The disaster that is Park Seeds! - Page 5

sfmathews · January 21, 2010

I use the domes, but do the same thing as you louster. And it works just fine for me!

I stapled a piece of old panty hose around the sides, so that it covered the bottom to prevent losing soil, and filled it with seed starting mix. It worked well, and the seedlings in that bio-dome were a lot larger and more robust than the ones in the plugs.
So if anyone out there is interested in some plugs, I have some from last year I could send you. This year, it's going to be old panty hose and seed starting mix for me!!
By the way, the only reason I started using the bio-dome was because we have three cats that seem to think that seed starting trays are great fun.

The bio-domes have nice, heavyweight covers that they can't seem to dislodge. I can uncover them during the day when I'm home, and cover them up at night, or when I go away.[/quote]

Blueaussi · January 9, 2010

I'm sad about Park's being bought out. I have fond memories of planning gardens and ordering seeds with my mother, and visiting up there during the Flower Festival. I feel a little bit like I've heard an old friend from high school has passed away.

David Marek · January 20, 2010

I planted last years seed from Park about a week ago. The product was all good, only I received a few different shipments over a six week period. One of the items was canna tropical mix. The 5 varieties came each in their own packets. Each packet was labeled "5 seeds" and they all had 6. I got out my file and opened the packets and realized they were pre- knicked. Looked like a spider bite.

This year I got a prompt delivery from Harris after reading of Ruth Stout's fondness of them from 40 years ago. I am also pleased with the service from Underwood/ Terroir, Totally Tomatoes, and Jung. The ability to communicate with the owners is nice.

rmw001 · October 21, 2012

Unfortunately I feel Park has gone down over the past few years. I live about 1 hr from them and in the past bought a fair amout of items from Park. Last 2 orders, several yrs ago, were dissappointing in the service and quality. Called them and they indicated a lot of their product is grown/shipped from 3rd party - that was my last order.

JimM_SC · December 11, 2012

I also live about a mile from Greenwood SC. I've purchased from Parks for over 30 years. I agree that the service had declined the last few years as they went through several owners. All that said, I placed an order last Friday and it shipped today. No backorders. I hope they will continue to rebuild the company's reputation. They carry several exclusives that I really like.
Jim

jebgordon · December 11, 2012

I agree Jim. I get great catalogs year round and their seeds a great for my garden.

greyghost · December 12, 2012

I agree with you, too, Jim. I've had so many good experiences with Parks
for so many years and hated to see what I thought might be a decline.
Their '13 catalog is well done and full of many new varieties. I expect to
make a large order and I hope they have overcome any difficulties. I'd
really miss them if they disappeared from the gardening scene! Darlene

ScottinAtlanta · December 12, 2012

I think I will try the Whopper - seems like a great fruit.

bwaynef · December 12, 2012

Its been a while since I ordered from Park, ...but I owned a house that was decked out in Park & Wayside Gardens seeds and plants by it's previous owners.

Their garden is beautiful and I'm glad to see that they seem to have righted their ship.

ps. Jim, I moved from Greenwood in '06.
pps. It is my understanding that Wayside & Park are sister companies, located nearly side-by-side ...though there is little fanfare to the entrance of Wayside. I have zero experience (other than inherited plants in my previous yard) with Wayside.

bluebonnets · December 12, 2012

I have not had any problems with Park Seed. I really like the Bio Dome and promised myself last season that I would use them this year. Refills are on the way...

I was impressed at how much stronger and "happier" my little tomato seedlings were compared to the ones in cups.

BigBrownDogHouse · December 12, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluebonnets

I have not had any problems with Park Seed. I really like the Bio Dome and promised myself last season that I would use them this year. Refills are on the way...

I was impressed at how much stronger and "happier" my little tomato seedlings were compared to the ones in cups.

I swear by the Bio Dome. Although I have had some ups and downs with Parks in the past, their dome system works wonders for me. Refills don't seem to be the same quality anymore but still a great system.

Ordering more refills and my third dome system within the next few days.

jebgordon · December 13, 2012

Regarding the bio dome, I did not get the best results with the plugs. What I have done for several years is to fill the holes with seed mix, tamp down and insert my seed. Works great and it grows a nice root ball.

ScottinAtlanta · December 12, 2012

I wonder if the title to this thread is exactly fair to Park Seeds? The "disaster" seems to have abated, and this thread will live on forever.

Master_Gardener · June 13, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

I wonder if the title to this thread is exactly fair to Park Seeds? The "disaster" seems to have abated, and this thread will live on forever.

Isn't that why customer service is important? When companies excel, they deserve to be rewarded with your business. When they don't, they do not deserve your business. It works both ways.

A 100 year old seed company gets bought by a holding company. It continues to advertise "Since XX76" but in reality, they are Monsanto wannabees.

How do we know when a company has 'fixed' their problems and for how long? As they would likely tell you; "It's just business, nothing personal."

