Comments regarding Park Seed Company (aka Park's Gardens)

Just received my plants. Oh, boy. oh boy. the Aster frikartii 'Moench' were HUGE!!, although I was surprised they came as bareroots. (Previously I got aster 'Moench' from Forestfarm in one gallon containers at HUGE shipment cost. They were much smaller than Park's & one had yellow blossoms!). This is the best Moench I have ever received.

I was also surprised to receive the plants this early. Normally, I received my shipment in April. Fortunately, the weather has been relatively warm. It is unpredictable in the Midwest. Last year we had frost on Mother's Day. Other times the temperature jumped swiftly to 70's in April.

I have been ordering from Park's for more than fifteen years and will continue ordering from them.

Myself, mother, grandfather have delt with this company
over a total period of 60+ years, myself about 30+ years,
I am age 60.

This company, other than Burpee, is the "mother" of all
seed firms.

In these years count not 1 problem. this firm mostly has
varities no other firm has, except specialty houses. The
prices are reasonable, delivery is firm, quality is most
excellent and they stand by their products.

On a 1-10 scale, I give them 11+

I liked most everything about park seed. Their website was well organized and reasonably informative. The shipping time was acceptable (about a week).

My sole complaint is that the first seed pack I opened was one of the bell peppers I ordered.

Like several of the other negative comments for Park Seed, I counted 12 seeds in a packet marked for 25. I have not opened the others yet to see if any others are short.

I have not contacted Park Seeds about this, I simply will not order from them again. It appears to be a long term quality control issue with them judging from the other complaints here.

I ordered some seeds and some growing trays. The order arrived on time, in good shape, and everything was corrct.

My seed order was received in less then one week at this very busy time for seed companies. All of my order was filled.
I know some hve been concerned with Park's germination rates. Last year I had good success with the vegatable seeds and annuals. My perennial seeds did not fare well, but It was most likely my own inexperience. I will see what happens this year. I also get seeds from Johnny's and Territorial and locally, so all my eggs are not in one basket.
Park's does provide nice one stop shopping for a wide variety. My Park's Wopper cantelopes last year were huge! In 2001 I ordered fall planted bulbs and all grew well. I switched to Brent & Becks, Zimmerman's, and Old House Gardens for bulbs for 2002 becauce of selection. I will continue to do a selective business with Park!.

The germination rate of the seeds was not very good.

This *USED* to be a 5 star company, but has declined rapidly over the last 3 years. In fall, I placed orders totalling over $200. Well, the daffs were rotted, most of the plumbago was dead/moldy/empty pots, the trycirtis aren't contemplating coming up, the Arkansas star were dead, and the Niobe clematis was LESS than a root. Their replacement plants were no better. I wasted my afternoon searching for *A* root in the pots.

I normally order A LOT (I love my gardens) but I'd get (and did get)better response from WALMART plants.

Fast service. Five days. Good germination. 90%+. What else do you need. Sun Please!

I have always had good luck with Park's. I ordered their 4-leaf-clover seeds one year and they really did grow true 4 leaf clovers! Their seeds stay preserved and fresh in their foil packets, which makes them germinate well. They carry many popular kinds of seeds, as well as their own great ones developed by themselves. From what I hear their seed starting supplies are really good too. I haven't ordered plants from them yet, though. Their seed is one of the first to arrive in the mailbox out of the many other companies I order from at the same time. I will definetely keep Park's on my good list.

I was very happy with Park Seed. My seed order came quickly and I received the quantity stated in the catalog. I started my tomato seeds and 100% of them germinated. They are now happy healthy seedlings. I've bought Park's Whopper tomato plants in years past (always having to travel far and wide to find them) and I was so happy to get my hands on their catalog and order some of those seeds! The best tomatoes I've ever grown.

I've always had very good luck with Parks. I've been ordering from them for years. I also think they have the best catalog on the market. BUT....I have experienced some seeds that do not germinate and I've always blamed it on myself until reading the negative comments on here. I must say though, I always order my seeds and supplies on their website and I usually get my order within the week. I only had a problem once with a container of fertilizer that leaked and they replaced it instantly.

I find that some of their see packets are more expensive than other companies, but it all seems to average out. I love the foil packets. I always start my seeds with their Park Starts and have had great luck. I especially like the fact that they have replacement cylinders for these.

