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Cheap seeds 2012
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This thread is about the cheapest seeds. It is based on a quick tour of budget providers locally and some branches may have additional stock (or less stock). if you have additional information, post it and I will try and edit the leading threads.
This does not mean they are the best or the best value. Long served veggie growers will tell you that you need to grow several varieties of lettuce, carrot, cauliflower and cabbage at different times of the year to produce a long harvest. That is where the seed catalogues and smaller companies come into their own.
The seed counts is also sometime lower; 10 Runner bean seeds for 39p at Aldi are only better value than a 99p packet with 25 seeds if the larger packet has the exact number of seeds in it. It probably has one of two extras.
Some of the multipacks sold by £1 shops and the 99p shop are interesting but most offer very small number of seeds. £1 will buy 3000 seeds in Lidl and perhaps 600 in these multipacks. Most also offer mixes that entice but are difficult for the novice gardener, with aubergine, chillies, sweet peppers and tomatoes. Unless you want to grow all 5-8 varieties and have the equipment and skill to do so, 4 packs as Lidl may be a better deal.
Overall the range is limited; most suppliers other than Lidl have one variety of each vegetable only at this price. Some vegetables that people grow well enough in most of the UK are almost impossible to find in the budget ranges and some are only available from one supplier.
However if you are just starting out and do not know enough yet to work out what you want from the seed catalogues or have a very small growing space which makes postage costs problematic, try some of these. Be realistic however about growing some of the more tender veggies unless you have a heated propagator and a greenhouse or you live in south east England.
The basic deals 2012 - see page 2 for 2013 information
Lidl
29p per small pack – now 2 for 50p = 25p per pack
49p for larger packs (peas and beans particularly)
Eclectic range strong on pickling gherkins and poor on growing instructions. Does not offer some staples grown in UK gardens and plots.
Wilkos
3 packets at 28p – long white radish and long beetroot and a dwarf curly kale
Otherwise 54p per pack – with 3 for 2 deal = 36p
Limited range at this price but the only single pack budget source of some brassicas.
Aldi
39p per pack
Also multi-packs at £1.79 with decent seed counts = 30p per variety
Very limited range – the display box had 16 slots but I only found 12 vegetables.
Poundstretcher
79p per pack with 2 for £1 deal. = 50p per pack
Limited range but the only budget supplier of some vegetables
Netto – anyone?
Based on last year, limited range and seed count is generally a lot lower than other budget suppliers
This does not mean they are the best or the best value. Long served veggie growers will tell you that you need to grow several varieties of lettuce, carrot, cauliflower and cabbage at different times of the year to produce a long harvest. That is where the seed catalogues and smaller companies come into their own.
The seed counts is also sometime lower; 10 Runner bean seeds for 39p at Aldi are only better value than a 99p packet with 25 seeds if the larger packet has the exact number of seeds in it. It probably has one of two extras.
Some of the multipacks sold by £1 shops and the 99p shop are interesting but most offer very small number of seeds. £1 will buy 3000 seeds in Lidl and perhaps 600 in these multipacks. Most also offer mixes that entice but are difficult for the novice gardener, with aubergine, chillies, sweet peppers and tomatoes. Unless you want to grow all 5-8 varieties and have the equipment and skill to do so, 4 packs as Lidl may be a better deal.
Overall the range is limited; most suppliers other than Lidl have one variety of each vegetable only at this price. Some vegetables that people grow well enough in most of the UK are almost impossible to find in the budget ranges and some are only available from one supplier.
However if you are just starting out and do not know enough yet to work out what you want from the seed catalogues or have a very small growing space which makes postage costs problematic, try some of these. Be realistic however about growing some of the more tender veggies unless you have a heated propagator and a greenhouse or you live in south east England.
The basic deals 2012 - see page 2 for 2013 information
Lidl
29p per small pack – now 2 for 50p = 25p per pack
49p for larger packs (peas and beans particularly)
Eclectic range strong on pickling gherkins and poor on growing instructions. Does not offer some staples grown in UK gardens and plots.
