Unlucky?

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Primrose
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I'm beginning to wonder if I'm just unlucky or losing my touch!

I know one should be grateful for the free packets of seeds we get with the magazine but just recently I seem to be getting a lot of seed failures from them. . I,ve had only one successful germination from the packet of squash we received and several other packets, including basil and others which I can,t immediately remember in detail now, have given the same dismal results.

Are these packets a way of suppliers getting rid of older or inferior seed, or could it possibly be my compost which is at fault? Other things I,ve sown have generally germinated ok.
Westi
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I'm glad you brought this up Primrose!

I have now sown Basil 3 times from the free seeds & not a show. I'm not sure it is the suppliers getting rid of old stock, but the mag has plastic around it & travels in warm conditions so I wonder if that affects the seeds? But actually this is the first year I have had really, really bad (read 0%) germination so you could be right Primrose! It is not the compost or the soil as a viable seed will still show even if not flourish, not slimy things in my case as not evidence to support that, had a mice problem but they wouldn't find a tiny basil seed.

It will be interesting to see if anyone else has had the same problem!
Westi
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Geoff
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I've never had any trouble with free seeds. Is the basil you are talking about the 'Classic Italian'? I sowed a pot of this on 16th June and it won't be long before it is usable size.
tigerburnie
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I notice some hit and misses with seed and not just those with the magazine, some suppliers seed is less reliable, of that I'm sure, there are some I no longer buy, especially ones in food shops/supermarkets.
Been gardening for over 65 years and still learning.
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