"Allotinabox" - What do you think?

[alan refail]

Is this a great way to get people growing, or just an expensive gimmick?

http://www.allotinabox.com/grow-your-own/

[oldherbaceous]

Just seems to ba an expensive gimmick, to me.

[adam-alexander]

Yes, I have to agree with oldherbaceous, but I wish I'd thought of it !!

[Nature's Babe]

Well having looked carefully at what is on offer, and remembering if I buy seed they are anything from 1.45 TO 2.99 a packet. On offer for a whole years seasonal growing a beginner gets 20 pkts of seeds plus jute twine, soap, and growing and harvesting guidance with information sheets and posters plus surprise packs of seeds for just under £40. I can see it appealing and helpful to a beginner, not bad value really especially if the guidance and advice also on offer is helpful.

[oldherbaceous]

I must have read it wrong, i thought they were only getting five packets.

[peter]

I read it the same way OH.

[Nature's Babe]

Admittedly it takes a while to find it but here four seasonal packs and info.

http://www.allotinabox.com/grow-your-ow ... llotinabox

[oldherbaceous]

Thanks for clearing that up, Nature's Babe, i just wonder how many other people have read it wrong....

[alan refail]

All depends how many seeds are in the packets they pack themselves. And whether they are what the buyer wants to grow. And how long the piece of string is. As for the information, that's free on-line from a multitude of gardening sites.

Just been back and searched their site. They claim seedpackets contain "a generous spoonful" of seed - not a unit of measurement I'm used to. As expected, the varieties are the most common (and cheapest to source) - and they seem to be less than knowledgeable about them. The spring onions are said to be "delicious Musselburgh Leek variety" http://www.allotinabox.com/grow-your-ow ... nion-seeds

[Parsons Jack]

Very easy for us old grizzled gardeners to criticize these schemes, but there are lots of young people out there with absolutely no knowledge of growing things at all

Anything that can encourage young people and their families to start growing and possibly make them want to move on to bigger things should be applauded I think

Just my humble opinion of course

[Nature's Babe]

I agree PJ, even those instant plug plant crops have a place, it depends on circumstances and what suits each different individuals choice. As you say, anything that grabs a newbies interest is good, home produced is and better for the planet.

[pongeroon]

I've only had a very quick look at the website; my impression is that it has been set up by people who are very good at website design and marketing, and maybe not so knowledgeable about growing stuff.

Which is fair enough, really. If people buy the stuff and are happy with it, no problem. Not what I would buy, though, being tight-fisted

[adam-alexander]

Hi Folks, please see my post 'Getting People Started (Re: Allotinabox)' what are your suggestions to get newcomers hooked. !!

(Just a bit of fun, but your experience will no doubt inspire)

a-a

[Shallot Man]

Our 99p shop is doing 4 packets of vegetable seed for 99p.