Bulk Seed Source (This One Is Not Worth Buying From)

[Stoner]

I had purchased seed from Main Street Seed & Supply Co. I planted corn, peas, okra, eggplant, squash, cantaloupe, and watermelon. The peas, okra, eggplant, and squash did not germinate and did not get the first plant. The corn came up sporadic at best; I would venture I had less then 50% germination. The watermelon did better I would say I had about 80% germination. I do not know what was wrong with the seed. I planted it like I normally do each year. On the larger quantities of seed I use my Covington single row planter. On the smaller quantities of seed I planted by hand. I used the Rainbird sprinklers to make sure they got enough water and I fertilized the soil around the seed. No fertilizer was on top of the seed. Sent a letter to Main Street Seed and Supply Co. and they apologized but nothing else beyond that. I have attached their note that they sent back to me. I cannot say I am ticked, unfortunately that what you expect in customer service now days. I will look for a better and more reliable source for my bulk vegetable seed.

“Sorry to hear you are disappointed. Be assured the Dept of Agriculture regulates the seed. The seed needs to be tested for germination and this test is good for one year. If any seed is left after a year, the seed can be retested and a new label must be put on the seeds. I don't believe we have any seeds below a 78% germination rate and they are all within the year time frame. If you have any seed left, you may have it tested and if there is a discrepancy, we would be glad to refund your money.

Thank you,

Ella Schwannecke
1-866-229-3276
Main Street Seed and Supply Co”

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Have the seeded tested or have your soil tested and find out what went wrong. If it is the seed then you get your money back which doesn't really help but is better then nothing. If it is your soil then you have a chance to fix it before next season. Who knows, it might be something completely different. Do you use herbicides on your fields or do your neighbors? Do you rotate your garden so you grow different plants or do you plant the same crop in the same place year after year?

 

[EddieWalker]

Seeds really do last a very long time, but unless the ground is prepared properly and watered, nothing will happen. It's tough to tell from your story wether it's the seed or if something else is the problem.

Did you have the soil tested? What did you do to it to amend it?

It could be that the seed is bad, but seeds have a way of lasting for years and years out in the wild until the conditions are ideal for them to germinate.

Eddie

 

[Stoner]

I have planted other things on the same ground. Last fall and winter I had a very successful food plot for deer and turkeys. I have a tiller and tilled that under to put some of the organics back into the soil. When I planted I used a single row planter that is mounted on top of a cultivator. I also have a fertilizer hopper that is mounted on the cultivator that puts out fertilizer on each side of the seed. I water with overhead sprinklers every third day for three hours. I have done everything right in regards to planting. The peas, eggplant, squash, okra seed did not put up the first plant. The corn is coming up but is less then 50% germination. The Watermelon is doing well; the other seed has not germinated at all. I am not upset; I just expect them to stand by their product. Not a whole lot of money involved (not worth getting upset over). I will just purchase from another seed dealer.

 

[Knight9]

Stoner,

I had a similar experience with my garden last year. Everything came up great except the peas. 6 rows of peas (3 double rows) and I only got about a dozen seeds germinating. Same soil, same watering, same sun etc as the other seeds. It HAD to be the seeds. I just ended up going and getting some more seeds from a different store and replanting the seeds.

The end result....reduced crop due to late germination and our fairly short growing season.

It happens. If you had a lot, you may want to actually have it tested to see what the germination rate is.

Good luck.

 

[OldMcDonald]

Despite the best of intentions all round it is sometimes possible to buy seed that is faulted, although it is a rarity. Buy early, do a germination test in whatever way suits you. I find either damp paper towels or a small pot on the kitchen window sill is easiest and unlikely to be forgotten about. Always keep back enough seed that if there is a problem you can give the seller some back to do his own germination test and also have an independent one done. It does not take much effort to do these things.

As an example I bought two bags of corn this year for feed and told my usual supplier I would be planting some. He advised that germination was likely to be poor because of the growing conditions last year where this corn originated. I did a test from both bags. 100 seeds from each, in part of my vegetable garden area. 100% germination from one bag and 65 from the other. I planted 16 kilos from the better bag between the rows in a one hectare olive grove using a homemade 2 row drill and it looks like 100% germination, but close inspection shows the odd miss, yet not enough to complain about. Old McDonald.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

It still could be your soil. Check the seeds but do a soil test also.

Do you have neighbors that spray herbicides near you? Did you spray any herbicides on this ground?

 

[KaiB]

Reminds me of the fellow who was having problems growing chickens...went to the County Extension and they asked him if he was rotating the eggs.



So the next year he planted them big side up!!!

 

[Stoner]

I have not used any herbicides (Round Up) except on a fenceline and was before I planted the seeds. I did not mention earlier that I did mix some lime pellets with the fertilizer when I planted. There is no doubt in my mind that I did receive some bad seed. I will be doing some replanting this weekend. Thanks for the comments.