Kitchen Garden Forum

I'm trying to grow Avalanche caulis this year and after a disastrous first sowing I'm on my second batch. The seeds were sold as average contents 30 and weren't exactly cheap at £2.99. I used 12 at first and now find I've only 10 left and two of those are broken halves making a grand total of 22!! I know the packet only states average contents but at best now if they all germinate I've got maybe eight plants. Has anyone else encountered this and have I any redress?
Thanks, June

As you said the average is 30, if you had got 38 seeds we wouldn't have heard a word
You are just unlucky this time

Hello June

I'm sorry to read that you were sold short, you could go back and explain that you wanted the average packet not the below average one.

All the best

Barney

I had a similar problem with some sweet pepper seeds I bought from the Organic Catalogue:
http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/p ... ts_id=2123

They cost around £3 and when I opened them, I only found 4 seeds inside! Of course, the website had stated the contents but I'd missed this.

I moaned to the OC and they graciously sent me some more in sympathy! However no matter how exotic this strain might have been (it wasn't!) they certainly wern't worth 75p per seed!!


Colin

Hi Colin,
I complained to Trading Standards about Marshall's a few years ago. It said at the head of the page 100 seeds average contents for PS Broccoli Bordeaux F1
and I bought 10 packets expecting 1000 seeds. The first packet had 14 seeds and the second 22 and I phoned Marshall's to have abuse hurled at me because in other places in the catalogue F1 hybrids average contents 30.
I took the catalogue and the unopened packets to Trading Standards with the two opened packets and the average contents on ten packets was only 24.
They Phoned Marshall's nearest Trading Standards Office and sent Photostats of the catalogue and details of the contents. I got my 1000 seeds almost by return. In their next year catalogue they had not changed any details. I no longer deal with them.
Their method of saying enough seeds for a certain length row is a decided cop-out. If you buy on those terms they can send you exactly exactly what they want and you really have no redress.
As regards to Legendaryone's comments, which I find difficult to understand, the whole idea of seed counts is to to be discounted if that is the case.
I do not see the point of Organic Seed as to me you are simply being fleeced in the name of "Organics."
JB.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and replies
I've found it impossible to get through to T & M by phone so I've e-mailed them. I'll let you know what they say.
I think I was most annoyed because it was caulis. Some small quantity packets (like chilis, sweetcorn, cucumber etc.) still give you all the crops you could eat even if you're short changed, but these were mini caulis and I reckoned we could probably have eaten them all sowing in a few successional batches, Plus they were expensive!!
JB- I do order some stuff from Marshall's and hadn't realised that they don't state numerical quantities , so thanks for that. Caveat emptor in future!!

And you know which seed companies to avoid

I had reason to call T&M a year ago and they were fantastically helpful. I also had a £5 gift voucher against seeds which was just about to run out and mentioned to the lady to whom I was talking. She asked me which seeds I would like and posted them there and then with my promise that I'd tear up the voucher. I do hope they help you.

I too find small numbers of seeds infuriating - i often forget to look how many seeds i am buying and have really been disappointed - seed companies are having a laugh when they say succession sow on a packet of 30 or less seeds.
I wised up a bit this year and i really did look at the seed count before buying. It is amazing how vastly different companies are: i have found some very light handed on their seed count e.g. T&M, OC, unwins, nicky's seeds, whereas Seeds of Italy are consistently generous. i.e 10 asparagus seeds from T&M cost £4.99 (and only 6 of those germinated) compared with 350 seeds for £1.49 at Seeds of Italy.
Rocket £1.49 for 5000 - yes thousand seeds at SoI with only 500 from T&M for £1.89.
It is worth keeping an eye on the seed count particularly for things that are difficult to germinate like Aubergines, veg that suffer loses like oriental greens when the slugs find them or its too dry or that you want to sow as cut & come again or successionaly through the year.
I would recommend SoI for lettuces and chicories not only do they have a superb selection you get stacks for your money.

We do seem to keep advertising Seeds of Italy - but with good reason. Actually they are only typical of many "continental" seed companies, who have traditionally sold seeds in large amounts (or at least this has been my experience buying in Italy, France and Belgium over 30 years). Why are UK companies so mean? And why do we put up with their antics?

Just a thought CJ, did you ever check the numbers in SofI packets were accurate

Alan

My main seed buying is from Seeds of Italy and I have yet to run out of anything. I manage to grow as much as I need, give a load away and STILL have sufficient to keep for the next year if I need to. Fantastic value (as I have also said many times before)

Never felt the need Alan - and i am not sure i am up to the job of counting 5000 seeds.
I am just happy to have so many

I most often buy the seeds when i am in Italy - the seed company is actually called Franchi (which is what SoI supply). They are generally by weight so i guess if you know how many seeds on average per gr then it'd be easy - 5g of Asparagus in my packet. 100g of perpetual spinach - that's a lot of seeds.

Where can you buy Seeds of Italy? is there any place in the West Midlands that sells them. I've never seen them in any of the garden centres.
Bren

www.seedsofitaly.com

Short answer - have a look

Alan

Seeds of Italy have just appeared in our local garden centre for the first time. I've bought various packets and although it's too early to be sowing many of them I'm amazed how generous they are in terms of seeds per packet. I shall definitely be buying more of them in the future, provided of course that I get good results.