FARM Great seed source

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summerthyme

Administrator
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I'm on my stupid phone, so forgive any typos. Windstream is supposed to show up.to fix the broken line that's been draped in our maple tree for a week, sometime today.

I see people are having trouble finding heirloom seeds... I discovered a great site in the Ukraine this spring. Fantastic prices and selection... almost all are OP. Their packets aren't fancy, but compare seed counts with almost any US sources... amazing. One exception is peas and beans.. you'll get a better deal buying them by the ounce or pound. And they don't carry any corn :-(

NIKITOVKA Seeds - Seeds from Ukraine and Eastern Europe

Quality vegetable, herb and flower seeds from Ukraine and Europe for growers and gardeners
nikitovka.com nikitovka.com

I held off on posting this until I had a chance to order and check out their service and seed quality...both were excellent. I just placed another order, and should now be set on seeds for next year.

They have a few things out of stock, but not many. One issue...their maturity dates are screwy. I think most are figured from seed planting, rather than transplant, but since their climate corresponds to our Zone 6 (as far as I can tell), I figured as long as I chose earlier varieties, even here in Zone 5 I shouldn't have trouble getting stuff to mature.

I'm going to be going through my massive (and aging) seed collection, and tossing a ton of older stuff. Can't move it all, and I have a strong feeling we're going to need to be able to rely on everything that we plant growing. It really feels like time is getting short.

Summerthyme
 
S

summerthyme

Administrator
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I hear you! Check out the seed counts!

I only tried a cucumber and one melon (having started all my plants before ordering) but germination was near 100%, and the canteloupe already has melons the size of softballs. The cukes are incredible, too...

Summerthyme
 
Z

zeker

Has No Life - Lives on TB
summerthyme said:
I'm on my stupid phone, so forgive any typos. Windstream is supposed to show up.to fix the broken line that's been draped in our maple tree for a week, sometime today.

I see people are having trouble finding heirloom seeds... I discovered a great site in the Ukraine this spring. Fantastic prices and selection... almost all are OP. Their packets aren't fancy, but compare seed counts with almost any US sources... amazing. One exception is peas and beans.. you'll get a better deal buying them by the ounce or pound. And they don't carry any corn :-(

NIKITOVKA Seeds - Seeds from Ukraine and Eastern Europe

Quality vegetable, herb and flower seeds from Ukraine and Europe for growers and gardeners
nikitovka.com nikitovka.com

I held off on posting this until I had a chance to order and check out their service and seed quality...both were excellent. I just placed another order, and should now be set on seeds for next year.

They have a few things out of stock, but not many. One issue...their maturity dates are screwy. I think most are figured from seed planting, rather than transplant, but since their climate corresponds to our Zone 6 (as far as I can tell), I figured as long as I chose earlier varieties, even here in Zone 5 I shouldn't have trouble getting stuff to mature.

I'm going to be going through my massive (and aging) seed collection, and tossing a ton of older stuff. Can't move it all, and I have a strong feeling we're going to need to be able to rely on everything that we plant growing. It really feels like time is getting short.

Summerthyme
Click to expand...

almost everything I panted this yr

didnt make it

i hang onto seeds forever

apparently.. forever is too long
 
F

FireDance

TB Fanatic
summerthyme said:
I hear you! Check out the seed counts!

I only tried a cucumber and one melon (having started all my plants before ordering) but germination was near 100%, and the canteloupe already has melons the size of softballs. The cukes are incredible, too...

Summerthyme
Click to expand...
Wow. Nice site. I am having to wait later and later to put things out and then BAM it gets hot as hades and things are struggling.

I had wondered if by getting seeds from somewhere like this might help. Although you’d still be dealing with frost nights, if these plants seem to be somewhere in 6 zone (we are in 7b) it might help get things in the ground a wee faster.

No one (mad women or plants) likes it when it goes from 40 to 80 overnight. Stoopid weather. (Obligatory complaint. )
 
S

summerthyme

Administrator
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zeker said:
almost everything I panted this yr

didnt make it

i hang onto seeds forever

apparently.. forever is too long
Click to expand...
Sadly, yes. Stored carefully (even frozen, if packaged properly to eliminate any chance of moisture getting in) seeds can last a long time. We planted 11 year old sweet corn this year, and had excellent germination. But the seed was frozen from the 2nd year... sweet corn seed is one of the types that traditionally doesn't give good germination past 3 years, max.

That's why I'm restocking, and why I was excited to find such a reasonably priced source. I save my own beans and pea seeds, as well as tomatoes, and have been developing several varieties of sweet bell peppers that now seem stable enough to be named. And I've been saving a couple varieties of OP field corn for years. But I never seem to manage to hand pollinate my vine crops to get pure seed, and l love variety too much to grow just one type of winter squash or pumpkin, much less melons! And saving seed from root crops like carrots, or the Cole crops, just hasn't worked well... I had a good crop of a nice OP broccoli a couple years ago which bloomed early, and had hundreds of honeybees swarming it. I *might* have gotten half a dozen mature seeds! Much easier to buy them, at this point in time!

