Your experience with seeds

allenwrench · Intermediate Crude Joined: Apr 23, 2008 Posts: 893

I see seeds of all different price ranges - from Walmart's 10 cents stuff to $2,35 a pack heirlooms. Does price correlate with quality of germination?

I was told that commercial greenhouse nurseries get the best seeds and the old stuff is dumped on the public?

joeltrout · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Sep 19, 2007 Posts: 1317

If you are growing a small garden to enjoy fresh produce then buying cheap seeds year after year is ok.

If you are growing a garden for food and plan on saving seed from your harvest and use those seeds next year then I would definitely buy the best seed possible.

If you buy cheap seeds you will have to buy them each year. If you buy good seeds and save seeds from your harvest then you will never have to buy seeds again.

Check out this book Seed to Seed.

joeltrout

Ludi · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:36 am Post subject: Re: Your experience with seeds

Pinetree Garden Seeds has inexpensive seeds that in my experience have done very well. JL Hudson also has inexpensive seeds, many available in bulk, that seem in general to have a very good shelf life.
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bobaloo · Heavy Crude Joined: Oct 14, 2004 Posts: 485

I've seen some studies that show that the cheap bulk seed at Walmart, etc., tend to have very low germination rates.

When you look at the work you're putting into a garden and the time involved, buying the best seed you can is well worth while.

I grown only open pollinated heirloom varieties and save most of my own seed, what I buy I usually get form Nichol's Garden Nursery in Albany, Oregon, they have a good web site. Their prices are cheaper than a lot of the specialty seed companies and have inexpensive bulk packs available for most all of their seeds.

Finding the right variety, one that you like and grows well in your area, is a big part of gardening. For example, one of my favorite crops is carrots. I've grown dozens of different varieties and have finally settled on a variety called "Touchon" from Nichol's. Sweet, no core at all, and holds all winter in my garden.

FoolYap · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:28 am Post subject: Re: Your experience with seeds

allenwrench · Intermediate Crude Joined: Apr 23, 2008 Posts: 893

Thanks for ALL the replies!

SpringCreekFarm · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 943

I don't have a reference, but I do remember reading that many seed distributers, including those who sell heirlooms, all get their seed from a hand full of large seed suppliers. So they're all coming out of the same bin really. So your 'danvers' carrots may all be from the same place, for example, whether you buy from Walmart or from Bountiful Gardens.

If you are looking for something to save seed from, try a seed saver's exchange and purchase some from there. Grow out your plants and start saving seed. Keep in mind that in some locations you just cannot save seed from certain plants. It is said that in my parts ( southern Ontario ) we cannot save lettuce seed because our season is too short. I probably wouldn't even try.

Look up the book Seed to Seed by Susanne Ashworth ( cited many times here ) and get the facts. Seed saving is not easy for some veggies and extremely easy for others.

WisJim · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:40 pm Post subject: Re: Your experience with seeds

We buy most of our seeds from Fedco. They aren't the cheapest, but I like the fact that they tell you where the seeds came from in the catalog, and they attempt to get them from small organic growers.

Pops · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:12 pm Post subject: Re: Your experience with seeds

Buy one pack of open pollinated, non-hybrid seeds (heirloom) and you never need to buy seeds again.

The added benefit is that each season you choose the best seed from the best plant and after years you have selected the best specific traits for your climate, soil and practices.
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SpringCreekFarm · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 943

Pops · Last edited by Pops on Wed Apr 23, 2008 3:26 pm; edited 1 time in total

Pops · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 3:24 pm Post subject: Re: Your experience with seeds

Sorry I'm getting posting errors, I was saying...

The New germ will cross with the old and improve my line if I select well.

The source of diversity and improving the line is mixing in a little new blood to the selected line - not culling the inferior is not improving the line and not bringing in new traits is the opposite of diversity.

As usual I stand to be corrected.
Smile

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RedStateGreen · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: Your experience with seeds

The Garden Watchdog is a really good resource if you're trying to decide between seed suppliers. People report back on germination rates, customer service, etc. I check there each time I find out about a new supplier from someone.
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alokin · Intermediate Crude Joined: Aug 24, 2007 Posts: 883

In Australia it might be different, but I bought both cheap and expensive seeds, and I could not see much difference. But the cheap seed companies have a very limited range. Often they sell the same variety.

This might be as well because with the cheap seeds one tend automatically to spw a bit thicker than with expensive ones..

I save some of my seeds, but not all. If you have a small garden, I think it's often better plant quickly new when the other crop is eaten up rather than waiting until some plants go to seed. But sometimes I sow simply around.

Anyway, I read that cold climate varieties tend to loose their vigour if saved year after year in subtropical climate. Don't know if this really applies.

Ludi · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:45 pm Post subject: Re: Your experience with seeds