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Recommended Seed Suppliers?
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Message 1.Â
Posted by KaveyF (U2338371) on Sunday, 9th January 2011
Have been growing our own vegetables for several years in our back garden, which is 100% kitchen garden now.
In October, we got our own allotment too, so we can increase the volume and range we grow.
We usually buy our seeds from two garden centres, Aylett and Burston.
Would also like to check out online catalogues/ suppliers.
Can anyone recommend any they find particularly good on range, price and or service?
THANK YOU! -
Message 2
Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Sunday, 9th January 2011
You can join the nsalg and get some benefits
Their website is here;
Alternatively check with others on your plots and see if the have an affilation with them.
On our plot one of us is a member and he collects seed orders from those that need seeds and puts in a bulk order.
For this I think he gets a further discount which he keeps as a gratuity for his efforts which we don't mind simply because we make a substantial saving too! -
Message 3
Posted by elderman4 (U10843761) on Sunday, 9th January 2011
I think you will have a very hard choice between the various seed suppliers, and everyone will have their favoutite supplier who replies to you!!
First let me congratulate you on acquiring an allotment - not easy these days!!
Secondly I have found over the past 50 years of growing that seasonal variations take place - one year you will have tremendous success with carrots, and the next year with the same companies seed it will be a disaster, and you'll blame that company. So seed buying is not a consistant thing.
You will also find that your soil has variations and that (say) you will not be able to grow sweetcorn no matter whose seed you try, so after a few years you will know what you can and can't grow in your particular soil.
Overall I have found that Dobies and Suttons have been good - if a trifle expensive. But over the past 3 -4 years and because of economic circumstances, I have tried Wilkinson's (the shop) seed and found it surprisingly good, and VERY good value for money!!!
I personally think that Burston and Ayletts are a bit expensive, so give Wilco seeds a try and see how you get on with them. They are, like other seed companies, bound by law to have a minium germination rate for their seeds.
But see what other replies and recommendations you get and see what works for you!! -
Message 4
Posted by Houdy222 (U8365378) on Sunday, 9th January 2011
Aylett and Burston, now theres a couple of names from the past. you must be from the St Albans area. (or I'm completely barking up the wrong tree) I remember going to those 2 fine nurseries, it brings back many happy memories.
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Message 5
Posted by KaveyF (U2338371) on Sunday, 9th January 2011
Tee Gee
Thanks, our allotment does sell seeds, not sure of source, but will check out when it's open next Sunday. Good thought!
Elderman
Yes we've found that already in terms of variations in success year on eyar even from same seeds, so we know how large a part weather and circumstancesd play. Sweetcorn and savoy cabbage successful for us for some years but last 2 years not great for either. Just luck!
Dobies not local to us, though we loved the one up by Milton Keynes which we visited when checking out greenhouses - they were one of only 3 places in UK stocking the greenhouse we wanted so we pootled up that way.
Burston and Aylett not cheapest, but we've been very pleased with service ad reliability so far, hence using them, but yes, would be good to look for less expensive sources given we'll be planting more this year than ever before!
Houdy
They are in that area but we're down in NW London, however they are the two nicest garden centres within reach of us. One or two closer but not good on range or price or service.
Have fallen a bit in love with Real Seeds website so may well give them a try but would love to hear of other recommendations. -
Message 6
Posted by Richard Bennett (U14748013) on Sunday, 9th January 2011
Hi, There are 2 websites i suggest you try, the first is www.realseeds.co.uk They supply seeds of Very good quality with above average germination rates and as they supply only non hybrid varieties they actively encourage you not to buy from them again. The second is www.moreveg.co.uk They are also very helpful and supply many seeds in smaller quantities priced at 50 or 75p. Hope this is helpful to you. Richard
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Message 7
Posted by the2 jays (U14383723) on Monday, 10th January 2011
A good one I have found is premiumseedsdirect.co.uk
Lots of veg & flowers, good amount of seeds per pkt & only 59p postage no matter how many pkts you buy. Also some herigate varieties. -
Message 8
Posted by elderman4 (U10843761) on Monday, 10th January 2011
Houdy222 do you remeber going to Ward's Nurseries in Saratt?? I started off going there when I had my other house and garden and was finishing the house renovation and starting in the garden, and Mr Ward gave me a complete design for of my 250 x 40 ft. garden free of charge with all the facilities I wanted in it, providing I bought at least some of the plants from him!! How about that for service - but that was in the early 1970's.
I also bought quite a lot of plants from Burston and Ayletts and was very pleased with the results, but now retired, and on a fixed income etc, they are out of my budget range, and I buy a lot in Norfolk where my son lives - very cheap,very good!! -
Message 9
Posted by Oldends (U13875463) on Monday, 10th January 2011
Dobies, the seed merchant with one 'b', are not the same as Dobbies, the garden centres with a double 'b', are totally separate entities. The latter are part of Tesco's empire, the former part of another group that also includes Sutton's.
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Message 10
Posted by KaveyF (U2338371) on Monday, 10th January 2011
Aah, sorry, how confusing!
Thanks so much for the recommendations, shall be looking through everything this weekend.
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