The Thyme Garden Herb Company

Seeds: Herbs, Signed Safe Seed Pledge

20546 Alsea Highway
Alsea, Oregon 97324 (United States)
(541) 487-8671
(541) 487-8671 (call

Reviews:

positives
neutrals
negatives

Displaying the 16 most recent reviews

RatingContent
Negative
On Feb 25, 2021, ddstew (1 reviews) from Waukee, IA

Of 7 different herbs purchased from this company, only 2 had any germination. The others had 0000 germination. From multiple seedings, in adding heat/ adding lights/ stratifying, googling how to's. I'm convinced it's the seed source that is the problem as I haven't had any issues starting herb seeds from other sources. Very disappointed.


Company representative comment on February 26, 2021:
On Feb 26, 2021 1:04 PM, The Thyme Garden Herb Company responded with:

First of all, we are sorry you weren’t 100% happy with your seeds. It is important to all of us that our customers are successful. We are always here and more than willing to help our customers with any problems they are having if they contact us and let us know about them. We have been growing over 300 varieties of seeds here for thirty-one years now and add many others grown all over the world because we can’t grow them in our part of the world. We use the same seeds to start our plants to sell at our nursery so we have a very close connection on the viability of the seeds and what it takes to make them germinate. Some of our seeds are rare and hard to find and hard to germinate. We are always try working to discover the secret to what makes some of them work and when we do we include those instructions with each seed packet. Some seeds for reasons of their own can be dormant and require weird specific processes to break that dormancy. There is a plant in Africa which has seeds that can take up to twenty-seven years to germinate. We were excited this morning to see we had several Black Lovage plants starting to pop up after being in the pots for four months. Herbs seeds generally aren’t as easy to start like planting corn or beans that don’t take much to be successful with. Although there are exceptions like the first three seeds you have in your order – Creeping Thyme, Ashwagandha and Balloon Flower. We have those growing right now from those seeds in our greenhouse and they are doing great. Indigo will germinate slower and sporadically over time. The fat seeds will rot and get mushy if kept too wet, so they can be a little tricky. Citronella is rather difficult. They have a hard seed coat that needs to be scarified so it will absorb moisture better. It can also be sporadic and take long to germinate. We have it growing in our conservatory for seed collection because it will freeze outside. Baby plants pop up every year from seeds that fall to the ground. From the time they are ripe in fall and drop off the plant to when they germinate in spring can be up to five months. That time can be reduced with scarification and stratification. The Blue Gum Eucalyptus comes from Australia where it is native. Probably due to environmental conditions like heat and rainfall in can be sporadic and slow to germinate - but not always. Sometimes it will come up in our starting flats in less than two weeks like crazy. I don’t know what the free seed we gave you for placing an order with us was, but I do know we don’t give difficult seeds to germinate that would be kind of counter-productive to our customers success.
So, like I said, we are here to help you if you get in touch with us. We are also, as our policy has always been, more than happy to refund you for the seeds that did not work for you.
Thank you….Rolfe Hagen
The Thyme Garden

Positive
On Nov 21, 2013, LanfrancoLeo (9 reviews) from Harrisburg, PA

This guy are great!! I will definitively re-order again !! I ordered a couple of items because I want to change my small grass lawn in a more eco-friendly alternative. Thyme chamomille were my first choices. Since I need a moderate high number of seed Thyme seed garden gave to me the best price for a good amount of seed. The shipping was fast, the people that I contacted by phone were very gentle and custom oriented.But more important the seeds were really fresh!! My thyme seeds germinate in 4 days.. 4DAYS!! If you check on line people give you an orientative time of 20 days, and strongly suggest to go by cutting , that supposedly is more esily!

Positive
On Jun 12, 2013, blumenlieber (13 reviews) from vancouver, WA (Zone 8a)

I ordered seeds previously and received them promptly-- lovely packets, excellent germination, fair prices and a huge selection. I also enjoy the newsletter I receive with lots of helpful information, recipes, etc. I am late in leaving my thanks, but thank you very much Thyme Garden for existing!

Positive
On Jan 12, 2011, Don_in_CT (4 reviews) from W Hartford, CT

A fine experience! I ordered five hop rhizomes ( one each of Cascade, Fuggle, Mt. Hood, Brewer's Gold, and Sterling, as I was not sure which varieties would be best for my location in Connecticut) last spring, and all five arrived in good condition, with small visible sprouts. I had to keep them in the refrigerator crisper for a week prior to planting them (as suggested), and when planted they all grew successfully, showing their first growth within three weeks of planting in mid-April. By the end of the first growing season the Cascade, Brewer's Gold, and Sterling bines were the largest, having reached the top of my 8 foot high tower and spread out across it in various directions. I actually managed to harvest a small amount from the Brewers Gold and Cascade plants in late August, but the Sterling hops matured so quickly that they were already dried out when I returned from a vacation in mid-August. the other two varieties set a few hop cones, but not enough to bother harvesting them. The bines began to yellow and die back in the fall, but some were green up to the first hard frost in early November. To allow for a more practical harvest, I will have to extend my growing frame upward by about five or six feet this spring.

Positive
On Apr 7, 2010, lorianna (1 reviews) from Charleston, SC (Zone 7b)

I have been extremely happy with seeds, hop roots, and plants ordered from Thyme garden. Seeds came promptly each time I have ordered them, and germination rate and plant health were superb. In one instance, I was moving cross-country and seeds ended up in a broiling hot storage area over the summer (candles stored there melted), and didn't get planted until 2 years from purchase --yet when planted, seemed to explode out of the ground with vigor! The hops and plants arrived at the times projected, and have shown excellent growth. The hops immediately showed a tendency toward World Domination. Fascinating variety of seeds. Seed packs are smaller, waste less paper on packaging, with no sacrifice of actual seed number. The herb selection is unmatched, and this year I ordered some herbs (goldenseal, cohosh) in plant form at a price far below what I've paid in the past at nurseries (when I could even find them) --they arrived bareroot, carefully packaged and moist, wonderfully healthy and settled in nicely. I've now grown Thyme Garden products on both sides of the country (Oregon and South Carolina), and they've earned top place in my list of favorites.

