try seed exchange, trades and some seeds just for postage. Purple magesty is expensive, Ive seen it for 5.95 for 20 seeds.

Hi Barb,
I can send you some Purple Majesty Millet.I did not grow this out.I received a couple of packs in trade.Let me know if you would like some.
Theresa

Barb,

I have to agree about the exchange forums even though I haven't had much luck with some of the particulars I want this year. Post there for your wants and see if anything comes up. You'll save yourself a lot of $$ and other gardeners are more than willing to share when they have what you want.

Actually, I should check out my want list. Thanks for reminding me as I have a couple that need to be knocked off!

Barb, Pinetree Seeds has the 'Purple Majesty' Millet for $2.95. All of their seeds are reasonably priced. If you haven't checked them out before, they are a great seed source.

Bonnie

Here is a link that might be useful: Pinetree

what all are you looking for?? i bet if you posted here, and one of us had it, we'd help or trade!! :'))

Thanks for all the input. I will follow your advice. I thought you had to have seed to trade, and I have none. Glad to know that you can do that. Thank you again. - Barb

well, some of us like to share!! :'>> put your wish list here :'>> ohhh maybe start a ws wishlist!! LOL

Barb
many seeds specially rare ones are expensive and I spend every year some decent $$ trying to catch those elusive plants I want. I like buying at small companies where I had good germination success rate and which have excellent rare or new varieties of seeds. I think of it as my contribution and support to those companies who are committed to bringing us something new and interesting.
I have noticed as years go by that our own seed exchange is becoming better and better place to find many of such seeds. People who grow their plants are happy to share seeds and cuttings.
Keep checking exchange site as many people will post SASE.
As far as Purple Millet- they not rare enough to pay $3.95 for 10 seeds for me.

Barb(and anyone else that's wondering,)
If you don't have seeds to trade, and don't want to seem like a beggar as I did when I started out, you might have somethings to use in trade and just not realize it. When I first started, I offered things from my yard that were still there out in the cold weather, like rose hips, siberian iris seed, baptisia seed, etc. Often things you think no one wants, are wanted.
Also, I just did an offer on the seed exchange and asked for markers made from mini-blinds as a possible exchange item. I've been offered homemade paper seed pkts. for my seeds too. So maybe you have a small item like that to offer in exchange.
Of course doing these things may lead to a seed swapping addiction. : )
Remy

My question about seeds that are so expensive is that since it must be grown as an annual, will it come true if you save the seeds? It is a hybrid, so I would doubt it. Does anyone know?

It looks beautiful in the pictures, but is only hardy to Z8.

Barb roselover,

I have purple majesty millet seeds if you would e-mail me and send me your address, I would be happy to send you enough to get you started. What else are you looking for? This is my first year also and everyone has been so kind to me. If I have anything you are looking for I will send it. Send me a list.
Linda

Carmen- if the seed offered as F-1 hybrid, it won't come true, however seedlings you will get might be nice as well and you will be happy with them. Sometimes seedlings will develop different coloration or be shorter or taller than original plant. It is important to industry but you as home grower can have plenty of fun growing those slightly imperfect plants ;)

also this one woman all she wanted for a boatload of seeds was those baggies at walmart for 99cents. that was it, heck you spend WAY over that in seeds, i didn't mind. LOL

Barb:
I think you should try the saved Purple Majesty seeds being offered, they seem to grow true enough to the store-bought ones to be worth it. Here's a quote from Donn in 2006:

"I grew 'Purple Majesty' from seeds in a trade this year, and they weren't quite as purple as in the photos from the seed vendors. That may be because I had them in containers, and not in full sun. The did, however hit 5' tall and bore several seed stalks each. I'd estimate they got to 50/50 purple/green. Very attractive grass, which I'll try in the ground in full sun next year."

It is hard when there are seeds I feel I neeeeeed to grow, but getting them will be expensive. I trade for almost all of my seeds, so that makes it easier to spend a little money on the couple of things I can't trade for. But, if I want 3 things, and can't find them at the same catalog/site, that is a lot of money to pay for shipping!

Some ebay vendors offer pretty decent prices and shipping, although the shipping works out best if you find 2 or more things from them.

Why don't you post those seeds that you are drooling over, and we can either help you find the seeds for the best price, or maybe offer them to you.

My goodness. Such a response. I don't have the pictures in front of me, so am just going from my list. Cuphea Matchless; Pulsatella; Eryngium Blue Lace; Dichondra Silver Falls; Red Spider Zinnias. That's just a few. I love the dark colors in my containers with the chartreuse colored plants. I also have many vegetables also. Thanks for your help.

I agree...there is no excuse for Purple Millet seed to be so expensive (or purple millet plants for that matter)!
It is soooo easy to grow and when you have grown it once, you will always have more seed than you could possibly use. One seed head has thousands of seeds.

