a special allotment catalogue when your allotment signs up to their National Society of Allotment and Leisure gardeners ltd seed scheme.

[Lavenderblue]

We always use real seeds and for other stuff, I quite like jungle seeds. I think Nicky's nursery seed isn't very good - we have had poor germination rates with several different varieties so we don't use it any more.

[sarraceniac]

We always use real seeds and for other stuff, I quite like jungle seeds. I think Nicky's nursery seed isn't very good - we have had poor germination rates with several different varieties so we don't use it any more.

I bought some Samphire seed from Nicky's Nursery earlier in the year and had a brilliant germination rate. About 90%. I guess it's just the luck of the draw.

[Topcat36]

Well just ordered the Real seed catalogue, think i might just stick to this one, got all my seeds from wilkinsons last year.

[solway cropper]

Check out Premier Seeds Direct on ebay. No paper catalogue as far as I know and no fancy packaging. Not even any sowing instructions but for the last 2 years I've had excellent crops and they have some interesting varieties with a lot of Italian stuff. They do seem to be passionate about their seeds...which is more than can be said for the glossy catalogue brigade.

[falkon]

Check out Premier Seeds Direct on ebay. No paper catalogue as far as I know and no fancy packaging. Not even any sowing instructions but for the last 2 years I've had excellent crops and they have some interesting varieties with a lot of Italian stuff. They do seem to be passionate about their seeds...which is more than can be said for the glossy catalogue brigade.

i have used this seller and the germination rate of seeds is very good... sowing instructions are normally given in the item listing...