If anybody has been eyeing seeds at Gurney's http://gurneys.com/default.asp but didn't want to pay their regular shipping... I just got an email from them, and they're having a sale with $1 shipping & handling through this weekend (expires March 12th). :-) Garden Watchdog has some negative reviews about plants from them, but I think people who have just purchased seeds (as I have in the past) were happy... They have a cucumber (their burpless pickler hybrid) that does really well for me, but I didn't have anything else really on my wish list from them, so I was happy to see this offer.
Thought I'd pass the information along!
$1 S/H at Gurney's through this weekend
thanks...glad Garden Watchdog had negative reviews and that their plant prices are way to high or I'd have spent some serious money *G* now I can just spend serious money on seeds.
always good to check the Watchdog! As I said, it looks like most of the negative reviews are about plants (saplings, potato tubers, asparagus crowns, etc)... I've never had trouble with their seeds, but I did get some pretty puny purple asparagus crowns from them one time.
I spent some "serious money" on seeds at Walmart recently... they have a lot of nice seeds for 97 cents or even 30 cents and 10 cents per packet! So their seed racks are a good place to check first. They even had the Super Sugar Snap peas I thought I'd have to order specially!
LOL ohh I already hit Wal-Mart...to be honest I need more seeds like I need a whole in my head but I just can't help myself when I see something I don't have. Humm when do you grow your Sugar Snaps? Summer or winter? Wondering how they would do around here...
I made the mistake of purchasing Wal-Mart seed last year. I needed some more carrot seed. I planted the Wal-Mart carrots right next to the variety I puchased from Stokes. It was like night and day. The Wal-Mart carrots had problems with mildew. They grew to less than half the size and we're tastless. We didn't even like them cooked in soups & stews. It wasn't worth the $1 we saved.
I could go on longer about the tomatoes, watermelon, and cucumbers I purchased from Wal-Mart. They were all sub-par to the seed I purchased from reputable seed catalogs. I would never recommend purchasing seed from Wal-Mart.
Their plants are not much better. A couple years ago I broke down and bought some gladiola bulbs. They came up with some virus that infected every pot they were next to. I had a complete loss of about 15 containers of plants that year. I also purchased a boxwood bush that grows unattractive albino tips that scorch and die. Last year I noticed that almost every Hosta that they carried were infected with the HVX virus. I let the garden manager know and he discarded most of them. However, half of their next shipment was still infected.
Buyers beware.
I went last weekend too. I bought sunflowers, zinnias, and nasturtium seeds. Hope they do better than your report. Thanks for the heads up, so if they come up with something nasty, I'll know it was probably the seeds, and not the newbie!
There is a lot difference among cultivars, But Walmart sells Burpee, Ferry Morse, and American seeds. Never noticed any difference as long identical cultivars were chosen, Good germination and true to type. There are a few exclusives among seed companies, but all the commercial retailers, buy their seeds from producers such as Seminis, Rogers, Hollar, Sakata, Takii, Known You, Nunhems, Zareim Gedera, Seeds by Design and the like.
I'm guessing that my bad experience with Wal-Mart seed (it was branded "Wal-Mart" not Burpee or others) is because Wal-Mart's main focus is price not knowledge. Reputable seed dealers know what they are selling and most of the larger catalogs test their seed and offer the best cultivars. I admit that my bad carrots were because of the cultivar, but Wal-Mart should not have been offering such a poor cultivar to begin with. You must admit Wal-mart does not have the passion for plants that a nursery/seed distributor has. Their lack of passion for their product and sole focus on profits is a recipe for disaster.
The Wal-mart brand is packaged by Ferry Morse. They usually sell only the most popular (common) cultivars under that lable. Ones that you can get from just about all seed companies. I expect if you look up that cultivar, virtually everyone sells it. Of the seed companies that I have dealt with, those on the retail end are as ignorant of the product as a Wal-Mart cashier.
I've bought seeds from Walmart this year. The ten cent packages of alysuum have 100% germination while the tomatoes were about 50%and I'm having the darnedest time with peppers and eggplants from them I'm on my second try w/ peppers and eggplants from them,using instruction from critters "pepper starting" thread. They've been sewn since the first and some but not many have germinated.Time will tell if I have better luck on this batch.
