Preferred seed suppliers.

[KirstieSparkle]

Do people have one particular seed supplier they stuck with and preferred above others?
Or a few?
Or ones they avoid at all costs?

I've got seeds from suttons, Marshall's, t&m, D.t.brown, franchise, nondescript ones from.lidl, Mr fothergills and God knows what.

[veggiechicken]

Does this help?

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...eds_82518.html

[maverick451]

I mainly use ebay because I usally buy on a whim not a whole order together

Premier seeds direct usually but Seekay Hort supplies and simply seeds are also great.

For heritage/non hybrid stuff either real seeds or victoriana nursery.

For fruit Ken Muir.

For Potatoes I prefer to use loacl Garden centre as the postage and prices are expensive online.

[sparrow100]

I get all my basics in the Wyevale 50p sale - am not too fussed about varieties or where those are from. I'm also in a couple of seed circles (can't recommend those high enough) and an avid reader of the VSP.

But special one-off stuff, now that's different. I have a thing about squashes, with beans and chillies close behind. I have a supplier list on my blog as otherwise I'd forget, or lose any piece of paper it's written on.

RealSeeds, Seeds of Italy, Baker Creek (US site), Victoriana are great sites, and I use Brogdale, Ashridge or Blackmoor for fruit as they have amazing service. I use JBA for spuds unless there's a really tempting discount elsewhere when I want to buy them.

[Alison]

I save as many seeds myself from crops grown each year which cuts down a lot on expense. I then get my basics from Kings seeds with specials from Real Seeds.

[KirstieSparkle]

i do love you VC!

i shall have a read, love how my basics u get from garden centre havnt even been mentioned - must be rubbish lol

[Alison]

I just don't rate the quality of most of the stuff in garden centres as those sheds get very hot and cold which isn't best for seeds. Also don't like the ethos of most of the companies you get there so chose to spend my money elsewhere. Suppose I'm also a bit of a seed snob on some stuff as I like to grow some unusual stuff and not always the same dull varieties. Have occasionally bought the odd packet from Lidl and they were fine but prefer to do most if my ordering in one go with a catalogue in front of me and not be tempted by random impulse varieties or find things aren't in the shop.

[TrysHard]

Premier Seeds direct via ebay or the Wyevale gardeners club 50p sale

Oh once I bulk buyed on ebay 50 pkts for about 12 pounds got loads of duplicates plus stuff I will never grow and regretted it a bit but I was a bit drunk at the time so

[noviceveggrower]

I really only buy seeds when they are cheap i.e end of year and they are in a sale. Seed potatoes I get from a local garden centre and that's mainly so I can look at them and pick the ones I want. Picked this years spuds from a garden centre that was open New Years Day
Rest of my seeds I usually get from VC in the seed swap

[Kirk]

Seem to get about 80% of mine from Moreveg. Reasonable selection and they come in smaller quantities, useful for a garden plot. 500 onion seeds are pretty useless, whereas 50-60 are a more sensible quantity.

Others come from places that sell whatever it is that catches my curiosity.

[bario1]

Agreed, Moreveg ae great for trying stuff out on a small plot.

[Elfeda]

I bought my seeds everywhere during my first year. last week I got a catalogue of kings seeds from my allotment society .. all the seeds are listed 40% cheaper than normal online price. now I am so tempted between kings and VSP.

I still wonder these seedselling companies sell really fresh seed ?? do they dump of old seeds? don't think so

[sparrow100]

I still wonder these seedselling companies sell really fresh seed ?? do they dump of old seeds? don't think so

They have better storage facilities than most of us. And seed can stay viable for a number of years. That said, I bet you're right.

[veggiechicken]

For the benefit of new Grapes:-
You cannot compare the VSP with the retail seed companies. Their seed packets will have Sow by dates, more seeds and the seeds should grow into what's on the packet.

The VSP is an odd mix of bought and self-saved seeds - with some unusual varieties that cannot be bought easily. However, there are no guarantees that the seeds have not been cross pollinated or are still viable. It relies heavily on the information provided by the person who sent the seeds to the VSP. Also the number of seeds you receive varies - less seeds of unusual ones, more of the common ones. For example, if you want to grow enough peas to feed a family, you'd better buy them, as you'll probably receive only 10 peas of an unusual variety,

Please don't regard the VSP as comparable to the commercials - it isn't. Nor is it there to supply all your seed needs

[Guest]

I bought my seeds everywhere during my first year. last week I got a catalogue of kings seeds from my allotment society .. all the seeds are listed 40% cheaper than normal online price. now I am so tempted between kings and VSP.

I still wonder these seedselling companies sell really fresh seed ?? do they dump of old seeds? don't think so

Large seed companies are obliged to regularly keep and test samples from all their batches. There is also other rules they are meant to do, there is a thread on here somewhere about it. Should you have germination issues it is recommended you contact the company in the first instance to at least allow them to rectify the issue. I had an issue with a pack of simply seed and they tested seed and although it germinated better than mine it was below acceptable and they refunded me.