A question for seed sellers

[Wi-sunflower]

This is just a general question mostly for those that save their own seeds for sale.

How much do you try to save per variety ?? 1 oz, 3 oz, 1 lb ?? What kind of volume do you go thru ?

I would mostly like answers from people like Sandhill, Baker Creek, Victory, and others that have a small business selling the seeds.

Mainly I'm wondering if maybe I'm making too much work for myself. I know the answers will vary from a popular variety to something less known. But I'm wondering when I see sites like Sandhill post "sold out" on varieties, is it because they only had 1 oz or less to start with, or what ?

The other reason is because I'm finally about done processing the new-to-me varieties for this year. I still have a lot of other varieties that I want to get fresher seeds for, but may not get to.

I also have some repeat buckets for varieties that I think will be popular like NAR and Cuostralee. But since I already have about 2 or more oz for each of them, is it going to be worth the effort to get more seed this year ? I could get 6 oz or more from a few varieties.

The other reason I ask is because my house is getting to be seeds all over the place. I mean trays, boxes and bags all over. Do I really need to collect more of some of them ?

I don't think I'm in the same class as most of those companies and definately not in the class of someone like TGS or TT. No way. But I would like to be able to fill some gaps, especially as far as offering some bulk packs for people like me that have a market garden business too.

That's partly how/why I got into saving in the first place. I had problems finding companies that sold the rarer varieties in larger than a 10-20-30 seed pack.

Thanks for any insight,
Carol

[carolyn137]

I would mostly like answers from people like Sandhill, Baker Creek, Victory, and others that have a small business selling the seeds.

*****

Carol, I can tell you that neither Glenn nor Linda at Sandhill reads here, nor does Mike Dunton at Victory Seeds, and I have seen Jere Gettle from Baker Creek post a couple of times but I don't think he reads here on a regular basis, and I know that Marianne Jones ar mariseeds doesn't read here and nor does Tom Hauch of Heirloom Seeds.

Jeff Casey does read here from time to time, so he might see your thread.

In talking with Linda Sapp over a many year period of time I know she usually gets I think pound amounts of seeds if she can, but the critical issue is how those seeds are stored and how often germination tests are done. I know she has special storage conditions and does do germination tests.

But I can't speak specifically to any of the other companies I mentioned above about either storage conditions or germination tests, well, I can in terms of Sandhill, bc Glenn does do such tests.

I think if you want to know how many seeds some of the smaller companies usually try to have on hand when listing a variety it may be best to e-mail them personally.

I know when I was listing hundreds of varieties in the SSE YEarbooks I wanted to have on hand at least 1000 seeds or so of each when I first listed a variety, about 1/8 oz. And at that time I was getting maybe 50-100 requests/year, sometimes more. If I ran out, which sometimes I did, I'd just replant for new stock seed as needed.

Maybe there are others who read here who have smaller type tomato seed companies who might chime in.

[Wi-sunflower]

Thanks Carolyn. I was afraid most of the owners probably don't read here all that much. It's also the kind of info that others might not really want to share anyway.

But your info is helpful. It gives me an idea of where to start.

Thanks,
Carol

[Fusion_power]

I can't give an absolute answer to your question, but I can shed some light on the topic.

For tomato seed, a normal variety requires a minimum of 1 oz of seed to offer.

For a high demand variety like Cherokee Purple, a minimum of 2 oz of seed is needed and 4 oz is preferred.

Depending on seed size, an ounce is about 20,000 seed so 2 ounces is 40,000 seed. That makes up into about 1000 packages of seed.

Not trying to put too much into it, but I grow seed for Sandhill though only 20 to 30 varieties and that is mostly things like peanuts, beans, okra, etc that are adapted here in the south.

DarJones

[Mischka]

Originally Posted by Carolyn137

...nor does Mike Dunton at Victory Seeds, and I have seen Jere Gettle from Baker Creek post a couple of times but I don't think he reads here on a regular basis, and I know that Marianne Jones ar mariseeds doesn't read here...

Mike Dunton and Marianne Jones both registered here, back when the forums were only viewable by registered members. They have logged in recently, as well. Jere Gettle checks in regularly...just post something about Baker Creek and I'm certain he'll answer.

