[SCassin]

Well we went there were 4 racks of seeds it was heaven.  Spent £21.50 but had some vouchers to come off that.  Also - even with the 50p packs if you bought 3 packs of Unwin seeds you got a pack free so got extra there to.  Will work out later what I saved.  Spent ages tho looking thro different varieties of what we like and check dates on packets etc and even managed to get some kids seeds so new plot next year should be of more interest to the kids now 

[Willow_Warren]

Well I went this evening and bought just 4 packets (largely as I do not know if I will have growing space next year so no point in stocking up). The seeds were still on the racking and a good selection left. I got:
Chilli pepper f1 gusto purple (cos it looked pretty)
Cauliflower igloo ( a baby vegetable)
Sweet pepper f1 redskin (again a small one for window box growing)
Italian mix salad leaf.
Not grown cauliflower before so looking forward to that, hopefully it can be grown in a container / trough etc should I not have a large veg patch.

Hannah 

[diospyros]

Even my parents in law went, which surprised me as MiL usually doesn't like to follow any of my tips if she hasn't thought of them first, and said FiL had already ordered all his seeds.  They spent nearly as much as I did!

[cadalot]

Had to drive past the Garden Centre again - The Seed Borg got me - Resistance was futile, I had no choice, I had to go and rummage - I came out with another 11 packs of seeds but not the ones I was looking for does that mean I will have to visit the local branch to see if they have them....... NOOOOOooooooooooo....

Got some Autumn /winter peas
More Little Gem for winter crowing
2 more packs of 5 Patio Salad Collection
More variations of over wintering Spring Onions

My name is Alan and I am a Seedaholic 

[Kristen]

does that mean I will have to visit the local branch to see if they have them

Depends

Did you remember to buy extra packets of seeds that will still be viable in a year or two's time - of varieties that you like but which you can't be sure will be "In stock" in next year's sale?

Particularly the packets that are 4-quid  :blink: a go 

And if you haven't made a spreadsheet, yet, to catalogue them all and to have as  calendar of sowing dates ... then you definitely aren't a seed-aholic  :happy:

Perhaps best I don't let on to some of the weird and wonderful websites I buy unusual ornamentals (can I use that word on this site?!) from?

OK, just one   I've never been able to afford to win an auction from seed from this guy, but his auctions are always mouthwatering

http://www.ebay.com/sch/strange_wonderful_things/m.html

[cadalot]

I admit it I did look at the sow by dates and discarded those with shorter dates in favour of some with later dates, and I have just put elastic bands around them after sorting them in use by date order.

I also crated a sowing, planting out and harvesting calendar last year, based on my box of seed using the information from the backs of the packs as there was little else to do in the dark and depressing winter days when I could not get to the allotment.

[SCassin]

Just worked out the costings total price pre-sale £86.58 my price £15.50!  I did check dates etc on packets and bought what I like, some new ones and some because they looked nice.   

[Mbmyco2]

Thought this was a joke till i got 36 pavkets for £18 pouds worked out it was worth £90 happy planter!!!!

[Kristen]

Thought this was a joke till i got 36 pavkets for £18 pouds

 

Wyevale, or Garden Centre Group as they now call themselves, have been doing this for several years - around about this time of the year.  Long may it continue 

[Lulu]

I'm going tomorrow - just a bit excited which is very silly for a grown up, its like going to a really nice sweetie shop when you are a kid 

[Sparkyrog]

Thought this was a joke till i got 36 pavkets for £18 pouds

 

Wyevale, or Garden Centre Group as they now call themselves, have been doing this for several years - around about this time of the year.  Long may it continue 

Annoying though as I doubt they are making a loss on it 

[Kristen]

I wonder what happens to old-stock seeds at other garden centres?  The new stock will be arriving now/soon, either the old stuff goes back "sale or return" (and is then presumably binned, or given away), or the garden centre bins it and rights the money off.  Makes sense to me to flog it, even at a loss, at that time of the season.

I did work for a seed company some years ago, they said they were selling "dust" and the raw material cost very little, thus the marketing, packaging and distribution was 99% of the sticker-price.

Of course the garden centre will be buying it at a trade price, probably 50% - 75% discount (these aren't fashion accessories!!) so unless they have a kick-back from the seed companies they are unlikely to break even at 50p, but its less-loss than binning them

(My local sells Unwins, Suttons and T&M so I think unlikely that they have a kickback from all three - but its a big group, and no doubt they have some negotiating muscle )

But I may be well wide of the mark ... it has been known!

[The Red Baron]

Morning.....anyone know when the 50p a packet sale ends? I'm away on holiday and need to get a bit of that action!

[Sweetpea C]

Morning.....anyone know when the 50p a packet sale ends? I'm away on holiday and need to get a bit of that action!

It was still going yesterday at the Hinckley Wyvale, I got32 packets for £16, absolute bargain. Although OH was with me and 'needed' the half price extendable loppers (£20) and I didn't get past the bulbs empty handed (another £30) so whilst I saved a lot on seeds, I still spent lots.

My name's Caroline and I'm a bulbaholic.....

[Kristen]

Morning.....anyone know when the 50p a packet sale ends? I'm away on holiday and need to get a bit of that action!

In previous years there has been a "Bin" of 50p seeds near the till for ages.  The choice diminishes with time, so hurry back from holiday