It should be understood that even short time-scale heat is a killer for seeds, and you have no idea what conditions were seen by your seeds as they went through USPS processing, especially during the summer. In some respects, one might be more confident about big box store seed treatment. The big box stores KNOW what they're shipping and can be smart about how they do it. The USPS does not. Very true that seed racks in big box stores often come out when it's too late. Down here, you seed tomatoes in January, and plant out in late February. Need to beat the heat in early summer. You often don't see summer seed racks out until March, such that by the time those tomato plants are mature, the plants will be enduring heat that will prevent pollination.

I suspect a lot of returned seed is tested for germination rate and if acceptable repackaged and resold, possibly as some discount brand. You notice the seed packages say packed for such and such a year, not that the seeds were produced in that year. The poster that said the companies don't want their seed sold on clearance sale is also probably right, too many gardeners would catch on that most seed properly stored is good for at least a few years, with some exceptions. However some big box stores have their seed racks sitting in an area exposed to the elements and in direct sunlight, that seed might not be good even in the year the package says packed for. I always pick a packet from the back where the sun isn't shining on it directly.

Stage rat. you have to understand the mindset of these engineers, with genius IQ's in math. They are perfectionist's to boot. enough that, sometimes, it can drive you crazy. He'll count just about anything in a seed packet, but even he draws the line when he hit the package of lettuce seeds and opened the inner foil packet and saw way to many seeds for even his patience. I quietly sat there, grinning to myself and thinking "finally a seed packet that you refuse to play with and count." Karen, I'm the one that has been posting the numbers in the seed packets in the burpee seeds on the rack. Been doing it for a couple of years now. K-mart has the seeds in the stores in MA now. I do miss the Martha Stewart seeds they carried when they had a contract with her. She had quite a few seed packets that others didn't have. Can't seem to find a store that carries them now. Fran

Thanks for the tip, Joe! I have to go to HD tomorrow for some weather stripping so I'll check out the selection. I'm not in N.Ca though, I'm in So. CA. but in an area with mild summer temps. Do you have any recs for what would do well in mostly 80 degree temps? I already have blueberries but was thinking of trying some raspberries, too. Diana