Comments regarding Gurney's Seed & Nursery

I have purchased several hundred dollars worth of trees and perennials from them and have been very happy. I always order in February and promptly receive a confirmation and an estimated time for shipment.

I ordered strawberry plants and asparagus roots from them last year. Both came to me covered in green mold and practically rotted. Half of the asparagus did not live (I ordered 80 roots.) I only lost 30% of the strawberry plants. I don't really know yet how good the strawberries are from the plants I got because they never put on any fruit. Maybe this year.

My mother says she's experienced the same problems with Gurney's, and this same problem seems to have lasted throughout the last 25 years. Every few years she tries them again and always gets the same - poor quality nursery stock. She says their seeds are OK, though. She ordered a gift of seeds and bulbs for me from Gurney's recently. When I got the first part of the order (seeds) it was entirely messed up! I verified with my mother what she had actually ordered, then I called them back to explain the problem. I still haven't received the seeds because apparently now the collection is "back-ordered".

I bought 4 fruit trees from them, all of which died, two of which never even leafed out. I sent them a nasty-gram telling them their stock was terrible, and they sent me two new trees...one of which still never leafed. So of 6 trees, one survived. On the other hand I got some "bush roses" from them for a buck a piece which are doing great, despite the deer. [update11/1/1998] I just found your site, and was surprised that I had apparently found you some time ago, since there are quotes from me under Gurney's and Raintree. The one tree that survived from Gurney's is still alive, mostly, but suffers greatly in my foggy climate from peach leaf curl. I'm thinking about ripping it out.

Seeds were unsatisfactory versus others. I ordered 'Victory', 'Orange Ruffle', 'Artic Flame' and 'Fairy' roses. Only 'Fairy' is average, the rest are blah. The Tarragon is a spindly plant, mints are doing very well, tomatoes are very good, and I got this weird wedding flower - cool looking vine.

Gurney's has the reputation among my co-workers of never sending what you order. I called their service department and they confirmed that they "reserve the right to substitute equal or greater value." Well the only reason I would order is to get the unusual items, and they may not deliver. My co-worker said he ordered the same thing for years and never got it. They give lots of free-bees but that can be frustrating especially for a collector or a small garden.

I have been ordering seeds, trees and shrubs from Gurney's for over 10 years now, and I have never had a problem. I always get what I order, and in good condition.