Comments regarding Harris Seeds / Garden Trends

Always receive stellar seeds. Love the pelleted seeds - especially for petunias. Buy with ease from this company!

I have ordered from Harris Seeds for a couple of years. They have varieties which I do not find elsewhere. This winter I ordered several packets of flower seeds which were delivered promptly. I was concerned because the date on two of the packages indicated that the seed was from an old crop. But apparently Harris stores their seeds properly- they grew just fine with an excellent germination rate. I am enjoying my flowers and will order from Harris again.

Ordered several kinds of seeds from them. They were well packaged and labeled.

Unfortunately none of the wave petunias actually were wave petunias but flowers I had not ordered at all, I had to look them up and they were summer snapdragons.

So I contacted them about it and was told they haven’t heard any other complaints about it and was asked how I planted them, did I plant them in the ground, the implication being I must be confused about what I planted where. But I had used an indoor greenhouse with everything labeled and have never bought summer snapdragons in my life.

I told them so and never heard back from them. I didn’t spend a lot of on them, just a few packs, so I’m not sure why they didn’t find it necessary to even offer to send replacement seeds.

I won’t be using them again.

I live in Central Florida and am new to gardening, I ordered 4 different flower varieties from Harris, daddy petunias, rocket snapdragons, sonata cosmos, and jolt pink dianthus. Despite using potting mix and leeching all the fertilizer while germinating causing continual mold growth i had very high germination rates with all seed with no heat mat. I also started these flowers in mid Jan which I later found out was not ideal for these plants in florida. It is now mid June and all plants are still vigorously flowering. All varieties did exceptionally well especially considering our 90+ Temps here as well as about 85 average high for last month or so. The petunias cosmos and snapdragons were all mix colors and all produced a well mix of colors i will definitely use them again and would recommend to anyone else.

I have repeated had good results with this company for years. Both seeds and plugs. The few times I needed customer service they were quickly and positively responsive. I again bought seeds and plugs this year. I will again next year.

Im an organic grower by trade, and have been ordering from Harris for years. So glad that every year they expand their selection of organic seeds. Customer service is wonderful, shipping is fast, and their seeds have excellent germination rates. They are one of my "go to" companies, and I highly recommend them.

Posted on August 8, 2018, updated February 21, 2019
The worst experience ordering seeds in my decades of gardening. I ordered Winter squash "Honey Nut" after careful garden planning and research, I was very interested in this new squash from Cornell that had received a lot of press. I received the seed from Harris, labeled Honey Nut, and proceeded to devote a lot of garden space to it. Once the plants started setting squash, they looked rather odd, not what I was expecting at all. But since I had never grown this, I thought perhaps I was mistaken. Several days ago, I received a "refund" to my credit card from Harris. No explanation or indication why. I called them to inquire. Turns out they sent out a completely different seed and I am now growing tons of Delicata squash. Not even an email from them to explain what happened! Don't you think the least they could do would be to send the correct seed or offer a gift card of some kind to compensate for all the labor and time that went into growing the mislabeled plants? I will never buy from them again, the most basic obligation of a garden supplier is to sell properly labeled items. Shame on them!!

"On Aug 19, 2018 9:20 PM, Harris Seeds / Garden Trends responded with:

Thank you for your review and for being a loyal Harris Seeds customer. In regards to the winter squash you received that was not what you ordered, we sincerely apologize for the mix up. When the issue was discovered, we took action to notify and refund our customers who ordered the seed as promptly as we could. In doing this, we realized that the refund was being processed before the letters of notification were reaching our customers. We understand the confusion this causes and have made efforts to re-structure our system to avoid this in the future. Your disappointment in not receiving the item you ordered is also completely understandable. We pride ourselves on selling top quality seeds and do all we can to ensure that this is the case. Rarely, a mix-up will occur in seed processing and it is not discovered until late in the season, as happened with the Honeynut Squash and Bush Delicata Squash this year. This is certainly something we wish to avoid, and we are implementing additional checks to help prevent such occurrences in the future.

