luvsdirt said:
Has anyone had experience with ordering from Gurney? . . .
I haven't ordered from Gurney's for many years and quit because of disappointments.
That said, unless there is something unique about seed packaging or storage - it shouldn't matter from what company you purchase most garden seed. The catalog company isn't growing the seed in nearly every case.
Wholesale seed companies are the source for just about every seed that is sold to the gardener. The wholesaler may own the patent and it would be illegal for another outfit to grow and sell the seed. The parent lines of hybrids are also maintained and protected just as they are in hybrid strains of laying hens, for example.
Now, if the catalog outfit is careless about storage and packaging, seed could be different but I suspect this is not usually the case. And you know? I seriously suspect that the catalogers often don't even handle their own packaging, storage, shipping, etc.
I don't know what to think of all this . . . and we are surrounded by other examples of even more complex industries. I don't feel that the wholesalers are necessarily evil. Consolidation at any level is of concern and, certainly, the illusion of competition when none, in fact, exists is galling.
Some hybrids, I would very much prefer to grow. I am willing to trust come retailers and wholesalers, hopefully, without any underlying pious notions on their virtues and absence of avarice. But like many gardeners, I try to find non-hybrids that perform well. Seed can be saved.
I'll get off my shaky soapbox . . .
Steve
