Kitchen Garden Forum

I am considering ordering one or two packs of seeds from moles as it seems logical to buy a large quantity of items such as carrots etc where large sowings are needed throughout the year but am not sure I can use the whole amount do they keep? I am also guessing that carrots etc are better if bought pelleted, your views are welcome.

Compo. (who swam 1.5 miles this week Peter)

Hi Compo,
I think you will find that pelleted seed is far easier to use and instead of mass sowing you can be very precise with your spacings. At present the pelleted seeds are only two varieties Autumn King 2 and Early Nantes 2 but I feel in the years to come the range of varieties will increase.
I would only buy sufficient Carrot seeds for one year and always use fresh seed. Carrot seed does store but there is a noted degeneration in germination rate percentage wise in the second year.
The results that I have had from pelleted Carrot seed
has far exceeded my expectations and I think the germination rate was 96% last year. I sowed well over a 1000 seeds and every on that came up was eaten either through the season through selective thinning or has gone into stock.
As you may remember I have been experimenting with Pelleted Carrot seed for the last 3 seasons. I repeated experiment one and because experiment two was so successful I sold all the ones from Experiment one. I used the farm gate policy and put a notice outside at 7.30 in the morning and was sold out before noon!
I am also using pelleted Onion seed Rijnsberger 5 this year and have so far got a 100% germination. I shall be sowing Pelleted Leek seed Tornado a little later on.
If you have Arthritis in your hands, as I do, you will find them very advantageous to use.
I am very glad to know that your recovery is progressing well.
JB.

I have just received my Moles seeds, virtually by return of post.All are in foil packs which have a long shelf life until opened.If you are worried about the cost of buying bigger bulk of seeds in case you waste some, forget it as the cost of the large packet is less than you would spend on several normal packs and for most seeds you can use them up over 3 or more years. If you can share with someone else that is even better.
As to pelleted seeds on carrots they are fine in the right conditions but the seeds are encapsuled in clay which has to have continuous wet conditions to allow germination, easy for spring sowing but almost impossible in a dry summer as I know to my cost.
Remember too that you can start carrots in module trays, or small pots (multiple sowing to be split on planting) and stretch a few seeds a long way. Also that module seeds are only available for a limited number of varieties.
Some figures for Autumn King
Moles 25 gms £2.25 20,000 seeds minimum
Moles pelleted 2500 £1.95
D T Brwn 1750 seeds 79 p
Kings via allotment scheme
700 seeds 45 p. or grower pack 4200 seeds £1.25

It's an individual decision, only you can decide.