I found out about Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds at the end of last year and it was too late for me to start any seeds. I’m really excited about these. They also have a killer variety of other “exotic” fruits and vegetables. What’s your favorite seed supplier?
by AProcessUnderstood
18 Comments
I’m here to warn you of the imminent flood of comments describing Baker Creek’s past unethical behavior.
But to answer your question, I’m a big fan of Wild Boar Farms. It’s a small business with a *very* wacky selection.
baker creek gets a lot of hate but I’ve had good luck with all of the seeds I’ve run from them. But I really like territorial seeds. Have had great results with them as well
Take a look at freeheirloomseeds.org
Seeds n such, thresh seed co, bucktown. Have had good luck with all of them. I used to like baker creek but got burned too many times.
I don’t have a favorite seed supplier, but I tried growing Uluru ochre tomato’s last year and they were amazing.
Baker creek sucks!! Horrible germination rates and they photoshop a lot of the plants you see in their catalog. Stay away from
http://www.growhoss.com
Their seeds are sturdy enough for swampy hellscapes, so I imagine they would do well in kinder places also. Every single thing I have bought from them has had great germination, and most have been very productive. Every season I keep growing more of their stuff.
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and Pinetree Garden Seeds also have good stuff and nice varieties. Johnny’s seeds and Victory Seed Co each often have things I can’t find anywhere else and those have been fun.
I have grown some things from Baker Creek. Some have been very successful and others total duds, but I think the latter is more a fault of variety choice and things being advertised as heat tolerant when they don’t mean my kind of heat (see: swampy hellscape). I’m also kind of annoyed that they label Thai Soldier long beans as “bush beans” (total lie, those beans ate my 16′ cattle panel trellis arch; they were productive though).
I have had great results from victory seeds
Any seed supplier that isn’t charging $.25 or more for a tomato seed is good with me.
Migardener has always been my favorite supplier. Great prices and varieties. Only downside I’ve found to ordering from them is their order fulfillment can be kind of slow at times, so if you’re in a rush to get your seeds it can be iffy. Otherwise they are great though if ya plan a little in advance.
Have used Bakers creek before as well, not as big of a fan of them. Worse pricing, but if I see enough things on there I want that Migardener doesn’t have I’ll order from them.
Those are the only two online dealers I have any experience with.
Corn/bean seeds I go to my local farm store. Can buy bulk seeds by the quarter pound/half pound/pound for around $5-15 depending on the variety and weight.
Anything I figure out I’m missing after all that I usually just go pick up at the local nursery already started or menards since they have good prices for burpee seeds for basic things.
Another warning of people possibly flooding you with hate for baker creek. I have loved their selection though.
Row 7 is fun, vintage seed co. is great, and true leaf market are favorites of mine.
I like Botanical Interests. They also have a [heirloom tomato seed bundle](https://www.botanicalinterests.com/products/heirloom-tomato-seed-collection) available
MIGARDENER, Johnnys, Victory, Seed Savers Exchange, Southern Exposure seed exchange, B.C., Burpee, and John Scheepers kitchen garden, are my go-to seed suppliers. I also like ( but haven’t tried as much from ) Territorial, Hoss, Harris, and Botanical Interests. Edit: How did I forget Wild Boar Farms?!
I had bad luck with Baker last year. Was it the seed, or was it me? Hard to say.
Their ‘exotic’ melons that I ordered did not grow well for me at all.
Beets that should have been fine also did not do well.
This year I’m sticking to seed growers within my region.
Ohio Heirloom Seeds did well for me last year, and I’m ordering from them again.
My favorites are Burpee and Johnny’s – I grow a lot of hybrids and I like their selections and the information they give. Baker Creek I find often lacks important growing info, but I do appreciate their photographs (especially on the seed packets) and their (seemingly unfiltered) customer review and rating system on their website site – really helpful to me when purchasing. Burpee does a good job at this too.
I also enjoy and buy seeds from Totally Tomatoes, Botanical Interests, Seeds n’ Such, Wildboar Farms, Reneé’s Garden, and Park Seed. Those I cycle through year by year, but I always buy from Johnny’s.
I am a fan of Bakers because they are local-ish to me.
Big fan of Pinetree this year too. And Territorial Seed Company has a dreamy catalog and I want everything on every page.
Johnny’s is to $$$.
I liked renaissance farms. It’s a black owned business in the south, lots of good heirlooms