Maybe not the compost - but the seed?

As things have been moving on in the greenhouse, I have noticed something - - whilst the look/feel/quality of compost is hugely variable and many of us have been blaming the compost (at least partly) for poor plant performance, I think the seed source is also a factor (if not the main one!)

Over the past few years, I seem to have developed a sort of magnetic attraction for seed packets, and accrue them all over the place which means that I have seeds from various suppliers. I was looking at the plants that have done well, versus those that haven't, and noticed something of a trend:

Marigolds (Johnson's) - Highly successful, nice healthy plants
Marigolds (T&M) - Pathetic so far
Super Chilli (Johnson's) - 98% success rate, nice healthy plants
Lemon Drop Chilli (Real Seed Catalogue) - 95% success rate, mostly healthy plants
Various Tomatoes (Suttons) - Very successful
Ailsa Craig Onions (Suttons) - 98% germination, plants doing well.
Musselburgh Leeks (Johnson's) - 98% germination, OK so far
Nasturtiums, various (Johnson's) - 99% success rate so far
Dahlia Showcase (Johnson's) - 98% success rate, nice healthy plants
Dahlia Bishops Children (T&M) - 60% success rate at best
Asarina Scandens (T&M) - complete failure
Lettuce (Real Seed Catalogue) - 100% success rate so far
Petunias (Johnson's) - 90% success rate, all doing well
Caribbean Hot Pepper (Johnson's) - 99% success rate, cracking looking plants
Malva Zebrina (T&M) - 70% germination rate, slow growth
Nicotiana (Johnson's) - 95% success rate, all doing really well.
Geranium Maverick (T&M) - 100% success rate, all doing well
Pansy Parparadja (T&M) - complete failure
Lavatera Novella Rose (Johnson's) - 100% success rate

See the trend?

Now, I have had loads of plants from T&M - mostly plugs, and have been happy with them; however, it would appear that their seeds are pretty rubbish? Could it be that the seeds being sold are the ones that didn't make the cut for their own growing?

 

Yes I see the trend

I worked for a seed company many years ago (not T&M ) and the better stuff was put aside for our commercial growers, the public didn't always get the best.

 

But surely if one supplier can manage it, the others can too? The other thing that may help of course, is that Johnsons always seem to have more seeds than the 'Average Contents' figure, so after losses the final result is always pretty near the figure you were expecting?

I've just sown my lupins, average contents 60 - - 73 seeds sown.

 

I must admit that the Suttons ones have been pretty good - however, the real performers for me are the Johnson's ones and the ones from the Real Seed Catalogue.

 

I'm surprised that they would risk their reputation to be honest - - I must admit, I will be looking not to use them for seeds next year.