Vegetable Seed Ordering

[ericrm2005]

Its just about time to start thinking about what seeds and such to order for the 2012 gardening season.

I wanted to put this thread out there and see where everyone gets their seed. I have used gurneys and henry fields in the past. I wanted to try something new this year if anyone has any better suggestions. Both of these companies offer a pretty good selection, but the prices arent great unless u order when they have one of their 50 dollars free for every 50 dollars spent deals.

I usually plant about an acre of garden space(about half of which is sweet corn).

Im looking forward to getting things started indoors and hearing where everyone is getting their seed this year

 

[hunterridgefarm]

I get some seed from my local farm supply. I have also ordered from Johnny's Seeds, Harris Seed, and Burpee. All are easy to find on the internet. I have had good success from all three.

 

[NorTracNY]

If you find that you get more seeds than you need, you might want to try Pinetree. They have a great selection, and their prices are great. They typically have smaller packages than most places. I just planted my alpine strawberries this weekend.

 

[bp fick]

Shipping kills you on small orders, effectively doubling your seed costs. There are many fine seed companies out there. Some I like better than others. Johnny's is pretty high on everyone's list, including mine.

Finding a local seed house, nursery, farm/garden supply can save you all that shipping. Shoot, even Dollar General and Family Dollar will have a display with 4 packages for $1, kind of thing. For small patches, this keeps your seed costs down.

If we can keep our seed costs below $500-$600, getting the varieties we want, we're pretty happy.

 

[randy41]

I get seed from Johnnys and Fedco for the most part.

 

[Western]

I either buy from Gurney's, Burpee, but generally from my local feed supplies or even walmart for small packets.

I wont buy any more plants online or mail order like roses ect tra, haven't ever had good luck with live plants. I find locally grown works much better since they are adapted better to our climate.

 

[ericrm2005]

I used to buy all of seeds locally and still do actually buy some at the local feed stores and such.

I actually have not had much success with burpees seeds germinating two years in a row. I got the seeds from a local k-mart. It is certainly possible they recycled the seeds or possibly it was just a fluke. I am not sure.

I started getting from the mail order places a few years ago due to the fact that they had some different varieties of things I wanted to try that I hadnt found locally.

 

[YesDeere]

Ive tried a few like schumways and totally tomatoes. But I always end up back at Meyer seed Co. They are in Baltimore and have a good storefront (they do mail order also). Plus the wife can pick them up on way home.

 

[forgeblast]

Baker creek is getting a lot of my $ now. I am pretty impressed with the seeds. I had scarlett runner beans produce all summer long last year.

 

[charlz]

Since I like the Gurney's Gotta-Have-It sweet corn I usually order that and whatever other stuff I want through them. If not available through them I try to pick it up locally. For things like pumpkins and gourds I save seed from the year before and see what I get. Sometimes you get some interesting crosses the next year.

I like Butternut squash and grow Burpee's Butterbush, I can get seeds locally through various stores. They usually hold over pretty well in the garage. This year I am trying some cubed and frozen. Since it gets cooked and mashed down it likely doesn't matter if it gets soft from the freezing process. Two years ago I had planted some following corn and the extra nitrogen in the soil caused them to grow really long in the upper part. This would actually be a benefit to the cubing process as you can just cut off the part with seeds and compost it with plenty of meat for cubing in the upper part. Would save lots of time dealing with scraping out seeds and the stringy stuff around them. They slowly go bad over winter so I am hoping cubing and freezing will let me have winter squash all through summer until the next crop is ready late fall.

 

[ericrm2005]

Since I like the Gurney's Gotta-Have-It sweet corn I usually order that and whatever other stuff I want through them. If not available through them I try to pick it up locally. For things like pumpkins and gourds I save seed from the year before and see what I get. Sometimes you get some interesting crosses the next year.

I like Butternut squash and grow Burpee's Butterbush, I can get seeds locally through various stores. They usually hold over pretty well in the garage. This year I am trying some cubed and frozen. Since it gets cooked and mashed down it likely doesn't matter if it gets soft from the freezing process. Two years ago I had planted some following corn and the extra nitrogen in the soil caused them to grow really long in the upper part. This would actually be a benefit to the cubing process as you can just cut off the part with seeds and compost it with plenty of meat for cubing in the upper part. Would save lots of time dealing with scraping out seeds and the stringy stuff around them. They slowly go bad over winter so I am hoping cubing and freezing will let me have winter squash all through summer until the next crop is ready late fall.

