New T&M seed catalogue

[terrace max]

...dropped through my letterbox this morning. Anything new and edible we should consider buying??

[terrace max]

[jennym]

I did a cost comparison on salad potatoes between Thompson & Morgan and Marshalls this year. It was quite interesting, but difficult to do as one sells by weight, one by number.
Anyhow, the upshot is that for most salad potatoes except Lady Christl, Thomson & Morgan were cheaper. My impression is that they are dearer for seeds though.

[Mrs Ava]

I never buy  from them due to the expense and p&p.  There are plenty of other companies who sell cheaper with no p&p...HOWEVER, I do use them almost like a reference book as there are so many fab pics and info about the plants.  Received my copy this morning and already have a list of plants I want for a new border I have, so will be trying to track the seeds down cheaper from else where.

Another HOWEVER, there are lots of interesting salads which I might succum to....no...I mustn't....aagghhh....seed catalogue time of year!

[terrace max]

Agree with all of the price comments - and the service last year was a bit shoddy.

I asked the question mainly because I too cannot resist buying too many seeds once I look inside a seed catalogue!

The T&M catalogue smells really nice though. No really. Like a newly opened pack of cards, perhaps...

[BAGGY]

Where do you source your seed from then EJ?

[supersprout]

I agree with EJ that T&M is a great picture guide, have rarely bought from them. Pea/bean seeds are knocked down to 1/2 price in our local garden centre in July :D
I buy seed from the Web: Seedfest.co.uk, Nicky's seeds, Select Seeds, Chiltern Seeds, Nothing But Seeds, Franchi, Edwin Tucker and the Organic Gardening catalogue :P. I like them 'cause the germination rate (especially Franchi) seems to be better than average. And they all seem to have lots of heirloom varieties.
Dobies, King's, DT Brown, Plants of Distinction, Suttons, Suffolk Herbs et al. and the giant exhibition veg seed peeps W Robinson & Son and Medwyns are also on the Web.
You get great pix on the Web, but it's only been realistic with broadband ...
I'm very new, and hope to save my own seed when I get better at growing :). A lovely lady sent me sunflower seeds from this site, wish I knew who she was to say a proper thank you! :-*

[Merry Tiller]

Tuckers rule, especially for spuds & onion sets

[terrace max]

BTW, most packets of seeds are at least 10 pence cheaper than the catalogue if you buy them at T&M online. But the special offer seeds - like white beetroot (what's the point of that??) - are full price on the website  ???

[Mrs Ava]

Baggy, I get most of my seeds from the organic catalogue - http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/, or Tuckers - http://www.edwintucker.com/.  Plus Dobies,  Marshalls and occassionally, Seeds of Italy as they have some unusuals, and you get masses of seeds!  Then of course I do lots of swapsies with chums, and my lovely skin and blister gives me a seed hamper for Christmas.

[Multiveg]

ooo T&M through the door already? Any buy this and get that free in? Perhaps mine (as a 2005 customer) will drop through the door tomorrow. I want catalogues NOW. I want OGC & Tuckers NOW...

[westsussexlottie]

Look out for potato harlequin (T & M) looks really interesting.

[Multiveg]

Yay, T&M came today

[Multiveg]

Bit disappointed with the catalogue - last year, was soooo excited and wanted this that and the other and more sprouts, etc, this year, not going to have a big order methinks. Maybe I overdid it last year.

[terrace max]

Yep, I can live without Brazillian Cress for one more year...

[Squashmad]

Please take a look at http://www.vidaverde.co.uk/ - the seeds are inexpensive, with excellent germination rates, unusual varieties and the people who run the seed collection are so friendly and helpful. I bought lots from them this year and of particular note is Diamond Aubergine. In the past I have failed with full size Aubs as were I live in Northumberland they dont have time to produce more than one fruit (even in the polytunnel) before it is too late in the season for them to carry on - This year I've had whopping fruit and lots more on the plant. Also had a wonderful mini striped cucumber to serve whole in salads ... superb courgettes ... I'm a great fan of theirs!

[Mubgrub]

I'll second that.  Vidaverde rock ;D

[hemajo]

I live in Northumberland

I live in Northumberland too (Tyne Valley).   Is the growing season very short?  eg for things like sweetcorn and squashes like Butternut.   I was given two tomato plants which I grew in pots on the patio - have had a few red toms!  New to growing veggies, so not sure! 

[supersprout]

Hi Hemajo, I grew up in Northumberland and my mum grew ENORMOUS yellow toms :P in her unheated greenhouse every year ... if you go to http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/index.htm and enter your postcode, you can find your planting dates, date of first frost etc. Handy! ;)
Good luck, what a lovely place to grow things! ;D

[spacehopper]

Please take a look at http://www.vidaverde.co.uk/ ...

Wow, I've not seen that site before. Thanks for the heads up! ;D

[Derek]

A mate and I vistited the Ryton Organic Centre in June this year and he bought some seed from them.

They were a little dearer than the usual catalogue prices but he reckons the amount of seed was greater plus he had an incredible germination rate.

I wondered whether to pay them a visit in the new year and give their seeds a try... it will be another nice day out there anyway I always enjoy it.

Anyone else bought seeds from them and been successful?

Derek