We sincerely apologize again for the issues you encountered. Your feedback is very much appreciated, as it helps us to improve and to better serve our customers. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to our customer care team. You may call us at 888.270.4751 or send us an email through this link: [HYPERLINK@www.gardentrends.com]"

Posted on May 27, 2018, updated June 1, 2018
I placed an order in January including some liatris and Lilacs. 3 bundles of Lilacs came in great shape but a bundle of 25 were dead & moldy and some liatris were not shipped. I received my money back for the missing liatris, but they have not refunded nor called back for the moldy dead product. I took pictures to confirm the quality, but they were not interested. If considering an order of lilacs I would look elsewhere, as that was a total loss.

Excellent, excellent,excellent.
Used Harris seed for years while working as a propagator in the nursery business, but when I retired I was no longer able to buy in quantity, so was THRILLED when they started Garden Trends for home growers. Now I can get seed varieties usually reserved for commercial growers in small quantities.
Their seeds are the finest quality and their germination/planting instructions are always precise and accurate.
Thank You!

I'm very pleased with customer support here. I had a question about my order and received an email response the same day I'd sent my question. The answer was complete, cheery and polite. My seed order shipped promptly and arrived in about a week. Planting now so I'll have to update this later with germination results. Seed pricing, for what I chose, is excellent.

Posted on November 30, 2017, updated November 30, 2017
I decided to try a different company. I ordered a garlic bulb collection because I received an email from them saying they had starting shipping garlic. A week later my order was still in "Getting order ready" status. I called after 10 days and was told my order would ship in 2 days. I waited 5 and called back to be told it would be another 2 weeks. At no time did Harris contact me with a order status or tell me there was a backorder. Their site clearly says "All orders (except back orders) are normally shipped within 48 hours of receipt." I canceled my order and tried another new company that I am very happy with.

Today I received an email: "I am sorry that I missed you this morning. I was calling to thank you for your interest in Harris Seeds. I know that you tried to order the organic garlic collection back in September and unfortunately the order was cancelled due to a back order on of the items in the collection. We apologize for the inconvenience." My order was made almost 3 months ago!! On top of that, I have been home all day and received zero calls and zero messages. They didn't miss me... they didn't even try! I even verified that my correct number is on file with them.

I tried a new company based on a friend's review. I will not order from them again.

Posted on May 1, 2017, updated June 5, 2017
Posted on March 31, 2009, updated May 1, 2017
I am THRILLED with this company! This was my first time orderering from them and it was a very positive experience. The customer service was excellent, they answered all of my questions without sounding like they were making it up as they went along. (I'll be posting another review for a different company soon). I recieved my order in 3 days! Ordered on 3/24 late in the evening. It shipped 3/26 - I received it on 3/28. I will definitely be using them again!

I ordered impatiens seeds and petunia seeds for colors I can't usually find in our local greenhouses. I'm not often successful, but always hopeful, when I start flower seeds using heat mats and proper lighting. The seeds came within a week. I got a personal e-mail from Hannah at Harris Seeds asking if they had arrived and if I had any questions. When I was disappointed in the germination after two weeks, she offered to send some additional seeds at no cost and also offered advice on what to try to improve germination. We've developed an e-mail relationship, and I feel like I've made a new friend. I'm glad I discovered Harris Seeds.

Bought sweet corn seeds from them. Prices were great and shipping was reasonable. Had no issues what so ever. Plus shipped pretty quickly. Would use again.

Posted on January 8, 2015, updated January 8, 2015
I have a bad habit or not leaving feedback for seeds. Anyway, I have been ordering from Harris Seeds since 2012 and have put in an order every year including the order I just got for Gerbera Daisy's which I am so very excited about. :)

01/15-Gerbera Jaguar Formula Mix

12/14 Lobelia Riviera Midnight Blue
Sunflower Solar Chocolate Gold
Bacopa Blutopia Blue

01/14-Salvia Summer Jewel Red
Salvia New Dimension Rose

01/13-Rudbeckia-Prairie Sun
Veronica Blue Bouquet
Echinacea PowWow Berry

07/12-Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit Mix

I really love the selection and the communication I get from this company. They always send a Receipt/Confirmation right away. Then they will send a shipping/confirmation when they ship them so I know to watch my mail box and it only takes a few days usually.

