I like to mention and support all small, independently run seed companies. Unfortunately, there are just too many to keep on top of. From time to time these places send me emails, and this can prompt me to remember and mention them. Sometimes these emails come at a busy time, and get overlooked.
This is sort of what’s happened here. I’ve been meaning to mention Thomas Etty Esq for a long time now, and he’s sent me a couple of emails telling me about himself or announcing catalogue releases and so. Finally, here’s a post!
They are a small seed company specializing in heritage vegetables and flowers. They are politically active in the UK, and for example can often be found at events like Seedy Sunday in Brighton. They have lots of historical information on their website, and their catalogue and mailings are always a pleasure to read. They ship orders across the EU. If you’re in the EU, when choosing seeds and bulbs for next year’s garden, be sure to have a look at their catalogue.
“Seedy Sunday” caught my attention. Could you tell me about it? I’m in New Hampshire(USA). Fedco Seeds in Maine. Have you heard of them? High Mowing Seeds in Vermont? Just found your site. Like it.
Hi Will,
Thanks for your comment. I like your site too!
Seedy Saturdays and Sundays are the names given to seed swap events in Canada and the UK. In particular in the UK these are important, because they are illegal. Here in Europe we are not allowed to sell or even give away garden seeds that don’t come from ‘official sources’ selling varieties off ‘official lists’.
In other words, Thomas Etty is one of a small number of seed companies in Europe willing to deal in unofficial seeds.
Both Fedco and High Mowing Seeds sell F1 hybrids. Is this bad? No, it’s not bad. You should certainly plant F1s if it’s what you want to do, and in any event I breed some of my own varieties and so grow these F1s all the time.
A seed company that sells F1 hybrids does not however meet my criteria of being independent, and I don’t ever promote them as a good source of seeds. In general, if you’re a seed saver and want open source seeds in your garden, I find it best to buy from companies who don’t sell any F1s at all. This is simply the best way to avoid unwanted commercial influences. If you then want F1 seeds, you can best buy these from a company specializing in only those.
I’ve written quite a bit about this before… You don’t have to agree with me, but it’s why they aren’t on my links page.
Thank you for your kind words/May I however point out a slight error; with very few exception (those that other seed merchants list also), the seeds offered by my establishment are listed on at least one european national list. Many varieties that are considered by many to be “illegal” are, in fact, perfectly legitimate, it is just that the are listed under their national name, rather than the English equivalent.
Regards
Thomas
Thanks for your comment and for clarifying that!
That’s a very clever way to run a European heritage seed company.
I had no idea there were so many listed old varieties around. The seed world in Europe is very complicated, and I keep learning new things.