Comments regarding J.L. Hudson, Seedsman

EXCELLENT Transaction. Seeds arrived promptly and I am very excited to begin planting. I will definitely order from the Seedsman again. AA+!

J. L. Hudson's seed catalog is so fantastic -- educational, fun, fascinating, and packed with information and thoughtful quotations. No photos, but then again you can find photos on this site or elsewhere on the internet. I have ordered twice from them so far and was quite happy with everything. The most recent time (Feb. 2007) I placed an order I got the seeds extremely quickly. Their seeds have germinated well, and their packets are hand-typed! They have seeds for such interesting plants, some very rare ones as well as the usual suspects. Such an amazing variety, too. I am going to buy all my seeds from them if I can from now on. I love their outlook as well.

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Thanks for your kind comments! But I must correct one thing - we don't hand-type our seed packets - they are printed with an antique machine called an "Addressograph". It uses a stamped metal plate and an inked ribbon, so it does look just like typing, but we can pound out the packets at more than one per second! (For you youngsters out there, ask an old-timer what a "typewriter" is. They were amazing word-processors that needed no electricity, and never crashed!) Addressographs were the technology of choice for mailing lists up through the 1970s, and have only faded away during the last thirty years or so. They could even do complex sorting and selection of addresses through an interesting "mechanical computer" involving pins and tabs.

So why do we still use an antique like this? No electricity! Never crashes! When we moved out here to our remote, off-the-grid location back in 1982, we ran the seedbank entirely without electricity for years - we even used kerosine lamps until we got some solar panels and 12 volt lights. Now we have a small bank of panels and have regular 115v AC, but the old Addressograph still works fine, and "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I even have one of the mechanical platemakers, which stamps the metal plates - it was built in about 1909, and when I got it, it had been sitting in a barn for decades, was covered with hay dust, but I just dusted it with compressed air, shot some WD40 on it, and it worked fine. They don't build things like that anymore. Judging from how fast computers become obsolete, I expect that old antique will still be working long after every computer now in existence has gone to the scrap-heap. Sometimes, like with wine, heirloom vegetables, and antique machines, older is better!"

I have been ordering seeds from them for three years now, and this has become my absolute favorite seed supplier. Only once there was an item out of stock, late in the season, and I was given full credit for it. I also love the catalog for it's wonderful information, I have learned a lot from simply reading it!

The very model of a good seed company: extensive selection, one of the most informative catalogues in the business, low prices, incredibly cheap and fast shipping (orders to Canada have often arrived within 8 days of ordering). Seed is always clean, and germination rates are as listed in the catalogue. Extremely prompt customer service. I have ordered from this company for 5 years, small to large orders, and the seeds have frequently arrived before I have even recieved order acknowledgements from other companies. Vote with you cash, and support companies like this.

Last year I ordered over a dozen packets of seeds, including flowers and vegetables. No ordering or delivery problems, I received everything promptly. Germination was fantastic. Prices are incomparable.

The catalog itself is a wonder. It has no pictures, but includes hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of flowers and vegetables you will not find anywhere else. I spend months reading and re-reading this catalog just to learn new things. I particularly like that all items are denoted by family, genus, and species.

I look forward to purchasing more items from them.

It pays to order their catalog. One can learn much by reading about all the different kinds of plants one can explore.
I have ordered from them for many years and not been disappointed. Germination rates from tobacco, datura, hibiscus and cotton seeds have been great. Prices are very
resonable with shipping charges that are minimal.....

I placed my first order with this company, two packets of Gunnera manicata, and received them promptly. A catalog, order form and return envelope was included with my seeds. This is a place I'll surely visit for seeds now.

I placed an order and got immediate confirmation of my order via e-mail. The next day they notified me my order had shipped. I live on the opposite side of the country from them and received my seeds in five days. Later, I e-mailed them about some other seeds I was interested in and got a prompt informative reply. I would use them again and recommend them to anyone.

I've ordered from the J. L. Hudson company for years, and love the wide selection and very reasonable prices. Their charge for shipping is the lowest I've seen, which allows me to get even more seeds!

Around 20 years experience ordering from Hudson. Seeds, books, gibberellic acid kit; all arrived as ordered without problem. The one time (years ago) we had zero germination we wrote for advice, and received a reply with detailed instructions as well as a free packet of the seed. We always look forward to the arrival of the new catalog. Hudson is a first-rate business.

