I'd have to join too. I went seed buying crazy this year. I have a small container garden and have bought seeds (anywhere from 50-2000 seeds each) of over 100 items. I have friends that garden and am sharing with them cause it's way too many seeds for just me. I'm also starting extra plants for friends.

They are so inexpensive that when I see something new, I just have to have the seeds.

It's a sickness.

No worries. Get em while they're still inexpensive. They keep for years and years. Coffee canisters work well for storage.

A tupperware container flat and wide works good for storage in your fridge. Get a dessicant package and put it inside to suck up the moisture and you're all set.
It is hard to resist when there is a seed sale and the packets are a dime apiece.
Also, Smith & Hawken is going out of business. They carry "seeds of change" brand seeds. They have some neat varieties of things.
There's a store near me. Wonder if those seeds are on sale?

How do you get free shipping w/ Baker Creek? I didn't see anything on their site. Do you need a code?

Where is the cheapest place to buy seeds online? I have lots of seeds thanks to donations, but am trying to do much as the posted above, raise foodstuffs that are not commonly grown anymore. I am doing it as a just in case the economy crashes and to bolster the nutrition. All extras will go to the area food banks and so forth. Times are bad. I am trying to grow as many types as possible this year and probably the next with the hail we had. After that will evaluate what did well and what did not and plant on an even larger scale once the best varieties are determined. Native seeds company is a great looking source for little utilized tolerant edibles. Thanks to all who have helped my needy garden in the past and to those who are willing to in the future :) Kathy in West texas aka Desert 106 yesterday

Ha. I read an article talking about the purchases that seem to be recession-proof, even going up during bad times. Seeds is one of them. Another one? Liquor, of course!

Baker Creek's free shipping sale is over now. I was looking at their site last month and noticed just this little blurb at the top saying they were having a free shipping sale that week, so I went nuts and bought pretty much all the stuff I had been drooling over but telling myself I'd buy later.

I'm not sure whether to feel guilty about this or not. Like I said, I haven't been buying the cheapie Wal-Mart seed rack seeds, no I keep looking at these online heirloom seed companies and buying their seeds for $2-3 a packet.

But then I can tell myself I can save seeds from them indefinitely so it's really an INVESTMENT! Even though right now I'm unemployed and money's tight.

But maybe that's just making excuses for myself, because I've probably spent over $100 on seeds this summer as I wait for the weather to cool down for fall planting season.

I guess it's better than buying liquor!

They pay for themselves. Think about the money you will save at the market. Plus I find it fun to do garden exchanges. I give some seeds and plants to friends. They bring me some produce that I don't grow or some plants. You will get the $100 back in no time.

I do buy the cheap seeds. I don't spend more than $1 a pack unless it's something really special.

Ania

If you look in the Winter Sowing forum, you will get lots of ideas for storing your seeds so that they will last for years. I buy a lot of seeds from Thompson & Morgan http://www.tmseeds.com, and Cheep Seeds. I am a seedaholic and I don't know of a 12 step program (I wouldn't go anyway). I just can't pass by a seed rack without picking up something. I have a small dresser to keep my stash in.
Donna

me too, I am always buying seeds, but my husband isn't worried, the last time was at the christmas tree shop, and I spent $1.50ish on 4 packs of seeds, about 2 weeks ago, have planted them all as the store brought seeds only contain a few seeds, I also stumbled upon a site of a company in my home state and ordered 4 packets from them, was well impressed with their service, these are mini varieties for my fall garden, so take less time to grow,
I have also used Thompson and Morgan as they have some of the UK varieties I miss, such as runner beans, marrow and purple sprouting broccoli, I ordered from them, they had a deal get $10 of free seeds whatever your spend, I spent $9.90ish! so only paid shipping again impressed by their service and will use them again for a proper order next year, unfortunatly these 2 companies do not seem as high profile as some, and regretable the company I ordered a majority of my stuff off, was rubbish! it took 2 months for them to send my seeds! ordered in feb! and a refund promoised for some bareroot (deadroot) plants has yet to appear after 2 weeks of waiting! I will use the refund (if I get it,) for garden equipment not seeds and will never darken their doors again.
I have also used Johnnys, really good selection and will use them again, as prompt like the 2 others mentioned.
Seeds are an investment in the future, and if you not working, they are a cheep way of perking yourself up, and thinking of a better tomorrow, lets fact it if shoes or clothes where you thing, you would be really counting the cost, and have no reward later as they would be worn and no longer feel new! seeds are always new, I love watching them grow, and harvesting, it is a slow pleasure, not instant gratification, and I have a feeling you are going to love gardening, as you are able to enjoy just owning the seed, wait till you can grow them! wow,
if at you folks any chance they will, let you have a small space (or are they worried you won't move on? haha) I am not working! LOL! twin 4 year olds...but I used the excuse to start as I could "contribute to the household this way!!! hysterical! I have produced about 6 oz of peas and a few carrots, 3lb of pots (something ate all the stem yesterday so had to harvest what was there) and spent a fortune on "stuff" so if I was going to sell them it would have to be lb for lb the same as Gold in value :)
I have tried to link to the first company that I refered to but doesn't seem to be working, they are call John Scheepers kitchen garden seeds they are based in CT

