Comments regarding Thompson and Morgan (US)

I have a longstanding love/hate relationship with T&M. Their prices are absurdly high for most items, but they do come up with stuff I haven't seen anywhere else (though with time their best offerings tend to trickle down into other catalogues). As President of the Combined North American Cottage Garden Society & North American Dianthus Society, I've had a keen interest in their dianthus selections, which have diminished sharply through the years; I get particularly angry when they tout some cultivar as fragrant that, in my experience, has little or no fragrance at all. Yet every year I order from them. Perhaps they put psychotropics in their catalogue ink.

BEWARE!!! I have ordered from this company several times and up to this point my experience has been positive. I ordered seed listed under an unusual name, one that I was not familiar with, from their website. They arrived and were labeled with a different name. They were advertised as a perennial but listed on the package as an annual. No response to my emails and customer service was no help at all. Upon doing some research, I have found that they dont have either of the names right..They have lost my business and I recommend if you buy from them, make sure your familiar with the names....

This catalogue stays out all year and gets a workout. I order three or four times a year and customer service has been excellent the 1 time that I had a problem. True, the seeds are more expensive than other catalogues, but I'm not going to T&M for Zinnias for pete's sake. With the physosanitary certs required for US import now, we're fortunate that T&M has a base in the US. Germination rates are excellent, but many varieties are simply 'challenging' to grow from seed. Those with complaints should consider their germination methods first, and the viability of the seeds second.

I have ordered for years from this company. I have never had any trouble with their seeds, and they send in a timely manner. I usually order annuals, not anything exotic, but have nevertheless enjoyed good luck with this firm.

Beautiful catalog, but the seeds are extremely expensive and have poor germination rates. I've placed at least three large orders with this company and was disappointed each time. Granted, they do carry some rather 'exotic' varieties that need special care, but when Cosmos seed won't germinate, there's a definite problem.

I have ordered from T&M & other US companies for a number of years & this is the only one that charges duty. This only began 3 years ago. By the time you convert to US funds & add the duty it doubles the original price & with their high prices, it makes for a costly seed order. I will still order from them but will be very selective. I do enjoy their catalogue.

I'm afraid I will have to echo all the other comments. I love the catalog and use it as a reference, but the seed quantities are rather small and the germination rates are lousy. At first I thought it was that I was doing something wrong (what I didn't know) but when it kept happening with T&M seeds only and after reading the other comments, I feel much better. I will try to find other sources for the more unusual seeds I want from now on and quit wasting my money.

I've ordered twice from T & M, but it's not likely to happen again. Germination rates have been unusually poor and seed quantities smaller than one should reasonably expect for the prices. Appealing seed choices and luscious photos--but no, thanks. There are plenty of consistently reliable seed companies to choose from.

A great company with a huge selection...
Very fast service, Will order again

Jere

I am a horticulturist here in Nebraska and have had some bad luck with some of the seeds I ordered from Thompson and Morgan. I have an extensive setup to grow hundreds of plants each year and have enough knowledge to get most of my plants to grow successfully. Impatiens seeds did hardly germinate even though accurate temperature and light requirements were met. I have also noticed that some seeds are certainly priced higher than in other catalogs, especially Aquilegia varieties. I collected Aquilegia seeds from my own garden and enjoyed a 100 % germination rate. I also ordered 4 different Aquilegia seed packets from T&M. Only the red and white Nora Barlow ones germinated at about 70%. All the other ones, Woodside, Pink and Blue Double Bells, and also the Sunlight Aquilegia did not germinate. I think I may look in other places next time. It is sad to invest all the time and money only to learn that the seeds are not viable.

I LOVE their catalog. However I have had problems with germination rates. Example, I planted 10 flats of lupins on the same day using the same soil. 3 flats were T&M the rest were from other companies and trades. T&M - 10% germination the rest 90+%. I called customer service and got the seeds replaced. Customer service was great, the seeds were no better. I had the same problem with some rudbeckia and petunias. The petunias were also sold as pelleted seeds but weren't.

To be fair I have also purchased some good to really good seeds from them. And will purchase seeds from them again.

Bottom line -- Premium prices. Average to below average germination.