I never had any luck saving any kind of sqush either cubed or sliced. It mushes up like crazy even if I try blanching it. I do, however shred some up and measure it out into 4 cup measurements. I then use it to make zuchinni bread throughout winter and that turns out pretty well.

 

[veresjwv]

Hey Guys, Last year I received a catolg from parkseed, I decided to try their featured corn called Mirai. I planted six rows abot 50 foot long and I got to tell you it was really good. Originally from the midwest I have tasted some really great sweet corn in my day but this was the best I ever ate. I have already purchased 1500 seed for this year and can't wait to get it in the ground. They also have specials like money back if you order a certain amount and special gift offers with orders. Needless to say I am pretty happy with them!

 

[ericrm2005]

Hey Guys, Last year I received a catolg from parkseed, I decided to try their featured corn called Mirai. I planted six rows abot 50 foot long and I got to tell you it was really good. Originally from the midwest I have tasted some really great sweet corn in my day but this was the best I ever ate. I have already purchased 1500 seed for this year and can't wait to get it in the ground. They also have specials like money back if you order a certain amount and special gift offers with orders. Needless to say I am pretty happy with them!

I have ordered from park seed in the past and been happy with them. I didnt order any veggies though, only perennial type ornamental plants. I used to grow a good deal of perennial plants from seed and sell them to landscapers throughout the landscaping season. Always had good germination and such from them, and the prices werent terrible.

 

[Western]

I never had any luck saving any kind of sqush either cubed or sliced. It mushes up like crazy even if I try blanching it. I do, however shred some up and measure it out into 4 cup measurements. I then use it to make zuchinni bread throughout winter and that turns out pretty well.

We have good luck blanching, where we have trouble is longevity in the freezer.
Up to a couple of months they're great, after that it's a guessing game.

 

[dmccarty]

We buy from a couple of local farm stores. One has been in business since the late 1800s. The place is as much a history museum as a store. :thumbsup:

One of the more interesting seed supplier is a "gardening" store. The store is a small chain and they sell outdoor gardening stuff that is really aimed at houses in the city, home brewing/wine making supplies, and hydroponic systems/parts.

The have a good selection of heritage seeds.

Not so sure that the heritage seeds are really being used in the hydroponic systems. :laughing: At least heritage tomato seeds. Building a "garden" in a closet to raise tomatoes strikes me as a bit odd.... :laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[forgeblast]

I was impressed with some of the aquaponic systems that are out there now. The loop system where you grow fish, and use plants to filter the water and then use the plants to feed the fish is a nice concept. I am just not sure how to do it in zone 5. I have a feeling I would need a hardy fish which may mean also growing bait fish.
http://www.growingpower.org/aquaponics.htm
backyardaquaponics.com
Portable Farms Aquaponics Systems

 

[300UGUY]

We buy from a couple of local farm stores. One has been in business since the late 1800s. The place is as much a history museum as a store. :thumbsup:

One of the more interesting seed supplier is a "gardening" store. The store is a small chain and they sell outdoor gardening stuff that is really aimed at houses in the city, home brewing/wine making supplies, and hydroponic systems/parts.

The have a good selection of heritage seeds.

Not so sure that the heritage seeds are really being used in the hydroponic systems. :laughing: At least heritage tomato seeds. Building a "garden" in a closet to raise tomatoes strikes me as a bit odd.... :laughing:

Later,
Dan

Yup!! I might be a little paranoid, but I suspect the police watch hydroponic sales pretty closely. They have shut a couple of places down here that were catering to the MM folks. Even when the voters voted in MM with a 63% margin. The legislature and the state AG are still fighting it.

 

[Combustix]

Walked into a coastal ranch and farm and they had 25% off all seeds, the wife was able to get everything on her list she was going to order online, and at a bigger savings. Plus all the seeds are set up for the local area.

 

[Duffster]

Baker Creek, See Saver's Exchange and R.H. Shumways(Jung) for orders.

BCs shipping is realy cheap. $3 IIRC

Livingston Seed Co picked up local.

 

[Duffster]

Baker creek is getting a lot of my $ now. I am pretty impressed with the seeds. I had scarlett runner beans produce all summer long last year.

Do you eat them?

We planted them as an ornamental.