ArthurDent004 · July 28, 2013

I ordered from Park Seed and received what I ordered. The thing I didn't like was they said they offered USPS tracking for your package but when I put in the tracking number I was given I found out it was delivery verification only, nothing else.

I normally check the BBB website to see if the company has a file but didn't this time. I checked after I received my order and noticed they had a "F" rating.

January 20, 2010	#3
David Marek Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: St Charles, IL zone 5a Posts: 142	I planted last years seed from Park about a week ago. The product was all good, only I received a few different shipments over a six week period. One of the items was canna tropical mix. The 5 varieties came each in their own packets. Each packet was labeled "5 seeds" and they all had 6. I got out my file and opened the packets and realized they were pre- knicked. Looked like a spider bite. This year I got a prompt delivery from Harris after reading of Ruth Stout's fondness of them from 40 years ago. I am also pleased with the service from Underwood/ Terroir, Totally Tomatoes, and Jung. The ability to communicate with the owners is nice. Last edited by David Marek; January 20, 2010 at 11:13 PM. Reason: forgot TT

January 21, 2010	#1
sfmathews Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 398	I use the domes, but do the same thing as you louster. And it works just fine for me! I stapled a piece of old panty hose around the sides, so that it covered the bottom to prevent losing soil, and filled it with seed starting mix. It worked well, and the seedlings in that bio-dome were a lot larger and more robust than the ones in the plugs. So if anyone out there is interested in some plugs, I have some from last year I could send you. This year, it's going to be old panty hose and seed starting mix for me!! By the way, the only reason I started using the bio-dome was because we have three cats that seem to think that seed starting trays are great fun. The bio-domes have nice, heavyweight covers that they can't seem to dislodge. I can uncover them during the day when I'm home, and cover them up at night, or when I go away.[/quote]

January 9, 2010	#2
Blueaussi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Zone 8a Posts: 1,205	I'm sad about Park's being bought out. I have fond memories of planning gardens and ordering seeds with my mother, and visiting up there during the Flower Festival. I feel a little bit like I've heard an old friend from high school has passed away.

October 21, 2012	#4
rmw001 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: south carolina Posts: 7	Unfortunately I feel Park has gone down over the past few years. I live about 1 hr from them and in the past bought a fair amout of items from Park. Last 2 orders, several yrs ago, were dissappointing in the service and quality. Called them and they indicated a lot of their product is grown/shipped from 3rd party - that was my last order.

December 11, 2012	#5
JimM_SC Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Burnet, TX Posts: 138	I also live about a mile from Greenwood SC. I've purchased from Parks for over 30 years. I agree that the service had declined the last few years as they went through several owners. All that said, I placed an order last Friday and it shipped today. No backorders. I hope they will continue to rebuild the company's reputation. They carry several exclusives that I really like. Jim

December 11, 2012	#6
jebgordon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Millbrae, CA Posts: 15	I agree Jim. I get great catalogs year round and their seeds a great for my garden.

December 12, 2012	#7
greyghost Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: southeastern PA Posts: 760	I agree with you, too, Jim. I've had so many good experiences with Parks for so many years and hated to see what I thought might be a decline. Their '13 catalog is well done and full of many new varieties. I expect to make a large order and I hope they have overcome any difficulties. I'd really miss them if they disappeared from the gardening scene! Darlene

December 12, 2012	#8
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	I think I will try the Whopper - seems like a great fruit.

December 12, 2012	#9
bwaynef Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Clemson SC Posts: 143	Its been a while since I ordered from Park, ...but I owned a house that was decked out in Park & Wayside Gardens seeds and plants by it's previous owners. Their garden is beautiful and I'm glad to see that they seem to have righted their ship. ps. Jim, I moved from Greenwood in '06. pps. It is my understanding that Wayside & Park are sister companies, located nearly side-by-side ...though there is little fanfare to the entrance of Wayside. I have zero experience (other than inherited plants in my previous yard) with Wayside.

December 12, 2012	#10
bluebonnets Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: TX Posts: 178	I have not had any problems with Park Seed. I really like the Bio Dome and promised myself last season that I would use them this year. Refills are on the way... I was impressed at how much stronger and "happier" my little tomato seedlings were compared to the ones in cups.

December 13, 2012	#12
jebgordon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Millbrae, CA Posts: 15	Regarding the bio dome, I did not get the best results with the plugs. What I have done for several years is to fill the holes with seed mix, tamp down and insert my seed. Works great and it grows a nice root ball.

July 28, 2013	#15
ArthurDent004 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Cordova, TN Posts: 148	I ordered from Park Seed and received what I ordered. The thing I didn't like was they said they offered USPS tracking for your package but when I put in the tracking number I was given I found out it was delivery verification only, nothing else. I normally check the BBB website to see if the company has a file but didn't this time. I checked after I received my order and noticed they had a "F" rating.