Comments regarding Pinetree Garden Seeds

I've ordered from them for many years. I've never had a problem with germination or with a mislabeled variety. The one time a packet of seeds was short, they promptly and cheerfully replaced it.

I received excellent plants from this company - these were Lingonberry. Excellent shipping, plant quality excellent. Plants doing good. However, for bigger garden growers, Pinetree Garden seeds do not package sufficent quantities in their packets to warrent ordering seeds from them, even though the small packets are at a reasonable price, the quantities are measured in number of seeds rather than ounces, fractions of pounds, etc. These seed packages are ideal for growers with very small plots or restricted areas.

Although I have ordered from Pinetree in the past this year has been a disaster. I purchased seeds from Harris, Johnny’s and Pinetree. All of my seeds from Harris and Johnny’s germinated without and problems but the Pinetree seeds would not germinate. The worst were their Broccoli seeds but all of their seeds had huge germination problems. Even the seeds that germinated are not growing very well when compared with the plants from Johnny’s and Harris.

I am very disappointed.. I have not contacted them with this complaint since there is nothing they can do for me. Too late to start new seeds.

I have placed several orders with Pinetree in the past, but I will no longer continue to deal with this company.

I like the idea of offering smaller seed packs, but theirs aren't always a good value. I found it impossible to order from their website, (their wesite is virtually useless) so I ordered via mail...my check was cashed right away, but it took several weeks for my order to arrive. I was not at all impressed with their customer service...I called to check on ship date, but they were not able to give me any adequate info, (was basically told to wait longer) and the rep was not so gracious. I experienced very poor germination with some varieties this year and last, especially the Dia Green broccoli.

Overall, I find this company to be mediocre at best, and I am very suprised that they are listed in the "top 20".

I placed my first order with Pinetree seeds by phone in January because I didn't have internet access at the time. As soon as I started reading my list of items to the customer service rep my dog decided it was great time to start random loud barking. The woman taking my order my order was very patient and waited with me for the pauses in barking to complete my order.

I received the correct seeds in record time. All of the seeds are now planted and of all the seeds I ordered this year from various companies, these have by far the best germination rates. The seed counts in the packets are less than most but it clearly states the counts in the catalogue and the prices reflect that. I would rather plant 30 seeds with an 80% plus germination rate than 100 seeds with a 50% germination rate; too much wasted space, dirt, seed trays and time.

I'm already planning on ordering most of my seeds from them next year.

I ordered some seeds about a month ago. They e-mailed me to acknowledge my order and said they would let me know the shipping charges.

I waited - but no e-mail. Then I e-mailed them for the charges - they finally sent me the amount, and said they would add to my order when sent. They did not tell me when to expect my order.

Then I e-mailed them asking when I could expect my order. They then debited my Visa for the amount of the order, but no date for expected arrival.

I asked them to either send me the seeds or refund the amount to my Visa, which they did (credited the amount back to my card).

I can appreciate these companies being very busy - but as long as they acknowledge receiving my order, I do expect some sort of courtesy confirmation as to the specifics such as charges, expected time for arrival, etc.

Tiny amount of seed, even for the price and the worst germination rates I have ever seen, and I am not a newbie at this.

I order seeds and seed potaoes every year, and they are always great!

I have ordered from them for the first time this year. I had heard the shipping time was slow so I added the 24 hr expedited service on both orders. I think it was worth the money. Like others I also wish the packets had more information on them. I do like that the seed packets are resealable and don't rip when you open them.

I ordered a lot of seeds from Pine Tree again this year. They were prompt and had good germination rates. I still wish they would put more cultural info on the packet, but by and large I have been quite pleased with the service and quality of their seeds.

I received my first ever order. Great experience. Not a single problem...and the shipping charges were very low.

Will order from again.

I have been ordering from them for a couple years now- and although i wish they would calculate shipping in the shopping basket I have to say that is the only problem I have with them.

