How much do you spend?

[stella]

Sounds like alot of seeds. Trouble is they look so good in the magazine dont they. However there does tend to be a lot of seed in the packet and you will need alot of space/years to grow them all. I bought some Turnip last week because they sounded just what I needed, when I got them home and read the small print found out there were a thousand seeds in there. My thats a fair few turnips

[blue411]

Ive had two growing years, the first i grew everything in pots and last year i built raised beds but had to move out of my house for 6 months for building work ( rabbits and caterpillars had a party), and i went nuts when it came to buying seeds and everything else that goes with it, and i still have half of what i bought in my seed box, it was a waste of my money.This year im planning to dig up part of my back garden and I WILL turn it into a mini allotment, but im being realistic in what i can grow, and growing what i want to grow because i like it and want to eat it not because it looked good in a magazine or seed catalogue, my first year a bought so much lettuce seed ( because you can always eat that..hmm yeah right) i grew about 20 different types and they all bolted! So as a relative newbie im all about having fun and experimenting but also doing my best to be a realistic gardener.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

How much! I've still to buy some carrot seeds - probably buy them 49p a packet in Morrisons. My seeds for this year cost less than �16 (from MoreVeg and Real Seeds). I'm planning on buying a few fruit bushes but will wait until I get some vouchers.

[Flummery]

If you've got an allotment, most growers on there will have rhubarb plants. Ask around if anyone's going to split one and can you have a bit. Rhubarb grows like a weed!
Next year, save seeds from your peas, climbing or dwarf french beans and tomatoes. You need never buy them again. Swap half packets with people. I buy less and less each year - the generous people on here happily swap so the number of varieties I grow has increased while my expenditure (except on postage) has gone down.

Step away, think again and ask around!

[northepaul]

Hmm if you add in the cost of, say, fruit trees which are initially espensive, (�15 ish) I bought four last year, thats nearly �80....so in theory then it could easily mount up to �100...

[pipkins]

When I first sat down with the said Marshalls Catalogue I to had an order which was �121 with out any fruit bushes or trees it is so easy done.

I tried very hard to decide what we really needed wrote a list and then looked for the same varieties else where, Mr Fothergills had most and were a damn sight cheaper order came in about �50.

Shop around to get the best deal is all I can say

[Glutton4...]

Am I the only one who throws seed catalogues away? I prefer to buy small quantities, usually on eBay, or from swaps (I actually had a little buying session just last week ). This year, so far, I have spent in the region of �40 including postage. That, together with all the freebies that come with magazines, and I've still probably got far more than I need.

[piskieinboots]

If you can afford it and it makes you happy - crack on

[quark1]

It does sound a lot but if this is within your budget who are we - especially me - to criticise?

There are many ways to cut costs as described by others above - and later below!

What I would advise is that you go for quality and not necessarily quantity whatever you're buying. There will be nothing more discouraging than planting up all those swanky-priced seeds etc only to find that in excess of 50% fail. And it can be even worse failure rates than that. If there is a serious germination problem then at least try and get a refund from the seed supplier - provided that you've followed instructions meticulously. They can only say NO and maybe even say YES via a credit note or replacement.

So quality and ease of growth would be my tip to a novice - whether that be in a garden, lottie, patio or windowbox/sill.

Welcome to the vine and happy growing.

[dogsbody]

As I tend to buy nearly all my seeds during the garden centre's twice yearly half price (or less) seed sales I tend not to spend all that much, but still have three shoe boxes full of seed packets......

[Jardiniere]

i've just sent off an order for seeds for 62 euros which is about �50 ish. And I will be buying seeds from Gamm Vert or the Jardinerie during the spring - probably another �30...there are no cheap ways of buying seeds here that i have come across...supermarkets have basic seeds but i like to try different varieties.
But this is (one of) my hobb(y)(ies)and I will get more than �80 worth of fruit and veg and herbs from ths lot...and i will get exercise and (seen the view from my land?) weeks and weeks of PURE JOY.

[marathon]

That's a lot to spend on your first year. I can understand sewing a few different tom's and peppers and beans but for the rest i would stick to one variety. I've built my seeds up over time and introduce maybe one or two new veg/fruit each year. This year my spend will be about �36 and that includes rent of �23. As said above try to swap seeds with other people. I encourage this on our site and everyone normally joins in plus look at the seed swap on this forum.

I have used realseads over the years and now have a good supply of pepper, tomato,cucumber, squash, courgette, peas and beans and I'm hoping that my saved leek seed from last year will prove to be a success too.

Only last night I went through my seed stash and found some packets of seeds that I can still make use of.

I have manure left over from last year (narmally pay �20 for 3 tonnes of organic cow manure)so have enough of that and my soil is very good now so one big bag of compost is enough for sewing seed.

[Polly Fouracre]

We've all been there, dear, you'll learn, you'll learn!! My seed bill this year, �23, and that includes some new varieties.

[jacob marley]

I spent �25 quid on seeds this year and that included about �9 quid for a mates wife to make the order up it was a lot more but with the 40% discount for ordering the the society it made it �25 Quid and �8 quid for seed spuds from the nursery shop in Nuneaton where you can buy them loose.
I have 2 full size plots so you do not need that much ....jacob

[Newbie]

Please be aware that Wilkinsons are doing Rhubarb, Asparagus crowns, Seed Potatoes, fruit bushes of all kinds and such like for �3 each or less. B&Q also have some good offers on fruit bushes & seed spuds. Shop around if you can be bothered and you will find some of the things you're buying much cheaper elsewhere, and not necessarily compromising on quality. Last year my �1 seed spuds from Wilkinsons faired much better than my �several ones from Marshalls.