Professional Seed Catalogs

18 years ago

Hi,

Now that the growing season is over, I'm having fun reviewing seed catalogs and making lists of potential flowers to try in 2009.

In June 2008, a friend suggested that I try selling some of my flowers in our local farmers market. Since I'm a "back-yard" gardener, most of the flower seeds that I planted in the spring of 2008 were from seeds ordered from the regular seed catalogs.

For the 2009 flower season, I would like to sell flowers that are more frequently grown by the members of this forum. The professional catalogs seem to offer a much wider selection of seed with many varieties developed specifically for the cut flower business.

Since I'm making a much greater investment in seed than I ever have, I would like to get suggestions/confirmation re which seed company(s) to order seed from. I need to order from a company that sells seeds in small quantities.

Of the professional seed catalogs that I have received, GeoSeed seems to have the largest selection of seeds for the professional grower. Has anyone had experience working with GeoSeed? Or do you have another company that you would recommend.

Thanks

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Comments (5)

thinman
18 years ago
Iris -

Until the REAL pros step up to answer, here are my few thoughts. I have found a lot of the flower seeds I need from Johnny's Selected Seeds. As a relative beginner, I appreciate their starting and growing notes on every variety, and I'm happy with their seeds.

I've also bought some things from Harris Seeds and I have been amazed at their follow-up attention after the paltry order I sent them last spring. They called after the order to find out if everything was OK and to ask about my business and future needs. I told them I was pretty small potatoes, yet a plugs and liners catalog showed up soon afterward. This fall someone called again to ask if I had received their 2009 catalogs, ask about my season and even offer a tip on how to do better growing potted sunflowers next year. It was a very pleasant conversation with no discernible sales pitch at all, which is the best kind of sales call, if you ask me.

Okay, probably a little more than you needed to know, but that's my experience and I hope to hear from others who have a lot more of it.

ThinMan
goodscents
18 years ago
I am a small grower and THE BEST place to get seeds that I know of is GeoSeed (www.GeoSeed.com). The selection is great and the prices are far, far better than you will find from Johnny's, Harris, Germania or anywhere else. The catalog has no pictures and it is not online - you have to request it by phone or e-mail, but they send it promptly. I order 95% of my seed from GeoSeed and have been very happy with the quality. I can't recommend them highly enough!
Kirk
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bfff_tx
18 years ago
Hi Iris2sun
Welcome. As with Kirk, I probably get 90% of my seed from GEO these days. There are very few things that they don't have and I've not had any problems with the quality of the seed. If there should be a problem (extremely rare) like receiving the wrong variety or lack of seed content in a packet, they replace it in the blink of an eye. Amazing customer service IMHO.
It's worth while obtaining catalogues from all the companies, as they all have varying degrees of useful cultural information. Make sure you request the commercial grower ones from Johnnys and Park Seed. Get also - Fred C. Gloeckner / HPS / Harris / Germania / Modena / Ivy Garth
Cheers Kim
Billabong Fresh Flower Farm
thinman
18 years ago
Thanks Kirk and Kim for the tip on GeoSeed. I would love to save some money on my seeds and I've requested their catalog.

ThinMan
iris2sun
Original Author
18 years ago
Thank you all for your comments/recommendations for seed companies. I feel so much more comfortable going ahead and placing my order with GeoSeed.

I have to admit that I'm becoming a seed catalog "junkie"; I get so excited when I see a new catalog in the mailbox. And Kim, you've named some seed companies that I was unaware of and so I'm looking forward to receiving those catalogs also.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

I'm going to post another question re ordering seeds that will hopefully put me on the right track for next year's flower selection.