Buying seeds online?

Happy New Year to Everyone

I am getting my first glasshouse in mid February, so want to start getting some seeds ready. Never grown more than one type of plant (usually pelargoniums) at a time before, so thought it was probably better to get all the seeds from one place?

I haven't explored the local nurseries yet for prices etc, but wondered if members bought their seeds online regularly and could recommend any particular suppliers please?

Many thanks in advance.

 

Hi,

Hope you have some good weather in February to put up your greenhouse, is it diy or the suppliers doing it for you ? A typical 6x8 or something special ?

Usually find most true seed companies offer a good service, but ordering early is usually best as demand has been high since covid started.
Our favourites -

Kings Seeds - probably the best for Veg.
Mr. Fothergills.
Marshalls
Moles Seeds - more trade supplier so larger packs , typically very fresh seeds cgiving good germination.

ps the first 3 do their own printed seed catalogues, worth requesting.

 

Thank you @ricky101 that is great, I will look at them now.

It is just a 6x8, Rhino one. The groundworks are being down right now (getting excited!) and the actual glasshouse will be fitted by a professional mid February (I can't even assemble flat pack furniture ). I have wanted one and been saving for such a long time, I am so looking forward to this year .

Thank you again for getting me started.

 

For cheap ones, premier seeds direct. Organic I like tamar organic, they have a nice range. The seed cooperative and real seeds are good too, I think they actually grow some of their own veg for the seeds unlike the vast majority who just repackage from the huge international seed companies

 

That's interesting @Hanglow thank you. yes, I would like to have organic seeds, so will have a look at those as well

 

You will probably find a little electric propagator like the one below very handy for starting your seeds off, be it in the house or greenhouse if you have electricity in there.

Find Wilko have a good range of seed trays, pots as well as seeds and bulbs etc at very good prices. The their new season stock should be in the their stores anytime soon.

Stewart Heated Propagator 38cm | DIY at B&Q

 

Thank you @ricky101, I hadn't thought about a heated propagator. I am hoping to get a little solar panel fitted, but that might not be much use for a propagator? But food for thought, thank you

 

For veg I have used both Marshalls and Kings (prefer Kings these days) Nicky's Nursery have a good selection of tomatoes and chillies plus others.
For perennials and annuals Chiltern Seeds (also do veg and herbs), for more unusual things I use Plant World Seeds and Special Plants Nursery. I have had good results with seed from Special Plants more mixed results with Plant World Seeds and Chiltern specially noticeable with unusual things, I suspect the seed may be a bit on the old side in some cases as the turnover is low.

 

Thank you @NigelJ and @JWK for the resources and suggestions, I have lots of look at here, looking forward to getting started

 

The seed tray sized one I mentioned only takes 8W from the mains and are good, we have one on the go now germinating our sweet peas - plenty of spare seeds if you want some to start your collection, it was worth buying a larger pack to up the total to get free P&P.


A mains powered propagator would not really work with a basic solar panel without lots of extra equipment etc.

Did try a 30x30cm solar panel last summer and it only managed to power a 12v fan when the sun was fully out.
As we and others have found solar is a bit of a minefield and little use in the winter.
Actually just been having a clear out and apart from the fan which we saved to run in summer from a 12v transformer, the rest have been sent for recyling.

 

Thank you @ricky101 that is really useful to know. I bought my new home (old house) in June and had PV solar panels and batteries fitted, so thought I keep the solar theme going, but I hadn't thought about how to get things to work with a little solar panel

I don't have outside power, but the garage, with power (and the batteries) will be next to the glasshouse, so will look to see how I can get power to the propagator.

Thank you for saving me from wasting money on an idea I hadn't thought through

 

Yes, little point in adding solar panels to the greenhouse if you have the 'proper' thing on your house, bet thats saving you a fortune with the current prices and with batteries no worries about power cuts.
Cannot advise on connecting your greenhouse to the garage power but should be a simple enough job for a qualified electrician.

 

I use Premier seeds and nickys seeds for most things , premier seeds are by far the best value . Also use - Just seeds - chiltern - ebay and kings seeds , I don't mind T&M - suttons - Fothergill or any of the other main brands either . Recently had some off Special plant seeds

 

Thank you @Perki good to know the ones people use as their 'go to' ones! I've made a list now, so am spoilt for choice!