I just recived my seed order and one thing was wrong- ordered #830(petunia) and recived #380 (winter squash) simple mistake, I called and they cleared it up no probelm 2 days later I had my correct seed and a bounus (the squash I got the keep)

I've ordered from Pinetree Garden Seeds twice so far this year, receiving seeds, books, and garden supplies. I have been very pleased both times; my orders arrived quickly and the seed quantities are perfect for my home garden, not too much or too little. Shipping charges are quite reasonable, too. A few seeds were backordered for a couple weeks and customer service was extremely prompt and courteous communicating with me during that time. Pinetree will be getting my business first, every time!

I ordered a very large order (almost $200) from Pine Tree last year. Over $50 of it was plants, which they did not send until half way through June when I was on vacation.

When it did arrive, I was gone and the plants were dead when I got home. I called Pine Treeupon my return and explained the situation. The first person was unable to help me. After several phone calls, they explained to me that they were not going to do anything about it -- neither refund my money nor replace the plants.

I will never order from them again.

I've been ordering from Pinetree for the last few years. I've been very pleased with their service...they are typically the first company to fill my order in the spring. They have a good selection of some harder-to-find herb seeds at reasonable prices. The seeds have been good as well--germination has been good. Give them a shot if you haven't yet.

I think I've ordered from Pinetree for at least 20 of their 26 years, and have always been pleased with the results. Occasionally I try other companies for special seeds, but I find I'd rather deal with Pinetree whenever possible. They always have interesting new things, and have recently begun small catalog sections listing varieties that may not be available next year--it gives you a chance to stock up a bit on a favorite, rather than just finding it isn't there any more; a very friendly feature. I've always liked choosing small quantities of seed for low prices--and they do tell you exactly how many seeds you'll get in the catalog entry, so it shouldn't be a surprise.
I wasn't surprised to find them listed in the Watchdog 20; they are a great company!

I've been reading Pinetree's catalog for several years and we've purchased and used their seed now for two years. I'd give them an A+++ on pricing and selection--their catalog really is a joy. Their service and promptness of delivery has also been outstanding.

After ordering for the first time, I was very surprised by how few seeds were included in each packet we received. Now, I do NOT think that they in any way misrepresented how many seeds we'd be getting, but they really do give you a lot less than any other seed company I know of. As a number of people on this site have commented, though, this can actually be a good thing. You should just be aware of it.

I must also say that I've been only moderately pleased by the germination I've had from Pinetree's seeds. I don't know if the seeds are old or poorly stored, but I consistently get 10-30% better germination from, say, Territorial Seeds or from my saved seeds. Again, though, you get what you pay for and with Pinetree you pay so little.

It's a great place to buy small quantities of stuff that you just want to experiment with.

Interesting variety of seeds, and I appreciate that they offer smaller amounts of seeds at lower prices. Easy to use on-line ordering an prompt delivery of products.

Have ordered for two years as they stock an odd seed variety that I buy,
Always sent out in good time...

I ordered some books via the internet, on Friday, December 17th. I did telephone to verify website info that the books were indeed in stock; the lady on the phone was exceptionally personable and helpful.
I decided to go the cheap route, and opted for regular shipping, even though I was rather hoping it'd make it prior to Christmas. My package was delivered the morning of December 24!!! One calendar week! During the holiday shopping/shipping madness, even. From Maine to coastal Mississippi. In nasty weather. Plus, several of the books were also on sale, to boot.

I am impressed and extremely pleased with this company. (I've also ordered seeds before and gotten great service then, too.)
Keep up the great work, Pinetree!

I haven't ordered from Pinetree since the mid-1990's, because the order was incredibly slow to arrive then. As in I placed an order in January and didn't receive it until mid-May. However, Pinetree has hopefully improved its order fulfilment since that time, and the prices certainly are the lowest I've found--I did a price comparison with Stokes Seed, who admittedly does offer about double the amount of seed for about twice the price of a Pinetree packet. The question becomes: Do you need 25 seeds or 250 seeds? Pinetree seems to be the best choice if you need only 25 seeds.

