One would think that with the crazy prices they charge for a few seeds these days that the sellers could at least guarantee germination. I think my first seed packet cost about 10 cents....but then again, a 1lb tomato didn't cost $3.99 back then either.

I got seed packs from Menards last year for 10 cents on sale. Regular price was 49 cents but everything was open pollinated and few seeds in the pack. No F1's limited selection by a strange company, but what I bought All grew.

What year were they packaged for? (it should say on the seed packet somewhere) I doubt any seed supplier would guarantee seeds for the year other than the "packaged for" year. But IDK, I never tried to return seed. I mean, is it worth the grief? Just buy some fresh seed.

I too wonder what year they were packaged for, and also how long ago they were bought. Harris seeds has a pretty good reputation, but most seed companies don't do refunds if the seeds are from a previous season or too far into the previous year.

robert, Don is a real person. He's been posting here for years.

Donbot? Beebot? It might be the Russians.

"Donbot? Beebot? It might be the Russians."

What?

I don't have any experience with Harris, but something might have happened between the company and you. Or some critter might have eaten all the seeds.

What the heck robert, you need a snickers or something?

I'm not sure I can add to this, but I've gotten seeds from Harris in the past and they were fine, although I haven't planted anything from them yet this year.

Annie

Ok, I get it, you are one of those conspiracy theorists that thinks everyone is a bot or an AI. It would help explain the deeply unpleasant behavior you are displaying robert. Could you go back under your bridge please?

Go ahead and enjoy "Don's" funny dumb questions and posts, but there is no way he is a real person. No one is that stupid and can type and post bad pictures with yellow leaves over and over. You make the troll happy. Wonder why this forum is mostly dead?

@porkchop_z5b_MI

I think you're confusing what post I actually wrote with something someone else wrote. I did not say Donald was a joke alias, @robert567 did. I wrote a pretty anodyne post about suggesting the problem could have been between the seed company and the planting or that critters might have eaten the seeds. I certainly planted some squash and had the seeds eaten, rather than germinate.

That's a great point about critters eating seed Sigrid. I know I've had it happen often enough in the past. I now tend to grow out my squash to a couple mature leaves in the pot before transplanting out because direct sowing does not always work well.

Sigrid -- go back and re-read my post. It seems pretty clear to me it wasn't aimed at you, since I quoted what I responding to. What I said is you, me, vkgk and beesneeds have been long-time posters; I said that because I have no idea who the "aliases" are that Robert is referring to -- it certainly can't be us.

kevin, defending someone in the moment is one thing, coming back days later to pick up a fight is not much different than what robert is doing. Please don't.

Beesneed, I agree my tone was harsh, but it was a direct reaction to years of Robert's unprovoked attacks on others. Ignoring him didn't work, it just drove other posters away. I will gladly stop if Robert stops targeting people. But why did you not ask Robert to please stop over the years?

I'm not too sure if I should feel flatterd that you have combed back through all my commentary to find all my interactions with robert, or concerned that you have stalked my commentary to pass judgement on me about roberts actions. Either way it's creepy. Please stop.

This forum is nearly dead like the people who populate it and I've had enough of nothing. I'm deleting my account.

Sorry to see you go Kevin, but you are correct about the falling participation. Just look at the Growing Tomato forum, it used to be super-hot with posters all day long during the growing season but today it's a real snorer, same here too sadly. People go to AI now with their questions and most forums here are now sleepy. This is the also case for other non-houzz forums I visit, sad. I guess I'll be talking to myself soon enough, but I'm a good listener ;-)

Now that you mention it, the tomato forum is really quiet.

How seeds are stored can also affect germination. To hot, too cold, too damp. And we don't have any information how they were sown or cared for. Possibly they rotted off due to incorrect watering.

I am real I was backpacking in the mountains in MT for a week. Seeds were packaged for 2025. It is NOT the cost of the seeds it is the fact that seeds that last 3-5 years (most, if not all, zuc/squash seeds I plant 5-6 year old germinate). I planted them trusting that seeds that I purschased last year, (seeds that last 5 years) would have some egrmination. Not zero. I also did the germination seed test and had zero germination.

It really delays my planting when I plant seeds, leave town a week later for a week, come home find 0 germination, then spned a couple days tsting myself indoors (in case something at ethe seeds) confirm zero germination, order more seeds, get them and plant them. That is a month. Our summers are short so I loose 1/3 of my harvest time - all because seed that were supposed to last 5 years did not germinate AT ALL, the year after they were packaged.

I know seed comanies track this stuff and they refused to answer. It simple is not right and I am just getting the info out there.

