best place to buy seeds from?

picklepick

can anyone recommend the best place to purchase seeds from?
reliable companies? reasonable prices? etc
are they cheaper online that at garden centres or b&q for example?

ive already ordered a thompson and morgan brochure.

i just need vegetable seed suppliers really

A._Badger

I've never had the greatest luck with T&M seeds.

As for the others, there's a wealth of choice out there. Among the major brands, the prices you pay in the shops are the same as on line (which makes the shops cheaper as there's no postage). Suttons and Dobies seeds are from the same company (I've done well with theirs over the years) and Mr Fothergill are very good too, I've also heard Kings seed is good, and I find and Marshalls are excellent for vegetables, as are Robinsons and DT Brown.

As for the rest, some people swear by specialists like Alan Romans and Real Seeds and then there are the discounters' 'own brands' from the German supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl, or our own dear old Wilkinsons. I gather they are OK, but you will find a restricted choice compared with a thumping great catalogue like the T&M one!

One tip, for what it's worth, is that Suttons/Dobies have also absorbed the Carter's brand (old timers like me will remember Carters seed) and they offer a restricted range of varieties at cheaper prices. I've tried them and they are excellent - as good as Suttons, I'd have said, but a fair bit cheaper, providing they have what you want!

Hope that helps.

tessie_bear

they were very cheap in wilkinsons when i looked today but not sure of their quality because i havent purchased from there before

Farway

It really depends on what type of veg & how many you want

If you want something a bit specialist then you will need a catalogue co, but for run of the mill veg varieties I find Wilkinson, Lidl etc are fine

Likewise with A. Badger my experience with T & M seeds, not much luck especially given the price, however you may find a free £5 voucher in the catalogue, so worth a shot for free

Alison_Cross

Thompson and Morgan are very reasonable, I think. Plus, in the last catalogue there was a £5 off your next order voucher - which can make quite a dent in one's seed order.

Actually, Plants of Distinction - who sound expensive - were on a par pricewise with T&M (most of theirs had more seeds in the packets too). But no money off :-(

Seeds of Italy are pretty good too - masses of seeds in their packets.

AX

mgardner

tessie_bear wrote: »

they were very cheap in wilkinsons when i looked today but not sure of their quality because i havent purchased from there before

I have found wilkies seeds to be very reliablle, also I saw today our local Works are selling packs 3 for a pound. Expensive labels, organic Thompsons wtc and use by 2010 or 2011.

irnbru_2

picklepick wrote: »

i just need vegetable seed suppliers really

I've used suttons and alan romans in the past with the latter being cheaper.

There are one or two sellers on eBay who sell mixed packets which have a year or so left on the usage date.

picklepick

thanks for all your responses guys, ive been given quite a few packets off relatives and im just waiting for my seed catalogue to arrive now in the hope that it has the voucher you mentioned in it!

cant wait to get started now!

lindseykim13

i find that the more expensive ones are just as unreliable as the cheaper ones. I'd rather have lots of cheap ones so i can sow loads more and the slugs are bound to get a few. Can't say no when wilkinsons have 75% off at the mo if you can get to one, i manged to get some packs of beetroot for 12p can't say no to that.
Tip i learned though is don't be stingy when your sowing better to have tons of plants than just a couple as some pesky bug will have a few of your plants in the night!

Lotus-eater

lindseykim13 wrote: »

Tip i learned though is don't be stingy when your sowing better to have tons of plants than just a couple as some pesky bug will have a few of your plants in the night!

Always useful to have more than you need as you can pick the strongest ones to grow on.
Don't pack them in too close though, give them space.

Finella_2

Just posted on another thread that Lidl are advertising Flower and Veg seeds from 47p a pack for large seeds and 28p per pack for fine seeds available from Thursday, 29th January 2009. Never used them before but maybe someone else could advise?