Seeds dilemma

Hello everyone,

I am just about to begin planting some veg seeds which I bought from Aldi supermarket at the bargain price of 50p per pack. It's just occured to me that they may be rubbish. Does anyone know if there is a quality variation between seeds, and could I be wasting time planting cheap seeds? Does it affect the quality of the veg produced?

mmmm bit of a dilemma!!

Also can anyone reckomend any online veg seed sites, although it is my first year of growing I'd like to have a bash at something a bit different.

 

Hi Buttercup,

If you are just starting out I would recommend you stick to tried and trusted varieties of whatever you decide to grow. In my experience, many of the "new & improved" variety of veg seeds marketed each year (often at inflated prices) can be a bit hit and miss and some are never seen again after the initial promotion. Also certain varieties do better than others in different areas of the country due to soil and weather variations; why not ask your neighbours what they grow successfully....most gardeners are keen to pass on advice. Your Aldi seeds will more than lkely be well established varieties so give them go. Good Luck.

 

I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for and like skrumpy I would stick to the tried and tested. And agree with nathan and recommend Thompson & Morgan also Kings

Have a blooming good summer

Scenicplot

 

I'm sorry to say that over the years I have not found Thompson & Morgan particully good. They do make some fairly exciting claims about certain plants that I found a bit much, especially the more unusual types. But that is just my opinion.
Its best to check the 'sow by date' on the packet if they look a bit old.
My favorite is Chiltern Seeds, but any reputable company is OK.

 

Chilterns and Suttons have been on top of my list for many years,in fact I found some Sutton's seeds last year, unopened, bedding Geraniums and all germinated, so have put more in this year, just coming up again...it's the foil packing what kept them so good, not me storing them, they were in hot and cold greenhouse, in damp sheds, cats even found a box once hoping to have kittens in it. I think T & M made their name with Novelty seeds and expensive,I was one of their best customer at one time, lol.

 

If you are not bothered about glossy pics on the packets or even any pics on the packets same goes for the catalogue...but you do want a good quantity of seed at a good price and a good range of varieties try these


Wallis seeds, Broads green, Great Waltham, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 1DS Phone for a Catalogue on...01245.360413
Or email on [email protected]

 

thanks everyone, I think I'll give the aldi seeds a try, and order some back ups just in case. Is there a way of telling when the seeds start to grow if they're not going to make good veg or is it a case of stick them in and see what happes?

Also I need to treat some wood before I use it to mark out the beds. What treatment is best to use that isn't toxic for plants - I want a chemical free veg patch!!

I'm a really novice at this veg growing game and the advice you all give is great. Thanks very much.

 

I dont think there is such a thing as a chemical free wood treatment. Basically if its not slightly toxic (to some extent) it cant do its job.Having said that some are probably better than others, but I dont think the less toxic ones are much use on timber in contact with the soil. Which is why people use old sleepers, because they've been soaked in creosote over a long period.
Try pressure treated timber from a fencing contractor.

 

Nathan blue sweetcorn? You must be joking.

 

hi there ive bought seeds from lidl and usually they are ok,not really noticed much difference from the mire expensive ones.

 

Hi Buttercup
If you have a 'Poundland' see if they have a salad pack of seeds - beetroot,tomatoes,spring onions,lettuce and herbs I tried these a couple of years ago and was not disapointed. For a change this year I have joined HDRA (Organic gardening}and collected 7 packets of seeds from them. I'll let you know how they do later this year