Seeds sown in fight over credit crunch
Sales of vegetable seeds in Shropshire garden centres are growing because of families hit by the credit crunch deciding to plant their own rather than spend in the supermarkets. Sales of vegetable seeds in Shropshire garden centres are growing because of families hit by the credit crunch deciding to plant their own rather than spend in the supermarkets. Seed companies say a boom in British home-grown fruit and veg is here to stay, with housekeeping budgets feeling the strain of the massive rise in food prices. Staples have risen by 12 per cent in the last year. Now record numbers of families are choosing to enjoy the fruits of their own harvest. But garden centres are also warning growers to be picky in what they choose to plant, as modern smaller gardens and allotments cannot hold the crop size to make grow-your-own cost effective. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Sales of vegetable seeds in Shropshire garden centres are growing because of families hit by the credit crunch deciding to plant their own rather than spend in the supermarkets.
Seed companies say a boom in British home-grown fruit and veg is here to stay, with housekeeping budgets feeling the strain of the massive rise in food prices. Staples have risen by 12 per cent in the last year.
Now record numbers of families are choosing to enjoy the fruits of their own harvest.
But garden centres are also warning growers to be picky in what they choose to plant, as modern smaller gardens and allotments cannot hold the crop size to make grow-your-own cost effective.
Vegetable seeds are outselling flowers by more than two-to-one in some areas, with Dobbies reporting sales of vegetable seeds increased by 38 per cent on flower seeds.
James Lentle, plant manager at Percy Thrower's Garden Centre in Shrewsbury, said there were definite signs of an uplift in seed sales.
"There is a rise in sales of everything to do with growing your own veg and fruit in a more sustainable way.
"We have seen the increase, particularly with people in their mid-30s with children, wanting to grow their own. Home grown vegetables are generally cheaper than in the shops but I would say there is no point in growing main crop vegetables.
"Growing your own potatoes will not compete with supermarkets on price, however growing salad potatoes in a bucket would be a good choice.
"There's no point growing onions for the same reason, however you could grow shallots which are expensive in the shops.
"People should be growing things that don't travel well, like lettuce which doesn't have a particularly long shelf life, and fresh herbs."
Bradley Crowther, assistant manager of Dobbies Garden World in Shrewsbury, said Dobbies had seen high sales of vegetable seeds for the last couple of years.
"The popularity of vegetable seeds started to rise in 2006, however both last year and so far this year, we've seen vegetable seeds increase when compared to flower seed sales. The most popular vegetable seeds are definitely salad varieties."
David Cank, of Severndale Nurseries in Cross Houses, said the cold weather had seen slow trade this year, but there had been a gradual increase in vegetable seed sales.
Dobbies top 10 seed sellers:
Mixed Herbs
Cut & Come Again Lettuce
Mixed Lettuce
French Beans
Spring Onions
Sweet Peppers
Beetroot
Tumbling Tomatoes seeds
Rocket
Carrots
By Amy Bould