Here is a pic of me in my garden with a mamouth sunflower. Real enough?

I even used my real name and first initial of my last name.

The good news is transplants are readiliy available this time of year so you won't be totally squash-less.

The seeds were $9.26 (for 25 seeds) purchased

Gurney 1/26/25 Confirmation #YCYPDI8**

When I looked that up I also realized they shipped me leek plants that arrived 6 weeks before the earliest time to plant them. I emailed them and asked what time to plant in my zone and their response was the same as my research and experience. I then asked if they could give me a credit for sending me leeks that would require to be planted WAY to early and the refused.

I use the leeks for potato leek soup and every leek that managed to survive (I had to cover them several nights and add heat) bolted way before my potatoes were ready.

Shipping live plants that arrive 6 weeks before they say they can be planted (temps below freezing) with instructions to plant within 5-7 days maximum is unacceptable.

Thanks I agree mid April - but I got them over a month early. THey were great and grew great but they are a month early. Is there any way you can give a discount in the future for the early arrival?
Thanks,
Donald V

On Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at 07:50:08 AM EDT, <customercare@harrisseeds.com> wrote:

Hi Donald,

Thank you for your message. In Zone 6, we recommend planting leeks outdoors in early to mid-April. While they are cold-hardy, planting too early can cause stress and lead to premature flowering. We ship based on average frost dates, but we appreciate your feedback and will share it with our team for review. Please let us know if you have any other questions!

"The seeds were $9.26 (for 25 seeds) purchased

Gurney 1/26/25 Confirmation #YCYPDI8**"

What does Gurney's have to do with Harris?

"Seeds were packaged for 2025"

There it is then. If they were packaged for 2025, then 2026 is outside their guarantee/warranty range. It's pretty normal for seed companies to only be willing to cover seed in the package year. It does not matter what the potential shelf life could be on a seed.

It's a bit like the best by date on a can of peas. Yes, the peas can still be eaten past that date, and maybe by a lot depending on how the can was stored. But the canning company is only willing to vouch for the bestness of the peas for so long. And past that time you are on your own to eat the peas or not.

And also.. I hope you had a good time on your trip, welcome back.

I deleted my account and a notice popped up saying it may take up to 90 days before it's deleted, nonsense. In the meantime I'll continue to waste some time here.

Don, squash seeds will easily last 4 to 6 years, IF they are stored correctly, otherwise sitting in the package with any kind of humidity they will die along with any seed. If you didn't seal them from humidity and store in a cool place, like a refrigerator or a freezer they WILL go bad in one year.

Even if vacuum sealed and pulled from the refrigerator or freezer, if you open the package while still cool or frozen condensate will collect on the seeds and destroy them. They must be allowed to rise to room temperature before opening, take out what you need and vacuum seal them again.

I have twenty year old tomato seeds that are still viable, and after warming I pull out what I need and re seal them immediately. Then I'll soak one until it sinks and place in a wet napkin to test for germination.

Beesneeds, Why on earth would you think I would "comb back through all my commentaries"? Truthfully I have no interest in you or what your wrote. I still have a memory that functions, unlike many others here, and my memory never recalled you telling Robert to knock it off. I'm certainly not going to waste my time going through your comments so yes, don't flatter yourself.

Ouch, yeah. It's stamped with 2024. For sure a seed company would not replace in 2026. Even if the seed was purchased in 2025.

What does lured great mean? Did you use it as a trap plant or something else?

Bad penmenship it says "loved"

Good point Kevin, I keep the seeds in the fridge in a tuperware container and in a sandwich bag. I have kept all my seeds this way for 2 decades and other zuc's & squash germinate for 5 years and more.

Also this silly website forces me to use my desktop, when I log into this on my phone (not the app) I type a word and as soonas I hit the spacebar it disappears. So frustrating, youl would think as an bot I would have figured it out by now..............

It is stampe December 2024, so pretty much days from 2025...........................

Sorry for the misread there on the handwriting. But it's stamped 2024, don't matter if it was close to 2025. A seed company isn't going to replace the seed in 2026. It is a bummer, that was expensive seed.

Their website say they do not offer refunds for anything unless damaged in shipping - so you buy seeds today and if they do not germinate you are screwed.

I have other Harris squash seeds from 5 years ago growing in my garden now that were stored right alongside the ones from Deb 2024 that are not germinating.

beesneeds I get it and if it was seeds from 2 years before I would feel differently (still annoyed but accept it).

For seed that I direct sow like squash or cukes I always do a test germination of a few seeds in my basement in January. Doesn't matter the age. That way I still have time to purchase new seed if needed.