Comments regarding Pinetree Garden Seeds

Ordered from this company last year. Had a very good transaction and the seeds grew well. The prices were also very good. I would definitely order from them again.

Ordered 30 different types of seeds from Pinetree for my summer 2012 garden, and this garden was my best so far. I LOVE Pinetree seeds. I've ordered from them in the past, and they definately deserve a "Top 5" rating for all-around value, and the germination and performance are both top shelf. I'll be ordering from them again for my 2013 garden.

Posted on January 5, 2011, updated November 26, 2012
Posted on January 1, 2011, updated January 5, 2011
Posted on October 5, 2004, updated January 1, 2011
I ordered pumpkin and gourd seeds for our 4H club. The seeds arrived promptly and I got more per packet than I expected. They sprouted well and the kids got a very good crop. The gourds were especially cute and colorful.

Posted on November 12, 2010, updated October 30, 2012
I've ordered seeds from this company for the past few years. Always a positive experience. Some OP veggies, I've saved seeds & have been re-planting for 3 years or more. Order always received timely & accurately with no back orders.

This was the first year I have ever ordered anything from this company. I was a little leery because their prices were low,
compared to the bigger companies. I was delighted when my order came a couple of weeks after I placed it. I was also happy to find out that there weren't as many seeds in each packet as the big guy usually give you...What a great idea. I don't need 300 tomato plant seeds in each envelope, and I'm sure all other backyard gardeners don't either. I'm grateful for the lower prices.
Yesterday I harvested my first tendersweet carrots and was pleasantly surprised. I have been gardening for over 40 years, and these were the nicest looking, best tasting carrots I have ever grown. Everything else has flourished too. I'm now into my second planting of radishes, spinach and lettuce.
I am planning on planting some more carrots soon and allow them to over winter. From now on, I will be ordering all my seeds from Pinetree Garden Seeds.

no problems with things i have received, good prices on lower quanity of seed

I have been purchasing seeds from Pinetree for over 10 years now...love, love, love them!! I can purchase small amounts of seed which are perfect for my home garden, and the quality has always been superb. A nice variety is available and I have never had any issues. Only beautiful veg and flowers!! I will continue to buy from Pinetree as you can't beat their prices, shipping charges, and specials. I recently ordered 10 varieties of glad bulbs on special, and all the bulbs were fresh and plump, and are growing nicely. Highly recommended to folks in my area of western NY as Pinetree is located in Maine with much the same growing conditions.

Posted on June 15, 2011, updated June 23, 2012
Posted on March 4, 2010, updated June 15, 2011
Posted on December 23, 2004, updated March 4, 2010
Ordered seeds for 2005 and received them today, one week later. Love the colorful catalogue, useful descriptions and commitment to the customer to provide a varied selection. If I want large seed packets I may not use in one season, I know where to go--and now I know where to go to find quality seed in smaller amounts, too. Great job!

Posted on April 21, 2009, updated June 9, 2012
I ordered from Pine Tree around January 1st, because I had read reviews saying they took longer to mail orders out than other companies. It was a couple of weeks before I got my order, while most of my other companies shipped seeds within a week. However, I got their seeds in plenty of time for planting, and their prices are so LOW and the seeds have germinated incredibly well, so it's definitely worth it. Just order your seeds around January 1st!

Posted on March 9, 2012, updated May 31, 2012
Posted on March 27, 2011, updated March 9, 2012
Placed my order on March 13 and my package got here the 26th - the only message I got was an automated e-mail that my order was received. The prices are very good & the amount of seeds are good for the prices. I liked the variety of seeds they have to offer. I just wish there was a little better communication as to when they have shipped, so that I'm not contemplating if I should contact them or not.

Will post more if there's anything special to note about germination rates and what not.

My order arrived very quickly after ordering it and I appreciated the auto-email confirmation, since not all places that I've ordered from do that, even though it's pretty simple.

I only ordered some seeds and a sprouting cover, but I plan to order more in the future!

Posted on February 17, 2012, updated February 27, 2012
I ordered seeds Jan 29th. Pinetree 'said' they shipped my order Jan 31. Today is Feb. 17 and still no seeds. I have to reorder from another company while my greenhouse sits idle.

I ordered seeds this year and as usual they arrived in a very timely manner, I like this company because you can order smaller amounts of seeds. I have ordered from them in the past with no problems and will certainly be ordering again in the future.