Summerthyme
 
bev

bev

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Stupid question from a newbie...

I know from watching Border Patrol a long time ago that there are certain plants that cannot legally be brought into the US. Probably exotic types, can’t think of examples at the moment.

Would the same go for seeds?
 
S

summerthyme

Administrator
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I'm sure they have the proper permits for exporting to the US. In general, seeds are "safe", with the exception of some varieties which are considered invasive. Plants, roots, or anything with soil (or contaminated with soil) are a problem because of the potential to import disease, insects or invasive weed seeds.

Summerthyme
 
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W

Wildwood

Veteran Member
summerthyme said:
I'm on my stupid phone, so forgive any typos. Windstream is supposed to show up.to fix the broken line that's been draped in our maple tree for a week, sometime today.

I see people are having trouble finding heirloom seeds... I discovered a great site in the Ukraine this spring. Fantastic prices and selection... almost all are OP. Their packets aren't fancy, but compare seed counts with almost any US sources... amazing. One exception is peas and beans.. you'll get a better deal buying them by the ounce or pound. And they don't carry any corn :-(

NIKITOVKA Seeds - Seeds from Ukraine and Eastern Europe

Quality vegetable, herb and flower seeds from Ukraine and Europe for growers and gardeners
nikitovka.com nikitovka.com

I held off on posting this until I had a chance to order and check out their service and seed quality...both were excellent. I just placed another order, and should now be set on seeds for next year.

They have a few things out of stock, but not many. One issue...their maturity dates are screwy. I think most are figured from seed planting, rather than transplant, but since their climate corresponds to our Zone 6 (as far as I can tell), I figured as long as I chose earlier varieties, even here in Zone 5 I shouldn't have trouble getting stuff to mature.

I'm going to be going through my massive (and aging) seed collection, and tossing a ton of older stuff. Can't move it all, and I have a strong feeling we're going to need to be able to rely on everything that we plant growing. It really feels like time is getting short.

Summerthyme
Click to expand...
Thanks for the heads up on the new source. I'm about to do a seed purge too. I'm noticing the seeds I've bought in the last few years aren't staying viable as long as they use to. They are either treating them with something so they don't last as long or they are selling older seed.

Years ago all the local stores put their seeds on clearance toward the end of the planting season. Now most of the distributors pull the seeds before folks are through planting their spring garden. Makes me wonder what they are doing with all those pulled seeds.

I feel the same way and have a sense of urgency about the garden I've never had before. It's not a hobby this year. I'm already pulling stuff and replanting and planning my fall garden. Here, I can get in a second crop of summer plants so I started a whole new round of seeds as soon as I got the first bunch planted. We expanded our garden this year and will be adding more for next spring.
 
blackjeep

blackjeep

The end times are here.
summerthyme said:
almost all are OP
Click to expand...
iu


????????????????

:lol:
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
Be careful:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiyGdZxKSvA&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3J_rIv9a6rEj4CBoLAL9WL-gT93KjJFpNv43sQhDIHkeNJyH07fqWkCjE
18:39 min
THE VERY REAL DANGER OF ORDERING SEEDS FROM WISH OR EBAY! PLEASE WATCH!!! | Gardening in Canada
•Jul 20, 2020


Gardening In Canada
Ordering seeds online from retailers such as wish and eBay is a very popular past time for a lot of people. But did you know there are some VERY real risks associated with online ordering or seeds and plants. Where you may think it’s an innocent fun idea to fuel your plant passion it is actually incredibly dangerous. Whether you like it or not you may very well be pulling your country, neighbours or even continent at risk. In this video we dish the dirt on exactly what responsibility you’re taking on the moment you order seeds or plants from another country. If you chosen to purchase seed from China or ever a neighbouring country I will explain exactly what you need to do to ensure you will not harm the environment.
 
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SageRock

SageRock

Veteran Member
If the seeds are from the Ukraine, are they from anywhere near Chernobyl? It might not be such a good idea, if so. Also, domesticated seeds can sometimes be contaminated with weed seeds, and there is a particularly nasty weed called Russian Thistle which was brought to North America by Ukrainian immigrants, mixed in with their grain seeds. Russian Thistle grows very rapidly into a tough, gnarly, nasty, stinging plant that is very difficult to uproot until it goes to seed, at which point it forms a very large tumbleweed and rolls along the ground, spreading seeds far and wide.

