Another Seed Shortage?
Those of us on the Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds mailing list probably all just got this email from them. This is just one company, but it's a good excuse--err I mean reminder--to get your seeds now if you haven't already!
Seed and paper shortages update
Dear Gardening Friends, 2022 has been a year of growth and challenges for our company. Thanks to you, we have had the largest volume of January sales in our company’s history. We want to make you aware of the current challenges we are facing:
1) Unbelievable demand for seeds is causing national shortages. Our growers and our in-house production team are redoubling their efforts to produce more rare seeds, but global demand is causing many items to be temporarily unavailable. We apologize that many popular items are again selling out.
2) The volume of orders have been a challenge for our packing and fulfillment teams, who now work 24 hours a day in three shifts. We are working harder than ever to ship a record amount of orders, and we apologize for any delays you may have experienced in the last month.
3) Global paper shortages will greatly affect catalogs this year. We expect the paper costs for our 2023 catalogs to increase by 110%; we also face the possibility of having a supply shortage. The cost of seed packets, paper mailers, etc. is also quickly rising, and supplies are very short. We are currently out of both of our seed catalogs and copies for 2023 will again be limited!
4) Due to the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, about 20% of our staff has been on paid leave for part of the month of January, causing staff shortages and other issues. But through all the craziness, we have been blessed to have such wonderful customers, friends and staff members who have helped in so many ways!
Comments
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I got my orders in early. I'm waiting on some, but got part of one of mine already.
The only surprise to me is a "global" paper shortage. Hmm. If this is the case, if you want to buy any books, this is also the time to get that done.
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Good reminder. I need to get my Richter's order in right away.
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This makes me very glad that I bought most of my 2022 seeds in fall 2021. I can see that this is going to become my norm for the foreseeable future.
On the one hand, this is frustrating and can be a problem for some gardeners. On the other hand, sustained high demand for seeds for several years in a row is good for the seed companies that we depend on.
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The seeds I ordered this year were mostly bought to save for next year. and I ordered really strange ones. I am just finishing my Bakers seeds today. I hope they are still in stock.
Its so important to start saving seeds if you can.
And yes, the paper shortage is real.
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@Monek Marie I find the best time to order seeds for next year is in the fall, after the crop from this year has come in but before most of the orders come in January.
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@VermontCathy That's usually when I order too but this year I was trying not to order any seeds - but I have caved in.
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I'm still working on that one.
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Just what I need another excuse to buy more seeds 🙃
Anybody else totally over all these pandemic related shortages?
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@annbeck62 Yep.
On the bright side, we are getting to practice being frugal & resilient in the face of adversity. 🤷♀️ This is where some of our knowledge & skills meets head on with necessity. This is the time that will cement our knowledge because we have to use it.
Aren't you glad we aren't without that? I can't imagine.
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@LaurieLovesLearning well said :)
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For once my compulsive seed buying habit has really paid off. I can say with confidence I have enough of EVERYTHING! But the challenge this year for me is to learn to save seeds from the more challenging plants.
Is there already a seed savers exchange on here? I’ll bet there is.
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@Megan Venturella The Seed Swap is in the "General Store" classifieds. It is divided by country. You guys in the US are very fortunate to have the largest swapping community on here.
I was watching the Agriscaping webinar yesterday, and I was unaware that cucumbers and squash can cross. Supposedly the resulting fruit is not very pleasant, not quite like squash & not at all like cucumber. Suitable in salads with a vinegrette, but still odd.
That is one of my biggest concerns about saving seeds. Aside from getting heirloom open pollinated varieties, and keeping certain varieties of the same type of plant separate to avoid hybridization, how do you know what plants will potentially cross that you might not think of?
The cuc-squash cross never even was a thought to me. I won't forget that knowledge now.
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@LaurieLovesLearning There are 3 different types of squash and cucumber families. Its listed on the back of most seed packet which family they are in. If you plant ones from different families you can plant them together. You can also plant them as far apart as possible and make cross pollination more difficult by walls, tall plants etc... You can also hand pollinate a blossom and cover cover it with a bag to stop cross pollination.
Many friends of mine will take turns growing certain varieties each year to control cross pollination and save the seed from them that year.
I had a yellow squash and light green zucchini cross one year. A seed came up the next year and I left it. It one of ther most delicious summer squash I ever tasted. So sometimes cross pollination is ok.
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@Monek Marie Did you save the seeds from the new variety? That's how we get delicious new varieties!
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@VermontCathy Unfortunately I did not. I planned to but at that time we had a farm stand and all that variety was put on the stand before I knew it. And yes, this is how we get delicious new varieties.
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@LaurieLovesLearning If you get a copy of _Seed to Seed_ by Suzanne Ashworth, it will tell you in great detail what will and will not cross, minimum distances between plants to avoid crossing, and a lot of other information useful for growing plants to save seeds. The what-will-grow-where information has a US slant, but all the other information should be applicable elsewhere.
I was lucky enough to find a local used copy for next to nothing at a library sale. It's well-worth looking for this classic.
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@VermontCathy @LaurieLovesLearning Yes, this is an excellent book on saving seeds.m I picked up mine at a garage sale for pennies. And it even has helpful tips written in the back pages by the current owner.
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@VermontCathy Thanks for the great suggestion. @Monek Marie Thanks for the positive review seconding the book.
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The TGN Academy has an in-depth training on saving seeds. Just a small bit of promotion here! LOL
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Great news for me...my second garden seed order is on its way, nothing missing!
Now to see what happens with the perishables end once it gets closer to spring. I already know onion sets may not be available. I am starting to consider getting onion seeds...
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I use onion seeds now. They need to be fresh and planted early. I planted mine two weeks ago so they would be a good size by May.
My Baker Creek seed order came fast and everything was there. It came on a brutally cold day so my cabin fever was lifted. I didn't really "need" and seeds but I chose unique seeds, a few new herbs and seeds I really thought would be good to save
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I just ordered some Baker's Creek seeds and out of the 10 I wanted only one was out of stock.
I am in the same situation as @Monek Marie I did not "need" anymore seeds but I am always on the hunt for new and interesting seeds to try to grow 😁
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@Lisa K I just took a good look at our convestations. WE, you and , I may be responsible for the seed shortage ;)
I do admit I have a large seed collection so I am setting up a local seed swap. I also have one library interested in a seed bank.
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I will need to get myself some onions seeds as I have recently read that they do not have much viability after a year or so and may not sprout. Better get myself in gear and order some before all-you-all buy them all up!!!
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@Monek Marie I totally agree with you, haha 😁
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Too late! ;) I do agree with onion seeds being a seed that needs to be fresh
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