i had a little problem with that myself this year. And who can blame us? Those seed catalog descriptions are so seductive!

Had a few rude reminders about what i can and can't grow since then and think i can resist a little bit better next year. i'm such an optimist!

You do know about the seed exchange forum, don't you??

Welcome to thhe "Seed Addicts Club!" There is no cure, but fortunately, its a cheap habit. Yup! I'm in it too. I placed an order in at Bakers Creek recently and was that enough? No! I bought seeds at the Christmas Tree Shop yesterday! They 75% off. How could I resist? I'm thinking of going back and buying more!

Mauirose brought up the Seed Exchange forum which is a great way to build up your stash of seeds, without spending a lot of money. For the cost of a bubble envie & postage, you can get 3-6 packets of seeds by swapping with someone else. Also on the Round Robin forum, there's a group for every interest. This way you can more specifically target what your interested in and make friends with folks that have the same interests.

Filaluvr, you may want to take a look at Pinetree Garden Seeds, Fedco Seeds and Sandhill Preservation. They have great seed selections for reasonable prices.

Here is a link that might be useful: Round Robin forum

I have had this illness for years. It is incurable. This year I have spent about $800.00 on seeds, granted I am trying to do a market garden. But I do have some for next year, even then I know their will be other varietys that pique my interest.

The only advice I can add is to put the packets into something the kitties can't get to. Batting them around could possibly damage the seed coat and cause low germination rates in the next couple of years.

Otherwise, welcome to the club. I don't have as many as some others but it is definitely an incurable obsession. I have some packets that have only a couple of seeds in them that I'm "saving" for next year. Waste not, want not.

Sandy

I must admit that I too am a member of this club! I can't stop reading the catalogs, circling everything I want, and ordering. Then I go online and order more! My refrigerator is full of seeds. Who is cheapest for heirloom seeds? See what I mean.. I can't stop.

Thanks,
Rita
Rita Abend

on the seed exchange, do you have to have something to swap? I ask as I am about to maybe offer seeds, but I am waiting until the fall to decide what I don't want, and my poor old neighbour will get first dibs (she is neither poor or old BTW but troubled)
but I might not? haha! want seeds in exchange, does it work like Freecycle? or is it a bit more free and easy?
freecycle you can't request until you have posted x amount of stuff, which I can never do as I always find a friend, neighbour or random person who takes my stuff off me!

Come fall, I wander through our local mom and pop hardware store and buy up all the seeds super cheap. Anywhere I see a deal on seeds, I buy them. My husband will actually have to track me down in the garden section of the store to make sure I am not buying seeds. I can't help it, I get into a store, and the word garden just pops out at me; and then of course I have to go check out the garden section. Next thing you know, I rifling through the selection of seeds.

I don't drink coffee so I guess I will have to use a Tupperware container to hold my seeds. I think I will clear a spot out in my mini fridge to hold my seeds.

Heather,

Just state in the subject posting that you have seeds for trade. In the message state more specifically what you have, how many seeds and what your looking for in exchange.

Here's an example post.

Subject of Posting: "Have tomato seeds for trade"

Message:
"Hello! I have Marglobe and Golden Jubilee tomato seeds for trade. I have about 15 seeds of each. I'm looking for winter squashes (Blue Hubbard, Golden Hubbards, and Table Queen Acorn specifically) and beans (bush: Top notch, Cherokee wax and Kinghorn wax specifically) for trade. Please post here and email me if interested in a trade."