T&M is one of the first catalogs I receive each year. In fact, they send it to me before New Years,a real plus for those of us that have to start indoors early. The are one of my favorite reference sources for species and germination info. I order quite a bit of seed from them, though it might be available cheaper elsewhere. They are shameless with their breathtaking photography, but it's a good ride on a snowy day, so who cares. Online catalog is user friendly,and I can quick order using the hardcopy..WZ

Absolutely, without a doubt, THE "Rolls-Royce" of seed companies available to us here in the USA. Wonderful, informative catalogue, super introductions every year and great customer service. I would always order everything from them, but they do tend to be on the expensive side. Highest praise to them, though, for the quality provided in all categories!

Excellent selection of hard to find varieties. Shipping is always fast and efficient. I wouldn't say I've had 100% germination, but I've had better rates than with other suppliers (e.g. Parks), even with seeds T&M describe as "challenging". I have mainly used them for perennials and herbs.

They have great items that are not available elsewhere,and lots of information on germination techniques. Plus their catalogue is a wonderful reference tool. I look forward to their catalogue every year and have done business with them since before they had an US outlet. NinaT

Most of what I have ordered from there catolog has germinated and has grown well for me. I had only 2 bad packs of seed from this company where nothing germinated. I usually place a large order or 2 medium orders a year from them. They have a large selection and a great catolog.

I love their catalog, and if their seeds were as good as their catalog looked then they'd have a life-long customer with me, but I have not had any positive experiences with their seeds. Germination rate was low to non-existent in the case of the majority of seeds I purchased from them. Once, twice, three strikes you're out. With the seeds from my third order from them still either not germinating or having a low germination rate, I decided to just look instead of buy whenever I received their catalog in the future and save myself some money and aggravation.

I loved their website - it was very easy to navigate and place an order. The seeds arrived very quickly and everything was processed properly. They have some great varieties.

Again I have only placed a small order and seeds did fine for me. One packet they shipped was empty! But overall everything seemed ok!

Experience similiar to others, really neat catalog to look at, but have had poor germination with most of the seeds ordered, as compared to other seed companies.

I have read others comments about dissatisfaction with T&M with surprise. I have had good germination rates and I received my seed order from the quickest this year. Their quick order online feature is very well implemented. Stokes I had to fuss with a bit to get it to work, and Burpee's was down so I had to call. Their catalog is an absolute dream, certain to make any gardener froth at the mouth. They do have some harder to grow things and I have shied away from these, as they also tend to be more expensive. My advice would be to go to their website and get their catalog. I check out their exclusives first and they have some truly incredible choices. Then, check prices and such on the more normal plants. Warning, it is easy to go crazy.

Oh dear, I'm afraid I'll have to disagree. I've had great service from this company and the prices are quite resonable I think. I have had close to 100% germination on all the seeds I've ever ordered from them.

I too had terrible germination with their seeds. Their catalogs are gorgeous, their selection is great including many hard to find items, but even the easy ones didn't come up good at all.

Beautiful well produced catalog with mouth watering varieties.
Prices are outrageous and number of seeds in the packets is low.Besides that,germination rates are not very good.Make your wish list out and shop elsewhere.

I was very dissappointed with this company.
They have a great selection of seeds but very low germination rates.
I have ordered from them several times will the same results.
I think I will shop somewhere else.

I've found their seeds to be of highest quality. Excellent catalog, accurate descriptions.

I have had similar bad results with Thompson & Morgan seed. I have a heated propagator, a grow light set-up and sufficient experience with difficult seeds to know better. Their asarina, and hosta seed both had 0% germination. Four impatiens germinated out of 40 seeds and 1 Tacca out of 12.

T&M is a UK seed company with a US operation. The catalog is extensive. I found the vegetable selections to be lacking in the varieties most popular in the US. The flower seed selection was truly impressive. Service was fast. Three of the items I ordered turned out to be not available from the US site--I got a nice letter from the company apologizing for this and telling me the items would be sent from the UK site with no additional charge, etc. The kicker is that I received the UK-sent seeds BEFORE I received the above letter!! The germination info is very detailed and covers everything. Almost 100% germination rate and healthy plants (true to description) and I have neither a greenhouse nor grow lights!! And an amazing selection. I order from them every year.

I have found this company's products to be superb. They always offer new and unusual plants. I ordered from their new internet site and received my complete order in days.

