Jen, the cucumbers don't get mushy when they thaw; they're about the texture of cucumbers after they've been pickled with vinegar, sugar and onions for a bit. They still have some resistance to the tooth, and they're really good. I had never heard of it before either but another artist I email has a big garden and does that, so I tried it last fall and we were really pleased and surprised that they make a great addition to a salad that way. I rinse them in warm water and get all the ice chunks off before I add them to the salad.
With prime, you don't feel the need to add those extra few things to bring the total up to $25, but I don't know whether it's a true saving or not because it makes it so easy to order things!
Cost Efectiveness
Y'all are going to get me to venture into the Amazon... grrrr!
On the par-cel, I honestly don't recall where I found the seeds or even what the original package looked like. I believe it was with a larger seed order. I am expecting my par-cel to seed this year. I'm thinking it is more of a biennual but it may not deliver seed. Amazing that you found it in a seed display. I will look thru them for more.
I kind of grimace when I receive free seeds with an order. My seed stash is overflowing. I am willing to share what I have but when I don't want for those, please send me a duplicate of what I chose to order?!?? That would make me happier.
Podster, I agree with you, I remember ordering some seeds from rareseeds.com, I had ordered some cucumber seeds (suyo long) and then I also received the same seeds (suyo long) as free seeds, I will hopefuly be eating a lot of suyo long cucumbers soon.
Greenhouse I also love amazon, I have never ordered seeds from them but mainly books and other things, the fact that that you don't pay shipping as long as it is over $25 is a good deal.
But like I said, it makes it much too easy to order stuff from them. I don't get seeds from them either, but if I can buy something from Amazon vs. another outlet, and the other outlet is going to charge shipping, Amazon wins every time.
I don't particularly like those free seeds; I order what I want and what I have room for, and I'm usually not interested in freebies.