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| 'Inside Scoop' for buying Seeds & Plants National Garden Bureau |
How do I know if the seed I’m ordering is fresh?
Look at the seed package date and if it lists a “Packed for” date, you’ll know exactly which garden season it was packed for. If you have not yet ordered, ask that question of customer service. All reputable seed retailers will understand what you are asking.
How do I know if a company tests its seed for diseases or weeds?
Seed breeders and producers are obligated by law to send clean seed to seed companies to ensure quality according to industry and government standards.
How can I determine quality just by a website?
Look for customer reviews and at the seed packets. A quality and reputable company will abide by regulations when labeling their seed packets. Pay attention to variety names. It if just says “red petunia” you have to wonder what you are getting.
What is germination?
The beginning of growth. Most seeds germination response occurs in response to warmth and water.
How can I get help with what I purchased?
Almost all retailers will have a very accessible customer service phone number, email, or online chat function. In the peak season, like now, there may be a delay but please be patient and you’ll get a response.
Why haven’t my seeds shipped yet?
There are three primary causes of backorders:
1. Seed (usually new varieties) hasn’t been shipped from the breeder. In the case of a new variety, it wouldn’t even be listed on the retailer’s website yet.
2. An unusually high demand, like what happened in 2020.
3.Bulk seed is at the seed company but still has to be prepared. Preparation means accepting bulk seed at the dock, sending it to the packaging department, awaiting any additional germination and quality testing, repackaging the seed, putting it in inventory, updating the website, begin accepting orders.
Seed Packet Information and What It Means…
Why can’t some companies ship live transplants to certain states?
Those states have regulations that prevent the importing of live plants into the state.
What are the differences between treated, untreated, organic and other types of seed?
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| Photo Courtesy of Planet Natural Research Center |
• Raw – Seed in its “raw” form, comes in from the parent plant, is cleaned and has not been treated using any chemical, biological, or physical method.
• Treated – Seed has been treated in an appropriate manner to protect it from specific seed- or soil-borne pathogens and thus improve its performance. The treatment may be hot water, chemical, or biological, depending on the pathogen involved. Treatment is applied under controlled conditions, in a commonly recognized fashion, at the manufacturer’s recommended rate.
• Untreated – Seed is cleaned and has not been treated using any chemical, biological, or physical method. Seed crop was not grown under Certified Organic Conditions.
• Organic – Seed is cleaned and untreated, and it was grown under Certified Organic conditions.
• Pelleted – Seed has been coated with an inert material in order to increase the seed size for easier planting.
• Multi-Pelleted – The pellet contains more than one seed. One pellet will create multiple plants.
• Primed – Seed has been primed for easier germination, through physical processes like steam treatment or through chemical treatment.
• Detailed – Fibrous “tails” have been removed from seeds for easier handling and flowability. This may be achieved through either a physical or chemical process.
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| Courtesy Pexels |
Can I harvest and save seeds from my own plants?
Harvesting and saving seeds from your plants is something some gardeners may do! However, to be most successful, you will want to grow OP varieties and harvest seeds from those. Hybrid varieties are often preferred for their vigor and unique characteristics but saved seed from hybrids will not be exactly like what you enjoyed the first season. These desired hybrid characteristics may include the following: plant habit, plant vigor, yield, uniformity of plants, bloom type and bloom color, fruit quality, and appearance.
If you are looking for the same qualities you had the first season, we highly recommend purchasing new seeds each season. The vendors who supply seeds to retailers adhere to many checks and balances helping to provide the highest quality seed and very specific characteristics that customers expect, such as high-quality germination, purity, and disease-free seed. Seed saved from your own garden may carry over less desirable characteristics.
Why does a company stop carrying my favorite variety?
Suppliers discontinue varieties for many reasons. Breeding programs are producing new products at an impressive rate and many older varieties are simply being replaced by the newer and better ones. Please inquire anytime you no longer see a favorite variety listed. They can recommend a better variety that has taken its place.
