Black Friday Got Me


I received an email from Pinetree yesterday - a 15% off Black Friday event.  But it's much too early for seed ordering - I usually don't get to that until January, sometimes even early February.

Each year, I go through a process:  Review my notes, plan next years garden, THEN immerse myself in seed catalogues and websites....and inevitably change my plans to accommodate a few more varieties 😀.  I usually do a preliminary plan in October, however, as I need to know where to plant my garlic, but this plan always changes quite a bit (except for the garlic!) once I go through my notes.

One thing I do know now, even before my plan is finalized, is that there are several varieties that I need to replenish and/or add to.  I always order from Pinetree so I decided to give their online catalogue a once over.  My seed spreadsheet (which contains every variety that I currently have) also lists where and when I purchased the seed, so it was relatively easy to see which seeds I had purchased from Pinetree in the past and add them to the order if my stock was running low or the seed was getting old (and I wanted to grow that variety again).

So what did I purchase?  Here's the rundown which includes some "new to me" varieties:

Veg
Beans:  Envy Soybean (new)
Carrots:  Mokum, Kuroda (new)
Kohlrabi:  Kolibri, Kossak
Lettuce:  New Red Fire (new), Merveille de Quatre Saisons (new), Lollo Bionda (new)
Parsnip:  Harris Model
Peppers:  Ancho (new)
Radish:  Lady Slipper (new)
Squash:  Zucchetta Tromboncino; Delicata (new)

Ornamentals (all new)
Calendulas ('Touch of Red')
Cosmos ('Cupcake Mix' & 'Picotee')
Lupine ('Tutti Frutti')
Nasturtium ('Tip Top Apricot')
Statice ('Heavenly Blue', 'Iceberg')

Now, 15% isn't a lot, but why wait a few weeks and then pay full price?  Chances are that my order would not differ significantly from what I purchased now.

I always spread my seed orders between at least 4 different companies (Pinetree, Baker Creek and William Dam plus one "extra" supplier that I change up each year) so anything that I end up missing can easily be ordered elsewhere once my plan for next year is finished.

With the Christmas season fast approaching, I had better get a move on!

Comments

  1. Sorry I missed the sale! I think 15% off is a great deal any day. And who can have too many seeds? ;-)

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  2. Great way to spend Black Friday! You got a great deal. :) The only one I've grown before is the Picotee Cosmos. That's a pretty cultivar.

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    1. I'm really looking forward to adding to my collection of ornamental seeds. Hopefully the bunnies won't be as bad this year and I'll have a new few flowers to enjoy that are not inside the chicken wire confines of the vegetable garden :)

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  3. It's hard to resist a bargain, isn't it? When I had my allotment I used to buy lots of my seeds at the end of August ready for the following year. A particular garden centre reduces all their seeds to 50p a packet when it gets to August bank holiday and there were some real bargains to be had. Cucumber seed especially is expensive and even multi packs with a few different veg varieties in would still all be 50p. Of course, I didn't buy things like parsnip seed which should really be fresh but it was such a good deal for most things.

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    1. I have started to make notes on seeds that I need to replenish when I actually sow the seeds. It's certainly come in handy for this sale as otherwise I would not have known what I was short of and I didn't really have the time to go through them.

      Yes, sales are VERY hard to resist, especially on things that I love - seeds and wool! I also took advantage of a wonderful 30% off sale at LoveKnitting this weekend - I LOVE Malabrigo (esp. Rios) but it's rather pricey so I always wait for a sale to stock up and try a few new colours.

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  4. I also like to spread my purchases among different companies. That way I'm sure to get plenty of catalogs to peruse over the winter. By the way, Judy and I have become addicted to soybeans lately. They're so good with a little salt, or even plain.

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    1. I LOVE edamame but have never grown them before. My attempt this year was a bust so I'm really looking forward to trying again.

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  5. Hi Margaret, Good for you getting seeds early and on sale! I didn't realize people ordered seeds this early. I didn't sign up for any catalogs this year as I buy such a small amount of seeds that it doesn't pay for the shipping to do that. I did sign up for Mary, Marys Seeds on facebook and I think she will send just a few seeds without paying shipping but will have to look more into that. I have just started working on gardening things for next year but haven't gotten far. I want to grow too many things for the space I have! LOL Nancy

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    1. I think we all want to grow much more than our space (or time) allows!

      The shipping on seeds is always the clincher, isn't it - sometimes it's downright ridiculous, especially for us Canadians (i.e. $16.95 for shipping a packet of seeds???? No thank you!)

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  6. I hope your bunny problem isn't as bad next year, good luck, especially if you are growing edamame, those were total bunny magnets in my garden. If I wanted to really put my bunny barrier to the test I would grow edamame again.

    One thing I find with having a year round garden is that I buy seeds more than once a year because it's really difficult to plan a full year out. My plans often change, like this year when I decided that onions were off the grow list and that opened up a lot of space in the winter garden this coming year.

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    1. Thanks Michelle - fingers crossed when it comes to the darn rabbits. I didn't realize that edamame was a favourite of theirs - I'll have to be extra vigilant!

      When it comes to buying seeds, I'm fortunate to have William Dam nearby. I inevitably end up missing this or that when ordering online but I can usually find, at the very least, a decent substitute when I go there (which is usually several times in the spring/early summer).

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  7. We order most seeds in the first week of January and I really should start to think about varieties.

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    1. I usually don't order until January either, but I couldn't resist a sale! Still lots to order though, and those purchases will be made in the new year once I give my notes a good look through.

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  8. I love that quote, Margaret, and I am so impressed by your planning. I don't grow veggies but I do have Nasturtiums, and put them in salads when I remember.

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    1. Oh,thank you - it really is so true :) I love nasturtiums and am especially fond of those with variegated leaves like the Tip Top Alaska.

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