Vent: wasted $85 on 'heirloom' seeds that barely sprouted

Ordered from a fancy online catalog and out of 12 packets, maybe 3 came up after 2 weeks in the ground. Whole garden bed sat empty while I waited - anyone else stick to local seed swaps now?

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angela433mo ago

My $45 "rare tomato mix" gave me exactly one plant that turned out to be a regular cherry tomato, so I feel your pain. I mean, I learned the hard way that those fancy heirloom catalogs are basically gambling with dirt. Maybe it's just me but now I only trade seeds with my neighbor Betty, who grows everything from her grandma's stash.

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clairer793mo ago

I used to think those big heirloom catalogs were worth the money too. The "rare tomato mix" thing really hit home for me. I spent $60 on a collection last spring and got maybe two scrawny plants out of the whole batch. After that I started going to local seed swaps in my area and the difference is night and day. The seeds are way cheaper and they actually grow because they're already adapted to our weather. I'm with you on sticking to neighbor trades and local stuff now.

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