The disaster that is Park Seeds! - Page 4

feldon30 · April 14, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amigatec

I had pretty much the same luck, I ordered my supplies for the Biodome, and everything was backordered. By the time I got everything it was to late to start seeds this year.

I guess next year I will order early.

Or not at all from Park's, based on everything I've seen in this thread..

Amigatec · April 14, 2009

Yes that was my first one, it weighted 460 lbs. i have 4 more ready to go in the ground this year. As far as tips, I wouldn't know where to start, there are so many things to learn about growing these things.

My goal this year is 700 lbs.

Amigatec · April 14, 2009

My biggest concerm with Park Seed is where would I buy the refills for my Biodomes? I have 3 of these now, I ready like them.

Barbee · April 14, 2009

Amigatec,
I think if you look at a hydroponic plug, it would be very similar to the park bio sponge. I'm going to buy some this winter and experiment around to see how well they fit.

April 15, 2009

Here is a link for the plugs. You can also check the same area for "Perfect Starts"...another variety of sponge plugs.

http://www.simplyhydroponics.com/rapid_rooters.htm

Hope this helps....I am going to miss Parks myself!

Steve

JimM_SC · April 17, 2009

I was worried when I read the first post in this thread. I've ordered from Parks for years and they are the exclusive supplier for one of my favorite hybrids. I took a deep breath and placed an order on Saturday night the 11th. The order shipped Tuesday the 14th and was in my mailbox when I got home today. The order was complete. No, I don't work for Parks. Maybe I was lucky. I just wanted you to know that it is possible to get some things from Parks without a hassle.
Jim

**Mischka** · April 18, 2009

What hybrid?

Curious webmasters want to know LOL!

JimM_SC · April 20, 2009

Beefy Boy. It does well in my garden. Its large. Its early. Its productive. The texture is good and the taste is better than average. I ordered 1/32 oz. in case it disappears from their catalog. I grow a mix of hybrids and heirlooms. CP is my favorite for taste. Dixie Golden Giant and Kelloggs Breakfast run a close second. I have grown ~100 different varieties and try a few new ones each year. Spears Tennessee Green (thank you, Lee) is new this year. I alway plant Beefy Boy. Years ago it was Parks Whopper, before they 'Improved' it.
Jim

mtbigfish · January 1, 2010

Travis, Polar Lace and creister
Notice that only Texans got their seeds on time - someone at Parks remembers the Alamo and how tough Texans are

louster · January 2, 2010

I used to use the Park's plugs, also...Jumbo, 18 cell type. Then, last year tired of paying so much for them, I tried one Bio-Dome differently. I stapled a piece of old panty hose around the sides, so that it covered the bottom to prevent losing soil, and filled it with seed starting mix. It worked well, and the seedlings in that bio-dome were a lot larger and more robust than the ones in the plugs.
So if anyone out there is interested in some plugs, I have some from last year I could send you. This year, it's going to be old panty hose and seed starting mix for me!!
By the way, the only reason I started using the bio-dome was because we have three cats that seem to think that seed starting trays are great fun.

The bio-domes have nice, heavyweight covers that they can't seem to dislodge. I can uncover them during the day when I'm home, and cover them up at night, or when I go away.

LoreD · January 9, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amigatec

My biggest concerm with Park Seed is where would I buy the refills for my Biodomes? I have 3 of these now, I ready like them.

Hi, Amigatec,

Is the Biodome the same as GardensAlive All Roots system? They look alike. I just ordered 2 of them and got the plugs. They were shipped the same day.

The only difference was that the Biodome had 60 plugs and the All Roots had 55. GardensAlive describes the plugs as "organic material that has spongelike qualities."

LoreD

bigbubbacain · January 9, 2010

The one thing that started to turn me off about Park Seeds, was the fact that their photo layouts for certain items were ABSOLUTELY IDENTICAL to what I've seen in the catalogs for Wayside Gardens and also in a few other catalogs. Methinks there's something of a monopoly going on here, and I'm not exactly sure who's in charge here. It's just a bit disconcerting to see something in a Wayside Gardens catalog that looks vaguely familiar. I'm about ready to drop them all. I've got some horror stories of my own about Wayside, but I won't bore you fine people.....

Blueaussi · January 9, 2010

I'm sad about Park's being bought out. I have fond memories of planning gardens and ordering seeds with my mother, and visiting up there during the Flower Festival. I feel a little bit like I've heard an old friend from high school has passed away.

David Marek · January 20, 2010

I planted last years seed from Park about a week ago. The product was all good, only I received a few different shipments over a six week period. One of the items was canna tropical mix. The 5 varieties came each in their own packets. Each packet was labeled "5 seeds" and they all had 6. I got out my file and opened the packets and realized they were pre- knicked. Looked like a spider bite.

This year I got a prompt delivery from Harris after reading of Ruth Stout's fondness of them from 40 years ago. I am also pleased with the service from Underwood/ Terroir, Totally Tomatoes, and Jung. The ability to communicate with the owners is nice.

sfmathews · January 21, 2010

I use the domes, but do the same thing as you louster. And it works just fine for me!

I stapled a piece of old panty hose around the sides, so that it covered the bottom to prevent losing soil, and filled it with seed starting mix. It worked well, and the seedlings in that bio-dome were a lot larger and more robust than the ones in the plugs.
So if anyone out there is interested in some plugs, I have some from last year I could send you. This year, it's going to be old panty hose and seed starting mix for me!!
By the way, the only reason I started using the bio-dome was because we have three cats that seem to think that seed starting trays are great fun.

