Where do you get yours?

[Sara]

Hi everyone,

There are so many great gardeners on the forum, I'm sure you're all already planning what to grow next year. I'd love to know where you're going to source your seeds and plants.

Could you give me any tips for swapping plants and cuttings with friends? Or maybe you collected seeds from this autumn's harvest to sow next year?

I'd be interested in hearing whether you buy online or via mail order, or if you wait to spot great deals at a local garden centre or allotment shop.



Your advice may be edited and published in Grow Your Own's January issue.

[Pumpkin Becki]

I'm a self confessed seed addict and packets just seem to find their way into my shopping basket (real or online).

Online, I tend to buy from Suttons (just placed a big order with them for next year), Kings Seeds, or Seeds of Italy for something a bit more unusual.

Shopping for seeds in person, I like Wilkos for a bargain and B&Q, but I find the range at my local garden centre a bit limited oddly enough.

I'm on the committee of my local Gardener's Society, and have just introduced a seed swap to the monthly meetings and shows. Its been a slightly slow start getting people to contribute, but we've already got some really exciting seeds available, and many of these have been saved from members own gardens.

[T8Ter]

I usually buy loads of seeds (far more than I would ever have the ground required to plant them in) when companies like T&M have their end of season half price sale, I find the seeds will still be fine for the following year. At home I save, Chilli,tomato,runner bean seed plus the best of my garlic, I always take a load of cuttings from the gooseberries/blackcurrants etc and just stick them in the borders wherever there is space, most of them root and give me new plants in the spring.

[buzzingtalk]

I too find the local garden centre has a very limited selection of seeds.

[OverWyreGrower]

I find that places like B&Q are OK for basic seeds/varieties, as are some garden centres.

I prefer to either swap seeds with people, or buy from more specialist retailers (usually online). I find I'm now on the lookout for something a bit different.

The best thing about swapping seeds with someone is that you often have a chance to ask whether it has grown well/the taste/any problems etc. You don't get this with buying online or from a normal retailer.

[Two_Sheds]

I buy from eBay a lot: there are very reputable nurseries on there (I sell my junk, build up my Paypal account, then spend it all on seeds )

[binley100]

Wyevales sale, Wilkos sale, I have been given some seeds by some kind people on here and have now started to save some myself.........

[solway cropper]

I tend to look for bargains and end of season sales for seeds and, like others, I find garden centres very restricted. There's a couple of good sites on ebay which I buy from as they will supply smaller amounts of stuff. I mean, who the heck wants 2000 lettuces?

I use layering and cuttings for some fruit/herbs and this year I've saved bean seeds and am also going to have a go at grafting fruit trees onto dwarfing rootstocks.

[Hans Mum]

seeds just fall into my basket with alarming regularity & i've far more than i need...so i give them away to fellow lottie holders or local projects, ive also joined the Vine seed Parcel a couple of times.

On our site we swap plants/cuttings with each other and this year we started putting excess produce at a central point for people to help thereselves to might start putting plants/cuttings there next year. We also have a seed scheme with one of the well know seed suppliers

I've started to save seeds too put only managed toms so far

[Glutton4...]

Our local B & Q and (formerly Wyevale) Garden Centre both stock a very wide range of seeds, so I always buy a few there. This year I got involved with the Seed-Swap on the 'Vine and, like Two Sheds, I also buy from eBay. Unfortunately, I am an 'opportunist' buyer, and manage to acquire packets of seeds from all sorts of places!

[binley100]

....... and manage to acquire packets of seeds from all sorts of places!

...especially parsnip seeds

[Glutton4...]

...especially parsnip seeds

Hmmmmmmmmmm!

[OverWyreGrower]

Unfortunately, I am an 'opportunist' buyer, and manage to acquire packets of seeds from all sorts of places!

I went on an errand for work on Tuesday and came back to my office with 2 lots of over-wintering onion sets, 2 more lots of different chilli seeds, 1 variety of tomato seeds and 2 lots of beans.... very opportune!

[susieq100]

I buy stuff that is on special offer at the end of the season. There is a Wyevale on my route to work. I save my own seeds, I buy stuff from Lidl and Aldi in the Spring and I cannot resist P&P free offers from Suttons, T&M, and almost any other online retailer if their prices are competitive! Also sometimes Wilkinsons. Supermarkets I generally find expensive - local garden centre is VERY expensive, unless they have special offers on.

[SueA]

I buy from lots of different sources & also occasionally swap seeds/plants with people I have met on forums. I also use a lot of the free seeds given away with magazines & send off for the free offers they have where you get things like 10 assorted packs for p&p etc. or packs of just a few veg. plug plants, that way I get to try things out without wasting too much money. If I buy online it's usually from somewhere like Thompson & Morgan or Mr. Fothergill's, I know they're not the cheapest but they're usually fairly reliable & good if you have any problems. I also buy onion/shallot sets/seed potatoes from local garden centres as you can buy just a few of each & pick your own so that you get good quality, healthy ones. I usually go to at least one 'potato day' at a larger garden centre where you can buy unusual varieties & listen to a talk, last year I went to one where Medwyn Williams was giving advice.