Since I live in Southern California, I'm able to find plants fairly cheap and of good quality at Lowes and Home Depot, so I've not ordered any plants from them.

All in all, I give Parks a two thumbs up based on my dealing with them.

I am a beginning gardener and I have found Park Seed to be willing to go the extra mile to help me. I have had numerous contact with their representatives and they have always been professional. I did have some problems with germination rates until I asked about them and realized I wasn't planting them in the best of spots. I would buy from them again -- and I already have!

I love the bulb catalog and I've been very pleased with the Daylilies and Tulips that I have purchased from Park Bulbs. I plan to buy more from them in the future.

Park seeds is outstanding ! Love there foil gold packets
excellent turn-around time on shipping , good prices for
seeds . Also good growth rate on what I've planted can say
nothing negative good company .

I ordered seed and a grow light/mini-greenhouse/sponge pellets and heat mat from Park's; the service was prompt and the order arrived in great condition. Had 100% germination of the seeds in the sponges!

Though I haven't ordered plants or other nursery stock from Park's, I am very pleased with my seed order and grow set- up from them. I was almost ready to give up on ordering by mail as I have had terrible luck with others (Gurney's and Burgess) the last couple of years!

I ordered seeds from Park, but not before checking this website. The selection was great, and I recieved my seeds extremely fast. I also ordered from two other places on the same day and have yet to recieve my shipping confirmation! thanks, Park Seed!

After over 30 positive years, I was very disappointed with germination rates of seeds I purchased last year. Many varieties failed completely. A packet that was supposed to contain 25 seeds only contained 2 or 3 (this was replaced but only 2 germinated!). I ordered a dahlia at a cost of about $10 in 2001 and was disgusted when I received a single piece of tuber with no buds!

Actually I would give Park a 7 on a 1-10 scale. A broad selection of plants, seeds, & supplies. Their plants are good quality, but high priced and the seeds have preformed fairly well over the years.

I have ordered from Parks Seed many times and they have always sent the order ontime and the order has always been filled corectly. Two years ago I received some plants that were damaged and they replaced them immediatly.

I like Park Seed for a couple of reasons. They stand behind their products. I did not have any trouble getting the couple of seeds that didn't grow replaced. If you have any trouble at all you can contact them and they will help you with it. I once had some seeds that did not germinate and when I spoke with them I found it was not warm enough where I had them. They were still willing to replace them. However I did not feel it was their place to do so after all it was I that did wrong. In the center of their catalog they have a "Index and Germination/Culture Guide" which in it's self is very helpful. I will continue to order from them as I have for many years.

I have ordered seeds and plants from Park Seed, for many years, and unless things change I will continue to do so.

They publish a wonderful catalog, exhibiting many plant varieties and wonderful plant propogation information.

Order problems (which are view) have always been handled courteously, professionally, and to my complete satisfation.

I would definitely recommend Park Seed to my gardening friends.

This is my first time ordering from them. I ordered 6 packs of seed, opened the first which were candy lillies and package said 25 seeds. In the package were 20 seeds and some so sad looking that I doubt they will be viable. I am ticked off. I won't bother writing to them about it, I just won't order from them again. Wonder what the other 5 packs have in them...

I bought Holy Basil from Parks. What came up is not Holy Basil. I have emailed them pictures and documentation to back up my claims but I have not gotten any response back from their herb specialist. This has been going on since Spring of 2002. It is now almost February of 2003. I just want them to admit their mistake and make restitution.

Long experience with ordering seeds - orders are always shipped promptly and accurately. Germination is generally good to excellent. Value is mid-range (better than T&M, not as good as Pinetree).

Over 40 years dealing with them . A mixup in variety of rose sent was solved in less than 2 minutes with a phone call. Would not hesitate to reccomend.

