E & R Seed

We have shopped with E&R seed for many years. Great prices and good seed germination rates. I just picked up my latest order on Monday and everything looks good. For those wanting them to "update" their practices, there's a slim to no chance of that happening. This is a Amish run company. You can be happy that they have a telephone service to answer calls. You can phone or fax your order in and use your credit card to pay. If you do not feel as if that is acceptable, you may want to just go with another company.

I've been doing business with the company for about 15 years. Good products and prices. But it's always frustrating to deal with their shipping costs and rules. They change from year-to-year, but they at least finally stopped charging extra depending on how items are shipped. This year, the weight of my order put me into their second table of rates. Extra few bucks. But then I got charged and extra $17.05 because they had to ship in two packages. None of this is explained in their very confusing instructions. They just want you to 'add a little extra' to your payment and they'll figure shipping costs out! ER needs to get into the 21st Century and have flat shipping rates based on order cost. They also need to open up a website where all the confusion that seems to happen with each order (the form is returned with red notes and comments all over it) can be addressed. I'm paying the $17.05 but they also are asking for additional money since I 'took so long to pay.' No way. If they try again, they won't get another order from me.

I was given one catalog by a friend who sells vegetables at a farmers market and his vegetables are the best. I called them and had them send me their other 2 catalogs as well. Yes it is tedious to go through the catalogs but they are the cheapest and the best. " Best bang for the buck". I still was hesitant to order with paper order form and hard to calculate shipping costs etc. So I decided to call in my order which was patiently and correctly taken as I had over 40 items. My seeds and other supplies for high tunnel got to me in 2 working days. My seedlings have been started and they look healthy in 2 weeks time with over 90% germination. I recommend them highly, they definitely deserve business and I can see how they will loose out customers just because they do not have a online store. Be patient, order catalog, make selections and order and be ready to be amazed. I am looking forward to ordering again inspiring for flowers, fruit trees, vegetables and more.

Posted on April 28, 2006, updated February 7, 2017 I have dealt with this company for several years and have almost nothing but good to say about it. It has an ENORMOUS range and variety of offerings of seeds, plants and garden equipment and supplies (they send their catalog in three volumes just to list all their stuff!). Their prices are hard to beat--some of the lowest around, even though diversity and quality of offerings are excellent. They offer substantial bulk and quantity discounts on almost everything so both home and commercial growers will find them a useful source. Company is run the old-fashioned way by Mennonites mainly via papermail--until recently it didn't even have a telephone number much less a website--which may account for my only criticism: somewhat slow (though reliable) service on orders.

We're a mid-sized grower. We purchased from E&R for the past three years. Each year, I ask myself if it is worth the hassle. This year was the last straw. They shipped seed potatoes that arrived frozen. We probed them with a digital thermometer and they were 26°F. We refused shipment. E&R doesn't believe us that they were frozen, even thought the low the morning of the shipment was 9°F. They are giving us hard time about issuing a refund, as they have no more potatoes to ship. To date we still haven't received it. The part that threw us over the edge was that he said he has many customers that would be happy to have the potatoes that I refused. So, if you're ordering potatoes from E&R seed and nothing comes up, you know why.

This is all I need to know>>>OWNED BY MONSANTO OR SEMINIS OR SELL SMALL PERCENTAGES OF SEEDS FROM THEM.

We have purchased from E & R for several years; we've even made the trip to their business. Yes, they are Amish and use a neighbor as their "answering service". The neighbor relays messages and calls back for them. We got lost trying to find them, but that was our own fault. We picked up a lot of seed potatoes and they were in beautiful shape. We also have several apple trees that we bought from them...we weren't as happy with them but we still have some. I think we bought 25 of them and the grafting done was not the best :( We had them shipped. We were finally able to get some apples this year on some of the trees. They are kind, but odd, folks.

E and R Seeds doesn't have a web-site, but they do have an email address: eandrseeds@yahoo.com. We deal with another, similar business here in Missouri; being Amish or Mennonite, they don't use all of what we consider modern methods. Yes, it's a little inconvenient to have to mail or fax an order, or wait for a credit card to be processed by someone manually, but they typically offer very high quality items at reasonable (sometimes amazing!) prices. They're just not in as much of a hurry as most of us!

What is the company e-mail address?

I made two seperate bulk orders of seed corn by mail and they both arrived quickly and in good condition. True, their answering service does leave a lot to be desired, but they respond quickly by email. Their catalogue is HUGE, so call or email for one.

I usually go to their shop to buy my seeds. E & R Seeds are Amish. They have great standards, great prices and a very huge selection in anything you can think of related to gardening from the postage stamp gardner to the commercial vegetable farm. I live over an hour away from their shop. It is well worth the drive there!

I have used E&R for several years (have the coffee mugs to prove it). They are the best. I have used their plants, seeds, and supplies. When I send an order in, I send a blank check so they can get the totals right! They have never failed me. If you call, leave a message, you will have to wait for a return call. This is a Mennonite family business. It is great to visit their operation. If you go, let them know in advance (1 week or better). That way they'll have your stuff ready.

A relative in WI recommended E&R's Albion ever-bearing strawberries, so I ordered them for my northern IL garden. What fantastic plants! The shipment arrived promptly, was well packaged, and all the plants were healthy. Every strawberry I planted has been doing great, and the berries are large and delicious. Just picked some this morning (9/11). I also ordered bean & pea seeds - packages were professionally done; seeds viable, and grew to wonderful plants this summer. This company was easy to deal with (they hire out their phone ordering), and the plants were great. I am planning on ordering more things from them next year!

I can NEVER speak to anyone at E&R seed!! either get an answering service or a recording!! i didn't get my complete order, I called @ 4:30 edt. someone picked up the phone and said "uh Hello", not very professional!! he said he would get back to me, regarding my missing items, never did!! now after over 20 messages, still haven't heard from anyone!!! BEWARE!!!

I have ordered seed from this company for two years. I made my main seed order for 2009 from them. Reasonable price, good service and no complaints about the germination rate. John L . Boyer

I have not ordered this year from E & R using my address, but have added want items to a friends order in the past. In my humble opinion, E & R's seeds were low priced and high in quantity and quality. In the past I have ordered from the "larger and more well known" garden supply companies, but E & R's varieties, quantities, and prices have pulled me in. This year my order will use E&R as my main source of seeds and equipment.

WAS NOT GOING TO ORDER AS NO WEB SITE. AFTER MANY DAYS PROCRASTINATING I SENT ORDER FOR PLANTERS. WOW! WAS I SURPRISED AT WHAT I RECEIVED AND LOW COST. NEXT YEAR ORDERED SEEDS AGAIN PLEASED WITH RESULTS. THIS YEAR ORDERED VEG PLANTS AND SEEDS. MY WIFES FIRST COMMENT WAS THEY LOOK LIKE THE BEST PLANTS YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED. THEY HAVE PREFORMED AS WE ALWAYS HOPE ARE PLANTS WILL. E & R BEST OF THE BEST LOOK FOR MORE ORDERS FROM ME. BOB DAVIS WINTHROP MA

When we first got a catlouge from them we were amazed with the low prices! Then when we could find no website or phone number we almost didn't buy from then. Then we saw the note that they were closed for Holiday's, funerals, and weddings. We realized they are Amish. We have used them for 4 years for our CSA. On rare occassion we have had germination problems with seed from them, but very rarley. We still buy from them regularly and highly recommend them.

I have dealt with E&R seeds for several years now. They are only an hours drive from me and I look forward to the trip every year. They have a great selection of high quality seeds with large quantities and great prices. Lots of heirlooms.