Best online Seed supplier

Hiya,

Title says it all, whats your experiences, cheapest? Best quality? Best range?

 

I use Chiltern Seeds rare flower heirloom heritage veg and herbs - Chiltern Seeds secure online shop lots of choice and always plenty of seed never had any problem with seeds germinating, also use Buy Flower Seeds,Vegetable Seeds,Garden Seeds - Secure Online Seed Store - Plant World Seeds which has a great selection of rare and unusual seed again always plenty of seed and all germinate well

 

I'm a big fan of Chiltern seeds.
Also think that Plants of Distinction are good, as are Plant World Seeds (has anyone visited their garden?).

 

I have bought lots of seed this spring from ebay suppliers. It has worked out much cheaper and far more convenient. Of course, the proof of the seed is in the growing and I don't yet know how good germination will be or if the varieties will be accurate. However, I've had bad (non-existent, even) germination from reputable seed companies (including one or two named in the thread) so I'm not in any rush to pay their high prices.

I figure that most of them get their seed from a smallish number of producers world-wide, probably wholesale, so it's probably all the same seed anyway. If I pay a seed company £3.50 for a packet rather than £1.50 I'm pretty sure the difference goes to them as profit, or spent on marketing and fancy packing - I don't think they're using the surplus cash to hand select the plumpest, finest, most viable seed just for me.

So I've gone for the cheapest options so far.

I also object to the fact that seed companies will happily sell seed of varieties which will only germinate if sown very fresh. Effectively, they will take my money for a dead product. Should I be more clued up and refuse to buy them or should seed companies be more clued up and refuse to sell them?

 

I know how you feel on this one!
I tried for years to get Tacca chantrieri to germinate unsuccessfully!
And from eight Lapageria seeds I had one germinate, although I did buy them very much eyes wide open at a reduced price.

 

For the conventional stuff (vegetables and the usual Annuals) I buy them in the early Autumn in the sales. The Garden Centre Group (formerly Wyevales) has had a 50p-a-packet sale in September. Lots of £3.50 packets of poncy F1 seeds still on their shelves at that time ... for things that will keep a year or two I buy enough for the following year, in case they don't happen to have any of that variety left in next year's sale

Other than that I tend to use Moles Seeds. They sell to growers, so their quantities are larger, and thus cheaper per seed. handy if you can share-with-a0mate, are growing a lot, or the seeds will keep a few years. Postage free (but not for heavier things like peas and beans and Grass seed)

 

All the above sites I have used . If you only want one or two packets the postage can hike the price up . As Madahhlia mentioned Ebay is a good source also Mr Fothergills and DT Browns have no postage charge
Buy flowers and vegetable seeds and plants online from Mr Fothergills UK
D.T. Brown's

 

For vegetable seeds, especially heritage and heirloom varieties, have a look at Real Seeds - a small, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic company.

Link: Great Vegetable Seeds from The Real Seed Catalogue

 

if you want rare or unusual plants, this German site is very good

www.rareplants.de

 

i use a load of suppliers, most already mentioned but i'll add the organic seed catalouge good for veg and heritage veg:D. also sarah raven seeds for girly cut flowers

 

I have always loved Mr Fothergills seed packets,they kind of drag you in and say "buy me"
The quality is as reliable as anybody.
After sales and PR is excellent .
I do use others,but they are my prefered choice.

 

I have used moreveg.co.uk for the first time this year,cheaper because fewer seeds I think but some good offers
Othwise I love Nicky's

Aria