I've ordered seed twice from Pinetree, and have been exceptionally happy both times. Buyers do, however, need to read carefully the quantity of seed offered for the price. If you buy expecting a "standard" packet of everything you willsometimes be dissappointed. I have found most all of their seeds to be exceptional values, and I suspect only those shoppers expecting a deal too good to be true are dissappointed. I also find germination rates to be consistently good, and sometimes excellent. The only real disssappointment I have had out of about forty varieties tried was the Creme de Cassis hollyhock, which logged in at about 50% -- very low for a typically easy species. On the other hand, I got about an 85% germination rate on Codonopsis, which is typically one I get very little luck with. So I am a happy customer and will continue to be so.

I've ordered vegetable seed from this company for two seasons now. They have become my favorite seed company for several reasons:
- the smaller size of their packets is perfect for my family garden. I'd rather buy a reasonable amount of a lot of different vegetables than a huge amount of just a few things. I'd also rather buy fresh seed every year than use old seed left over from last year. So the small inexpensive packet is perfect.
- being a Northern gardener, it's important to me to know whether a variety is suitable for my climate or not. Pinetree's trial gardens are also in a short-season area, and if a variety can be grown only in a greenhouse or something up north, they always tell you that up front. No trying to pull the wool over your eyes and sell you something that will never grow in your area.
- their catalogue seems to have more detailed and useful information than some other companies. They let you know which varieties can be grown with direct-seeding, from transplants, under cover, or have other special needs. They list the pros and cons of each type clearly, so you know what you're getting. I've always found their descriptions and recommendations to be accurate.
- I also really like the selection of vegetables in their catalog. There are some unusual and unique varieties, including lots of European and some Asian vegetables. They seem to go for a balance between flavor and growability. I want veggies with superb gourmet eating quality, but nothing so tender and finicky that you need to spend every waking moment trying to keep the plants alive. On the other hand, if something is super easy to grow but the taste is dull and bland, then what's the point? Pinetree's whole catalogue seems to consist of varieties that approach this ideal yummy/easy balance.
- finally, everything I've ordered from them so far has had superior germination rate, has done well and tasted great!

I have been ordering seeds from Pinetree for years and have always been happy with their service and products. This spring I placed an order for a fairly large amount and after a month or so my seeds had still not arrived. I finally called the company and told them. They sent a duplicate order to me quickly and asked me if I would mail back the first order if it should arrive, which was a fair request. I appreciated the friendly way they handled the problem. Mistakes can and do happen both with the seed company and the postal service. Pinetree is definitely a great company to do business from my experience.

I have dealt with Pinetree for years and am thoroughly pleased with the service and the products. Over the years I have not had one problem with this company and have always found them to be prompt and the items true to the descriptions. The germination rate of the seeds is excellent, and the packets contain more seeds than the minimum promised. I will certainly continue doing business with them.

Great prices, quick service but where's the seeds? I had my order in just a few days, but was disappointed in the very small number of seeds in each packet.
Alice

We have ordered from Pintree Seeds for many years. The two times our seeds have been delayed were during a bad ice storm (we received a $1 coupon as a thanks-for-waiting) and last year when we ordered late during the late-spring rush. The prices are good and the number of seeds are listed in the catalogue. The lettuce seed mixture (1 oz) is the best and always gets compliments. I used to hate throwing away good seed because the packages were too large (who needs 30 zuchinni plants?) but find that 4 hills are much more manageable.

Except for some specialty seeds (Thai eggplant), they are my one-stop garden seed source.

http://www.superseeds.com

I ordered bulbs. Lots of lily bulbs. The bulbs came last fall as promised. Every single one of these bulbs I ordered came up, and really showed their little blooms off! They were absolutely gorgeous. Anyone that has planted lilies, knows that the first year is rarely the best year for lilies. But these performed as if they had been in the ground for several years with many, many blooms! I would reccomend this company to anyone for their bulbs!

