[newgrowers]

hi all

[newgrowers]

sorry don't know what happened there lol,,there was meant to be a question in this post as well

i was meant to be asking if the cheaper range of seed (wilkos) where just as good as the bigger branded names or do you get what you pay for ,,,,this is our first year growing and are in the process of buying seeds

[Babstreefern]

To be truthful I don't really know.  I would think so, I've not really thought about it.  I order the bulk of my seeds through the allotment I'm on.  I've used seeds from my plants the year before which have grown with no problem, ie, sunflowers.  Some plants self-seed, which begin to be like weedsLOL.

So yes, buy them (try using them along with the larger suppliers).  I also use Robinsons Mammoth Onions which are based in Preston (http://www.mammothonion.co.uk/), and they are not a big supplier, but their veggies are huge. 

[mumofstig]

I do think that some of the larger companies' prices are getting to be a joke, with no noticeable advantage in germination quality.

Look at some of the smaller seed companies, a good example is Alan Roman, they do a smaller range so prices are reasonable. I am not saying you shouldn't use the 'bigboys' but think it pays to shop around trouble is those coloured brochures seduce you into buying too many varieties. Well they do me

[hindy]

I have used seeds from Wilkos and ones from more expensive sources.
They both stock the same varaties but one is more expensive.
Take for example Ailsa Craig onions, 49p at Wilkos and £1.69 at Thompson & Morgan.
I have grown both but did not notice any difference in the germination, yield or quality.

If you are  on an allotment site, ask around to see if there is an association or simular that you can order seeds from.
I am a member of Cheltenham and district allotment holders association and we have a catalogue in the autumn to order from. All the seeds come from Kings seeds at about half the price that they are on their website.

[Goosegirl]

I recently bought some Armstrong runner bean seeds from a local garden centre then found they were in D T Brown's catalogue at a much chealer price and you don't pay p+p for seeds either. Will have a look at Alan Roman's  website - haven't heard of them before. I should think that if you buy seeds early on they should all be ok as I guess they have to conform to certain standards to be sold; but if you wait until later in the year, some may not be stored in the best conditions. I have seen them at B+Q on racks right in the direct sun so I wouldn't buy those.

[upert]

wilkos are excellent value. i've grown from different suppliers and wilkos win for they're much cheaper.