I've been having a tough time with my Johnny Seeds this year. My germination rates seem really low, especially compared to the seeds I got from Hudson Valley Seed Co and Burpee, which did much better under the same conditions. I did have an issue with one of my heat mats malfunctioning, but the other seeds still performed well. This year's batches were all purchased at the same time, and I've heard good things about Johnny Seeds before, so I'm wondering if I'm making some kind of error. Has anyone else experienced this?
3 Answers
I've been having solid success with my Johnny Seeds, especially on tomatoes and herbs. But I agree, you can definitely experience variation. Last year, I planted a green pea variety that took ages to grow and didn’t do well at all—definitely left me disappointed. Maybe it's not just you!
It’s possible to get a bad batch sometimes, even from reliable sources like Johnny's. I’ve had them for over 30 years and rarely had an issue, but it can happen! At least check the germination rates listed on the packets since they usually provide this info. Sometimes it could just be environmental factors like that heat mat problem you mentioned. What seeds are you having trouble with?
I didn’t have any issues with my Johnny Seeds this year! My rates were just as good as what was stated on the packets. I even got great results with brassicas and peas. It sounds like you might’ve had a fluke; could be just a random issue this season. What specific varieties are you growing?
I’ve mainly had issues with tomatoes and melons. It's frustrating. I used their starting mix too!