I just tossed $40 worth of 'rare' seeds that never grew

I mean, I got super excited about these fancy heirloom tomato seeds from an online shop last spring. They promised purple stripes and huge yields, but after two months of careful care, not one sprout came up. I tried different soil, moved them around for light, everything. Turns out the seller had a bunch of bad reviews I missed about old stock. It was a total waste of time and cash, plus I missed the planting window for my usual kinds. Has anyone else had this happen with a specific seed seller they thought was good?

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3 Comments

the_blair6mo ago

That seller's germination rate was perfect for me last season.

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jessew836mo ago

Interesting point from @the_blair. Makes me wonder if the seller's great rate is because they ship from a similar climate. My buddy in Arizona got seeds from a seller up north and had terrible luck, even with the same brand. The heat during shipping might have cooked them before they even got planted. Maybe your seller is local, or at least ships from a place with weather like yours.

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milesrobinson4mo ago

My last batch from a seller in Oregon went straight into a cooler for the drive home and I still lost about 30% of the tomato seeds. If you're getting seeds shipped through a hot mailbox, timing is everything. Tell @the_blair to ask the seller what day of the week they ship and try to have it arrive on a Monday or Tuesday. Less time sitting in a metal box over the weekend. Your buddy in Arizona might have been fine if the seller had used an insulated envelope instead of that thin plastic bag.

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