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Frugal Gardening

Cheap Seed Sources?

17 years ago

This may have been covered before, but a current favorite list would be helpful. I'm looking for mainly websites to order from. I already have done some swapping, collecting the free way (even stealing in the dark,) etc. But sometimes I just get this close to spring and need a certain flower, color, or special veggie and don't want to spend alot...So, who's your favorites?

Cena

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Comments (9)

naplesgardener
17 years ago
I looked but didn't see a FAQ for this forum that would list "frugal" seed suppliers.
superseeds.com, valueseeds.com and dianeseeds.com are on my frugal list. the challenge comes when you want a PARTICULAR seed or plant not sold by one of these and the shipping cost really adds up.
That's when I start looking through members exchange lists and finding out what their wants are and getting the seed THEY want so I can get the seed I want. That's the fun part of being frugal. As long as you have patience you'll get there.

naplesgardener

P.S. I know you were joking about stealing in the dark but in Florida plant stealing is big business with thieves. They will actually strip a yard.
I walk around my neighborhood looking for interesting plants with seeds and ask my neighbors for them. No one minds (so far). I think dedicated gardeners are happy to share and non-gardeners are mystified.
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cenanoca9
Original Author
17 years ago
Oh my gosh!!! I meant stealing seeds, not plants, and I was just kidding, sorry. Actually the day after I planted out a few flats of annual flowers at our church a couple of years ago, they were ALL mysteriously gone. At first I was shocked, I mean isn't it double bad to steal from a church? But my Pastor saw me re-planting and commented that we try to give to others what they need, be it food, lodging, gas money, God, a friend, etc, apparently someone needed a beautiful garden. We had a good laugh and the new flowers stayed put.
Thank you for the sites, I only knew of valueseeds.
Cena
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I love growing my own plants, so I will knock on doors and ask people for seeds and cuttings. I've made some great garden friends in the process, one elderly lady who nearly landscaped my whole yard because I offered to help her clear out overgrown yard for the plants. She had some seriously gorgeous large bromeliads that sold for $50 each at the one place you could buy them in the area. I must have gotten $1,000 worth or bromeliads and other plants from her for 8 hours of work. We remained friends and I got even more plants from her in years to come. I also trade plants and seeds with people online and off, and dig up, get seeds from, or take cuttings from beautiful blooming natives from the side of the road. I have no pride when it comes to my garden. LOL Of course, I buy half-dead perennials from Lowe's and WalMart markdown racks and bring them back to live. I also live in an apartment complex and have gotten some plants people left behind or gave to me when they moved. I also used to belong to a community garden and got quite a few free plants and seeds from there. I was just figuring how much I've spent over the past 3 years since I"ve lived in this apartment on plants, and it came out to less than $50 and most of that was fertilizer and potting soil. Speaking of potting soil, Lowe's will sometimes mark down broken bags, because they can't sell them for full price. I got 5 bags of nice, organic soil for 50% off by offering to take the broken bags off their hands for a discount. Same for plants with broken pots. I got a beautiful peach tree once for 1/2 price because the pot had split down the side and wouldn't hold water, so it was drying out and dying. But the best and most treasured seeds and plants I get are from GWers. I have such good friends here who regularly send me plants and seeds for no reason at all except they know I love growing from seed and don't have much of a budget. I always pass the favor forward or send them something I know they are looking for.
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You cannot go by the word Organic on bags of soil, fertilizer, etc as no one regulates that word on anything other than food stuffs. So anyone can put the word Organic on any bag of soil (and Miracle gro does exactly this and if you use their "Organic" potting mix and you are certified Organic you will get decertified) or fertilizer. And do realize that organic growing is about feeding and growing the soil and not about avoiding certain inputs. It is also about farm management and creating a crop rotation of at least 4 years, having farm maps and keeping excellent input, planting, sales and harvest records (among other things). Most people, including most not certified organic growers, do not have the first clue as to what makes an Organic farm organic unless they have been through certification or worked on an organic farm. Extensive reading and going to a lot of Organic agriculture workshops is another route to understanding as well. Naturally grown also has certification and if there are any CNG growers at your markets they may have issue with you using that term (though I don't believe they have any legal standing to prevent you from using the term "Naturally grown" without certification) Here is a link that might be useful: CNG
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maryinpnw
17 years ago
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds in Missouri has excellent prices and a beautiful paper catalogue. Sand Hill Preservation in Decorah, Iowa has excellent prices as well. You'll get lots of seeds. Both are family run businesses. Baker Creek is bigger. Sand Hill has a plain catalogue. No pictures. Some incredible offerings you won't find in many places. Both offer more heirloom vegetables, fruits than flowers or herbs. Sand Hill may not be a good idea this time of year. They really are run by one family. Dad, mom and the kids with help from neighbors. Quality of both is very high. I love them.

I forgot to mention that they are both on-line.
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pitimpinai
17 years ago
Have you tried the Seed Exchange and Winter Sowing Exchange? Look for offers for SASBE. You only pay for stamps and a bubble envelope and a little time. It's fun and cheap/ Granted, some newbies send you chaff, but for the most part the seeds are great.

Look for offers for newbies too.
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puzzlefan
17 years ago
Pinetree Seeds (www.superseeds.com) has smaller quantities for reasonable prices. I never think of seeds being expensive though considering the amount of plants I get from them. I only wish seed starting mix and pots were available locally at discounts.
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naplesgardener
17 years ago
I agree with pitimpinai about the Seed Exchange. When I was a "newbie" just last year I signed up for one of the gift exchanges and got so many seeds that I am still going thru my stash. So useful because you can use the ones you don't want as trade for seeds you do want. True that not all the seeds germinate but many do.
Also to begin with grow something that will give you enough seeds that you could use as trading currency or walk around your neighborhood and gather seeds to use in trade. There are so many "free" seeds out there and someone on GW is probably looking for them.
I have found that even "weed" seeds are useful. For example, butterflies like spanish needles (bidens pilosa). You will never see bidens pilosa in a seed catalog because it's a weed. I gathered it because I have a butterfly garden and I posted it on my GW "have to trade" list.
Someone wanted it in trade for some bean seeds I wanted.
Everyone has marigolds and zinnias and cosmos, etc. But "weeds" are special.lol.

Denise in Naples FL
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mommyandme
17 years ago
Naplesgardener: thanks for the link to Dianeseeds.com. Never heard of it before. Looks VERY interesting. I, personally, use superseeds.com & value seeds.com as much as possible. Also, Crosmanseeds.com.
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scottamuss
17 years ago
I like this place. They have lots of interesting herbs and heirlooms for cheap. I've ordered twice without problems. Haven't planted anything yet but they look good.

Here is a link that might be useful: SEEDS FOR THEE & ISAAC'S SEED SAMPLES
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scottamuss
17 years ago
Also just found this one.

$0.35/ packet

$3.50 shipping

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.artisticgardens.com/
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