When do you buy your seeds?

Tina_i_am

Hello.

I'm a newbie, last year we moved to a house with a lovely south facing garden and it also has a greenhouse and vegetable plot. Feels like all my dreams have come true.

I'm trying to get organised now for next year. This year I've had a go at growing all typres of flowers and vegetables, but I alway feel like I'm just a bit late with sowing my seeds. I'm interested in growing herbs, hanging basket plants, carrots, peas, betroot and parsnips. Maybe next year try potatoes.

So to get organised for next year, I have a folder for my self and trying to make a calander/ diary to inform me as to when to buy seeds and when different seeds need sowing buy.

When do you buy all or most of your seeds? I'm a bit worried to buy too early and find the seeds don't do so well, how good are the sow by dates?

Anything else you can think of to get me organised for the coming year is appreciated. I live in the North East, any advice about planting here and hardy plants alsi welcome.

Thanks in advance

kate1123

I bought a lot of seeds last September at 50p a packet, I have had no problem with germination. I have just bought seeds for next year in the T&M half price sale. 

Alina W

Yes, I often buy at this time of year when they are half price. Many companies supply their seeds in a foil packet which, if not opened, will keep them fresh for a minimum of a couple of years.

Unknown

Hi, Tina

Many gardeners used to send for seed catalogues in the autumn and spend the long winter evenings planning and perusing them before placing their orders.

These days however, it seems more usual for people to buy their seeds from the vast selection available from garden centres or online. I would just add, that garden centres usually stock popular lines & catalogues offer a better selection.

You say 'I'm a bit worried to buy too early and find the seeds don't do so well, how good are the sow by dates?' The sow by dates are pretty reliable, although seed viability varies widely i.e. tomato or beans will remain viable for three or four years, while root-crops such as parsnip should be sown fresh every year....all this comes with experience.

Potatoes should be bought just after Christmas, as they will require a period of about six weeks of chitting before planting out.

 

sotongeoff

Wlkinsons later in the season have a garden sale, I have bought mail order through e-bay-you will usually find that seed packets bought this year will have a sow -by date of 2013 which you don't have to take as gospel

diggingdoris

I usually get mine in Wyevale sale . They go to half price then followed by 20p a packet sometimes. Never sure when they do it but have friends who pass the word round all us gardeners when we spot the reductions, usually in August.

Tina_i_am

Thank you all for all your information. I am on mailing lists for a few seed catalogues. I'll look out for the sales also.

grannyjanny

Premier seeds direct, an ebay shop is really good. Cheap P&P & lots of seeds per pkt. They do some heritage varieties too.Great for sharing & swapping. Wyevale go down to 50p & then 20p.

figrat

As above, there are loads of good and economical sources of seed. I'd also like to add that how you store them can vastly improve how long they remain viable. I keep mine in airtight plastic containers in the fridge with those little packets of silica gel that seem to come with a lot of things these days. I also reseal the packets as tightly as I can with paperclips after I've sown what I need. At the very least, I'd advise you to keep seed in a cool, dark dry place. I do need to reorganise my collection though, so they are in some sort of calendar sequence.

Tina_i_am

Figrat, how do you organise your collection in a calendar sequence? Do you have a special box or divider system.



Thank you, I do keep my seeds in an air tight box in the garage. I hadn't thought about putting them in the fridge.



Paper clips are a good idea too!

figrat

At the moment they're stored under categories - flowers, veg, salads,herbs etc. But I find I have to rummage through them all to get what I want, and usually miss some in the process. So I'm going to reorganise the boxes into months - probably! Sarah Raven has a lovely seed box which has monthly dividers, but I thought I'd save a couple of bob and reorganise the Tupperware. Regarding my previous post I'm currently harvesting salad leaves grown from a packet of seed that should have been used by 2004....