Members Preferred Vendors for Tomato Seeds

[BurgundySnail]

Yea, when real estate is precious in a garden growing out something not as billed is frustrating.

Out of 15 tomato plants this season, I’m certain one is not as advertised, Aker’s West Virginia from the MMMM swap is not Aker’s West Virginia. What I got was a small round red, 2-3 ounce tomato, of indifferent flavor. I’m almost certain Black from Tula isn’t the real deal Black from Tula since my tomatoes don’t resemble that variety. I grew out a bland dark tomato that was tiny and not anything like the billing.

Two out of 15 grow out negative surprises is about my limit as far as being not completely frustrating.

These experiences inform my 2025 grow outs. Which seeds and from where?

I am sad to hear about Black from tula from baker. I never had a mismatched seeds from them (although I don't remember how many varieties I've tried) but this is the only one that I was planning to get from them next year.

I am already making a list for 2025 and was planning to order from Casey's website and delectation of tomatoes. I hope that they will be better.

[bobrarian]

This is something that has been on my mind, as well. This summer, I grew out one tomato that was definitely crossed. Was supposed to be White Tomesol, but ended up being small, red, and hard (and not very tasty). I gave a seedling to a friend, whose tomato appears true to type. From the same seed packet, and from one of the most reputable vendors. I'm disappointed, but not upset. I understand it happens. But my next order will probably be elsewhere. I have space for only 10-12 plants.

When a plant does grow true and is productive and tasty, I'll save seeds from the first few tomatoes. I don't have a lot of pollinators, so they should grow true. I'm 99% confident.

Of course, like many others, I grow a couple plants from MMMM swap seeds. The risk is higher, but so is the reward from seeds that can be difficult (and expensive) to obtain.

I was tempted (more than once) to order from Bounty Hunter, but will probably pass on them unless their reviews/feedback improves.

In terms of vendors, my go-tos are Victory Seeds, Delectation of Tomatoes, and Baker Creek.

Bobby

[Seven Bends]

Everything I've purchased and grown from Tomato Growers Supply, Botanical Interests, Sand Hill Preservation, Victory Seed, Lake Valley Seed and Harris so far has grown true to type. Botanical Interests and Victory Seed both have changed hands in the last few years, so who knows what the future will bring.

I've gotten one off-type from each of MI Gardener, Renee's Garden, Bunny Hop, Park Seed, and Burpee. I probably won't purchase from MI Gardener again, because the one off-type I got from them is the only thing of theirs I've grown. Undecided about Renee's. I have several more Bunny Hop purchases to try before I decide about them. For Park & Burpee, I'll probably stick to their hybrid varieties and not buy any more heirlooms; I think they're best at hybrids, and I value them for it.

My MMMM seed results have been excellent so far, other than one off-type hybrid (Better Boy F1 seed that turned out to be something else). The OPs have grown true for me so far, to my non-expert knowledge at least.

[BurgundySnail]

I am sad to hear about Black from tula from baker. I never had a mismatched seeds from them (although I don't remember how many varieties I've tried) but this is the only one that I was planning to get from them next year.

I am already making a list for 2025 and was planning to order from Casey's website and delectation of tomatoes. I hope that they will be better.

Apparently I grew quite a few from Baker's over the last few years. All my tomatoes were exclusively from them. Yesterday I counted 22 varieties. And all of them were true to seed!

Never again will I use Bounty hunter.

IMG_20240708_001402__01.jpg

[TX-TomatoBug]

I ordered a few packets from Tomatofest. As a newbie, I have noticed that all the other vendors I used so far have included a date showing the age of the seed. Tomatofest did not and has not responded to two emails asking about seed age.

There's a string of numbers under the flap of each packet. Does anyone know if the date is buried in these numbers? Thanks!

[BansheeB]

Bounty Hunter Seeds - https://www.bountyhunterseeds.com/

TomatoFest - https://www.tomatofest.com/

Maybe will be usefull.
I had mismatches from these 2 places.

Ordered True Colors from Bounty Hunter Seeds - not true to seed. No reply from them on this matter as well.

OK, I am really angry right now with Bounty Hunter Seeds. I planted 14 varieties from them and turns out 2/14 are not true to seed.

True colors - supposed to be potato leaf, all 5 seeds that I planted are regular leaf.
Not purple strawberry - not purple, plain red tomato AND it's determinate.

Will not order from them again.

I ordered from them last year and only ONE variety was true to type out of 7 I grew from there. I've heard from quite a lot of people having the same issue from them. I tried leaving honest reviews on the website, just saying that the variety was not true to type, but it won't allow the reviews to post.