An appalling company - I have used them for some years and all is well until a customer has a problem. In 1999 I had the wrong seeds in a packet. Obviously I did not know until they germinated. When I realised I wrote a polite letter pointing out the problem and asking for my money back. Three weeks later, no reply. I telephoned and was promised a return phone call. Nothing happened. Phoned again and was promised a return call within "5 minutes" No return call! I phoned yet again and asked for the Managing Director. He was "busy" but I was promised he would call. A week later and he had still not called. Still no reply to my letter. I had to involve my local Trading Standards Officer to obtain any response at all. I advise everybody to steer well clear of this dreadful company.

I love the catalog and the company, but share the mixed experience of many respondants. In T&M's defense, as a British company, expects areasonably high level of knowledge from customers. The catalog warns you if seeds require expertise, special handling, or whatever. They'll send you the Germination Times to help - but there's no cutting corners.Customers without lots of patience, time, understanding of special germination requirements and/or even minimal indoor germination and growing facilities (ability to provide required temperatures, grow lights, some place to grow seedlings out of wind, rain, and cold temperatures for the long times it takes to get transplant-sized plants) should not order from T&M. As for poor germination rates of some species, their new stuff is reliable. But somespecies will only germinate readily (or at all) when seeds are fresh. T&M has tried selling fresh seeds in the past. These species should probably not be listed in the catalog. Over the years I have found that stuff for which there is not a high demand, or stuff collected and processed by distant growers for T&M, has variable germination quality. This may be a function of the skill of the grower, the moisture/temperature conditions the seed is exposed to during shipping, and/or the storage times. I think that gardeners who want really rare species are probably better off buying plants and letting them self-seed. Or better yet, joining a specialty plant society, where therewill fresher seed sources and gardeners who have already buried their mistakes and gained knowledge thereby.

I LOVE the Thompson & Morgan catalog. It did take 6 weeks to finally get one but I have had the best luck with papaver paeoniflorum seeds. I have ordered these same varieties from other companies and not had a single seed germinate. My seeds from T&M produced big healthy plants with GIANT poppies and I am having the same luck with the seeds I ordered this year. To me it was worth the wait.

I have grown many plants from seed and consider myself to be fairly knowledgeable and experienced even with rare or difficult seed. Of all the companies I've ordered from over the years I consider Thompson and Morgan's seeds to be consistently the worst. I don't know how they can stay in business unless it's the gorgeous and tempting catalogue that that overcomes all self-restraint.

I have ordered from Thompson & Morgan and was very satisfied with germination rates. In fact, a sub-standard (according to their note) germination seed caused me to lose some seedlings since almost all germinated and I had to thin out. They have some interesting rare plants, but most are not cold hardy.

I would just like to decide for myself T&M's quality. I have written and called to receive their catalog, and nothing. Two different friends said they found a place to order it on the net and it took 6 weeks. My neighbor said she has called their phone number and requested a catalog for 3 or 4 years and has never received one. I am just wondering, if they are that busy, or what?

I have tried for the last two years to get a catalog from Thompson & Morgan with no success. I twice mailed in their catalog request cards included in gardening magazines. No catalog. I telephoned them twice and left messages asking for a catalog. No catalog. I mailed a notecard asking for a catalog. No catalog. I emailed their customer service three times. No catalog. I filled out the catalog request form on their internet site three times. No catalog. I have given up and will take my money elsewhere. My feeling is that if it's this hard just to get a catalog from this company, getting an actual order filled from them must be a nightmare.

I have found their seeds to be of very good quality with a good rate of germination. When I have experienced any difficulties, their Horticultural Department have always readily offered helpful advice enabling be to get the results that I want. Thank you for your wonderful catalog, T&M.

This company has a great selection of the hard-to-find & the turn time for the order is excellent. HOWEVER, I don't like that sometimes you receive "subbed" items without prior notice. I ordered the Buxton's Blue geranium seed for 3 years before finally receiving the ordered item. Great customer service though, I like ordering over the phone -- and-- they return v-ml messages very promptly!! A plus in any business.

I have telephoned this company twice to receive their catalog, and I have not received it yet. (Two years) The ironic part is that I reside in the same town (Jackson, NJ) as does Thompson and Morgan. I will purchase seeds elsewhere.