Best place to order seeds by post

Mermaid60

Hello. I live in France but generally buy vegetable seeds when visiting the UK ( better choice, cheaper, much higher germination rates). However, because of COVID, I probably won’t visit so would like to order seeds by post. Can anyone recommend a reliable company who does this without silly P&P charges. I would like well- known seeds brands, too. I grew everything from seed last year and we’re almost self sufficient in fruit and veg. I do save some seeds but also need to buy some every year. Thank you.

Davesnave

Shipping to Europe looks to be around £5 for most retailers and some, like Franchi UK no longer do it because of Brexit, but Franchi may be available from Italy instead anyway.

I find most budget retailers like Premier Seeds and Nicky's Nursery reliable and find no better quality from seeds with flashy packets with a well known name on them. For example, a packet of a well-known brand's allegedly F1 courgettes, bought in a supermarket because of Covid panic, brought forth marrows this year!

Colour printed packets are always going to cost, and quite right too. I will stick with the companies that give me plenty seeds at a reasonable cost in a plain, vacuum-packed wrapper. Nicky Lee turned my last order around in 24 hours. Good on her!

Arthog

Another vote for Nicky's Nursery seeds. Excellent all round.

mumf

I'll second Premier Seeds.

-taff

And Real Seeds. And thirdeded for Nickys Nursery.

Brambling

Another vote for Real Seeds

Davesnave

Just dropping in again to say that Real Seeds no longer send out seed to Europe (thanks Brexit) and never sent them to the US or anywhere outside Europe.

A._Badger

Add me to the list of those satisfied with the 'budget' suppliers. Premier's seeds are fine, as are those from Seekay. This probably isn't to be wondered at as most of the seeds sold to the public are apparently sourced by the famous names from the same wholesalers as the budget outfits use, However, with Brexit in mind, it might be worth buying now and keeping the seeds cool and air tight till required.

Mermaid60

Thank you for your suggestions. I've had a quick look at the Nicky's Nursery site and the range of seeds available looks really good. I'll look at the other sites later on and I'm sure I'll be putting in a good order very soon. It would be a very good idea to stock up a little, too as after Brexit it might not be possible to bring seeds back to France.

Davesnave

I've already bought next year's veg seed, just in case. It's in a Tupperware box somewhere behind the Andrex mountain, the Lloyd Grossman foothills and the Buitoni spaghetti hillock in the box room.

And you all think I'm joking, don't you?

Brambling

I've also brought most of next year seeds as well unless something else catches my eye to try.  I was lucky this year that my sister had enough runner beans seeds for both of us as there was a shortage around here