The big seed sellers you mention are marketing companies and not seedsmen/growers. Fancy packets, advertising and retail distribution cost money. So you end up with poor overpriced product.
My solution is to save the easy seeds, buy as much as poss from Real Seeds and any other bits mostly from eBay sellers (Premier and Seekay- usually organic- usually 99p for generous quantities). I’ve never had a problem. And don’t sneer at Wilkos who seem to clear all their stock each year and start with fresh. I’ve tried basics like Ailsa Craig onions and Greyhound cabbage from them and they germinated so rapidly it was startling.
Can’t complain at rapid service, good quality and low prices. Or have I just been lucky?