[BurgundySnail]

Bounty Hunter Seeds - https://www.bountyhunterseeds.com/

TomatoFest - https://www.tomatofest.com/

Maybe will be usefull.
I had mismatches from these 2 places.

Ordered True Colors from Bounty Hunter Seeds - not true to seed. No reply from them on this matter as well.

OK, I am really angry right now with Bounty Hunter Seeds. I planted 14 varieties from them and turns out 2/14 are not true to seed.

True colors - supposed to be potato leaf, all 5 seeds that I planted are regular leaf.
Not purple strawberry - not purple, plain red tomato AND it's determinate.

Will not order from them again.

I ordered from them last year and only ONE variety was true to type out of 7 I grew from there. I've heard from quite a lot of people having the same issue from them. I tried leaving honest reviews on the website, just saying that the variety was not true to type, but it won't allow the reviews to post.

Oh compared to you I am the lucky one! So sorry to hear that.

[Gardadore]

Has anyone purchased seed from Holmes Seed Company in Canton, Ohio? I just came across this company looking for some specific vegetable seeds. They seem to have good prices and reviews on Google and a large inventory. Considering placing an order and would appreciate some input.

[MissS]

I recently purchased seed from Right Off the Vine. This is a Facebook group owned by Kim Lund who is a member here @kdlund121. She offers a huge seed list with many rare varieties. Her customer service was excellent. If you have Facebook, check her out.

[rdback]

@MissS, looks like Kim's group on FB is "Right Off The Farm Heirloom Seeds". Just an fyi.

[MissS]

@MissS, looks like Kim's group on FB is "Right Off The Farm Heirloom Seeds". Just an fyi.

Thanks. That's what happens when you have Covid. LOL

[AZGardener]

Thanks for the info on Bounty Hunter. I was going to order from them but I think I'll pass for now.

[MissS]

I have added Home Grown in Illinois to the list. I purchased seeds from them and had great service with fast shipping. It's a nice small family shop with some great varieties. Another bonus is that they are active members here and very easy to talk to.

You have a nice store @Homegrwoninillinois.

[Seven Bends]

@MissS, I just checked out the list again for the first time in awhile and noticed Little Shop of Seeds is still listed. They stopped selling seeds as of April 2023, and the website doesn't exist anymore. (I wish they were still around.)

Thanks for maintaining this list; it's a great resource.

[Homegrwoninillinois]

I have added Home Grown in Illinois to the list. I purchased seeds from them and had great service with fast shipping. It's a nice small family shop with some great varieties. Another bonus is that they are active members here and very easy to talk to.

You have a nice store @Homegrwoninillinois.

Thank you @MissS , it’s been a slow process and still working on trying to perfect what I am doing but I put a lot of effort in to make sure I’m selling people the best open pollinated seeds that I can.

~Sam

[MissS]

I have added Home Grown in Illinois to the list. I purchased seeds from them and had great service with fast shipping. It's a nice small family shop with some great varieties. Another bonus is that they are active members here and very easy to talk to.

You have a nice store @Homegrwoninillinois.

Thank you @MissS , it’s been a slow process and still working on trying to perfect what I am doing but I put a lot of effort in to make sure I’m selling people the best open pollinated seeds that I can.

~Sam

If you PM me your address, I would be happy to send you some seeds.

[MissS]

I have also added two other vendors from across the pond. They do still ship worldwide. I had great service from both of them and they have a wonderful variety to select from. They are Bienes Seeds and Meraki Seeds.

[kdlund121]

@MissS, looks like Kim's group on FB is "Right Off The Farm Heirloom Seeds". Just an fyi.

Thank you for the wonderful words. Yes my group on face book is Right Off The Farm Heirloom Seeds. I have all of Martin's collection. I am currently working on what we call The Martin Project which is growing out and preserving his varieties.

[kdlund121]

So which vendor is the most reliable? I’ll order seed from a vendor that I feel confident that what was sold to me was as advertised.

As far as the swaps go, I totally understand seeds might vary, due to accidental crosses and similar events. Only a fraction of my grow outs will ever be swap seeds for this reason. My own save seeds are a gamble due to potential unintended crosses. Anyway, hate to understand that the professionals are flubbing seeds.

just so you know, places like Baker Creek and other seeds distributors all have growers that grow their stuff and send it back to them. It has really become the way the seed business is now run. There are some unscrupulous people out there who do not care whether the seeds are true to type, they just want their money for their time. I had a guy write to me right after he heard that I was the new curator of Martin's collection telling me he grew seeds for all these different companies like Baker Creek, Sow True Seeds etc. I sent him some seeds to grow for me at his request and once he got them I never heard another word back from him. So now I am really skeptical of who I send seeds to to grow out for me.