Everyone listed in bold on the Recommended Commercial Seed and Plant Sources list has registered here, although not all have posted.

[Wi-sunflower]

DarJones,

That is very helpful. I know I have that much of some varieties, but only about 1/4 oz or even less of a few varieties like some of Carolyn's offers and a few others that I didn't get good germination so only had a couple of plants.

One variety that was of special interest to me, I only had 2 seedlings. I was afraid I would lose them out in the field so I potted them up in the greenhouse. They were away from any other tomatoes but didn't get as good of attention as they should have. I only got about 15 fruit from those 2 plants so only got maybe 0.1 oz if that. But that will be more than enough for plenty of plants for next summer for a good crop next year, I hope.

In the past I've had varieties that didn't sell much and then all of a sudden I get all kinds of orders. I'm guessing that at that time some article came out that mentioned that variety. Some seed may last me a couple of years but I will test it to be sure it's still good from year to year.

So I guess I will continue on processing as long as I can. I know some of the seed I process now won't have great germination like the earlier stuff. But I will test everything and only will sell seeds with good germ. Even the lower germ stuff has value to me tho. I can use that for my plant sales and the plants I will grow for more seeds for next year.

Thanks for the info.
Carol

[DuckCreekFarms]

Carol, Thanks....that was an excellent question and one I have though about asking, but glad you did first as I know you will get more response than I would.. I hope you get lots of response........However, I would think that most seed sellers would want to keep their numbers confidential.

I have wanted to sell seed for some time, but I don't know one thing about building a web sites and hiring someone to do a web site for me is not an option for me right now. I might try ebay like Blue Ribbon Tomatoes, but only as a last resort.

I think a person should just grow what they can and if they sell out, then grow more the next. I usually buy any seed I need for my plant sales from companies which I can get larger quantities at wholesale prices. I try to grow what I need, but of course I need hybrids et. But that is just me as most people only want small packs........

thanks
Gary V S

[dokutaaguriin]

Hi Carol,
I basically save as many seeds as I can... that can be as few as 50 seeds
I bag my blossoms so I only save maybe two or three trusses of tomatoes from each plant as I want to eat/sell some too. This makes it even more labour intensive - putting the bags on the truss, using a tooth brush to help with pollination, taking the bags off and wrapping string on the truss to remind me to save those tomatoes.
I learned very quickly that you one does not get in to the tomato seed business for money, lol. From taking pictures to researching the history and writing up my catalogue- which usually takes well over a month to complete (working evenings after my day job), printing the packages and the most time consuming activity of all- counting seeds. This truly is a labour of love. The end result is that I only offer single packets of seeds. If you can find a niche to offer bulk seeds for market growers that would be great because I have had a few queries asking for larger amounts of seed. I simply do not have enough seeds to fill such requests.
Right now I have reached a happy balance between supply and demand for my seeds. It is difficult, no nearly impossible, to predict what varieties will sell in a given year and as a result I try to keep a sufficient number of packets on hand based on general trends I have noticed. Greens/Hearts/Bi-Colours just don't seem to be as popular as Reds/Pinks/Cherries etc.
Gary,
Websites: I don't sell on eBay or the like as I don't understand the whole system. I prefer to make my own website and have my catalogue as PDF. For those honest people who do sell though auction sites the more power to them. Perhaps I was jaded by seeing that Monkey a$$ tomato seed for sale, lol.

I am not sure if I answered your questions or not....

Jeff (micro) tomato seedsman
who reads twice a day on TV and posts on occasion

[remy]

Hi Carol,
My answer would be as many as I can. Many varieties I grow are new to me so you never know how well they will do as far a fruit production, but also seed production unless of course you've seen someone write about a low seed count when referring to a particular variety. Having at least an ounce as DarJones said is preferred. After this past spring I learned sometimes you do have a good idea of what will sell, but often you just don't know what is going to go like hot cakes or what is going to be a comparative dud.
Remy

[farmall]

Hi Carol in the 90's we sold alot of bulk and packets. It all depend on the variety who you are selling to greenhouse, produce farmers, other seed companys ect... Back then we would sell 3-5 pounds of somthing like Giant Belgium, Peron, Pineapple. but we sold By the 1/4 oz 1 oz and sold to other seed companys and greenhouses. By the packet an ounce of seed goes a long ways. selling in bulk with lesser wanted varieties would probably resalt in alot of wasted seed. This was in the 1990's and it all depend on the customers you are trying to attract.


