Comments regarding Ferry-Morse Seed Company

I had been growing nasturtiums for several years in planters on the front porch, using Burpee seeds because they were available at the grocery store. I was waiting till after the frost-free date and planting the seed directly into the planters, but got only about 50% germination, and figured I must be doing something wrong.

So the next year I decided to start the seeds earlier, indoors in individual paper cups. The Burpee seeds weren't available yet, so I bought what they did have, namely Ferry-Morse seeds (even though I had the vague impression it was a second-rate company). Well, I got 100% germination! So of course I thought planting them indoors did the trick.

The following year I was able to get Burpee seeds early enough to plant them indoors -- and dropped right back down to 50% germination again! I finally checked Burpee's Garden Watchdog rating, and learned that the company seems to have gone seriously downhill in recent years.

Not sure what I'm gonna do next spring, but I sure won't rule out Ferry-Morse!

I'm posting this same comment on both the Ferry-Morse and Burpee pages, with a positive rating for Ferry-Morse and a negative one for Burpee.

I bought the below Ferry-Morse seeds at Home Depot back in November 2020 and have been germinating them indoors, under grow lights, in waves depending on when I want to transplant them outdoors.

GERMINATED WELL:
1) Tomato, Gardener's Delight Cherry
2) Tomato, Oregon Spring
3) Foxglove, Mixed Colors
4) Salvia, Blue Bedder
5) Canterbury Bells, Calycan Mixed Colors
6) Hollyhock, Indian Spring Mixed Colors
7) Calendula, Pacific Beauty
8) Columbine, McKena's Mixed Colors

GERMINATED SLOWLY and/or AT LOW % RATE:
1) Tomato, Early Girl Hybrid (Pelletized seed): Used pelletized seed which resulted in 1 week slower germination than non-pelletized tomato varieties. Pricked out of mass planting into individual pots on Feb. 8. As of Mar. 20th these are the least healthy tomatoes of all 4 varieties I started this year.
2) Delphinium, Magic Fountains Mixed Color Dwarf: Covered sown seed lightly with soil and placed in front of heater. 23 days after seeding and only 10 plants have come up. Very slow germination, which from online research may be typical for Delphinium.

I wrote a review on Ferry Morse's website about how disappointed I was with the pelletized variety, and Ferry Morse asked if there were any seed packets they could send me to make up for the slow-to-no germination.

I sent them 3 different flower options, expecting them to send me the cheapest, but they mailed me all three (!) I am really happy with the service from this company that I had previously written off, and will happily buy from them again. Can't beat that customer service!

I have had very good luck with my Ferry-Morse seed packs in this 2015 growing season. I have germinated packs of Moss Rose, Coleus and Foxglove. A conservative estimate is that 80% of my seeds germinated and grew. Each seed pack germinated very quickly with the Moss Rose sprouting in less than 4 days. All germinating was done indoors with either plastic or saran wrap covering the containers.

Tropical Fizz Impatiens seeds are wonderful. I bought some at Home Depot Jan 2015 to start indoors. Excellent germination! Strong seedlings. Far superior to impatiens seeds I ordered from Burpee and Park. I will definitely buy again!

I was on a mission to find nasturtiums and scarlet runner beans for my garden this year. You can imagine how excited I was to have found a single packet with an assortment of seeds that included everything I was looking for! When I got home, it was disappointing to discover that the packet was missing my scarlet runners. I would've let it go, but I REALLY wanted those scarlet runners so I emailed Ferry-Morse. I got a pleasant response within minutes, including an apology and a promise to make the situation right. Two days later I received a healthy replacement package for the one I had purchased. Overall, Ferry-Morse is an excellent company with great customer service and clearly a desire to make their customers happy which is refreshing in this day and age.

I have used Ferry-Morse seeds on many occasions throughout the years. I find that germination rates are good and never have I been not satisfied with any on their products. If I need squash, cantaloupes, or cucumbers, I typically look for Ferry-Morse because they are very reliable. When I need larger amounts of seeds like okra and beans, I do not buy Ferry-Morse because they do not provide the amount of seeds that I need for planting and I will not buy several packets because I can get it cheaper by buying in bulk for other sources. In review, I am very happy with Ferry-Morse and happily buy their products.

Posted on September 13, 2010, updated April 5, 2011
Posted on May 12, 2010, updated September 13, 2010
Posted on May 12, 2010, updated May 12, 2010
I've picked up their seed packets from time to time in stores, and they were fine. Not a huge selection of varieties, but you don't expect that from a seed rack. Had no problems with germination or seedling vigor. There were no GMO seeds among the packets I picked up. But I can't see any reason for them to market those to home gardeners, in any case.

I live in Very rural Missouri. There are 17 stores within 20 miles of my village that carry a full selection of FM seed! Prices vary by store, but are generally $1 a packet at WalMart. I grow a garden every year, about 25' x 60'. I have found that the seed from FM is more correct to variety than other vendors. This year I had to buy all new seed, as my cleaning lady defrosted my freezer and threw away all my saved seed. I purchased about $100 of seed packets at WM this early Spring. I found that the pelleted "early girl tomato" seeds were crushed and damaged. I telephoned FM and their customer service representative and she apologized for the problem. She noted that she was also sprouting in jiffy pellets some of the same variety for her home garden. She asked what other varieties I grew and had a pleasant conversation. Two weeks later I received a envelope in the mail, containing two replacement packets of the Early Girl, plus packets of Rutgers, Boxcar Willie, Beefsteak, and a Large Cherry type. I also planted 72 plants each of FM Roma and FM Small Cherry. All are now about 4 inches tall in their jiffy pellets in flats. I still have to bring them in on cooler days. Today I just started my FM cucumber, zucchini, winter squash, and chard. I will be able to plant all of the above sometime in May (this being written in early April) . At that time I will sow all the rest of the seed I purchased. I have never had any problem with FM seed if I followed normal planting procedures. I have never had better customer service than that which I received from FM. Their Gardner's Helpline is: 1-800-283-3400, and is listed in fine print on each packet of seed.