I love the website and selection and I think the prices are reasonable for the amount of seeds you get and also the freshness, some are even in zip loc pouches so you can just use a few at a time and reseal it.
Sowing instructions are on the package.

Packing has always been good, the package is in great shape when I get them. This last order was probably the most expensive of all the others and I got a bonus packet of Sunflowers.
Also they are now offering insurance which was only .25 cents extra.

Thank you Harris!

Posted on September 10, 2014, updated September 15, 2014
I ordered seed for the first time from Harris last week. The package arrived in good condition this week. I especially like the packaging, it has a Ziploc seal. The problem is the line on the package that says:

ORIGIN: CHINA

I've ordered seeds from tons of places online before and have never had any seed that wasn't from the US. I'm sure the seed will germinate and grow, I'm mostly worried about the conditions in which the fruit bearing this seed was grown. China is known for having terrible environment problems. I wish Harris had disclosed the fact that this was Chinese seed on their website. I would have at least had the opportunity to look for US sourced seed.

If you care about the source of your seed, I'd encourage you to call before placing your online orders if the web site doesn't list it explicitly. This is a disappointing first order with Harris. I doubt I'll take a chance on them again unless their website starts listing the origin of seeds. At the least, it could say USA or FOREIGN. Better would be to always list the individual country.

I have been ordering from Harris Seeds for years. I always receive quality seeds at a fair price.

Was just getting ready to placed this year's order and forgot to give VERY positive feedback on last season.
Bought various kinds of coated annual seeds for (very late) winter sowing--and was THRILLED with germination, and plant growth.
BEAUTIFUL little pink salvias, a new kind of zinnia, and several other "new" varieties of annuals.
I am delighted to return today to dreaming on Harris's web-page knowing that these beautiful little seeds catch up quickly and surpass(and with much less cost) the bedding plants soon to be sold in local garden centers

Posted on May 19, 2013, updated March 27, 2014
Posted on February 3, 2012, updated May 19, 2013
Posted on April 17, 2007, updated February 3, 2012
I recently placed a small order for several packs of seeds. The order was confirmed instantly, I received a shipment within one week with one item on backorder and it was received two days later. The germination has been excellent and what really impressed me was the prices on some of the seed packages - they were less than half of the most popular seed companies. Harris Seeds does not carry a vast selection of flower varieties, but for some it's adequate. Shipping is reasonable also plus you may order from the growers site for large quantities. I have added Harris to my list of preferred companies along with Stokes, Swallowtail, and J.L. Hudson.

Have been gardening over 40 yrs. I've purchased seeds from many companies(only once from many of them do to poor service). Thu the years like many of my fellow gardeners I've dealt with good companies and poor ones.
For the last several years I've narrowed my business to a select few. Harris Seeds has been on of the my favorites. When I did have a problem they were quick to resolve it .
It reminds me of the old saying,"Quality is like buying oats. If you want good clean oats You have to pay a fair price. If you want cheaper
oats be prepared to get those that have been tru the horse.
Thanks Harris Seeds, for "good clean oats at a fair price".

I ordered seeds from Harris. They arrived quickly.I will be ordering from them again..

I ordered a large packet of sunflower seed. They arrived fast, and were packed in a resealable bag which is a good thing because I didn't use all of them. Plus, they send me their catalog, enabling me to buy many more seeds to help fill in my new garden.
My only recommendation: most companies I have dealt with send a confirmation to your email, when that didn't happen, I emailed the company to make sure they had got my order and they didn't respond. The seeds arrived in a few days anyway, but it would be nice to have responses.

Ordered a similar volume of seeds from Kitazawa and they arrived in excellent condition in a cardboard flat rate box ($5.25 shipping.) Harris seeds arrived the same day in a thin plastic envelope ($10.40 shipping.) Might be a great company but they need to put part of their high shipping charges into more substantial packaging to protect easily crushed and damaged seeds.