This is my absolute favorite seed business!!

You really must dig into their site and look at their seed, book list. This company is something special.

//www.jlhudsonseeds.net/

Their hard copy catalog a scattering of nice botanical drawings and no pictures, but OH! what they have to offer!! And they are always adding more. Their descriptions are enough for me to mark many more seeds than I could ever buy or plant (although their prices are low). The hard part is deciding what to NOT get. I doubt you will find anyone else with such an interesting and wide range of seeds you ever imagined you would find...or occured to think of. I save my catalogs to pass on or loan only when I have bought an extra or I have gotten the new yr, because I keep going back to look through it. They also have growing instructions which have made it possible to germinate seeds I would have certainly failed at otherwise. I've gardened at least 40 yrs I've learned a lot more about growing from them and have become a much more adventuresome gardener. This yr I'm going to restrain myself and start off with just their 11 different colors of foxgloves, then check out their vegatables, get the trees seeds I've been looking for and and......

I ordered several packages of different eucalyptus seeds late last spring. The seeds (very reasonably priced, especially compared to similar seeds from Windmill Outback Nursery) arrived very quickly. Germination rate has been near 100%. I will order from them again often.

great business. a little on the cautious side though. seed selection tops any company i've come across. makes you wonder how they do it. thank you for your services j.l. hudson.

GREAT seeds! This company has my husband's favorite seed catalogue. We have about 45+ varieties of hard to find specialty plants (that we grew from J. L.Hudson seeds in our specimen gardens.) My husband used to have a seed company in Colorado and his exchanges of information, seeds and important growing techniques with J.L. Hudson was enriching for all. Now, I am a customer for life, too!

Their ordering process was easy and paying via PayPal was easy too. I ordered seeds that are available no where else this year and even this late in the season they had inventory to fill my entire order. Their web site has an 'out of stock' section where customers can check availability. They keep their site current. My seeds were shipped quickly and all germinated well. I will be a repeat customer. J.L. Hudson deserves my 5 Gold Stars

Ordered a number of seed packets from this company this spring, as have done for several previous years. Everything I ordered has now come up. I consider this the best seed company in existence, bar none. Their catalog may only be black and white, but it always lists many, many rare, hard-to-find seeds, and it is packed with information (tips on germination techniques, actual quantities of seeds you can expect, how hard they are to germinate, etc.) that many of the other companies never list. This the first company I look at every time I need seeds.

I placed an order for seeds via email & Paypal. It was a pretty easy procedure (complete directions on the website). My seeds arrived in 2 days (CA to OH)! Very impressed with the catalog, service and speedy delivery. They have seed varieties you'll find nowhere else. Will definitely order from them again and recommend them highly!

I sent in a seed order early in 2006. The seed packets arrived safely and what I expected. Lots of good information
in the catalog on seed propagation. Reasonable prices and
quick shipping.

My experience with J.L. Hudson has been extremely positive . His seeds came very quickly, and so far I've had extremely good germination. The prices are great, and it's nice to be able to get the quantities of seeds he ships. The catalog is wonderful, and I actually tried some things I might not have thought about otherwise because of his descriptions. Please disregard the one negative feedback posted below. I think the person who posted it owes J.L. Hudson an apology.

Have purchased seed numerous times from JL Hudson. Always fast shipping, great selection of seeds, terrific germination, no minimum order and the cheapest shipping you would ever find. Really irked me this morning when I saw a negative posted for them. If the guy had such 'bad' service the first order, why did he order again? Where else could you even order only 1 packet of seed? I am very grateful that businesses like this still exist, they are becoming very rare.

Great selection of hard to find seeds. Quick Shipping, Thanks

best prices, widest selection, you cannot beat the shipping price.

With the quick shiiping, and the nice packaging, I will definately buy from the group again!

I have had all the positive experiences with J.L. Hudson as mentioned above. Just wanted to add that since my preference is for substitution rather than refund when they're out of something I ordered, I can't imagine any other business being more generous - certainly have never experienced anything like this with any other seed or plant company.

