Seed suggestions

[Nicki85]

I was asked to submit the link to the website where I purchased some nice heirloom variety seeds so thought i'd start a new topic so others can add their own suggestions!

After failing with the garden centre plants I decided that I wanted "proper" varieties that other people had grown with success. I came across-

Great Vegetable Seeds from The Real Seed Catalogue

I have only made one order so far and decided on-

White Beetroot- as you can also eat the leaves and my garden centre plants failed to produce any root so I thought this might be a safe bet. It's also good for small gardens (like mine!!)

'Jaune Obtuse de Doubs' Yellow Carrot- I'd already grown a Chantilly type with good results but I also know that my soil isn't good enough (to stony etc) to support reallly long carrots, these ones with blunt ends seemed ideal!

Sutherland Kale- After my kale (the normal dark leaved variety) plants (well most of them) succumbed to first cabbage root fly and then flea beetle then caterpillars I decided that I needed a really vigorous hardy variety. Sutherland kale is just that!! Its going great guns at the moment, surviving drought conditions (I went on holiday when it was in small pots... my bad) and flea beetle. Also no sign of root fly.

Root Parsley- Wanted to try something different... They suggest that it's pretty easy to grow and so far apart from the sloooow germination time (they did say it would take a while!) it's going really well.

Mixed Lettuce- I am sooooo impressed by my lettuces. They are absolutely beautiful! And so easy. I got the mixed variety as I like surprises

I also purchased some Osaka purple which I haven't had much luck with. My first lot went straight to seed. But then again in the growing instructions they do say it will shoot if planted before midsummer. Again, my bad!!


The prices are also really good- 300 lettuce seeds for £1.99. Germination rates good, service excellant and growing instructions excellent as well. They also provide seed saving instructions as well as an added plus.

I sound like I own the company lol! But I’m just so pleased with my purchases from them! I'll get some pics at the weekend.

[Lesley Jay]

My personal favourite seed merchants are:-

Thompson & Morgan who have great quality seeds with excellent germination rates - I only sow one seed per pot or cell and usually get 100% germination. The last few years they have sent out a £5 voucher - so that's a fivers worth of seeds for free!

Seeds, Plants, Seed Potatoes, Fruit, Bulbs and Gardening Equipment from Thompson & Morgan

Suttons Seeds are another company with excellent germination rates and again they have been sending out a £5 voucher.

Suttons, Seeds, Flower seeds, vegetable seeds, flower plants, vegetable plants, organic seeds, seed potatoes, seeds.

Seeds By Size has an amazing number of vegetable varieties - the list is massive! You only buy the quantity of seeds that you actually want, so there is no need to buy a packet of lettuce seeds that contains over 1000 seeds. You buy the seeds by weight, which takes a bit of working out, but they are good quality seeds which usually arrive the next day.

SEEDS-BY-SIZE VEGETABLE SEEDS & HERB SEEDS LISTS 2009/2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS

[Husker]

I know I've posted this site before so apologies to those who've seen it. I get most of my seeds from a company called Baker Creek Heirloom seeds. They claim to have 1400 different varieties of heirloom veg & flowers from all over the world. I've had very good luck with the seed germination as has my brother in CA. who has for the first time planted a garden. I'm pretty sure they ship overseas but I can't say how the rates would compare to other companies but it's fun just to look at the different kinds of vegies.

[Shetty]

Yes I use all of Nicki's and Lesley's sources. Sometimes if I want to try something, and I only need a very small amount of seeds from, I try moreveg, who seem to have a lot of different seeds in smallish quantities, often for 50p. Seeds were always first class.
Grown cardoons this year, doing very well (I think) 6 seeds for 50p