The cobaea bought from them are about 40% germination so far. I have other seeds for summer annuals bought from them I'll sew next week.
P
I'll see how mine do, just bought a few things, but I haven't had trouble with Wal-Mart seeds in the past... Dollar Store seeds have come up fine for me too!
P, good luck with those peppers! I've quit trying with eggplants... I get nice little seedlings, but I fall short when it comes to protecting them sufficiently against flea beetles and other pests, and they mostly perish in my garden... but the farmer's market sells very nice ones, LOL, so I'm good!
Thanks critterologist. I did not read that latest Gurney e-mail. I also grow Gurney's burpless pickler hybrid, so I will be stocking up. This variety also does well for me & held up as well as or better than County Fair to the cuke beetles.
I've been buying from Gurney since the 80s. I mostly buy seeds and onion sets. The seeds have always done well. I've had some bad experience with nursery stock, but am not 100% sure that I wasn't to blame for the failures. I often wait for special offers; such as this one.
I also order seeds from Heirloom Acres, Parks, and Henry Fields. This year I ordered my seeds from Pinetree Garden Seeds because of the "Around the World" vegie varieties that they offer; such as; Zucchetta Rampicante Tromboncino and Red Russian Kale. Most are priced under $1.00 per pack. Shipping is a flat $2.95 for orders under $19.99. At their prices, you can buy quite a few seeds for under $19.99. I immediately received an e-mail confirmation and delivery was quick. I can't comment on quality yet. When I find that out, I'll rate them under the garden watchdog.
Oh, I love Pinetree!! Their packs are smaller than some, but so are their prices, and that makes them perfect for home gardeners!
I will never buy another batch of plants and shrubs from Gurneys . I had to do it twice and there will not be a third try.
Araness just remember peas like it cool we are planting ours now so with your temps you are probably limited to your winter season.
Big Red, How long should it to get Cobaea to germinate? Ive soaked them then planted and all I have gotten so far is slimy fingers lol They were old seeds but thought I would give them a shot.
Ever since gurneys sold out and the Yankton store was vacated. The company name is all that is left.
I used to go direct to the store. and had pretty good luck. I have noticed that the prices have jumped up in comparison of what they used to be.
I did send them an order this year. Not sure how that will turn out. However I called them today to inquire about an order ( partial that is ) that was to have been shipped the middle of last month. and the lady I spoke with was sure I should have recieved the seeds by now. So she said they would ship the order again. to make sure I got them.We both were of the opinion that the order got lost. Fingers Crossed
Russ
Fingers crossed for you here too, Russ... as I said, it sounds like most of the problems they've having are with orders that are not just seeds, so I figured it was worth letting people know about the reduced shipping... I don't think I'd advise ordering plants from them.
Critter: I don't see anything on their site that says $1 shipping. Maybe its just for people on their e-mail list.
I'll check...
I just typed in "gurneys.com" and saw the "anniversary celebration! enjoy $1 shipping and handling!" in the banner at the top of the page... so unless it's using some sort of cookie to know it's me, you should be able to see the same page...
Here's the link, http://gurneys.com/
randbponder,
I'll have to check my journel on cobaea info but I remember I was surprised these first round came up fairly quick. They're on my light bench on a heat mat.First strip is 10 out of10,second strip is 7 out of 10,third strip is1 out of 10 and last strip is 1 out of 10. All started on2/15. I didn't soak them. Planted them on their sides with top edge showing above soil line. I have more planted at a later date in un-heated greenhouse and as of yesterday ,no sprouts so heat helps germination.
critter,
I will not look,I will NOT look!*LOL*
P
I wouldn't order from Gurney's if their shipping was free, and their entire inventory was $1.
Too many times I've ordered from them, and not received items, only to be told that they didn't carry that item. The last time, the item in question, with THEIR item number was listed on my order. It was a strawberry jar they had listed. I placed an order for two, and it showed on my order form, as well as the confirmation email. I received the rest of that shipment, without the planters. I called to question this problem, and was told they never had carried that item. They had then removed the page with that item on it. I filed a complaint with the BBB, and moved on. There are WAY too many better companies out there, to put up with that kind of ****.
My $0.02
Eggs