Negative
On Sep 18, 2009, rainierdog (1 reviews) from Provo, UT

This spring I ordered several plants from this company. After waiting several weeks to receive my shipment, a representative finally contacted me to tell me that their Highland Cream thyme was not yet ready for shipment, and asked me if I wanted to substitute or wait for the plants to be ready. I really wanted that varietal, so I chose to wait. Several weeks later I received the shipment. The Highland Cream thyme looked ok, so I immediately transplanted it into my garden. Unlike the other plants I received, it went into shock and struggled all summer. I nurtured it, as I don't like to claim failure to companies unless I've done everything I could. A few days ago the last green portion turned brown and I declared the plant to officially be dead. I contacted the company about a replacement, and was told that they would not honor my request. He told me "too much time" had gone by since my order a few months ago. A representative named Rolfe told me this, and he did not reply to emails asking him to work with me. I am very displeased with this company, particularly since they knew that they were shipping a plant that wasn't ready on time, and apparently wasn't even ready when they sent it. I want a company to stand behind their products, and only send quality items that will thrive, and back up that promise with a guarantee. I can't trust that plants in the future will be of stable quality, and I can't trust that they will work with me if there is a problem. There are too many other nurseries who will do this!

Positive
On Feb 26, 2009, greenmulberry (2 reviews) from Iowa City, IA

I ordered hops rhizomes last season, and a whole bunch of seeds this season. I found the customer service to be good, the prices good, and the product good. My hops came labeled and were clearly healthy. When one of the varieties I ordered was out of stock, they quickly emailed me to ask about a substitute. I am just now placing my third order with them as we decided to get some more stuff. I really appreciate the excellent selection.

Positive
On May 24, 2007, innerlite (2 reviews) from Cass City, MI

This is the second year I have ordered from Thyme Garden. They have a diverse selection of plants, some I'm unable to find elswhere. They also practice organic, earth-friendly standards which are important to me. The staff are helpful and friendly both via email and with extra growing hints written on the printed plant info. Everything I've purchased from Thyme Garden continues to thrive so far. I am very pleased and will continue to order from them for years to come

Positive
On May 4, 2006, (0 reviews)

I recieved my order today and was extremely pleased! Plants were HOT GLUED to the bottom of the box so they would not fall around! I thought that was a very excellent idea. They were very well and carefully packaged, and came dry enough for herbs to handle, but the box was humid inside, showing that they had been wrapped in moist newspaper originally. Everything was so skillfully and carefully wrapped in little elastic bands to keep the greenery looking perfect. All contact I've had with the nursery has been positive, they had to substitute plants, and emailed me for a list of possibilities. In the passed I was very pleased with my seed purchases, and I will certainly be buying plants again from The Thyme Garden (as well as seeds). You can not get this variety of herbs in my neck of the woods!!

Positive
On Feb 27, 2005, charkins (1 reviews) from Ridgefield, CT

I have been purchasing seeds from The Thyme Garden for at least seven years. My order always arrives within a week complete. I also like that they throw in a bonus seed pack. Their seeds always germinate quite quickly. What I like the best is the seeds they have available that I can't find anywhere else,such as corsican mint and a really low creeping thyme. Truly, they are one of my favorite seed companies for herbs.

Negative
On Mar 8, 2003, Mima56 (10 reviews) from Thayer, MO (Zone 6a)

I love their catalog. It's informative and concise, and I'm always intrigued by their selections. I have been pleased with the seeds that I've ordered, but never with the plants. I have received plants that were water-logged and rotted, as well as plants that looked to have been thrown into the pot upside-down! This is the only company that I've ever been dissatisfied with. And considering how rude they were when I called to talk, I certainly won't waste my time and money doing business with them again. And I must admit that I'm sorry, considering their offerings.

Neutral
On Oct 17, 2002, sagesue (7 reviews) from Wyncote, PA

Have ordered for a few years...herb seeds are well packaged and with good info...plants are small but well packed and did well in my zone 6 garden...may order again but pricey!!!

Positive
On Apr 1, 2001, SusanGrace (1 reviews)

I am really pleased with the Thyme Garden. I ordered more than 100 plants last year. All arrived in excellent condition. They were carefully packed, were a good size, and very healthy. Everything I ordered survived. They even called to check to see how everything arrived and called again later to see how the plants were doing. I have placed another big order for this year. I have tried many different herb producers, and they are definitely my favorite.

Positive
On Oct 1, 1999, Janekbahr (1 reviews)

I was extremely pleased with the condition of the plants. They all did well. I will definitely order from them again even though they are shipping all the way from Oregon.

Negative
On Apr 1, 1999, Nrecy (6 reviews)

Ordered 10 plants in January. My credit card was charged promptly. Plants arrived in late April. Unfortunately, UPS kept the plants over the weekend and 7 out of 10 died. I received my refund in October. I don't know about you but getting a refund after 10 months is not my definition of good customer service. They also never sent another catalog. Just as well as I've scratched them off of my list.

Neutral
On Jan 1, 1999, CatheGordon (1 reviews)

My experience ordering lavender plants was mixed. Everything arrived great, but 3 of the 16 plants died within weeks. The rest of the plants are doing really well. I contacted them via email immediately last year about it, but never got a response. I will order from them again once I find out about last year's order.

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