http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35184731/ns/business-consumer_news//
A good reason to save seeds for yourself and extras for trading and gifting. I also think this may lead to higher prices next year.
Seed Shortage Predicted for Home Gardeners
I know last year here- when the big box stores shelves( racks) were empty of seed packets- that was the end of it- but they did manage to keep plants coming in all the way until Fall.
But yes, it is a good idea to say our seeds- I agree!
Sandy
One more sound reason for seed saving.
Thanks for bringing that to our attention.
It seems to me the prices are already high from last year. That said I just bought some seeds at Walmart for $1.00/pack. Picked up zucchini, straight neck, butternut, beets, and cukes. Of course with the price of seeds going up means plant sale prices will rise too. One of my local nurseries managed to keep his prices stable last year but I don't know about this year. I think saving seeds is going to be on the increase though.
maybe we need a government stimulas packzge. LOL
Good now I have an excuse for puchasing so many seeds this year, I couldn't help myself. I sound like my mom (thats happening more and more) "honey, don't think of how much I spent think of how much I saved."
I really hope it doesn't come down to ME saving seeds I'm a disorganized klutz I'll never be able to keep them straight. ARGH....
Remember, you can really only save seeds from OP and heirloom type veggies. If you save seeds from hybrids, there's no telling what you'll end up with.
i wouldn't worry about a seed shortage. just like everything else that we buy the message that there might be a seed shortage is just to let you know that the prices will be going up but there will be seeds.
You're probably right Herbie. If it gets high enough it'd be a good cash crop for OP's and heirlooms (if one has the room).
The shortage is for onion and cucumber seeds and applies only for commercial seed suppliers. Most small, independent seed companies, like Victory Seeds or Baker Creek, should not be affected by the shortage.
There does not appear to be any shortage this season---the racks are full up here!
Good variety too.
No shortage that I can see down here in the wilds of Washington State either. A couple of suppliers have told me that there is a shortage of Walla Walla Sweet Onion seed, but I just ordered cases of the WW Sweet plants and there is no shortage of them this Spring. I did order what onion seed I could get early this year to plant in late Summer for over-wintering. I suspect that those who wait may not be able to get onion seed later. I'm also going to save some onion seed this year, whereas I normally do not.
I'm going to try to save some onion seed too because last year I had some from 4 different sources and none germinated like it should. I still need some bush beans but I'm good with everything else. I made sure to get about 10 times as much squash seed as I should need just in case the squash vine borers are as bad as last year. I planted zukes 6 times and yellow squash 4 times and still only got to eat about 4 times total.
I am going to Walla Walla onions as a winter sow.
I was a little nervous because I didn't get my seed orders in until today. Fedco did have some listed as not available this because of bad weather/crop failure last year. But of everything I wanted from three seed companies, the only one that was sold out was Gypsy. I was looking forward to trying this sweet pepper that everyone's been raving about. Oh well. Next year.
tons of seeds here also.
There was an article in the L.A. Daily News Sat. Jan.30th 2010, that quotes Burpee's. George Ball as saying there is a near seed shortage. The 2 main factors are more home gardeners and adverse conditions last summer. The article mentions onions being one of the harder crops to find.
Lisa