Hello!

*delurking* I was just going to post something about this because I was wondering, in all honesty, is cheaper seeds just as good as the more expensive ones you buy from like Johnny Select seeds or not?

I put this here hoping some one can answer this and I can go take advantage of the sales!

Thanks!

Cheap seeds are fine if you only have a small garden and don't want or need special hybrids. I don't do cheap seed tomatoes, because I need the VFNT's or better here, but the yellow squash, cucumbers, beans, zuchs, and other regular common veggies do fine for me. Flowers do well too. I started my flower garden many years ago when the seeds for 10/$1 and I've saved seeds ever since. They always do well.

In general, you get what you pay for. These are usually older seeds, and germination will usually be lower. Selection is not great.
Better, and less expensive in the long run is to buy good seed and learn how to collect it yourself. It is very, very easy and requires nothing fancy in the way of supplies.

Things like random greens, herbs and annuals seem to do just fine from cheap seed - watch your dates though. Only buy current year seed. Sometimes you'll find a dollar store or some other outlet with super cheap seeds that are years old.

I live close to Burpee - they buy back all their unsold seed and some of that is resold to outside vendors - like flea market guys, etc... Big name seeds that are foil packed tend to be good for several seasons. When I find these guys I stock up for 10 for $1. But plain, paper packet packed seeds do not hold up all that long.

Last seeds I purchased for $.20 a pack was a total waste as none sprouted. They were a papper seed.

I've never had a problem with the cheap seeds sprouting. I've always got almost 100% germination, but you can only get the very common seeds that cheap, and you don't get very many of them in a package. I used to buy the 5 for $1 and had to buy several packages of the vegetable seeds to get enough for my garden. Now I order almost all my seeds from Fedco which doesn't charge S&H for orders over $30. Since I have a very large garden, I can always meet that amount.

Posted by barbe_wa SW WA Zone 8 (My Page) on
Sun, Feb 5, 12 at 3:10

I've never had a problem with the cheap seeds sprouting. I've always got almost 100% germination, but you can only get the very common seeds that cheap, and you don't get very many of them in a package. I used to buy the 5 for $1 and had to buy several packages of the vegetable seeds to get enough for my garden.
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I agree. I've been able to have good germination from cheap seeds, even when they are a few years old.

Since I only have a small garden and like to grow just one or two plants of several different types of veggies, the cheapo seeds are great.