Grow Your Own Magazine

Hello all,

I was just wondering, I opened my packet of courgette Defender from suttons seeds to sow at the end of April/beg of may and found only 3 seeds in the packet. Not just that, none of them have germinated yet (they are indoors).

For £2.35 I think that's a really poor return. If they have been sown for this long are they likely to germinate now? Or should I just chuck 'em and get some more seed (for a different company this time!)

Thanks
Jess

Have a firkle in the pots to see whether you can find the seeds? Where (conditions-wise) are you trying to germinate them?

If you've grown courgettes before and this lot have been grown in a similar way I'd email Sutton Seeds and complain.

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Manda.

"Wouldn't it be nice
For maybe an hour
To not have a care."

If you have only found 3 seeds in pack take a look at this which claims average
/packet contents of 20!

Suttons Seeds: Vegetable Seeds: Courgette F1 Defender Seeds

I have found other well-known seed suppliers to be most obliging if their 'promise' falls short. This is WAY short and I'm sure if you drop an email they'll oblige with replacement or alternative of your choice?

Try - what have you to loose?

As long as you've followed the directions on the packet complain! Contact your supplier - if it was a local shop/garden centre visit them, if it was mail order contact the company direct. As you only had 3 seeds check the packet as this usually says how many seeds to expect. If it's and F1 variety you do usually get less, but £2. 35 for 3 seeds is EXPENSIVE!!!

I would certainly complain about the number of seeds - they seem very expensive and I'm sure Suttons would not want you to be so disappointed. Its the old adage about a dissatisfied customer telling 10 people where a satisfied one only tells one - bad news spreads fast1

As for germination - well my Defender have been slow to sprout this year (DT Brown was the supplier) although they are now coming through with patchy results...

This doesn't sound right to me, I've had fantastic results both in service and germination rates from Suttons. I just checked their site, and you should have got 20 i think. As to germination, i'd go back to where you bought them, who will either be more than happy to replace, or send you to suttons.

Just a thought, maybe check the BBE Date of the seeds too, maybe they've been sitting around for a bit.

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Gary

There was a report done about a year ago - it was about main seed supplier/reliability/germination rates etc. I can't recall who came out on top! However, I bought some really expensive F1 petunia seeds shortly afterwards, and they arrived in a shocking state - I couldn't even plant them. I complained to T&M (in this case) and they apologised profusely, actually mentioned this report and said they wanted to perform really well, and sent me new seeds and loads of freebies, which was a nice surprise.

Standards are usually high, but they need to told when it's that bad! Just be nice and polite and I'm sure they'll see you right!

Hi all,
Thanks for the helpful replies...i checked the packet and yes it does say average 20 seeds so I guess the filling system short changed me! I've not tried courgettes before, but i'll have a dig in the compost to see if they are germinating or if they are dud. I don't have a propagator but it was kept in a warm spot covered in plastic in the same spot which has germinated peppers and shirley toms so I thought they'd be ok but perhaps not!

Seeds were packed year ending 30.06.08 and should be sown by 6/2009 so i'm ok there still. I'll contact Sutton's direct as I can't remember where I bought the seeds exactly and see what they have to say.

Thanks all!
Jess

Also, when you put the seeds in the soil, make sure that you have them edge on rather than flat - sounds daft I know but from experience, it works because water doesn't lay on top of the seeds which makes them rot off quicker.

Can't remember where I picked this tip up but it was from a well recommended source.

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TonyF, Dordogne 24220

Yes I did this, can't remember where I read it either. Upon checking earlier, it seems that one seed is making some progress so it will possibly appear in the next few days or so which is good.

Jess