MAIL ORDER SEED SUPPLIERS

If you are thinking of placing an order for seeds, it is worth posting a note on the members’ forum as other members may wish to share the cost of postage, split packets or may have visitors coming out who could bring the seeds in their luggage and eliminate the need for postage charges altogether.

Chiltern Seeds

Bortree Stile

Ulverston

Cumbria

LA12 7PB

England

Tel 0044 (0) 1229 581137

Fax 0044 (0)1229 584549

Emai info@chilternseeds.co.uk

www.chilternseeds.co.uk

A comprehensive range of flowers,plants, cacti and vegetables from around the world. Many unusual varieties. Extensive mail order catalogue, also viewable online.

Quantities can be a little on the stingy side sometimes, but the variety of seeds on offer makes up for the packet size. It is worth investigating in a propagator if intending to try and grow some of the more exotic varieties, as germination instructions are only given once the seeds have arrived . Some involve inducing heat or refrigeration, and it doesn’t give this info upon ordering, only when the packets actually arrive, so be careful !!

The Chilli Pepper Co.

www.chileseeds.co.uk

The one stop chilli shop!

This company stock an astonishing range of the hottest, weirdest and most wonderful chillies around. Seeds from all over the world, and a good collection of unusual tomatoes as well.

These products generally grow well in our climate and these make interesting patio plants as well as solving one of lifes’ perpetual problems – where to buy fiery chillies here in Spain.

Jungle seeds

www.jungleseeds.co.uk

Stock some truly weird and wonderful exotic plants and some rare and exotic vegetables. Do not send a printed catalogue outside of the uk without considerable postage, so it’s a case of having to ask a family member to get one or browsing online.

Real Seeds.

We buy a lot of our own veg seeds from this company as the quantities are extremely generous, the couple that run this little home business lived in spain for 7 years and have lots of good varieties from around the world that grow very well here. They’re also an ethical business, run by gardeners, for gardeners.

We would particularly recommend their kales, which grow extremely well here, crop generously and seem to be less vulnerable to total destruction. We’ve also done very well with their turnips, navet de nancy which grow quickly and well, spinach, mizuna, mispoona and beetroots. The rapid hearting cabbages have done well, as have some of the lettuces. Don’t go too mad on the fancy tomatoes, we got a bit carried away and found some of the varieties didn’t cope with the heat very well.

If anyone wants to order, put a message on the forum and we’ll add a couple of things to your order!

www.realseeds.co.uk

Sarah Raven

Online shopping for seeds, bulbs, books, gardening and cooking equipment.

Nice, trendy website that’s lovely to browse around. We’ve had some of her seeds and they were good, the quantities were reasonably generous and the plants came true. Has a few nice trendy veg and patio pot vegs.( Seed packets are really great!)

www.sarahraven.com

Seeds of Italy.

Franchi seeds, the real thing. Tantalising mix of unusual veg. We’ve found many Italian varieties do well out here as the Italians have to cope with the same climatic conditions as we do, and some of these tomato varieties cropped well and stood up to the heat.

Go easy on the squashes, unless you’ve got a nice shady orchard area, they can be clobbered by the heat. We did better with local varieties bought in Spain, from the outdoor markets , and planted when the Spanish plant them.

 www.seedsofitaly.com

Suttons seeds

www.suttons.co.uk/seeds

Order online or call 0844 922 0606.

Old, established firm of seed suppliers, founded 1806, stocking over 1500 varieties of flowers, veg and bulbs.

Good selection of patio veg, and send out a well produced newsletter by email.

Our members are offered substantial discounts off a group order. We will post full details soon and notify members so that we can take full advantage of this offer.

Our favourite source for cut and come again lettuces, the perfect lettuces to grow in patio pots as the mixed shapes and colours of the leaves make a fabulous display as well as providing fresh salad leaves all year around.

Thompson and Morgan

Suppliers of seeds and equipment since 1855. Good website with lots of information, supplying bulbs, vegs, flowers, garlics etc.

Call 0844 248 5383 or see www.thompson-morgan.com

BULBS AND CORMS

As with seeds, there are dozens of bulb suppliers listed on the internet. If anyone has a particular favourite, please let us know and we’ll list it here.

We’ve had several disappointing bulb experiences here, as the climate can cause problems for several of our old uk favourites, and have resorted to buying irises , crocosmia and daffodils from Lidl when they’re on offer and just being delighted if they reappear the following spring.

Please let us know your success stories so we can pass on the information, maybe swap a few successes at the monthly plant swap and share the knowledge around.