I've purchased from Pinetree a few times. The order was shipped promptly, well packed, and arrived as described. Once I had a question about choosing one product over another and they spent time with me and helped me make my selection. I would be more than happy to place an order with Pinetree again.

Hello:
We have ordered garden seed and cover crop seed from Pinetree Garden Seeds for years

We are a small commerical grower of Heirloom vegies.

Pinetree Garden is getting slower and slower in shipping seeds out so that is one of the reasons why we order them two or three months in advance of when we need them to be shipped to us!
Regards

Excellent customer service, good prices and 80% or higher germination rates for all the seeds I bought...I will order again!!

Great experience. I ordered some seeds last week. They arrived Yesterday and they all looked good.
I would do buisness with them again.

Ordered a large variety of seeds from Pinetree this year. All were of good quality - my corn did not come up but I think that was my fault! I did notice the small amount of seed you receive but for the price (average .80 per pack) you cannot beat them! They tell you how many seeds you are getting in their catalog so you will not be surprised. I like to grow many things and don't need 2 yrs worth of seeds so it worked out perfectly for me.

Pinetree has a great selection of seeds at prices that can't be beat. The order was correct and arrived quickly.
I will order again.

I ordered some raspberries and some begonias from Pinetree (also known as Superseeds. Bareroot, they did not look great, but I waited. They did not leaf up. I waited awhile, then I emailed them. I got replacements for all the stuff. The raspberries HAD leaves on them by now, so I stuck them in the pots and they look good. The begonias had sprouts forming.
So, I had a bad then a good experiance. I'm Ok with that.

I never need a ton of seed of any one thing. So their package size is perfect for me. It is a great way to get what I want and not have to pay a lot for it. The packages of seed that I have ordered have always had the amount of seed listed or more.

The customer service is great. I got an email response the next day after sending my email. They were so easy and nice to work with.

I ordered some flower seed, asparagus roots, dahlias and some lingonberries this spring. I wanted to give them a try since their seed prices seem reasonable for a small gardener. The seed came quickly, but I seem to have better germination with my Wal-Mart "off the rack" seeds. I had the same problem with the second part of my order as many other people. I thought it wasn't coming, and then it arrived late in May. Surprisingly, the asparagus seems to be growing well even though it should have been started earlier. About half the dahlias came up. They sent a bunch of pieces with no "eyes". Only about half of the tubers had eyes. Even though I didn't think they would grow, I planted everything. It appears I was right. I'm not sure if I'll order again. I may consider their vegetable seed in the spring if I order early.

There was a commercial a few years ago by Wendy's that had the line, "Where's the beef?" Well, I say, "Where's the seeds?"
I ordered from Pinetree Garden for the first time this year. Originally I was impressed with their great prices. I came to this website and most people were happy with the company so I gave it a try. I now know why they have such great prices- I got only a very few seeds. I looked at the catalog again and I cannot believe what I am seeing! I know for some of what I ordered, I did not get the stated number of seeds. I will definitely go somewhere else next year.

On a positive note, the few seeds I did get had good germination except for the yellow squash...go figure.

On May 6 I ordered 80 asparagus plants and was told they would be shipped out in five days. I waited two weeks and called Pinetree and was told my order was in the process of being filled. Again I waited and called them on June 1 and asked about my order. The person I spoke to informed me that I would not be receiving my order because they were out of asparagus roots.
Nearly a month passed and Pinetree didn't even have the decency to let me know that they had no stock to fill my order! When I spoke to them they seemed to care less and offered no apology.
It's now too late to order from a more reliable source and the bed I had prepared will sit dormant untill next year.
I will never place another order with Pinetree and will encourage others to do the same!