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Seed company germination rates

Jason millyJason milly Posts: 546
in Plants
Over past years and this year my notes on germination of seeds from different company's rating out of 10
Wilkinson 9/10
Unwins 1/10
Johnsons 9/10
Suttons 8/10
Premier seeds 9/10
Lidl 1/10
These are just my findings 
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  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I would add Thompson and Morgan to that list.  2/10. If that.  My parents were great seed growers, they wouldn’t buy T&M ever. 
    Premier seeds and Wilco for me too.
    although I have bought from a few other places on eBay that are extremely good.
     Seedaholic, for one. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • gjautosgjautos Posts: 429
    Mr fothergills are generally pretty good. I'm rubbish with seeds and i have a good success rate with them.
  • Jason millyJason milly Posts: 546
    Yes forgot to add 
    Thompson and Morgan 1/10
    Mr fothergills 8/10 
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    edited March 2020
    Do Unwins, Sutton’s etc have their own exclusive seed suppliers, I wonder, or do they use the same supplier such as Limagrain and just wrap the seeds up with their own packaging? I suspect on the basis of zero evidence it is the latter thereby rendering the ratings meaningless. 

    To have valid scores you have to carry out scientifically objective testing. Growing one packet of seeds and getting poor results is not necessarily attributable to the seed supplier. You might have got light or moisture levels or the temperature or the compost wrong. It would then be harsh to label the entire company as poor because of two or three instances of bad luck or bad gardening.
    Rutland, England
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’m afraid I’ve stopped buying seed from Sarah Raven as I had very poor results.  The plug plants are fine tho’. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Singing GardenerSinging Gardener Posts: 1,237
    I've always used Marshalls Seeds for vegetables and found germination rates very good. They're now part of Unwins though so will that change?!

    Also DTBrown 3/10
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I agree with @BenCotto. Too many variables - the first one being - what kind of seed? Some seed is more difficult than others. 
    I could easily have more problems here getting stuff germinating when following 'seed packet instructions'.
    For me, sowing many seeds in February [as lots of those packets tell you to do] just doesn't work as it's too early, and too therefore too cold. That would skew my viewpoint.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Of course your right, but some people sow lots of different seeds and sow them at the correct time for their situation.  I usually sow a wide range of different plants, about a 100 different flowers and veg. I can still find, from that, which are good and which not so. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Premier Seeds have closed down for the duration, 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited March 2020
    A lot of them have @Lyn
    We'll all just have to be patient. Isn't that what we're meant to be - as gardeners?  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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