I purchased Ferry Morse black hollyhock and double pink hollyhock seeds at Lowes. The germination rate on the black hollyhock was near 100%. On the pink, however, it was about 25%. I sent an email to the company describing my experience. The customer rep responded that this particular hollyhock was being discontinued, but they managed to find some extra packets and ship them to me. They sent me 3 packets!! It was too late for me to plant them (zone 4) - but I'm sure I get good results when I plant them this spring. My friends and I have have bought Ferry Morse at other times, and have always had good results. I'm already planning my garden for this year (perennials) and already have 15 packets on my list. A friend of mine always says that with gardening, you can have all the conditions perfect and you don't get the results you expect. And, sometimes, when the conditions are terrible, and you expect nothing, you'd be surprised at what you get. All too often we forget that seeds are from a plant that is from nature. So, there is a chance that your seeds might not germinate. But, with a company like Ferry Morse, that stands behind its product, and will replace the seeds for free - why not take a chance. If it doesn't happen the first time, maybe the second time it will.

I shop their seed at my local hardware store because of convenience. All have grown into healthy, producing vegetables despite fog problems we've been having lately. I even planted a slightly expired seed packet of crookneck squash and it too grew!

I am shocked to read all the negative comments re this company, Ferry Morse.
I planted Ferry Morse seeds almost exclusively when we lived up North and had excellent results.
Their Hybrid cucumbers were ALWAYS outstanding, I always planted two hills by the back patio, (I would stake them) and a few tomatoe plants also. What a set up we had. we also had a very large garden. BUT THOSE FERRY MORSE HYBRID CUKES WERE ABSOLUTELY THE BEST. Also used them for pickles, outstanding.!!!!!!!!!!

I have purchased Ferry Morse seed both locally in stores and over the internet. All of my results have been excellent. I have seed from years past that is still germinating good. Although you may not get an extreme variety the majority of my plantings are the old stand bys anyway. And Ferry Morse prices can't be beat on those. I do purchase a few new varieties of some seed each year from other sources just to test if they live up to their reviews. And I pay dearly for those seeds. Ferry Morse seed is Guaranteed To Grow and their phone number is 800-626-3392 should you have any problems. The most reasonably priced site for their seed I have found is The Pumpkin Nook, garden seeds are $2.49 per order.

I will pick up packets of Ferry Morse seeds from seedracks from time to time. This is current distribution system. Never had a problem with mislabeled seeds or poor germination. They do not have as wide a selection as on-line companies, but no seedrack does. They do have a few outstanding cultivars that are not found elsewhere, or are hard to find elsewhere. Thier Sugar Dots corn is superb in its class.

I like the variety of seed that this company offers. Even though I have plenty of seeds that I have harvested from my own garden over the years, I can't help picking up something from their rack.
I had grown one of their morning glories years ago and really loved it. I couldn't remember where I had gotten the seeds originally until I saw their packet of Scarlet O'hara.
It isn't what the other companies have for this variety. It is very vigorous and puts on a much nicer display.

My main garden interest is trying to grow tomatoes most of the year around. This is a real challenge in south Texas 90 deg. + weather. Most of the time I start my seed inside under a pair of fluorescent lamps with the AC set about 76 deg. I have tried a various of seed including Tropic,Cabernet, Greenhouse 656, Super Bush, etc. I have done a lot of just plain experimenting, such as starting seed both inside and outside under the shade of a tree. Outside, the seed were started in small pots on a large picnic table. After transplanting to the garden, the plants are shaded from direct sun by gunnysack material. The F/M Better Boy Hybrid has consistently been able to stand the heat better than any other tomato that I have tried. Daily watering is a must with fertilizing once a week. At this time (Aug.), my 11 plants are over two feet high and growing. I lost one plant to direct sun exposure. The seed started outside under the shade tree have done better than the ones started inside. It is just too much of a shock for the little plants to go from 76 deg. to 90 deg. plus temperature. I have a small greenhouse with raised beds for the winter plants. We will see what happens this winter !

These are the old reliable seeds planted by our Grand Parents before high-speed internet surfing was in vogue. Their first price list, printed in 1856, preceded the U. S. Department of Agriculture by almost 30 years. They have stayed in business by selling viable seed. Gardeners rely on the seed they plant. They expect it to germinate and grow into the blooming or productive plants. Ferry-Morse guarantees their seed to grow. Red Rock Nursery offers free shipping on their Ferry-Morse seed.

They're ok, but you find their seeds are pretty common and can be purchased elsewhere. Shipping charge is pretty steep even for the smallest order, under $20.00. Order some grass seed from them, but asked them to let me know if the items were in stock. No one took the time to answer my question, but they didn't charge me either. Bad thing is they do not have a telephone number for customer service if you need to talk to someone.

I have used there seeds for several years even before I really started growing allot of things from seeds and have always had good germination with them. They don't have allot of unusal things but all the seeds a new gardener would want to try.

We had a dry summer and quite a few seeds from Ferry Morse died as sprouts or didn't even sprout. I e-mailed Ferry-Morse and they sent replacements for next year.

I would like to say I have been very satisfied with this company. All of my seeds have grown up to big beautiful plants. Both ornamental and agricultural seeds thrived.

They are a wonderful company! All the seeds that I've ordered from them have thrived in my garden! And their shipping charges are great, too!