Where's a good reliable INEXPENSIVE mailorder to buy seeds for kitchen garden type veggies?

[Alan W.]

Usually for my bulk seed purchase like corn, beans I usually just pick those up at Southern States Co-op.
But I have noticed after looking on a few sites that some seeds are already sold out.
Might be a good idea to order early.

 

[Oaktree]

I'm wanting to plant a small but not MICRO garden. I looked at Burpees, 20 pole bean seeds (2 oz) for $5. To me that's a ripoff.
I'm not looking for pounds of seeds. But the prices certainly seem dear.

Not sure which of the 3 states you list for location is where you live now, but shop around. I get the impression there's a huge mark-up on seeds. There's a New England overstock chain called Ocean State Job Lots...they sell Burpee seeds for 40% off list. That's where I get most of mine.

Like a lot of things the price tag may be only part of the equation. If I got 20 seeds that all grow well 100% of the time and produce a bumper crop, great. If I get 100 seeds for the same price and only 1 in 5 even germinate and/or have weak production... Well, who really got ripped off?

The only thing I have poor germination rates on is carrot seed. Dunno if that's just their nature, or if birds are eating them (have a big problem with crows eating bean & corn seeds) but other than that germination rate is 90+%. YMMV

To get around the crow problem, I put a fountain drink cup with the bottom cut out over where I planted, and leave it there until the plants are a couple inches high. Obviously, that doesn't work if you plant a field full, but for the 20 or so plants I put in it's fine.
Curiously, how do those of you that plant large amounts of corn discourage crows?

 

[newbury]

But I have noticed after looking on a few sites that some seeds are already sold out.
Might be a good idea to order early.

SHHH! Don't want to start a panic and have everyone hoarding seeds!

 

[Torvy]

Just curious for the guys using "Guerney's"...

Doing a web search, I found a "Gurney's", but not a "Guerney's".

Same place, and a simple typo, or is it actually a different company?

Thanks.

Typo in my case. They were based out of Yankton until 2001.

 

[Torvy]

Curiously, how do those of you that plant large amounts of corn discourage crows?

We used to use a 12 gauge back in the day. Kill enough of those thieves and they find easier marks somewhere else.

 

[popsx3]

Don't order the inexpensive ones on Amazon. Tried that last year and it was a failure. Peas and beans.

 

[NHBX]

SHHH! Don't want to start a panic and have everyone hoarding seeds!

To late, already started last year!

 

[jyoutz]

Just curious for the guys using "Guerney's"...

Doing a web search, I found a "Gurney's", but not a "Guerney's".

Same place, and a simple typo, or is it actually a different company?

Thanks.

No doubt I spelled it wrong

 

[jyoutz]

Not sure which of the 3 states you list for location is where you live now, but shop around. I get the impression there's a huge mark-up on seeds. There's a New England overstock chain called Ocean State Job Lots...they sell Burpee seeds for 40% off list. That's where I get most of mine.

The only thing I have poor germination rates on is carrot seed. Dunno if that's just their nature, or if birds are eating them (have a big problem with crows eating bean & corn seeds) but other than that germination rate is 90+%. YMMV

To get around the crow problem, I put a fountain drink cup with the bottom cut out over where I planted, and leave it there until the plants are a couple inches high. Obviously, that doesn't work if you plant a field full, but for the 20 or so plants I put in it's fine.
Curiously, how do those of you that plant large amounts of corn discourage crows?

I plant corn at close spacing to deal with crow predation. I put hoops and a net over the beans until they are established.

 

[Alan W.]

If I can find the varieties I want I will buy them in the fall when they are discounted. Placed in the freezer they will stay good for years.
I have some bean seeds in my freezer that I got when my grandfather died from his freezer so they are at least 40 years old. The germination on them is still excellent. I have saved from subsequent plantings so I have newer seed but keep the old just to see how long they will go and still germinate.