Cheap Versus Expensive Seeds by Nancy Shepard

Seeds can cost from $1.00 to $5.00 a packet or more. Are expensive seeds that much better? Turns out that less expensive seed must meet the same minimum germination standard as expensive seed, but that’s not the whole story. Federal and state laws ensure that all commercially available farm and garden seeds are properly tested for purity, noxious weed seeds, and germination rates. The 2017 Colorado Seed Act “prevents the distribution and use of poor quality seed through the regulation of labeling, labelers, and the sellers of seed for propagation.”  https://ag.colorado.gov/plants/seed

This means that the least expensive seeds for a particular species and cultivar such as Basil, ‘Italian Large Leaf’ will typically produce the same results as planting the most expensive seeds. But other factors can influence the price companies put on a seed packet such as quantity of seed, germination rates, varieties, brand name and information.

I decided to do a little investigation myself and looked up carrots on the following seed company sites. As for germination rates, none of the eight seed company sites I reviewed had germination rates posted.

The U.S. Federal government has set minimum standards of germination for vegetable seeds, see https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/7/201.31. While all companies selling seeds must meet these minimums, some seed companies have much higher germination rates. For example, the Federal minimum for carrots is 55%. But companies might claim higher rates if they’ve done accurate testing.

Company	Carrot Varieties	Number of Seeds In One Packet	Price
Burpee	13	3,500	3.95
Johnny’s	62	250	5.80
Seeds of Change (organic)	11	Not listed	2.29
Botanical Interests	11	510	2.29
Gurney’s	17	1,500	2.99
Park Seed	13	400	3.95
American Seed (Dollar Tree)	7	Not listed	.25
Ferry Morse	7	250	2.49

As you can see, there is a wide difference in number of seeds per packet and price. Sometimes you pay more for a recognized brand or more information or planting tips printed on the packet. And almost always you will pay more for organic seeds.

And yet, there is one more category you should keep in mind, although not all seed companies will make this information known.

Open Pollinated (OP) or Hybrid (F1)

Open pollinated means if you plant it, grow it and save seed from it, you will get the same genetic characteristics as the parent plant in future generations. Heirloom seeds are open-pollinated because the integrity of the seed is passed down through generations.

https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=23222

Hybrid or F1 seeds are intentionally crossed between two varieties of the same species. The resulting cross results in a unique variety with unique characteristics. With this, if you plant a hybrid, grow a hybrid, save its seeds and plant them you will NOT get the same plant as the parent. It will revert to one or another of the original varieties that made up the crossed hybrid.

Some F1 seeds may mature faster and flower earlier, making the plant more suitable for shorter growing seasons. There might be higher yields from certain F1 seeds that will result in larger crops from smaller acreage. One of the most important accomplishments of hybridization is disease resistance.

Plants grown from F1 hybrid seeds tend to grow stronger and have greater survival rates than their homozygous relatives. These plants need fewer pesticides and other chemical treatments to survive and that’s good for the environment.

F1 seeds are often more expensive because they cost more to produce. All that hand pollination doesn’t come cheap, nor does the laboratory testing these plants undergo. F1 seeds can’t be harvested by the thrifty gardener for use the following year.

So are more expensive seeds better than the cheap ones? I'd say not necessarily and it will depend on how particular you are about certain varieties, how many seeds you need, and how much helpful information you want.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/propagation/seeds/f1-hybrid-seeds.htm 

https://marylandgrows.umd.edu/2017/12/22/are-cheaper-vegetable-and-flower-seeds-just-as-good-as-more-expensive-seeds/

https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=23222

https://extension.unh.edu/resource/starting-plants-seed-fact-sheet