Wilkos
3 packets at 28p – long white radish and long beetroot and a dwarf curly kale
Otherwise 54p per pack – with 3 for 2 deal = 36p
Limited range at this price but the only single pack budget source of some brassicas.
Aldi
39p per pack
Also multi-packs at £1.79 with decent seed counts = 30p per variety
Very limited range – the display box had 16 slots but I only found 12 vegetables.
Poundstretcher
79p per pack with 2 for £1 deal. = 50p per pack
Limited range but the only budget supplier of some vegetables
Netto – anyone?
Based on last year, limited range and seed count is generally a lot lower than other budget suppliers
The person who has not made a mistake, has made nothing
0
Comments
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Lidl 2 for 50p range
Radish
Lettuce
Carrot
Beetroot Detroit
Swiss Chard – Lucellus
Spinach
Sweet pepper
Aubergine
Tomato – Marmande and Moneymaker
Leek - Carentan
Courgette (round)
Pickling Gherkins
Cucumber (Chinese)
Watermelon
Sweet melon
Giant pumpkin
Onion – three including white one that may be a salad onion but the cultural instructions suggest it is good in storage.
Cauliflower
Parsley – flat and curled
Dill or chives
Thyme
Marjoram
Basil
49p packs
Runner beans
Climbing French beans
Dwarf French beans
Peas - Kelvendon Wonder and Meteor
Mange tout
Wilko's 54p but 3 for 2 offer = 36p per packet
Beetroot
Carrot
Radish
Lettuce
Onion
Leek - Musselburgh
Cauliflower
Perpetual Spinach/Leaf Beet
Parsnip
Swede
Brussel Sprout
Purple Sprouting
Cabbage
Aldi 39p
Tomato Gardener's Delight
beetroot
leek
carrot
lettuce
Spring onion
parsnip
peas
Runner beans
parsley
Coriander
Basil
Also multi-packs of 6 vegetables for £1.79 – easy, tomato, allotment – all brassicas except the leek – childrens' and summer salad,
Poundstretcher
from 79p but 2 for £1 offer is 50p per pack
The only single pack offer for mixed lettuce
Sweet corn
Long Courgette
ChilliThe person who has not made a mistake, has made nothing0 -
Only go for Lidl now, though never found parsnips or Runner Beans or maybe they run out quick. But they do stock Norfolk Giant carrot and french beans. And some queer foreign stuff. A good range but some probably for German growers.
I never buy fresh seed potatoes each year.0 -
Always worth remembering Alan Romans his seeds start from around 50p and he has a huge variety of fruit, veg, herbs and flowers. I order from him year after year and have found the seeds excellent value for money.Taking responsibility one penny at a time!0
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Always worth remembering Alan Romans his seeds start from around 50p and he has a huge variety of fruit, veg, herbs and flowers. I order from him year after year and have found the seeds excellent value for money.
Hoping to pick up some of his seeds next weekend.The person who has not made a mistake, has made nothing0 -
The Works has Mr Fothergill seeds at 50p a packet. Didnt look to see what they had though but it was mainly veg.0
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I highly recommend https://www.moreveg.com - loads of really interesting seeds and most of them 50p a packet. :j0
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www.moreveg.com
brilliant little site. Could pay using paypal as well
. Just ordered some seeds. Looking forward to trying the Asparagus peas. Saw these in the Kitchen Garden magazine and wanted to try those out. Thanks for the link. :T 0 -
Some great tips here from you all, many thanks!
Here is my contribution to the cheap seeds thread. Seed Parade have some bargains at the moment. Tomato seeds start at 39p, some interesting varieties too. Postage is £1.29 to uk.
http://www.seedparade.co.uk/index.php?p=catalog&mode=catalog&parent=1&CatalogSetSortBy=price&CatalogSetView=Thumb10 -
I have posted the code here
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?p=51149121#post51149121
Also works with cheapest pack free when you order 3 or more seed packs.
So with quite a few different seeds at 69p you can order 3 packets of seeds for £1.38 delivered.
Seems a good deal to me
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Damn you Stumpycat... there goes another tenner [grin]Well behaved women rarely make history.0
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