The Cheapest and Free vs. The Expensive and New

[OldManGrower]

I used to buy inexpensive seeds and look forward to all of the "free" seeds that came with them. I also had lousy germination rates. When I purchase more expensive seeds they all germinate and quite rapidly.
My current grow is all left over and free seeds. I wanted five plants. I started six seeds, two pricier seeds and four free seeds. The pricey seeds pooped in 24 hours and are doing great. Of the four cheap/free seeds two pooped and only one is doing well. I have since started two more free seeds hoping to get at least one plant.

I love freebies but will not gear any of my purchases towards obtaining them nor any of my grows around them. The low level of germination screws up the timing of my grow. I am not saying that freebies are bad, but that you cannot rely on them and have to start about 40% more of them to obtain proper results.

All good grows begin with good seeds.

[Franklin]

The free seeds are probably old stock they're getting rid of. But I've never had bad experiences with free seeds, in fact some of the best plants I've grown have been from free seeds

[SoOrbudgal]

Pardon me for laughing at the none " pooped " LOL i get what you meant LOL. Dang been hearing alot about non germination lately. Well it's not right what happens between seller an buyer in transport. Now i've had what looked like stept on seeds. I've had immature looking seed but not many germination issues i pretty much now stick with the guy in Nevada for seeds when i want to try something new.

[OldManGrower]

Ooops!

[Blowdout2269]

Poops!

nd10

EDIT: How come ^you get away with less than ten? 😲

[changeofpace2014]

a few years ago when I purchased seeds from mnsl they gave three strawberry cough beans...No females only males...but he was a great pollinator and here we are today still growing with some of his genetics...

I laugh at the expensive seeds, that offer 3 beans...Personally I would never spend 65$ for three beans.... Note: some beans take much longer to germinate....

[OldManGrower]

I wouldn't pay that either. But nine and ten dollar seeds are definitely better than cheap and free.

[UndergroundFarmer]

Buying pricey genetics is hit or miss and I'd bet how they are stored and handled by the time they get to me had much to do with success of lack of it. I shelled out for Crockett's Family Farm's version of Tangie regs and got sublime bud and a bonanza of free seed from intentional pollination. I had similar luck with Dutch Passion's Blueberry. I wasn't so lucky with Brother's Grimm Cindy 99. Maybe they were kept in too hot of a place in transit or maybe they sat too long before they sold. I have actually gotten a five year old pack of Train Wreck before - the only way I could tell is because of a scratch-off game with it that ended in 2014! On the other end of the spectrum, I got two Orange Cookies X Nicole fems from Seedman gratis. I grew one out (the other didn't make it) and now I wish I could find more to buy.

[johnb1963]

i just purchased 5 yoda og seeds and got 4 free. $70 total for the 9 seeds where delivered in less than 1 week. the germinate mid nov.

[Going2fast]

Was right there with you when I first started buying beans. I quickly learned what the term white label meant. And had the same germination issues with freebies. Now I pay attention to the banks freebie policy. Multiverse only gives out breeder freebies. I'm growing freebies from gas reaper and gnome right now and they are doing great. North Atlantic has a lot of promotions from breeders but they also give out their white label brand. Stay away from ilgm and greybeard. If you see my grows you know I love experimenting with different genetics. And 15$ a bean for stellar genetics is well worth it.

[OldManGrower]

My current grow was to be five auto-flower plants. 2 were new seeds and 5 were Freebies.
The score is 100% success for the new seeds and 40% success for the Freebies. My grow is now four plants. I stand by my original comment in this post.