Seed order in...

[luvsdirt]

Has anyone had experience with ordering from Gurney? We have used them off and on for many years, but last year we were quite disappointed in quality....then later read some bad reviews...that they are not owned by the same folks from years back. Anyway, this year I just purchased all my seed from the local farm store Atwoods. I saved some $$ by doing it locally.

 

[chris09]

Has anyone had experience with ordering from Gurney? We have used them off and on for many years, but last year we were quite disappointed in quality....then later read some bad reviews...that they are not owned by the same folks from years back. Anyway, this year I just purchased all my seed from the local farm store Atwoods. I saved some $$ by doing it locally.

It has been some time since we have bought from them and they seem to be getting high in there prices but when we did buy from them they did have some decent seeds.

Chris

 

[lighthawk]

Has anyone had experience with ordering from Gurney? We have used them off and on for many years, but last year we were quite disappointed in quality....then later read some bad reviews...that they are not owned by the same folks from years back. Anyway, this year I just purchased all my seed from the local farm store Atwoods. I saved some $$ by doing it locally.

It has been some time since we have bought from them and they seem to be getting high in there prices but when we did buy from them they did have some decent seeds.

Chris

I will never do business with them again. Last year I ordered 25 asparagus crowns and ten sweet potato roots. When the potatos showed up there were no crowns. Just a note that they were out of stock. They had my order months ahead of time and never took the time to tell me that the crowns weren't coming. When I finally was informed it was too late to order from another supplier.

 

[chris09]

Well just a update,
We got our order from Stokes and Reimer in on Friday (25th) and only had one back order and that was the Eight Ball (Squash/summer) from Stokes Seeds but that is not bad.

I went out yesterday and got a bag (3.8 cu. ft.) of Promix BX and plain on getting some of the seeds in the ground today.
I also hope to get the second layer of plastic on the south side of the greenhouse Monday if not Tuesday.

Chris

 

[digitS']

Has anyone had experience with ordering from Gurney? . . .

I haven't ordered from Gurney's for many years and quit because of disappointments.

That said, unless there is something unique about seed packaging or storage - it shouldn't matter from what company you purchase most garden seed. The catalog company isn't growing the seed in nearly every case.

Wholesale seed companies are the source for just about every seed that is sold to the gardener. The wholesaler may own the patent and it would be illegal for another outfit to grow and sell the seed. The parent lines of hybrids are also maintained and protected just as they are in hybrid strains of laying hens, for example.

Now, if the catalog outfit is careless about storage and packaging, seed could be different but I suspect this is not usually the case. And you know? I seriously suspect that the catalogers often don't even handle their own packaging, storage, shipping, etc.

I don't know what to think of all this . . . and we are surrounded by other examples of even more complex industries. I don't feel that the wholesalers are necessarily evil. Consolidation at any level is of concern and, certainly, the illusion of competition when none, in fact, exists is galling.

Some hybrids, I would very much prefer to grow. I am willing to trust come retailers and wholesalers, hopefully, without any underlying pious notions on their virtues and absence of avarice. But like many gardeners, I try to find non-hybrids that perform well. Seed can be saved.

I'll get off my shaky soapbox . . .

Steve

 

[Rozzie]

I have ordered from Gurney's many times over the years. I remember the great delight I had as a little child taping a penny to the order form, so I could get the free pack of seeds with the family seed order. I don't know if they still do the penny seed pack anymore for children. However, they do have a $25 off $50 coupon that I make use of most years.

 

[bootstrap]

I buy a lot of Harts Seed. They have great deals buying direct in bulk. A garden center near me carries a large selection of them.