Just got my seeds today. Everything was there that I ordered and on time! So far everything is ok, just have to see how they turn out.

I have been ordering from Pinetree Garden Seeds for at least 13 years, 10 of which were as a professional cut flower grower.

I cannot say enough good things about this company; they are one of three seed houses I order from every year. As a professional and as a "home gardener" I have come to rely on them for quality seed, great selection and pricing, and fantastic customer service.

Pinetree offers a huge selection of vegetable, herb and flower seed as well as a variety of bulbs, tubers, and plants. Over the years I have gotten a little of everything from them and have only had germination issues with 2 or 3 items. I contacted the company and the problem was rectified promptly and professionally. By the way, calling the company is a real treat as you are not connected with some "operator" sitting in a cubicle somewhere as with some other larger seed houses, but an actual employee of their farm. I like the personal feel of that.

Another benefit to me is that because they are located in Maine and actually test grow everything in their catalog, I can be assured that their offerings will be well suited to my Vermont growing season.

Pinetree's prices are virtually unbeatable. This, paired with their smaller sized packets, makes it possible to try a lot of different varieties without breaking the bank. I always feel like I can treat myself to something I might not "need" or get a little experimental without the risk of having wasted a lot of money. One year I grew cotton. In Vermont! Visitors to my garden were aghast and I will never forget harvesting my very own little puffs of organically grown fluffy goodness.

Their selection of heirloom and open-pollinated veggies and flowers is fantastic. Additionally, their catalog has separate sections for ethnic varieties organized by geographical region. Also broken out are sections for container gardening, everlasting flowers and dye plants. Very unique!

One caveat I have is with their website. So far I have not been able to save a shopping cart for more than a half an hour or so. The first time I realized this I had entered a huge order only to return later to find it gone. Ugh! I am one who likes to peruse and mull over my order for anywhere from a few days to week or two. With Pinetree I have to do this on paper and then enter my order only when I am ready to make my purchase. My husband is a web programmer and claims that this would be really easy for them to fix. I would be stoked if they did!

In response to the negative comments regarding long shipping times; in my experience it is generally good practice to order seeds early in the year (this means no later than early February for me). This way I avoid ordering during the "busy season" which may delay shipment and lead to timing issues when starting transplants. This is also a good way to avoid back orders or out-of-stock items. In Pinetree's defense, order backlogs are addressed in both their printed catalog and on the Policies page of their website (offering expedited processing is actually a really nice service as I know of other companies which do not):

"Our goal is to ship all orders within a couple of days of receipt. However, from February to May, a backlog of 2-3 weeks can develop. We will try to avoid this, but the more advance planning you can do - the happier you will be. Special Handling is available for an extra $4.50, these order will ship out the next business day."

Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend this company to anyone from novice to professional.

Posted on February 20, 2002, updated February 10, 2012
Their website is a little tricky to use, but my order was processed very promptly, and shipped quickly. Seeds germinated nicely, and as many others have commented, they provide a good-size packet of seeds for the home gardener who wants to experiment with several varieties. Will definitely order from them again.

I ordered 52 packets of seeds on January 12, 2012 and received all of them five days later, no errors. I started some of my cabbage seeds indoors already and am very pleased with the germination rate. If the rest of my seed does this well, I will definately be ordering from Pinetree again next year.

Easy ordering, prompt delivery, no missing inventory + GREAT prices. So far, I am very pleased.

Posted on February 11, 2005, updated January 22, 2012
Placed large order for vegetable and herb seeds, which arrived within a week. Great selection of varieties (did not have to shop in three or four different places to get everything I wanted), clearly described, delivered promptly, terrific pricing. Packets are the right size for a family garden (with many providers, you have left-over seeds which will generally not have as good germination the next year). And, best of all, good basic cultural directions included on each packet. This is my first time dealing with Pinetree but will certainly not be my last. (By the way, it was particularly cheerful getting this lovely selection of seeds as we were in the midst of the Nor'easter!)

Fabulous service as always. I have ordered from Pinetree (using the internet) off and on for years, for my job. This year I ordered on December 19th and received my seed order on the 22nd via US Priority Mail. I almost always order in December and it always works this way, year after year. Thanks!

Posted on November 14, 2011
I have ordered from Pinetree for about 2 or 3 years now. I have been pleased with their products, and very happy with their prices. Germination rates are good. I ordered over the phone, and am very happy with the representatives I have spoken with--very nice and helpful. So, I would reccomend them, and plan to order from them in the future.