Buyer beware!
 
energy_wave

energy_wave

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I had one hell of a time getting my garden started. Mercury was in retrograde and I'm a Sagittarius. It was a total mess on all fronts. I couldn't get anyone to give me a quote for a few yards of compost or get a delivery, not even a return call...WTF!

I ended up hoofing it up into the woods with a wheelbarrow to dig through piles of composted wood chips. Man was it a bitch haling it back to my home. Then I screened it all along with top soil from around my home and made excellent potting soil. I built raised beds on 2 foot legs to get everything off the ground and away from the groundhogs. So far, most everything I planted has done well, except the pole bean seeds from Home Depot, 16 the first time grew 3 plants, 16 the 2nd time did nothing and the last 14 resulted in two actual pole beans. The others are stunted at 4 to 5 inches tall. My beets are doing great. Peas are flowering and grabbing the string lines. Dam broccoli bolted due to the one week end of June with 90 degree heat, so all my plants were lost when they went to seed. Next year I'll bury a garden hose in the bed and run water through it to cool the soil. Brussel Sprouts from seed are not to bad but the squirrels are chewing them to shit. I did sprinkle hot pepper all around with good results. Any other year, I could find all the plants I wanted. This year, due to the pandemic, everything was sold out, even the restock. I'm lucky to have what I have growing. I'm looking for some seeds now as well as picking up canning supplies early. Don't wait people. Get your jars and bottles now while you can still find them.

Nothing worse then having your harvest ready after months of hard work and you can't preserve it.
 
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S

summerthyme

Administrator
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I absolutely agree that buying seeds from eBay or other *individual* sources in another country is extremely ill advised. As I said above, the chances of importing weed seeds, insects or pkant diseases are too high to risk. As a 45 year-long farmer, I'm extremely aware of those risks.

However, this is a commercial company, and I bought seeds and tried them first. I inspected several packets (very easy to do... they are just tiny ziploc bags) for any "off type" seeds, looking as well for damaged or broken seeds, and hint of dirt, etc.

They are extremely clean.... *much* cleaner than several packets of mixed Sunflower seeds I got from Burpee seeds a couple years ago, which were truly pathetic.

I'm not worried.

Summerthyme
 
S

summerthyme

Administrator
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On your broccoli, cut off all the flowering stalks, give them a boost of Miracle gro or a side dressing of compost and keep them watered. You should get a long secondary harvest of side shoots which will still add up to a significant harvest...

Summerthyme
 
bbbuddy

bbbuddy

DEPLORABLE ME
ST you said the packages weren't great, is there any information about the plant on them?
I just placed a large order for next year and wonder if I need to screen shot each one so i know info on what I'm planting.

Thanks much for the link!
 
skwentnaflyer

skwentnaflyer

Veteran Member
I just placed my second order too. The summer squash and cukes are doing amazing. I have some Rollik zukes with six squash in a ring around the plant like nursing puppies. They took about 35 days from planting to producing.

Info on the seed packets isn't great, but you can print out and save the description from the website.
 
B

bluelady

Veteran Member
Saw this on Facebook today:

https://www.facebook.com/WAStateDeptAg/photos/a.10151025620032906/10158360747457906
View: https://www.facebook.com/WAStateDeptAg/photos/a.10151025620032906/10158360747457906/?type=3&theater



Washington State Department of Agriculture

Today we received reports of people receiving seeds in the mail from China that they did not order. The seeds are sent in packages usually stating that the contents are jewelry. Unsolicited seeds could be invasive, introduce diseases to local plants, or be harmful to livestock.

Here's what to do if you receive unsolicited seeds from another country:

1) DO NOT plant them and if they are in sealed packaging (as in the photo below) don't open the sealed package.

2) This is known as agricultural smuggling. Report it to USDA and maintain the seeds and packaging until USDA instructs you what to do with the packages and seeds. They may be needed as evidence. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/import-information/sa_sitc/ct_antismuggling
 
S

summerthyme

Administrator
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Updating this to say I just finished a big order with this company again. We planted a watermelon assortment last year, and got over 200 melons!

Our only failure was Brussels Sprouts... I probably should have topped the plants a month earlier than I did. I'm going to buy a hybrid variety from a different source. But overall, germination, plant health and quality, and yields were excellent.

Summerthyme
 
meezy

meezy

I think I can...
I already ordered my seeds -- I usually just use Gurney's, as I have a friend whose husband works there and it's kinda local to me. But wow, I am blown away by the variety of that Ukraine seed company. I am definitely going to find some room for some of the unique varieties. So. Many. Tomatoes!!!!
 
Freeholder

Freeholder

This too shall pass.
I got some seeds from this company last year, and they look great, though are in tiny zip-lock bags. The one issue I did have is that someone used my information to try to charge me four times for the one purchase! I don't know that it was someone at the company, but it would be a good idea to monitor your accounts closely for a while after you make the purchase.

Kathleen
 
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