Buying seeds from your local nursery or home improvement store is a breeze. Both venues have a vast selection. But seed catalogs and online merchants have a considerably greater assortment. Every gardener and garden is unique; however, when compared to purchasing seeds from a local nursery or home center, ordering seeds online or over the phone has several distinct advantages.
Seed Varieties
A vendor can only stock the most popular seed varieties since they have limited space. If you’re looking for uncommon or heirloom types, as well as disease-resistant strains, you’ll have to look online or in seed catalogs for them.
It is possible that seeds purchased from a retailer have not been properly kept. It is possible that store-bought seeds will not germinate consistently as a result of this. If you have a large garden, ordering seeds from a catalog or online is generally more cost-effective due to bulk discounts offered by seed companies.
Seed Order
Making a seed order offers up so many exciting new options, and it’s also a lot of fun to browse through and contemplate types you’ve never even considered before. If you decide to order seeds online, here are a few considerations to bear in mind:
- Make sure you order enough seeds, if not too many. The majority of seeds will not germinate, and there will always be some plant losses as a result of weather, pests, and a range of other factors. If at all possible, order seeds for your entire year’s worth of gardening at the beginning of the season to prevent having to wait till the end.
- As a result, if there are any seed shortages, you will not be deprived of the crop you had planned. Because of the economic slump and the constant rise in food prices, an increasing number of people are attempting to produce their fruits and vegetables in their backyards.
- Choose to place your purchase from seed firms located in your geographic or climatic region, as they will have the most up-to-date information on which types will thrive in the conditions of your location.
Companies Can Differ
It may be more than just the seeds. Companies can differ significantly in this area. Make sure you know the full cost, not simply the price of the seeds or plants in and of themselves. Check that the seeds you are purchasing are fresh and packed, particularly for the season you are purchasing them.
Germination Success
Seeds purchased at a deep discount may be no longer in season. Even though they are still viable in many circumstances, their germination success rate diminishes as they get older and are inadequately stored. Remember that you get what you pay for when it comes to purchasing something.
Identify the approximate number of seeds contained in a package. Some packets contain more seeds than you’ll ever need, but others will surprise you with the minimal amount of seeds included in the package. It is worthwhile to inquire to avoid the disappointment of discovering that you did not receive enough.