Catalogs like the Hudson seed catalog were made in heaven for blustery winter evenings with the boob tube either turned off or put out on the curb to Freecycle and only the sounds of a purring cat or hooting owl to accompany this intellectually satisfying horticultural feast.

Great selecton. Great seeds. Great company. I will order from them again.

This seed company was highly recommended to me 2 years ago from a gardening friend, I am so grateful that I took her advice because since then I have put in several orders. I just can’t resist the selection that they have in stock!

I live in Canada and have never had a problem with transport; always speedy delivery and welcoming service. I also must add that the #1 reason I will continue to order from them is that they give ALOT of seed at great prices and cheap shipping too! I highly recommend this company to all my Canadian Gardening friends!

Sharon

J.L. Hudson has a great selection of many not so easy to find seeds. I have ordered a bunch of seeds from here and have been very happy with the amount of seeds I recieved in each packet and the high germination they gave. Great catalogue too!

This is a great company. I have always been pleased with their service and prices and I always get a timely response from them if I have a question or problem. And you can't beat $1 for shipping!!

I ordered from them for the first time in 2005. They had many unusual seeds that I bought and they germinated with great percentage.

I also got some little chinese yam air tubers and everyone of them grew. They have cheap prices that are hard to come by these days. Shipping is down-right cheap, also.

I have ordered 3 times. Order was fast delivered. When an item was out of stock , i had an immediately refund. Seeds were fresh.
The printed catalog is very interesting, giving very useful descriptions for every plant. Most descriptions are very "unique" in every way, nice drawings too!
Mr Hudson's culture seems not to be a typical American's one, but one of a more open minded citizen of the world.

Interesting web site, amazing selection. Once my payment went through, the seeds were sent quickly. Great company!

I ordered a bunch of seeds earlier this year and am planning to order some more this fall The selection of seeds is great, and the germination rate I got on the seeds I ordered was much better than seeds I've ordered from other places.

Several weeks ago I ordered seeds from two sources, one of them being J. L. Hudson. The other seller charged almost as much for shipping as for the seeds, though the entire order could have been sent for one or two 37-cent stamps. J. L. Hudson not only sent the seeds, a catalogue, order forms, and growing instructions, but sent the entire shipment free of charge. I intend to shop extensively for my spring 2006 seeds at J. L. Hudson.

I ordered some rather difficult to germinate genera (Astragalus, Oxytropis), but three out of four species are already up and look great! Definitely a classy nursery and deserving of your patronage!

Great prices for seeds and fast shipping. Also carry many unusual, hard-to-find species. Tree seeds I purchased a few months ago are healthy and nearly all came up.

Although the online ordering process is a little cumbersome, the products are AWESOME! Fast shipping and quality seeds - I'll definately be back!

Ordered several seeds and they were mailed the next day to me. Every seed germinated 100 percent. Will definitely purchase from this company again.

I got some Hibiscus seeds from them this past year I was happy with my seeds and am very happy with the plants I grew from the seeds.I will buy from them again.
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RH

I ordered two packets of seed from this company. I found their catalog impressive with a diverse variety of seed and easy to navigate.

The communication with this company is excellent, very fast and concise.

The seeds were well packaged and the packets even boast germination instructions. This was perhaps the fastest seed delivery I have ever received.

I highly recommend this company to any one.

Today was one of the highlights of my gardening year: the order from JL Hudson arrived. I don't have to wait to find out how this year's seed story will unfold. I already know the gist of it, from long experience.

There will be very generous amounts of seed, and germination rates will be high. I've never had the slightest problem with anything I ordered from this source. To the contrary, there are always unlooked-for delights. There will be pleasing surprises hidden away in those seeds- in the new seeds I am going to try, and in the way the known varieties take hold. Their prices are so reasonable I always feel free to launch a few flights of horticultural fancy- without being sorry when I stretch my plant knowledge to the breaking point. And I already know that everything I am accustomed to growing will be exactly as I hope- weather and the gardener permitting.

I have ordered seeds from practically every common source, at one time or another in a highly varigated gardening history. I don't garden every year: but when I do, my main order is always this one. In my experience, there are no other seed companies quite as reliable and worthy. And last but not least: their extensive catalogue provides a uniquely enjoyable intellectual and scientific experience. I don't think there is anything left to ask for from a seed company- and I don't.