This is the first time I've used this company. I actually found it through this website. I am a novice plant-grower (I hesitate to say 'gardener' as what I have can hardly be called a garden, and I definitely don't put the kind of time into it that most others do! Haha!), and like that I can get smaller quantities here. I don't need 50 tomato seeds, you know? As of yet I can't comment on germination or plant success, but one common thing I saw mentioned was that it took a few weeks to get orders. I ordered on the evening of 7/3 (a Sunday), with Monday being a holiday. I received my order in the mail on Thursday 7/7. Super-fast! I was very surprised, and I'm looking forward to getting something started this weekend! I will definitely use Pinetree again.

Pinetree Garden Seeds corrected a shipping errors within a
day of my notification to this company. They are a wonderful
company. With their smaller sized seed packs that sell at low
prices, a person can try out and compare various kinds of vegetables to discover the best kind for that particular area.
I've ordered from Pinetree Garden Seeds for over a decade. This is the first time there ever was any type of miscommunication. Pinetree Garden Seeds will get my future business, too.

Posted on March 27, 2010, updated April 9, 2011
Posted on July 9, 2003, updated March 27, 2010
Did my first order with Pinetree for books after seeing the rave reviews for Pinetree. Just to test the waters. Though I didn't get an email confirmation of the order, the books came promptly. Customer service was very helpful when I asked about status of shipment. Will definitely order again for their other products as well.

They're not the fastest shipper around, but their seed is reasonably priced (often downright inexpensive) and I've found their germination rate to be good. I received a confirmation email immediately upon placing the order, and received seed within 2 - 3 weeks. Great choice if you're on a budget.

This is the first year I've ordered from Pinetree Seeds. They are a little bit slower than the other companies I have ordered from because it took almost 3 weeks to receive my order---but their prices are awesome. I will order from them again as long as these seeds germinate well.

I have ordered from Pine Tree for a number of years. Sometimes if the order is late they can be alittle slow. This has been stated in the catalogue though I think they have made an effort to improve.
Generally I have had no problems with the seeds growing and the amount in the packets is usually more than stated in the catalogue. Studies have shown that most people buy way mopre seed than they ever could use.
Several years ago, it had been several weeks and my order had not arrived. I was quite patient and I don't beleve it was late in the season. I finally called to see if they had been shipped. The staff was friendly and informed me of the ship date(several weeks earlier) and stated they would check to see what they could find out. I also looked around. I found my seeds still in their package in the neibors yard. They had been buried in the snow after blowing off my mailbox. Upon opening they looked fine and grew fine that season. I called Pine Tree to report that I had found my package. They offered to replace the seeds without even being asked and when the issue was clearly not their fault. I placed my order today. Thanks Pine Tree.

I continue to order from PT year after year. They are a lot like Fedco being a small company with their own way of doing things and not so great customer service to rely on. But when you know that ahead of time, both companies are ok.
Believe me that PT's prices are exceptional. I am little miss calculator all winter and some things PT have that stand out are their baby green mix (way cheaper than elsewhere) and their mix packets like broccoli, cauliflower and summer squash. I also like their Point One cauliflower. Another wonderful item is Big N alfalfa; Johnny's charges way more for it.
Another thing I like is that they don't figure shipping by weight but total cost. So you can order things like seed starting mix without paying per lb.

Awesome company. Been ordering for a decade from them, never any problems. My order this year was placed online at night last Monday, and received the package on Thursday of the same week (ME to CA!). I appreciate that they have kept their prices down, while everyone else's prices have become ridiculous. I used to mainly order from Territorial, a fine company for northern growers, but they've priced themselves out of my garden. For most items, I use Pinetree now. As for all the internet order screw-up complainers out there - grow up and read the directions! They plainly state that the order is only held for 30 minutes in their system. I used excel to make a list before I used my dial-up connection - no problems! As for germination - I think this is a personal problem. I use a heating pad, the best organic potting soil, and proper sanitation and never have a problem - no matter what company the seeds come from. Thank you Pinetree - I can afford to garden because of your company!!!!

mailed order on jan 15th
check was cashed on jan 20th
seeds arrived jan 22nd (mildly impressive for maine to pa)

not sure what all the complaining about shipping times is about, but i do order seeds fairly early and perhaps they were understaffed in previous yrs during peak ordering periods. my shipment was quite prompt, though.

they were out of 'black egg' eggplant seeds, and sent an insert along w/ my seeds and the book i ordered stating they would send me them when they have stock.

chose to give a positive rating since the shipping time was so fast, however it will obviously be a little while before i can testify as to the germination rates. all packets had the minimum amount of seeds guaranteed.