Hope this can help a little.
Adam

[Wi-sunflower]

Everything here is good info.

Personally I don't beg blossoms, but I do have plants spaced well enough and in multiples that crossing shouldn't be a problem.

In the past I had my web site pretty much up to date with pics and info. But that was when I had a whole lot less varieties than I have now. Now my site is really lacking much but names and buy buttons. I know if I got it fixed up I would probably get more sales.

Remy, I kind of think like you too -- get as much as I can from a variety. I've had some things sit and then all of a sudden get requests out of no where and they are gone. Strange sometimes what goes.

Adam, I don't expect to ever be in the class your family's past company was. I don't know if I would even be where you probably will be shortly. You have the rep and knowledge and contacts I can only dream of.

I do have enough of some varieties to offer larger packs like 5 & 10 grams. That's big enough for all but the really big farmers. I guess I'm trying to be the company I was looking for many years ago when heirloon seeds were hard to find. Before I saved seeds I needed 300 - 1000 seeds / year of the varieties I liked and sold well
and it was hard to find a lot of them in other than just a 20-30 seed pack. Hard to make money farming buying the seeds that way. That's why I offer what I can in some larger packs too.

But I do have the experience to tell the others if you want to sell, stay away from eBay. They will break your heart at the drop of a hat and with no remorse. I used to sell mostly hot pepper seeds there for about 7 years. But I also was building my own site and selling on a couple of other sites too. eBay is a money gruber and will steal what little profit you try to make. If you want I can stear you to some easy "site builder" type sites that won't cost you a fraction of what eBay charges in fees. But that's another long story.

There is a big variety of sellers here. We all have diferent experences and expectations. And we all can learn something from each other. One thing I'm pretty sure of is that there is room for all of us as no one of us can have all the tomato varieties that there are.

Thanks everyone for the info.

If I can help in any way, just ask. My expertize isn't so much in the seeds as in market farming, even tho I have been dabbling with the seeds for about 10 years now.

Carol

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Mischka

Mike Dunton and Marianne Jones both registered here, back when the forums were only viewable by registered members. They have logged in recently, as well. Jere Gettle checks in regularly...just post something about Baker Creek and I'm certain he'll answer.

Everyone listed in bold on the Recommended Commercial Seed and Plant Sources list has registered here, although not all have posted.

Thanks for the update.

The fact that I never see Mike or Marianne post I guess is what I was thinking of.

And yes, when there is mention of Baker Creek I do see Jere posting in that thread, especially if something negative has been said and he has often answered someones question about something.

[Fusion_power]

Just an fyi, I have put together a webpage with links to companies that sell seed, plants, etc. If you have a webpage and would like it to be listed, please send me a link.


Wi-sunflower, how are you situated with Brandywine Sudduth and Box Car Willie seed? I might purchase some from you.

DarJones

http://www.selectedplants.com/seedsupplies.htm

[Wi-sunflower]

I have about 2 oz of Sudduth that is new, tested and good.

I just got the Box Car Willie processed Sunday so it isn't dry or tested yet. From the looks of the seed plate, there will be in the range of 2 oz, but the germ may be off getting processed this late.

I'll check out your page and get back to you on that later.

Thanks,
Carol

[DuckCreekFarms]

"But I do have the experience to tell the others if you want to sell, stay away from eBay. They will break your heart at the drop of a hat and with no remorse. I used to sell mostly hot pepper seeds there for about 7 years. But I also was building my own site and selling on a couple of other sites too. eBay is a money gruber and will steal what little profit you try to make. If you want I can stear you to some easy "site builder" type sites that won't cost you a fraction of what eBay charges in fees. But that's another long story."

Carol
what web builders do you think is the most user friendly for dummies like me? I have heard that Web Studio 5.0 might be good
http://www.webstudio.com/Default.asp

Thanks
Gary VS