What would you like?

[thinker]

I am currently designing a new 'grow your own' range for fruit and veg aimed at novice gardeners. I am wondering if you could help me out. What attracted you to growing your own fruit and veg, and what would you like to see in the range? Do you like just getting the seeds, our is there something else that would make it easier to start growing such as compost, recyclable container?

Your help would be much appreciated.
Thanks

[selfraising]

Hi
I would like a smaller amount of seed potatoes and onion sets on offer. That is to say that the seed potatoes I order come in 1.5KG bags which means I end up giving or throwing some away, the same with onions. I have quite a small garden and some people can only grow in containers so it would be nice to have smaller quantities on offer.

[Two_Sheds]

SR: come and use my local hardware store ... you can buy individual sets & spuds

[Snadger]

Onion sets have to be the easiest thing in the world to grow!

[Two_Sheds]

I am currently designing a new 'grow your own' range for fruit and veg aimed at novice gardeners.

For real novices, those without a Scooby Doo, perhaps some basic explanation of how to grow the seeds, without the jargon of "pricking out", "chitting" etc. ???????
(Planting instructions are given on packs, but not always read or understood, if you don't have prior experience)

I don't like those packs that Wilko are doing : "grow a carrot kit" for about £8 !! Potato in a bag mail-order kit, £20. What a rip-off.

[thinker]

Thank you all! This is all very helpful.
Do you have any issues with current packaging of seeds, bulbs etc... do you want it to be more environmentally friendly, recyclable, less of it? A lot of designers are trying to make packaging innovative and very design led, would this attract you more to products or put you off? The simpler the better?

[Two_Sheds]

As to packaging: realistic photos please - I bought some "blue" fuchsias last year and they turned out to be purple.

Biodegradable packaging is good - chuck it on the compost

[selfraising]

That's exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for unfortunately Suffolk is a bit far to come for a few seed pots.

[selfraising]

Well I did try the seeds in January Snadger but they all collapsed. It is my first go at onions this year, so I want to see how they do in my garden. If they do well, might have a go at seeds again next year.

[Gwen11ian]

Smaller amounts of seeds in packets. Or maybe a variety of seeds packaged separately but sold together? I don't need 45 beef steak tomato plants.. but I would love ten seeds each of four different varieties of tomatoes. Something like the packets they give away with the magazines, but by type of plant. Types of French beans, broad beans, zucchinis, cabbage, etc. each with four or five different varieties per packet. As a novice you don't know what grows best in your area (most successful, highest production, most disease resistance, etc) so it would be ideal to be able to trial a couple of plants of each without huge investment and waste of seeds.

[Eco-Chic]

Biodegradable packaging.

Realistic photograph - not what can be achieved under optimum conditions by 90 year old experts.

Information on packs along the lines of easy to grow, care needed, degree in botanical studies and horticulture required etc.

Approximate sowing to germination time and temps rqd.

Approximate sowing to harvest/flowering time.

Approximate height of climbers if staking rqd.

[Eco-Chic]

Soil type required.

PH preferred.

Print to be in reasonably large font size so myopics can read it.

I guess it would have to be a Huuuuuge packet to suit my requirements

[ixi1456]

smaller amounts of seeds or even a pick and mix packets (ie 10 carrots,10 cabbage etc)

[cupcake]

Planting distances in inches as well as centimetres.

[thinker]

Thank you all for your replies! Very much appreciated! Do you all like the very simple style of seed packets or would it be nice to see something different? Maybe something you could re-seal if you get too many seeds? Thanks again!