Have the rules changed? When I started Strawberry Seed Store a few years ago I asked the Delaware Department of Agriculture what the labelling rules were for selling seeds. It was clear that all packets that were sent out must have germination information.
Yesterday I received seed packets in the mail from a seed company that sells both nationally and internationally. I could not find any information about germination online, in the paperwork nor on the seed packets. How am I supposed proceed? If I don’t know the germination I can’t make informed decisions about the number of seeds to sow. I have no idea what to expect.
Here at Strawberry Seed Store we run germination tests on each seed lot and publish it in the description of each cultivar we offer for sale. I don’t see anyone doing that. I personally think it should be standard practice in the seed industry.
As an added note, I go online periodically to see what my competition is doing. I read reviews from their customers. I don’t see how they can stay in business or expect to get orders when a fair number of reviewers report that NONE of the seeds received germinated. Or even when they report one or two seeds germinated but quickly died. Is it the techniques used by the grower or the seeds themselves?