Seed Prices make me laugh sometimes
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
United States
July 7, 2010 4:27pm CST
I was looking thru the grocery ad and one item on sale is a Athena Melon. I'm thinking what's an Athena melon? looks like a cantaloupe and it is. I found a site that has a lil info about the fruit and seeds for sale. This particular website wants $10 for 100 seeds! WHereas I can buy the melon at my grocery store at 2 for $3 and I'm sure there's hundreds of seeds I could dry out and save. Seriously who'd pay that much!?!?!
1 person likes this
5 responses
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
8 Jul 10
A few years back I bought a white pumpkin. I saved the seeds, but I have not had a garden until this year. I planted them, and the plants are very vigorous. They are blooming now and we seem to have plenty of polinating insects around. I am anxious to see if I get white pumpkins or if I end up with orange ones. Either way will be terrific as far as I am concerned. The leaves on these plants are bigger than dinner plates.!!!
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
8 Jul 10
I remember a trip to Victoria B.C. and while looking for a beach (following directions I might add) we drove thru some beautiful fields FULL of pumpkins.
Oh, not those HUGE things that win strange awards, and not those little "pie" pumpkins, but kind of mid-sized "jack-o-lantern" pumpkins.
It was very interesting - since I've never actually seen pumpkins growing around here - think its too hot for the poor things!1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
11 Jul 10
We have lots of fun when the kids all take a trip to a petting farm they get to go thru fields of pumpkins to try to find the best one. I really enjoy that field trip, though I don't know if they'll go again this year or not?
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
7 Jul 10
hi 3snugglebunnies I have tried saving seeds for store bought melons and never had much luck growing decent cantaloupes from them at all. the fruit was just not as good as the parent melon had been so next time I found a very good brand of cantaloupes from Gurneys seed co. in my home state South Dakota.
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I 2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
8 Jul 10
Often the old fashioned, smaller melons have more flavor when grown in the home garden. I like the little cantaloupes that you can cut in half and share with a friend.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
11 Jul 10
We've never tried growing melons before. I just figured they need more room for those rather than planting tomatoes wich are always a guaranteed good harvest per square foot they take up.
We've done pretty well with tomato seeds I've saved in the past. Only problem with me growing them is I don't have any good spot to start seedlings that isn't either narrow orthe kids will get their paws on.
I just plain think we need a bigger garden to accomodate all that we want to try.
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
8 Jul 10
The problem with saving seeds is that sometimes that yummy melon in the store is a hybrid, and you will not get the same quality of fruit as you thought you were planting. None the less, I would give it a try. I would also go with a reputable company and buy some seeds, and not necessarily worry about getting an Athena.
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
8 Jul 10
They may be expensive because they are not genetically modified. Most seeds in stores are modified so you can't grow more from the seeds they produce. I will pay more for "natural" seeds!
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
11 Jul 10
I suppose so I never thought of it that way. But I'm sure if the fruit was organic it would be no different?
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
11 Jul 10
Any seed that has been genetically modified is suspect, for me. Who knows what they changed, on purpose or not? I would not eat it but then again, they've been doing this for years and no one shows any ill effects. I tend to be paranoid about stuff like this and it's not always justified.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
11 Jul 10
Well now, that certainly is a good question because it is just as good for me to have the cheapest seeds that are possible and I'll cultivate my garden in a manner that I am happy with and I'll be happy with whatever I'm able to harvest from my garden. That said, I think that there are are people that are actual horticulturists that place a lot of importance on the kind of plants that they are growing, but I don't think this is something for the average person.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
11 Jul 10
I usually buy the cheapest seeds that are 10 for $1 in February at Farm & Fleet. If there's anything specific then I'd have to order or look to pay more for something else. With that being said I'm just saying I buy seeds within my means, unless it's something I really have to have or want to try. But you are right that an actual horticulturist may be less inclined to use the inexpensive ones because they are probably out for specific plants species & their varieties.