Perfect transaction. Seeds came quickly. I like the packaging - A LOT. Germination was terrific. I am getting the hang of growing seedlings in a new greenhouse and tried some more difficult varieties this year, which I ordered from Harris. Having wonderful results and will definitely order from them each year.

I just had one of the best experiences I've ever had with any Nursery or Seed Company after placing a large order with Harris Seeds. One of the items I purchased was a grow light stand, which was made and shipped by another manufacturer. Harris kept me informed through the 2 week process and provided detailed shipping information so that I could track the order. They were very helpful and informative through the process and were kind and professional when responding to my inquiries. I did quite a lot of shopping around before choosing them to place my order and they were the cheapest of anyone. The Gerbera, Petunia and Zinnia seeds I ordered have all had over a 90% germination rate so far and the electronics I purchased were top notch quality and functioned well. I cannot remember when the least expensive company also provided the best service and had the best products. Ever!! They are truly a rare treasure. Thank you, Harris, for making the choice easy! I'll certainly be back again!

I have, on several occasions, ordered a variety of different seeds from Harris Seeds and have always been pleased. Seeds are shipped promptly and bulbs at the correct time of year. The selection is great, although some varieties of seeds are only available in larger quantities and I feel guilty wasting seed.

I especially appreciate that they test the germination rate of seeds and label each packet with that information includes the germination rate and geographic origin of the seeds. Furthermore, where one batch of sage seeds had a relatively low germination rate they provided a second packet at no charge.

I do wish the website had a section that would allow customers to leave their own reviews, but that is a minor detail.

Finally, I want to give props to their seeds for the perennial Scabiosa Fama Deep Blue. They germinated quickly and with a near perfect germination rate. Furthermore, from seed, these perennials produced a few *gorgeous* blooms the first year. I cannot wait to see what they do next year.

I don't know whether it is representative, but I ordered Heliotrope seeds from three companies. A couple of years back I tried to germinate some Harris Seed from 2004, along with seeds from two other companies that sent me fresher seeds. I got by far the best yields from Harris.

I decided to grow some more heliotrope, and noticed that I had that same old 2004 package of Harris Seeds. I also had some that was much fresher, but thought, what the heck, and applied moisture and heat. THREE days later, five of the 10 seeds have germinated. Heliotrope normally takes 7 to 14 days to germinate. The seeds are seven years old. I redid the others and got no results.

I intend to buy a lot more seed from them in the future.

Posted on May 4, 2011, updated May 10, 2011
Have grown plants on the side to supplement my income for 15 years. Grow flowers for our landscaping, and have been gardening for 35 years.

This is the second time I've ordered from this company. They have the most variety. My first order was about 3 years ago. Ordered a mix of one variety. It was Vinca. When the seed grew, the mix was mostly one color. Emailed the company explaining the poor mix. A rep responded, but provided no help. Ordered from other companies with success the following years.

This year, due to colors and types I was seeking for my business, tried them again. This order was an easy and wave petunia sampler mix. Also ordered Delta pansies, which were great. The easy wave white petunia had low germination. In addition to the the few white, easy wave petunias that grew, other plants also grew resembling strawberries.

Emailed the company explaining my problem. A horticulturist emailed back, blaming me for using garden soil. I responded back that i used organic seedling mix. Set the seeds in the center of the cell so I could be exactly sure the seed planted was the type and color planted. He said he was concerned, but reached the conclusion that since no one else had a similar problem, it was my fault. How can taking seeds out a packet, planting them, and yielding strawberries be my fault. Somehow strawberry seeds were pelleted with the easy wave white and made it into the packet I purchased. If the truth is known, other people had the same result. This company does not have customer service, even when they send defective product that is their fault. It appears they don't care if their product meets expectations. All they had to do is send a new packet of easy wave white seeds.