To address the shipping concerns-I placed my order last Sat. evening and received my seeds today (Wed). Considering that Mon. was a mail holiday-I'm impressed! Two working days, WOW! It IS mid Jan and I guess it's still early, but so far so good. I can't speak about the germ rate because I've only had the seeds about 3 hours (I'm such a slacker!) but I've never had a problem in the past. I'll update later if there is anything more to report.

I ordered my 2011 seeds from Pinetree on 1/03/11, and received them in the mail 1/07/11. I ordered 45 different seed packets, plus a book, for a grand total of $82. 44 of the 45 seed packets were correct. The one mistake: they sent me a winter squash mix instead of plum radish. Ironically, I had the squash mix in my shopping cart, waffled on it, and finally removed it right before check out. And then it shows up anyhow. I'm just taking it as some karmic sign :0)

I've been ordering from Pinetree for years, and have always been happy with the prices and germination rates. As a result, they are my primary mail order seed company.

I'll post updates when I get my seeds in the ground.

I ordered some products for soil amendment and some of their books. Am very pleased with my order.

I have ordered from Pinetree many times, and have always been happy with their products. They have great descriptions of their seed varieties, and their prices can't be beat. They also have a lot of nice hard-to-find gardening products. And, I like that they are in a cool climate (Maine), because I am, too (MIchigan.)

In 2009, Pinetree was overwhelmed with orders from new gardeners. (Lots of people tried to grow their own food in 2009, due to the poor economy, and many of them probably ordered from Pinetree due to their great prices.) The negatives here for Pinetree seem mostly to be due to slow shipping in 2009. I always pay for the 24-hour express order fulfillment, and get my orders very promptly, including in 2009. Because Pinetree's prices are so low, I still get excellent value for my money, even with the extra charge for express order fulfillment.

(I will make one small complaint. They are now selling seeds for smoking and chewing tobacco. This is their right, but I wish their catalog wouldn't imply that 'naturally grown' tobacco is somehow healthier. Tobacco is toxic no matter how you grow it!)

Posted on April 29, 2009, updated April 6, 2010
Placed two orders, late in the season and despite the warning message on their homepage (and before seeing the issues here)

Order 1: 03/23/09
Order 2: 04/03/09

Have not received either. My rating is neutral because I've been a customer of Pinetree Garden Seeds since high school (18 years ago!). I haven't ordered in a few years, and this is the first time I've had such a negative experience. I'm hoping to receive my seeds soon.

They should make an effort to respond to their customer's concerns, either posting here or updating messaging on their site daily. I understand that creating an online order status system is time-consuming and possibly expensive. Even if they manually updated the homepage message to show status, maybe saying: 'We've filled xx of yy orders this season' or 'Shipping Delays: zzz backorders' it would give me a sense that they are making progress and understand the daily inconvenience their backlog is causing.

I just wanted to say, though I was weary reading last year's comments, I decided to go ahead and place an order. The online ordering functioned perfectly for me and I received my seeds in five days. Everything was there and everything was correct. I think whatever might have been going on for them last year has been resolved.

Ordered for the 1st time last year. Not the quickest shipper but did receive all items accurately. Have started last years seeds and germination is still great. Will buy from again.

This is my third year ordering from Pinetree. They have a wide selection, including many hard to find items, and I always find something fun to experiment with that I've never heard of before (this year it's the toothache plant). Thus far I've received every order in less than 10 days, and germination rates have been outstanding. Keep up the great work!

Pinetree Garden Seeds has a very large variety of seeds. I like how they categorize varieties in their catalog by how you use them, in what cuisine, whether it is a container plant, etc. The prices are very reasonable. The shipping is fast and their customer service is helpful.

I have ordered seeds from Pine Tree for several years and have been satisfied with doing business with them >Only one "mistake", just this season, they sent me the wrong bean seed variety. I called them and they replaced it as soon as it was available and I didn't have to return the 2 "wrong" packets sent previously. Also, I always look forward to their catalog. Wonderful selection and I appreciate the personal comments on different varieties.