Three seasoned gardeners openly discuss their preferred seed purchasing spots
Going Green with Seeds:
Springtime is the perfect moment to refresh your garden and plan for the upcoming seasons. Browsing seed catalogues can be an exciting activity, envisioning how your garden will blossom throughout the year.
Here's a list of resources that might capture your gardening imagination:
- Protecting Grass Seed from Birds: Essential Tips
- Seasonal Sowing: A Guide for Success
- East Seeds to Sow Outdoors Now
- Top Online Seed Stores for Your Shopping Spree
Choosing environmentally-friendly seed suppliers also has numerous advantages—local, organic and ethical seed suppliers contribute to a greener planet by promoting sustainable seed farming.
Take a peek at the expert recommendations from these gardening aficionados:
Becky Crowley
Cut-flower specialist and assistant head gardener at Raby Castle
For flower enthusiasts, Derry Watkins' Special Plants Nursery is a top choice. Last spring, I had the pleasure of exploring Derry's inspiring garden near Bath, and I now frequent her online seed shop for garden staples such as verbascum, nicotiana, and lunarias. Keep an eye out for exotic offerings like Michauxia campanuloides, a challenging yet fascinating biennial. Derry's site is a reflection of her infectious enthusiasm and profound plant knowledge. specialplants.net
The Alma Proust Seed Shop is a dreamland for cut-flower lovers. Navigating the online shop is a journey into the picturesque, quintessentially British world of Paris Alma and Milli Proust. Their selection of hardy and half-hardy annuals boasts captivating photography and personal growing notes. Notable Seeds include antirrhinums, cosmos, rudbeckias, Icelandic poppies, and the elusive Colibri poppy. milliproust.com
For devotees of sweet peas, Roger Parsons' website is the go-to source, offering a wide selection of Spencer, Old Fashioned, and Grandiflora varieties, along with various species such as Lathyrus sativus var. azureus and bronze L. annuus 'Mrs R. Penney.' Each type has a scent score, enabling gardeners to plan an olfactory feast. rpsweetpeas.com
You might also like:
- Fast Growing Flowers: Quick Perennials to Grow from Seed
- A Biodiverse, Brilliant, and Beautiful Garden
- Our Favourite Seed Suppliers for your Online Seed Order
Benjamin Pope
Head Gardener and Writer
For something traditional and nostalgic, I turn to Thomas Etty Esq, a seed supplier of bygone eras, excelling in heritage varieties of vegetables and flowers. Among its offerings are time-honored plants like the perfect broad bean 'Mr Bunyard's Exhibition' and the aromatic squash 'Musquée de Provence,' along with international classics such as black Tuscan kale and 'Cherokee Princess' tomato. Information about the history of various vegetables and flowers can be found online or in the print catalogue. thomasetty.co.uk
For nature-focused gardening, I recommend Emorsgate Seeds. This family-run business has been providing wildflower seeds in the UK since 1980. The website is rich with information on wildflowers, ranging from individual species and meadow mixes to case studies and practical advice on establishing and maintaining natural environments. wildseed.co.uk
Plant World Seed ventures across the globe with its extensive seed selection, boasting hardy annuals, classic vegetables, uncommon perennials, and exotic rarities like loofah (Luffa aegyptiaca) and dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus). For an escape and a dash of excitement, look no further. plant-world-seeds.com
Coralie Thomas
Assistant head gardener at Great Dixter
Growild Nursery in Scotland specializes in rare, unusual, and begonia seeds. Its website emphasizes detailed photographs, descriptions of plant origins, expected habits, and potential garden uses, as well as tailored germination guidelines for each plant. The hand-packed seeds have consistently yielded high viability for me. Keep an eye on the 'Seeds just in' section for updates on fresh seed offers. growildnursery.co.uk
The Scottish Rock Gardening Club hosts an annual seed exchange, where members can request seeds for a small fee. Discovering unfamiliar plants from distant lands is a delight during the winter season. srgc.net
Chiltern Seeds is my go-to source for classic annuals, biennials, and intriguing new varieties. Its catalog is organized by color rather than alphabetically, making for a visually appealing and easy browsing experience. chilternseeds.co.uk
Greek plantsperson Liberto Dario, or Eleftherios Dariotis, offers an assortment of exotic seeds, primarily Mediterranean plants and bulbs. His photo gallery showcases various plants he cultivates in his garden, accompanied by sowing advice and context on their native habitats. For European gardeners seeking unusual seeds, this website is an excellent resource. mediterraneanseedsandbulbs.com
Johnny's Seeds, an American seed company, showcases an extensive variety of cut flowers and vegetables. Each year, I enjoy discovering new varieties it introduces. The resources on its website are unparalleled, with sowing date calculators, planning tools, and comprehensive growing guides. johnnyseeds.com
- Nature enthusiasts may be drawn to Derry Watkins' Special Plants Nursery for a wide variety of flowers, including exotic offerings like Michauxia campanuloides.
- The Alma Proust Seed Shop, with its captivating photography and personal growing notes, offers a selection of cut-flower seeds, such as antirrhinums, cosmos, rudbeckias, Icelandic poppies, and the elusive Colibri poppy.
- For devotees of sweet peas, Roger Parsons' website is a comprehensive resource, offering a wide variety of Spencer, Old Fashioned, and Grandiflora varieties.
- Plant World Seed, with its extensive global seed selection, includes hardy annuals, classic vegetables, uncommon perennials, and exotic rarities like loofah (Luffa aegyptiaca) and dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus).
- Gardening aficionados seeking unusual seeds may find Greek plantsperson Liberto Dario's website, Mediterranean Seeds and Bulbs, an excellent resource, offering a selection of exotic Mediterranean plants and bulbs.