I place a "pinch" of seeds in 72 cellpack flats. I have practically 100% germination and each cell ends up with a nice clump of millet. When they are a few inches tall, I pot 3 clumps into one 6" pot to form a really nice clump of millet.
I have had 100% colour as well. I find they do not truly "colour up" until they are placed or planted outdoors and are getting full sun.

I love the newer variety "Jester" millet also. It has a slightly wider, cascading foliage that starts out a bright mint green and slowly gets mottled purple. It grows true from seed also.

Wyndyacre, thanks for the info. on 'Jester'. I just received seeds for that, and now I will be sure and save seeds from them in the fall.

Bonnie

Barb:

I'm in the same spot as you on the Pulsatilla! If I don't get seeds in the swap I'm in right now, I'll probably be buying those. If you want red pulsatilla, we could maybe split an order. I do have some sea holly seeds, but I don't know the cultivar. You're welcome to some of those seeds, if you want to try them.

I looked around on ebay, and you could get 20 dichondra S.F. seeds delivered for $4. But the seller doesn't have any of the other stuff. At Swallowtail Garden Seeds, you could get 10 dichondra seeds, 50 Cuphea matchless seeds, and 50 of a different blue sea holly, delivered for 13.34. But they don't sell the pulsatilla or the red spider zinnia. I guess you could try to trade your extras from that order for the other seeds. Or, if one seller has all of these, I guess it may be cheaper to pay just one company's shipping charge.

i have sea holly but it doesn't say the color. sorry :'(( i also have trachymene (blue lace) but i don't know if that's what your looking for. if your interested. let me know. i've already winter sowed all i need.

The price of the baggies at my WM went up to $1.69 AND, they haven't had them for almost 4 weeks now. So I am making little tiny seed envelopes. I read WM was going green, so maybe they are trying to discourage us from buying those! I kind of felt bad using them anyway... I received some Purple majesty in a trade, so I'll have seed next fall :)
Maggie

Well, the least expensive I found for Purple Millet was$2.99 for 25 seed from Summer Hill Seed (only good ratings at GardenWatchdog). Given her good rating plus reasonable shipping charges, I ordered. I'm pleased. She's fast and I got more seed than some others (many offer only 10 seed for more money). She also has some seed that I've been looking for (Mt Fiji Morning glories that only Parks usually carries, by color, and Chocolate salpiglossis that I've been lusting after since seeing them at Annie's Annuals - I found her after searching for the salpiglossis seed). This is my first year with her so can't tell yet what kind of germination I'll have. I have grown purple majesty before and saved seed - but for me the seed I saved in teh exact same location / growing conditions was much more green than the original purchased purple. Nice plant but not quite as striking.

I'd be happy to take most any hardy perennial seeds for here in Maine.

I would like some peony seeds, if they can be winter sown, would love to try hollyhocks, clematis, (can that be sown from seeds?

Anyone have any hardy perennial seeds to spare for sase?

zengeos,

Hollyhocks are VERY easy from seed. My personal experience with clematis from seed has been awful although others do it. I've even tried "radar love" and another that are supposed to bloom first year from seed. Part of my problem is I can get them to germinate, but live in a climate with very hot summers. They grow slowly at first and the seedlings never get past their first summer. If you have the right conditions and the time, it can be done. If you're busy and can't always nurse things, it's a tough one. Never done peonies.

Had excellent germination from Summer Hill seeds, like fast service.
Large flowered clems might take a year or two to germinate, Radar love, alpina, macropetala groups groups germinate readily enough.

Hi all! I was browsing at the Summer Hill Seeds website, and created an account, so that I could save my shopping cart. They sent me an email today, offering me 10% off if I would complete the sale. Just thought I would mention that for anyone looking for a deal.

Bonnie

cool, i was just asking in my rr about summer hill, i love their fragrant stuff!! i so want all them!! can you imagine my dh's face when i say "hey honey can i have so and so much money for seeds" LOL he'll freak!!! LOL LOL but if i promise to be a good wife and behave, LOL maybe, just maybe. LOL cuz i'm just so very onery!!! LOL :'>>> i love this forum!!!

Barb,

Another thing you might try, particularly for more common varieties, is to call local/regional nurseries that and ask if their 07' seeds are on sale... I just got about 80% of mine at a 50% discount! I didn't know that last year.

Maggie,I get my seed baggies at the craft store,I go to Pat Catans,they are 89 cents a bag there!:)

If I can get 50% germination from an expensive packet of seeds, I'm still WAY better off than I would be if I had bought one rootbound, forced out-of-season plant.
If the rootbound, forced out-of-season plant is even available!

Break it down into cost per plant, even if they don't all survive, it's still a bargain!

i've gotten into passi's big time and found a site that has them seeds really cheap, in fact they have alot of seeds cheap.http://www.rarexoticseeds.com/Graines_de_Passiflora_Seeds.html
i'm thinking of ordering from there, if i can get my dh to give up some of that hard earned money!! LOL i like seeds way better than plants, cuz i can watch them grow. and theu suprisingly one that's mislabled is really cool!! LOL