Again this is an example, but it should give you some idea.

thanks, so I could just say I have X seed do you want them!

I'm a seed addict as well as a clearance plant addict! I went to the local farm and garden store yesterday to pick up a few parts for my drip system, and happy day, ALL nursery plants were 50% off as this store clears out in summer and shuts their nursery down for the rest of the year. In a frenzy, I filled up a buggy with yarrow, salvia, echinacea, a small Japanese maple, penstemons, blue fescue, and probably some other stuff that I'm forgetting. Then, on to the seed racks, where many of the seeds were also 50% off. I bought about 10 more seed packets despite having bought probably 60+ packets this spring between mail order and local seed racks. If there's a new interesting variety, I just can't resist it.

I keep mine in an airtight plastic container in the freezer, with a few silica packets, and the viability stays good for quite a while.

As someone else mentioned, at least this is one addiction that pays back. Veggies make up a large portion of our grocery bill, and that's slashed during growing season, so I never feel guilty buying more veggie seeds.

I put in a raised bed with pickling cukes last week, bought a Tabasco Pepper plant today & am putting in a round of Yellow Wax Beans sometime this week...lol.

I would help you if I could. . . but I can't even help myself. . .

Please help! I have asked many people about where to store my seeds and almost everyone has said to keep them in a dark, cool, dry place. Many have suggested putting my seeds in a plastic box like tupperware, adding a few dessicants and putting them in the bottom of my refrigerator.

Some have mentioned that putting seeds in the freezer would not be a good idea as it destroys the seeds. However, I have more room in my freezer than in my refrigerator (which means I can buy more seeds!).

Can someone please tell me the best way to store my seeds.
Is it safe to store all of my seeds in the freezer?
I mostly have vegetable, fruit and herb seeds (and want to buy more!).

Thanks,
Rita
Rita Abend

Thanks,
Rita
Rita Abend

Darn it, I'm so much a member of this club that someone on this thread mentioned Pinetree seeds and I thought, yes, I've been meaning to check them out,and I ordered $30 worth of seeds right then and there.

Hi, I hope no one minds that I am asking this again. I really need help from gardeners who have experience with this.

I have asked many gardeners about where to store my seeds and almost every gardener has said to keep them in a dark, cool, dry place. Many gardeners have suggested putting my seeds in a plastic box like tupperware, adding a few dessicants and putting them in the bottom of my refrigerator.

Some gardeners have mentioned that putting seeds in the freezer would not be a good idea as it destroys the seeds. However, I have more room in my freezer than in my refrigerator (which means I can buy more seeds!).

I would really like to hear your thoughts and experiences.
Can someone tell me the best way to store my seeds.
Is it safe to store all of my seeds in the freezer?
I mostly have vegetable, fruit and herb seeds (and want to buy more!).

Thanks,
Rita
Rita Abend

Thanks,
Rita
Rita Abend

I went on a seed shopping spree at Walmart when they first set up their seed displays and I bought the jumbo sized bags of corn, peas, beans etc.

I ended up taking back about $20 worth!! AND planted as many as I could in my garden. I guess one does not required 4 packets of the jumbo corn packets. (they were only $2 each and I just couldn't resist. I planted probably 75 stalks of corn and barely made a dent in the bag. The rest went back.

I do the same thing with plants that go on sale too. It's a disease called C.H.A.D. I'm sure you are familiar with it.

First time gardener here. Did NOT realize how many plants a single seed packet could sow. I must have bought over 75 dollars worth of seeds...I felt like a kid in a candy store.

LOL susancol!

Rita-i have heard that seeds stored in the freezer can last for a very long time. Best to store them in something like a mason jar. The key is that when you take the jar out of the freezer you must not open it until the entire contents have reached room temperature. This prevents condensation. As i understand it, it is the moisture from condensation that can spoil the seed.

i keep mine in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator-dryest spot in the house here.

What is C.H.A.D.? I think I might have it!!LOL

OMG and to think I was at the CTS just the other day, saw the seed rack and said "nope, I'm all set" but didn't know they were 75% off!!! I would have stocked up for next year at that price, since they are so cheap even w/out the sale.

well i not in a league like some of you lot but i just spent $25 dollars at Thompson @morgens sale (i used to use them in england ) at 99 cents a pks of seeds got 50% of my seeds for next year