Why are courgettes so expensive?

Why are courgettes (seeds) so expensive? when you go to a garden centre, there almost £2 for just 20 seeds, even on line some variates are expensive, can you collect seeds from them for sowing next year? or is it because its so hard to get seeds that they are expensive?

 

I think that most courgettes these days are F1 varieties, which take time to develop thus the high(ish) price. Have you a Wilkinsons (Wilco) or Poundland store near you? They usually have very inexpensive seeds, but not the newer varieties.

a-a

 

I found this, dont know how many seeds are in it though!!

http://www.poundland.co.uk/product-range/a-z/courgette---windowsill-vegetable-collection/

 

Courgettes will cross with any other squash around that the bees, etc. have visited, so to get seeds from a non-F1 plant you would need need to bag the female flower before it opens, pollinate with a male flower of the same variety, and re-bag until the flower dies, let the courgette grow to complete maturity (which will probably stop any other courgettes forming reduce the yield of the plant), scoop out the seeds, clean, dry, packet and save for the following year. Or you can get a cheap pkt from Wilkos when seeds are buy 2 get 1 free.

I save lots of seeds and grow lots of courgettes, but don't bother saving from them.

 

Don't go down that route Dopey, you are paying for the pot and compost and you will probably only get 3 or so seeds. As Scrungee mentions above, try Wilkinsons (Wilkos) they are currently listing the variety Black Beauty at 78p and the have their 3 for 2 offer on all seeds at the moment.

a-a

 

This is my first post and what a great site this is. For seeds try qualityseeds4less.co.uk they have 25 seeds for 99p and some really good special offers. I have used them and highly recommend them. I have bought from them have had 100% germination this time.

 

Haa found there beautys Just 99p for 50!!

COURGETTE - BLACK BEAUTY - 50 SEEDS

COURGETTE - BLACK BEAUTY - 50 SEEDS

Sale date: 11/03/12
Tracking number: --
£0.99

 

It's your second post - and your first post was also about the same online seed supplier http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/aldis-special-offers.39609/page-2

Are you the same Colin who started up that business last month, posted about it on another forum and have been banned from it?

 

^^^ hes bean (get it bean!!) caught out

 

Anyway his seeds are more expensive

Average seed count: 25
Our price: £0.99p

I get 50 for that