for those people hopeful some of these newcomers will stick to gardening is doubtful. Growing stuff takes patience and takes trial and error to become good. Most importantly it takes a love for the hobby. The people starting to learn how to grow something during the pandemic will not be doing it for the love of the hobby, they will either do it to save money or have an alternative supply to supermarkets. We know what it takes to succeed and just popping to the shop to get a packet of seeds is not enough to actually get a decent harvest this year. I know what it takes to grow tomatoes and I don't do it anymore because it takes so much effort. Most of these people will become impatient - get annoyed at the cost of water, fertilizers, pots, soil, tools and accessories required and realize it really is not worth it unless it's done on a big scale.
might encourage some kids since they are more likely to start out of interest than a need for food.
I refuse to fall for the doom and gloom assessments of who bought seed and the exceptionalism that somehow seasoned veg growers should be at the front of the queue. Let's try to see the positive side even if you're short of the fourth variety of pepper you were trying to grow this year.
I'd like to think newcomers to growing from seed will acquire some new skills and also a newly found respect for farmers and anyone involved in food production. It's not quite as simple as it seems in theory and they deserve our respect in feeding us all year round.
For all of us that frequent online garden forums, I'm sure we have plenty of seeds to go round...fingers crossed the weather will be on our side.
Premier Seeds are trading - I had an email from them a few days ago. I don't know exactly what they have as I only bought something random from them last year
One side moved in 5 years ago and the lady would not garden because of the worms and dirt! This year she eagerly accepted my offer of spare tomato and cucumber plants and wants my spare chilli seeds as she has discovered the joy of nurturing your own food. She is very excited that her rose cuttings are growing.
The other side only moved in last year but also accepted the offer of spare plants and have become very interested in their garden and excited about the opportunity to work in it and enjoy it.
Not all seed purchasers will continue but if some do then its a win in my book.
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it." Sir Terry Pratchett
I'm not in the UK but I order from UK companies (Moles seeds) they have a £25 minimum order at the moment, they have been shutting the website when they get overwhelmed as well. This seems to be quite common with the larger companies at the moment, I personally bought all my seeds in November so I am fine, but I have friends and family in the UK and I have posted them seeds from Denmark from my stores as they cannot get them (with garden centers being shut and them all being over 70) I can buy more at the local garden centers if I need to.
I really think we should share what we have if people are having issues, a packet of lettuce seeds has 1200 seeds in it! no one needs that many in a year, share them out to others who didn't manage to get them this year.
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The people starting to learn how to grow something during the pandemic will not be doing it for the love of the hobby, they will either do it to save money or have an alternative supply to supermarkets.
We know what it takes to succeed and just popping to the shop to get a packet of seeds is not enough to actually get a decent harvest this year. I know what it takes to grow tomatoes and I don't do it anymore because it takes so much effort. Most of these people will become impatient - get annoyed at the cost of water, fertilizers, pots, soil, tools and accessories required and realize it really is not worth it unless it's done on a big scale.
might encourage some kids since they are more likely to start out of interest than a need for food.
I'd like to think newcomers to growing from seed will acquire some new skills and also a newly found respect for farmers and anyone involved in food production. It's not quite as simple as it seems in theory and they deserve our respect in feeding us all year round.
For all of us that frequent online garden forums, I'm sure we have plenty of seeds to go round...fingers crossed the weather will be on our side.
I don't know exactly what they have as I only bought something random from them last year
https://www.premierseedsdirect.com/
Here's another company still trading. I bought something from them last year too
https://www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk/
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
One side moved in 5 years ago and the lady would not garden because of the worms and dirt! This year she eagerly accepted my offer of spare tomato and cucumber plants and wants my spare chilli seeds as she has discovered the joy of nurturing your own food. She is very excited that her rose cuttings are growing.
The other side only moved in last year but also accepted the offer of spare plants and have become very interested in their garden and excited about the opportunity to work in it and enjoy it.
Not all seed purchasers will continue but if some do then its a win in my book.