I rate Park's as the top seed website on the net. I order large quantities of seeds and I order by the internet. They always ship immediately. They respond to all emails rapidly and most of the seeds germinate well. If there is a problem with plants it is usually my fault. I order three hundred dollars or more of seeds and I try many new annuals. Some just don't do well in my Alaskan climate. The seeds germinate and do well in the greenhouse but when we have variable weather conditions it is not Parks fault. I have people come over to walk through my yard and view the flowers. I have had a commercial greenhouse manager ask me to help him with his seed ordering. My beautiful yard and flower reputation is partly do to Parks seeds. I have only had one plant I ordered not survive and I am sure Parks would have replaced it had I notified them. It was a bare root plant. Poor germination of seeds is generally because I did something wrong such as over-water the wrong plants or I ordered something very difficult to germinate (Park's always tells you this and sends you extra seeds to compensate for it).

I had excellent results with all the seeds I ordered from Parks. I think they're great for seeds. I did, however receive some very scrawny clematis plants, which one of died quickly. I never asked for a replacement, but imagine they would have sent me one. The seed germination was great, and the bio-dome seed starter works great also.

I have bought plants and seeds from Parks for many years. I have enjoyed visiting their gardens in bloom. I have always been happy with the product and the service.

I have ordered from Park Seed for the past two years. I got acceptable germination rates from their melon seeds, But after reading other comments I think that the erratic germination of my corn seeds may not have been my fault. As you know, even germination is very important for cross pollination. I will buy my corn seeds elsewhere.

first time using them.For SHAME! Ordered the Fuji mixed morning glory grouping of 5 seed packets. SO DISAPPOINTED> I was lucky to get 4 or the fuji. Got a handfull of the others. Maybe,a handfull. Pictures are NOT true of what you get thats for sure. Would never bother with them again. Only half the seeds in each packet sprouted.
Called them. they said they would replace. Still waiting. But. its only been 9 months...........

I have done business with Park Seeds for twenty-four years, and my grandparents before me were dedicated customers. I have never been dissatisfied.

Year 2001 I ordered bare root clematis. I planted them upside down and, of course, they died. I admited my error to Park and they sent me a voucher so I could try again next year with new plants.

I appreciate a company that saw me as a customer worth keeping, even in my ignorance.

I've ordered seeds and plants from this company. Germination rates on seeds were very poor. Only the marigolds came up. Live tomato plants were good, but the potentilla was dead. I called for a replacement of the potentilla, and they sent me another dead plant. I didn't bother trying to contact them again. Their catalog and website are very nice to look at, but their quality is not good.

I shop for seeds, supplies, etc. VEEERY extensively (exclusively through the Internet, though)looking for best variety, shipping terms and instructions. Out of my experience, the choice of seeds offered by Park Seed and their super low delivery prices are cumulatively unmatched. Seed packaging is superb. Regarding germination rates, I bought a 25-seed pack of coleus and had 28 seeds germinated on a window sill in 4 days with no fussing on my part, not even additional lighting or plastic cover!

I have received two rose bushes in the past 4 months and they were healthy on arrival. In June I received a bare-root Dainty Bess (Hybrid Tea Rose) which flourished and has bloomed the rest of the summer. I just received a Mutabilis (China Rose) in a gallon container and it is a healthy plant full of new growth and buds.

Long in the business, a beautiful catalog, great customer service, sometimes a poor product.
Have ordered seeds and plants. Most years the seeds were great. Last year the seeds barely germinated. (vinca) Good thing I wasn't counting on them.
Also ordered a daylily collection. Many of the plants were so moldy they fell apart. They replaced them immediatly, however, the replacement also contained moldy, dead plants!
Have also ordered clematis vines from them. One year nothing grew. I did better with Wal-mart boxed and potted clematis at 1/3rd the price. This year they grew, but they send you very small plants.
I would sadly say try to look elsewhere for your dream plant before ordering from them, as they send out small, weak plants. Seeds are another issue. Since they carry a great assortment, and seeds are cheap, you won't lose too much if they don't germinate.

I ordered several pks of seeds this spring and planted them all. I had a very low rate of germination. Some packs grew nothing at all. I also ordered from another co. and almost everything grew. I won't waste my money again.

Very good overall. A bit pricey. Consistent.

I have been ordering from Park Seed for years, however the germination rate for some seeds has been less than acceptable the last two years. Also, the seeds I ordered were not what I received for two items.

I have ordered many seed varieties from Park, I also have had very poor germination success. When you depend on this for a living, it can be more than frustrating. The seeds are packaged well (foil VS paper), many even double sealed! I expected more and didn't get it. I have since found other sources for my seed orders.