Not only do T & M hike the prices of seeds each year but they also reduce the number of seeds in each packet.Example Rosada tomatoe seeds they increased the price by 20% then reduced the number of seeds from 10 to 8, their price £4.50 bought 10 seeds from "Just Seed" for £1.50.
I find it amusing, the excessive number of seeds in some packets, for instance, even with a huge allotment are you really going to sow 2000 carrots when advise tells you to put two seeds in each hole
The increased costs from the leading seed companies as has been mentioned is due to ongoing plant breeding programmes to develop new varieties using genetic engineering methods. Selection of desireable traits in the progeny can take many years and when found they must then be trialled in the field and grown in large enough numbers to provide seed for the commercial market. You can see clearly why you have to pay more for it makes for a more interesting in-depth study of a plant species. For me this is a fascinating area to pursue.
I find the branded seeds very expensive for such few seeds especially when you collect seed there is so many to a pod.Cheap seeds or unbranded seeds are sometimes the best and good value.
Amazing T and M, Suttons, Kings etc can all arrive at more or less the same price for 10 seeds. Because they all have the same overheads and R and D costs don't they??? Really!
Why then are beautiful Italian beef tomato seeds sold for £1.99 for 350 to 400 seeds in the same garden center.
No-one seems to have mentioned how easy it is to harvest seed from one year to another. It will remain a Shirley variety, though not F1. I've been gathering my own Marmande seeds annually for the last 10 years and the plants seem to be adapting to the locality and seem to be fruiting better now than ten years ago. Having said that, a packet of Marmande seed in Lidel cost about 45p. I often keep seed from an interesting supermarket tomato and grow it on in the following spring.
Posts
Poundland 8 packs a pound http://www.poundland.co.uk/home-and-garden/gardening/grow-your-own-fruit-vegetables/vegetable-seeds-8-in-1-packz
I use Dollar Store 3 and 5 packs for $1. not interesting varieties but work. (in USA)
Not only do T & M hike the prices of seeds each year but they also reduce the number of seeds in each packet.Example Rosada tomatoe seeds they increased the price by 20% then reduced the number of seeds from 10 to 8, their price £4.50 bought 10 seeds from "Just Seed" for £1.50.
Mike W
This is a very useful thread; the big seed companies seem to be out of touch with what is happening these days.
I find it amusing, the excessive number of seeds in some packets, for instance, even with a huge allotment are you really going to sow 2000 carrots when advise tells you to put two seeds in each hole
The increased costs from the leading seed companies as has been mentioned is due to ongoing plant breeding programmes to develop new varieties using genetic engineering methods. Selection of desireable traits in the progeny can take many years and when found they must then be trialled in the field and grown in large enough numbers to provide seed for the commercial market. You can see clearly why you have to pay more for it makes for a more interesting in-depth study of a plant species. For me this is a fascinating area to pursue.
I find the branded seeds very expensive for such few seeds especially when you collect seed there is so many to a pod.Cheap seeds or unbranded seeds are sometimes the best and good value.
Amazing T and M, Suttons, Kings etc can all arrive at more or less the same price for 10 seeds. Because they all have the same overheads and R and D costs don't they??? Really!
Why then are beautiful Italian beef tomato seeds sold for £1.99 for 350 to 400 seeds in the same garden center.
A.B
No-one seems to have mentioned how easy it is to harvest seed from one year to another. It will remain a Shirley variety, though not F1. I've been gathering my own Marmande seeds annually for the last 10 years and the plants seem to be adapting to the locality and seem to be fruiting better now than ten years ago. Having said that, a packet of Marmande seed in Lidel cost about 45p. I often keep seed from an interesting supermarket tomato and grow it on in the following spring.