Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can you provide so many seeds per packet and sell them so cheaply?

We offer a professional seeds supply only service. We keep costs to a minimum by carefully selecting and sourcing our varieties direct from growers and by only using quality packaging which is essential to protect your order. Our vegetable, herb and flower seeds are dispatched in plain, clearly labelled foil or grip-seal clear packets with no outer pictorial packet. Full variety names, seed quantity, packaging and sow by dates are on every packet with cultivation advice provided on the listing pages for those that require them. Also, although we have a stock list of our varieties which can be sent to customers on provision of an email address, we don't produce an expensive, glossy catalogue.

2. Are your seeds from a trusted source?

We source all our seeds from over 30 well established and respected professional commercial growers in many different countries. Our high turnover ensures we have only the freshest seed in stock.   All ours seeds are independently tested by the grower and on arrival in our own lab facilities by ourselves before sale. Our own minimum germination standards are set considerably above the requirements required by EU/UK law and from experience far above those of the major garden centre brands.

3. How long can I keep the seeds?

Different seeds can be saved for different lengths of time. Viability charts are available via the wonder of the World Wide Web. They will give you the average number of viable years for each variety. Parsnip seed viability drops after the first year, Watermelon can be stored for 5 years and Poppies can live in the soil for over fifty years, germinating only when the conditions are correct.

All our packets have clearly labelled sow by dates allowing sowing over 2 seasons in order to benefit from the large seed counts provided, although if stored in a cool dark, dry location in many cases will far exceed this.  Seed viability usually steadily decreases over time, rather than a sudden drop.

4. Why have I received brightly coloured seeds.

A very small number of our vegetable varieties are supplied as dressed seed to improve germination rates at no additional cost. All coatings are EU approved safe fungicides for domestic cultivation that are rendered inactive in the soil after a short period.

Hands should be washed after handling the seed or gloves worn if there is a risk of allergies. Treated seed is for cultivation and should never be directly consumed.

If you are concerned in any way please contact us prior to any purchase with the variety name and we will confirm if the seed batch is treated.

5. What is a DEFRA (APHA) registration?

This is a legal requirement in the UK for any person or company who packages and sells seeds (Ignored by many small sellers). All legal registered seed suppliers are thoroughly inspected annually to ensure correct records, standards, Bio security and quality of products. Any seller who does not have a registration is trading outside the law and their product should be treated with caution.

6. I don't live in the United Kingdom - can I still buy your seeds?

Following BREXIT all countries in the EU plus NI have varying regulations which require Phytosanitary arrangements in most cases and customers should check that no legislation exists to prevent the importation of seeds before contacting us.   Please note a Phtyo certificate costs around £150 per shipment , plus the cost of any testing.

Please note any claim for non-delivery of an order must be made within 30 days of dispatch. Claims thereafter will be not be accepted.

10. Do you offer bulk discounts?

We offer discounted bulk packets on many of our listing pages which will show on the drop down menu if available.   If you cannot see the variety you require, or need larger quantities we can offer any of our varieties in bulk quantities, with discounts, which will be packaged to your requirements with discounts quoted on request varying by variety. Please simply email us your requirements.

11. Any Problems?

We pride ourselves on our customer service and in the unlikely event of there being any mistake, problem with our service or product, please contact us immediately by email so we can resolve the issue to your entire satisfaction and ensure it does not re-occur for any other customer. We reply to all messages received  within 24 hrs on weekdays. If you have not received replies please re-send the message as your message or our reply may have been lost in the system. We respectfully request that any query or complaint is forwarded in a polite and factual manner, to which we will do our best to resolve.

12. Refund Policy?

We wish you to be entirely satisfied with any purchase from us and thus offer an unconditional full refund for any item returned, which must be requested within 14 days from receipt of the package. Please notify us in advance of any item being returned. Items returned are at buyers expense for postage, recorded delivery is recommended for higher value items, and items must be received in their original packaging and condition as new.

13.  Problems at checked out