Are Freebie Seeds Duff?

[veg4681]

I hope I'm not speaking too soon but seeds that you have received free as in freebies with your order, do they usually turn out to have poor germination rate? I had Cauliflower AYR thrown in for free just for choosing a winter vareity cauliflower from T&M (otherwise the free AYR seeds wouldn't get added) but I noticed the germination is somewhat poor/slow. Compared this to the Broccoli seeds that I sowed at the same time has germinated very quickly yet the Broccoli seeds has Jun 2007 expiry date and I got it from car boot sales (been exposed to the sun) .

[Alison]

Not noticed it at all, had very good results with some free tomato and lettuce seeds last year but they were on the front of a magazine. I think sometimes that the free ones from suppliers can be the previous years seeds so maybe that was the problem if they hadn't been stored well.

[veg4681]

Not noticed it at all, had very good results with some free tomato and lettuce seeds last year but they were on the front of a magazine. I think sometimes that the free ones from suppliers can be the previous years seeds so maybe that was the problem if they hadn't been stored well.

I would have thought the ones that come free with magazines should have better germination rates (very viable) or else it would reflect badly on the magazine's reputation. Free ones from the seeds suppliers on the other hand are probably free for a good reason . Not that I'm complaining...just useful to know so that I can be better prepared.

[starwatcher]

I have never had a problem with freebies, cauli can be difficult are you sure they have been kept warm enough ie constant temp.

[Two_Sheds]

I don't think the problem is with them being free per se. Most of the ones we get have been just fine.
However, some of the free seeds are just not good varieties (red sprouts anyone?).

[rustylady]

I don't think the problem is with them being free per se. Most of the ones we get have been just fine.
However, some of the free seeds are just not good varieties (red sprouts anyone?).

Don't talk to me about red sprouts!!!!! The seeds germinated fine, just didn't want to grow or produce sprouts. I've had no problem with most free seeds, provided they are sown promptly or stored correctly.

[Paul Wagland]

The seeds on mag covers are bought by the publishers in large quantities, like 20,000 packets or more (so they get them very cheap and can give them away free). This implies the seed companies have huge stocks of them, ie they are probably new seeds.

Free seeds which arrive with a larger order would seem (in my view) more likely to be last year's leftovers, essentially the seed companies clearing out unpopular stock....

Age affects the viability of some seeds more than others though - parsnips in particular go downhill very fast after their first year.

[SarzWix]

I've never had a problem with free seeds from suppliers (apart from getting stuff I don't want or need!), although I mainly buy my seeds from T&M so I can't comment on any others. My red sprouts did okay for me over the winter & are still producing now, but they might be a different variety? Mine are Falstaff from T&M & I got them free last February. Hoping they'll be ok for this year as I still have half a packet!

[bluemoon]

I got the red sprouts too and they've done really well and we've quite enjoyed them. I also received a packet of wok brocc about three years ago and only sowed them last summer and they were great too. I think it probably depends upon the reason the seeds are being offered. I get the impression that when T&M offer them it's a method of making you try something you might not originally buy and therefore they'd want them to be good quality as, presumably, the point is to get you to buy them next season. In other cases, like when a random packet of something is pushed in with your order as a 'thank you' then they might be the older ones. T&M tend to offer a free packet of something if you buy one packet of the same veg, but of a different variety - I received my free red sprouts when buying other sprout varieties, it targets the right audience as it would be pointless them giving them to someone who only grew marigolds. And, as I said, they have a vested interest in making sure that the quality is good.