Where do you get your seeds, starts, plants etc and why?

[okiemommy]

I thought I would start a thread that everyone can say where they purchase their plants, trees, seeds, starts, etc and why they buy them there. For many gardeners starting out, this can be an overwhelming endeavor, and to know a great place to get good plants, and why can take the edge off of the feeling of being overwhelmed. Is it because it is cheaper? Is it better quality? Is it because they sell organic? Non GMO? Top quality? Do you buy them online? At the local nursery? Do you recommend certain places for certain plants?

Share whatever you feel would be helpful. :watering

 

[Rosalind]

Seeds used to be from Seeds of Change because for the longest time they were really the only commercial source of heirloom seeds that shipped everywhere and had a good variety. I'm not having as much good luck with their seeds recently, and I know they get their fruit trees from Trees of Antiquity, so I'm thinking somewhere else next year. Possibly a combination of Seed Savers Exchange and Sand Hill Preservation.

Fruit trees come from Trees of Antiquity, as their plants are always, always huge and healthy compared to other places I've gotten fruit trees from.

Fruit bushes come from Nourse Farms, as they are local and also, big big healthy plants. If the plants die, I know it's my fault.

Ornamentals come from either Forest Farm, as they have awesome variety no one else does, or from the local garden center. Actually I mostly buy things like hanging baskets from the local garden center, as the Massachusetts garden centers seem to sell basically hanging baskets in your choice of red or pink geraniums, plus the occasional popular hybrid tea rose of the season. If you ask for something else, you get a blank look.

Roses come from Heirloom Roses, due to the variety and the vigor of the plants.

 

[patandchickens]

In general, with seeds I worry most about the 'type' of company I'm supporting; with perennials, I care most about selection and low price (I'd prefer to buy cheap little possibly-sad plants and raise them up bigger and happier, as I have more time than money <g>); but with woody plants I care most about getting well-grown healthy plants. (When I can find well-grown healthy plants for discount prices, that is of course ideal, but I'd rather pay more for a quality plant than cheap out for something that will just die or languish for years).

My veggies I start them all from seed, usually from Pine Tree, or from another decent company if it allows me to consolidate everything I want into a single order (I hate paying like $5.95 postage and handling to several different companies!) In principle I prefer companies that handle no plant-patent-protected or GM seed, and sell mainly o/p not hybrid varieties; but as I say I'm not going to order from three different places just to get what I want. Also some seeds I save from the previous year or mooch out of my mom's stock. Oh, and I've placed orders from Thompson and Morgan a couple times, for perennials/annuals I can't get elsewhere.

For a small, interesting Canadian selection of ornamental trees (including a number of natives and hard-to-find nonnatives) I recommend Golden Bough Tree Farm www.goldenboughtrees.ca . And for a great Canadian selection of apple trees, www.siloamorchards.com . I like both of these because of their excellent selection and quality, but also they are relatively local (Siloam is about 5 minutes away from me; Golden Bough is a little over 2 hrs but I can coordinate pickup with a trip to TSC and pre-ordered chicks from the local hatchery <g>). Also there is a good tree-and-shrub nursery about 15 minutes away in Greenbank that often has quite good prices. Oh, and this weird place down near Burlington ON (www.northlandnursery.com) that has an odd selection of shrubs and trees in 1-2 gal pots for a flat $4.99 each - sometimes you can get excellent deals there.

For herb seeds and plants, I like Richters Herbs (www.richters.com) which BTW *does* ship to the States -- although I am not entirely thrilled with the amount that they insist on highlighting 'herbs' with, ah, illegal recreational uses, despite their various disclaimers. Some plants are larger and in better condition than others, for the price; but they have excellent selection. Again, they're only about 5-10 minutes from me, which is a big plus.

For perennials in the greater Toronto area, I drive about an hour to Humber Nurseries (www.humbernurseries.com) because of their *excellent* selection and generally quite good prices as long as you're prepared to refrain from buying individual plants that were behind the door when water or propagation were being handed out . I also like the native plant sales at the Peterborough Ecology Park (seem to have lost the bookmark, but they have a website somewhere) and there are good daylily and peony specialists near Peterborough too. I try to roll my trips to Humber or Peterborough into times I'm driving that way anyhow, e.g. visiting the in-laws or taking the kids to the amazing free zoo/playground complex in Peterborough.

Bulbs I buy at garden centers or thru catalogs, what can you do, they all ultimately come from the same few suppliers anyhow <shrug>

Pat

 

[nccountrygirl]

We get our sseds and plants from a Garden center here, not the big chain store, a small family run place. They have done really well this yr.

 

[okiemommy]

Thank you for the replies! Those are some great resources! Anyone else please feel free to share their knowledge on where you buy your plants and why.

 

[ams3651]

Ive bought pumpkins and watermelon from www.rareseeds.com the last 2 years and are very happy with them. They harvest the seeds themselves, they have several new varieties every year and their shipping costs are wonderful. You just have to order early to assure you get what you want. I buy alot from a local family who sells plants and they do real well. This year I also bought from Burpee, the italian ice tomatoes, which are doing good but still green....like all the others.

 

[DDRanch]

I buy my seeds online from Territorial Seed Company and have had excellent experience with the seeds and the company. First rate quality seeds and very competitive in price. I have been using them for several years now, and am very happy.

Anne

 

[nakactress]

When is a good time to buy seeds?

 

[punkin]

When is a good time to buy seeds?

Most seed companies send out new catalogs in the fall. During the cold days of December & January is when I start planning my purchases. I have a small greenhouse that I start seedlings in. I try to get most of my customer's orders in by December.

Google "Seed Catalogs" and request copies of the free ones (most are)" Alot of catalogs are valuable resources for gardeners.

 

[vfem]

Oh I'm just starting out... and I mean JUST. I hit one common nursery near town... its PRICEY but I only buy sale items end of season. I've only spent like $80 on soil and plants this year though. I've done plenty of trading for seeds, and sprouts off craigslist. My mother has also given me left over soil, weed tarp and mulch from her purchases.

My big splurge is a Crepe Myrtle we're having planted on the property this week. $70 for a 10 foot tree and they come plant and mulch it.

Anyone want to trade more seeds? LOL