The bio-domes have nice, heavyweight covers that they can't seem to dislodge. I can uncover them during the day when I'm home, and cover them up at night, or when I go away.[/quote]

April 14, 2009	#49
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	Amigatec, I think if you look at a hydroponic plug, it would be very similar to the park bio sponge. I'm going to buy some this winter and experiment around to see how well they fit. __________________ *Barbee*

April 18, 2009	#52
Mischka Tomatoville® Administrator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Bay State Posts: 3,207	What hybrid? Curious webmasters want to know LOL! __________________ Mischka One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

January 20, 2010	#59
David Marek Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: St Charles, IL zone 5a Posts: 142	I planted last years seed from Park about a week ago. The product was all good, only I received a few different shipments over a six week period. One of the items was canna tropical mix. The 5 varieties came each in their own packets. Each packet was labeled "5 seeds" and they all had 6. I got out my file and opened the packets and realized they were pre- knicked. Looked like a spider bite. This year I got a prompt delivery from Harris after reading of Ruth Stout's fondness of them from 40 years ago. I am also pleased with the service from Underwood/ Terroir, Totally Tomatoes, and Jung. The ability to communicate with the owners is nice. Last edited by David Marek; January 20, 2010 at 11:13 PM. Reason: forgot TT

April 14, 2009	#47
Amigatec Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 208	Yes that was my first one, it weighted 460 lbs. i have 4 more ready to go in the ground this year. As far as tips, I wouldn't know where to start, there are so many things to learn about growing these things. My goal this year is 700 lbs.

April 15, 2009	#50
red Guest Posts: n/a	Here is a link for the plugs. You can also check the same area for "Perfect Starts"...another variety of sponge plugs. http://www.simplyhydroponics.com/rapid_rooters.htm Hope this helps....I am going to miss Parks myself! Steve

April 17, 2009	#51
JimM_SC Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Burnet, TX Posts: 138	I was worried when I read the first post in this thread. I've ordered from Parks for years and they are the exclusive supplier for one of my favorite hybrids. I took a deep breath and placed an order on Saturday night the 11th. The order shipped Tuesday the 14th and was in my mailbox when I got home today. The order was complete. No, I don't work for Parks. Maybe I was lucky. I just wanted you to know that it is possible to get some things from Parks without a hassle. Jim

April 20, 2009	#53
JimM_SC Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Burnet, TX Posts: 138	Beefy Boy. It does well in my garden. Its large. Its early. Its productive. The texture is good and the taste is better than average. I ordered 1/32 oz. in case it disappears from their catalog. I grow a mix of hybrids and heirlooms. CP is my favorite for taste. Dixie Golden Giant and Kelloggs Breakfast run a close second. I have grown ~100 different varieties and try a few new ones each year. Spears Tennessee Green (thank you, Lee) is new this year. I alway plant Beefy Boy. Years ago it was Parks Whopper, before they 'Improved' it. Jim

January 1, 2010	#54
mtbigfish Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chillicothe Ohio - left Calif July 2010 Posts: 451	Travis, Polar Lace and creister Notice that only Texans got their seeds on time - someone at Parks remembers the Alamo and how tough Texans are

January 2, 2010	#55
louster Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, MI Posts: 53	I used to use the Park's plugs, also...Jumbo, 18 cell type. Then, last year tired of paying so much for them, I tried one Bio-Dome differently. I stapled a piece of old panty hose around the sides, so that it covered the bottom to prevent losing soil, and filled it with seed starting mix. It worked well, and the seedlings in that bio-dome were a lot larger and more robust than the ones in the plugs. So if anyone out there is interested in some plugs, I have some from last year I could send you. This year, it's going to be old panty hose and seed starting mix for me!! By the way, the only reason I started using the bio-dome was because we have three cats that seem to think that seed starting trays are great fun. The bio-domes have nice, heavyweight covers that they can't seem to dislodge. I can uncover them during the day when I'm home, and cover them up at night, or when I go away.

January 9, 2010	#57
bigbubbacain Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Zone 9 Texas, Fort Bend County Posts: 436	The one thing that started to turn me off about Park Seeds, was the fact that their photo layouts for certain items were ABSOLUTELY IDENTICAL to what I've seen in the catalogs for Wayside Gardens and also in a few other catalogs. Methinks there's something of a monopoly going on here, and I'm not exactly sure who's in charge here. It's just a bit disconcerting to see something in a Wayside Gardens catalog that looks vaguely familiar. I'm about ready to drop them all. I've got some horror stories of my own about Wayside, but I won't bore you fine people.....

January 9, 2010	#58
Blueaussi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Zone 8a Posts: 1,205	I'm sad about Park's being bought out. I have fond memories of planning gardens and ordering seeds with my mother, and visiting up there during the Flower Festival. I feel a little bit like I've heard an old friend from high school has passed away.

January 21, 2010	#60
sfmathews Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 398	I use the domes, but do the same thing as you louster. And it works just fine for me! I stapled a piece of old panty hose around the sides, so that it covered the bottom to prevent losing soil, and filled it with seed starting mix. It worked well, and the seedlings in that bio-dome were a lot larger and more robust than the ones in the plugs. So if anyone out there is interested in some plugs, I have some from last year I could send you. This year, it's going to be old panty hose and seed starting mix for me!! By the way, the only reason I started using the bio-dome was because we have three cats that seem to think that seed starting trays are great fun. The bio-domes have nice, heavyweight covers that they can't seem to dislodge. I can uncover them during the day when I'm home, and cover them up at night, or when I go away.[/quote]