Posted on July 26, 2005, updated April 4, 2011
I ordered several transplant samplers from Harris this year, and I'm delighted with how well they've done. I've never ordered anything like this before by mail (usually get my tomatoes, peppers and herbs from a local nursery), so I was a little skeptical, but when the plants arrived the plants were in excellent condition, and have thrived this summer. When I was placing my order, their customer service department was also very helpful in helping me to select appropriate squash seeds for our short growing season. I would recommend Harris to anyone who loves to grow flowers and veggies and appreciates good quality products at a fair price

Posted on June 10, 2009, updated March 21, 2011
I have been a customer for several years. I usually purchase live plants (both plugs and liners). I purchased 8 trays again this year and the plants arrived in great shape, every cell was full, and every plant survived the transplant. Plus the catalog, website, and customer service are all top in the industry.

One of the very few companies to have the flower seed I wanted, and it was reasonably priced and quickly delivered.

Have ordered from Harris Seeds for a number of years, since I found they have pelleted carrot seeds. In addition to the carrot seeds, this year I ordered pelleted petunia and lobelia seeds. It is too early to plant the carrots but the flower seeds are up and doing well.

I recently had occasion to check on the status of an order with Harris Seeds. I emailed the company and received a phone call explaining my order should have arrived. (It did arrive right after I emailed). I really appreciated the call to check with me. Very good service. I will certainly order from Harris again, I have never had anything but positive experiences with them.

ordered 300 hundred peat pots to get a jump start for this springs farmer's market. They sold them at a good price and the packaging was done up right so none of them were busted when they got here.

Very fast with no backorders. They don't carry many of the varieties that I want, but what they do are delivered quickly. I am patience but I do appreciate when I don't get partial shipments with the rest backordered.

Posted on May 11, 2010, updated May 14, 2010
Posted on May 10, 2010, updated May 11, 2010
A dwarf peach, 'Bonfire' was delivered on May 6th as ordered. It was shipped dormant, bare root and well packed. I was home when it arrived and immediately got it potted up. Unfortunately, on close inspection it is evident that the tree is dead. It has no live cambium above the graft, the branches are shriveled and desiccated and there has been absolutely no bud development. I immediately called customer service and asked for a refund or replacement and offered to ship the stock back at my expense for verification. The customer service representative said a 'manager' would call me back. I also emailed them on their web site explaining the problem and asking for a refund or replacement. I have not received any response to either the phone call or the email. I just checked the tree moments ago and it is absolutely dead. There are no signs of life at all, above or below the graft. It appears that this componay does not respond to customer complaints nor does it deliver quality nursery stock.

Having posted yesterday, I received an email from Harris Seeds explaining: "Live plant material such as fruit trees do not ship from our facility, but are shipped directly to our customers from our supplier's facility. Our supplier only ships at certain times because of the preparation required for live material. We offer multiple ship week options to our customers, but they are at set dates. For example, the products you ordered can only ship the week of April 26th and the week of May 3rd, and unfortunately the dates cannot be changed. We would love to accommodate customers who require other shipping times and therefore are working with the grower to offer more flexible shipping in the future."

If I had received that information at the time of my request (and an apology would have been nice) I would have been satisfied, and I am satisfied now.

I ordered 2 apple trees, 5 raspberry bushes and some rhubarb in March 2010. In early April, I emailed asking when I should expect them as I was leaving town for an extended trip and needed them by April 22. Three or four days later I got an email that said they were scheduled to be shipped the week of April 26 and if there were any problem with that, I should call them. So, I called them, (it was now April 15th) and was told that they could not ship anything early. They did offer to ship a week later, but I would not be home to receive them until the end of May. No offer was made to ship part of the order or to make any other accommodation. So I canceled the order. I do not understand why they could not ship any of the things I ordered 5 days earlier. It just doesn't make sense to me. I was very disappointed.

I ordered 20 blueberry bushes from Harris seed. They were very healthly with a great root systems. I also ordered 100 purple asparagus plants. These plants were also healthy, however, almost 1/2 the plants came up green instead of purple. I contacted Mark Green @ Harris Seeds and he immediately corrected the problem by sending me an additional 100 purple plants. I highly recommend Harris Seeds. Their products and customer service are equally outstanding.