My Favourite Seed Sources

Happy Floret Release Week to all those who celebrated and indulged.

For those who are unaware, the Floret Originals are a collection of seeds that have been bred by Erin Benzakein of Floret. They were first released in the US earlier this year and it wasn’t clear if they would ever make their way to Australia.

At the time I spent far too long investigating the ins and outs of getting some seeds through Australia’s current Biosecurity regulations, before deciding if they were meant to be mine there would be an easier way.

As fate would have it, I was lucky enough to be able to score all of the varieties on my wishlist.

It is, hopefully, going to be a beautiful, pastel, summer and autumn.

In some of the discourse surrounding the release I saw some lamenting that Floret no longer sell their curated collection of non-original seeds, and that we have been unable to purchase them here in Australia for a few years before they closed their old seed shop.

However, while some varieties used to be only available via importing from the states, in the few years that I have been growing it appears that the selection of seeds in Australia has really improved.

There isn’t much that we can’t find here - provided it can legally be imported. Unfortunately, I think we’ll still be waiting awhile before we see Procut Sunflowers - though I’d love to be proven wrong!

To help you out I’ve compiled a list of my favourite online seed shops - some wholesale, and some retail.

Growing from seed can be an economical way to produce thousands of plants - though it can be labour intensive. I like to start everything from seed because it gives me a wider selection of cultivars to play with and also because I know what my plants have been treated with (no unknown pesticides).

Wholesale or Retail - which is better?

While I am a micro flower farm, I do sometimes wonder whether I would be better purchasing larger wholesale quantities of seed or sticking to retail packets. I might not grow thousands of a single colour or cultivar, but sometimes it feels a little silly to pay premium prices for small quantities.

Here’s how I try to think about it.

If you purchase from a wholesaler you will pay a smaller amount per seed, but might find you end up paying more overall as wholesalers often have minimum spends per variety. Similarly, you might find that to reach the minimum you end up with heaps more seed than you will be able to use in a year. This means that you will have to spend some time cataloguing and tracking an inventory of your remaining seed, and making sure you store it correctly to make the most of your investment.

The other thing to think about is that by purchasing from a wholesaler, and especially one like Ball Australia, you will be growing the same cultivars as the really big commercial growers - putting yourself in direct competition. While you might be able to offer a better quality, keep in mind that, if their prices are particularly low, it might be difficult to ask for the price that you need for profitability (you likely have higher costs as you cannot rely on the economy of scale).

Boutique seed shops can offer a point of difference which is great for setting yourself apart as a small grower.

You might spend a little more per seed, but, depending on your size, it might end up that you spend less overall than meeting wholesale minimums. Further, it can be convenient to simply purchase your seeds as needed and not need to keep track of extras. This way you can also have some confidence that your seed is viable when you need it.

I typically do a bit of each and annually do a check to see what I am spending for each crop to see if it is worth switching from one source to another.

Wholesale Suppliers

Highsun Express Seeds - based in Queensland this has become my favourite source for wholesale seeds. They have a great range of cut flowers, add new lines regularly, and are increasingly offering a beautiful range of the flowers I actually want to grow. Even better, their checkout process is automated and you simply add to your cart and go. Shipping is quick. Information on the packet is sparse (wholesalers typically expect you know what you’re doing) but cover quantity supplied and germination rate.

Ball Australia - a wonderful resource, especially if you want to purchase larger quantities. They have a huge range of cut flower seeds, and the occasional gem tucked away in the garden flower list. Purchasing from Ball isn’t as simple as I’d like it to be. You have to register and be approved for an account at which time you will be sent a price list. To purchase you then fill out an order form and email it off to be processed. The issue is that you will not always know what is in stock, and may go to the trouble of making an order only to be told that parts of it aren’t available. However, in my experience, the Ball staff are really helpful and wonderful if you need advice about the qualities of the cultivars and what will be most suitable for your growing conditions.

Royston Petrie Seeds - I have always had good results when purchasing from RP seeds and they carry lines not available through the other two suppliers. They don’t always have the full range of newer cultivars (eg. they only have Cosmos ‘Double Click Cranberries’ and not the other colours), but they do add new things regularly. Note: they do not have a dedicated ‘cut flower’ list, so all flowers are together. Make sure you check that your chosen cultivar is suitable for cut flowers and not a garden (short) variety.

Retailers

Veggie and Flower Garden Seeds - when this shop opened I breathed a sigh of relief because I knew I wouldn’t need to go through the rigmarole of trying to get seeds to Australia again. With a similar range to Johnny’s of America, and gorgeous photos, VFGS is my go-to when I’m hunting for something fun to add to my lineup. Bec and team did the leg work to bring us the Floret Originals as well as the many other cultivars that they offer for sale that were difficult to find in yesteryears. And good news if you are in WA or TAS - they are based in Tasmania and are able to ship to WA.

Wild Violet Flower Farm - Sam is a Cut Flower Farmer with a beautiful collection of seeds. Whether you are looking for reliable basics or something a bit unique, Sam will probably have something for you.

Seedscape - if you are looking for something unique, and especially for perennial seeds, this is the place for you. Previously a plant nursery they have turned their attention to seeds instead. With over 500 varieties you will find many flowers here that you won’t often see anywhere else.

Southern Harvest - another shop with a mix of annuals and perennials, and with many unusual varieties to try. This shop also offers good tips for germinating and growing their varieties.

The Seed Collection - if you are looking for a bargain, you really can’t go past the Seed Collection. With a big range of flowers, though limited colours in some varieties, it can be difficult to go past their very affordable prices.

Do you have a favourite seed supplier? Is there someone I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments.