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Crispy Frills lettuce seed

TOM A Z5a-IL.
12 years ago

Has anyone saved any Crispy Frills lettuce seed? I have been looking for it for four years since my seed expired.

Comments (9)

  • digdirt2
    12 years ago

    Have you tried growing out some of your seed despite the expiration date? You will likely be pleasantly surprised since expiration dates of seeds is primarily a marketing tool, not a true indicator of seed viability.

    Dave

  • TOM A Z5a-IL.
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Dave-Thanks for responding. I did try as I had been growing Crispy Frills since 1999 until it stopped germinating a couple of years ago. Ocassionally during that time I saved seed myself which came true and purchased more at least one time. Now the only supplier of the seed no longer has it and I cannot find it anywhere. It was the best lettuce ever in all ways.

  • remy_gw
    12 years ago

    They may germinate at least at a lower rate. Lettuce seed is good for 3 years at a decent rate so it is iffy. If you get some going, leave some lettuce to go to seed and collect that seed for future growing. Lettuce seed do not readily cross so what you save will be good.
    Expiration dates however are NOT a marketing tool. They are required by law. All vegetable seeds have to be a certain germination rate to be sold, ex. tomato seeds have to have a 75% rate, peppers 60%.
    The printing of expiration dates on packets helps to protect the the seller and the consumer. The consumer know that within that planting year, the seeds should(if started properly) grow at the germination rate required or higher. The seller also is protected so that if someone should hold onto those seeds for awhile, they can not be held responsible for seed failure. Of course it is now easier because of computers to keep track of what people bought and when purchase straight from a vendor, but it still holds true from retail store sale. So if a person buys seeds from awhile ago, stores them in a hot muggy room, and then complains that no seeds sprouted or there was poor germination, they are responsible not the seed producer.
    Remy

  • remy_gw
    12 years ago

    Your response came up while I was still typing mine I guess. I'm sorry you've had no germination :( If you are not part of SSE (Seed Saver's Exchange,) I suggest you post on the Vegetable Forum for asking for members of SSE to check year books of the past couple years to see if anyone had offered it recently. The new yearbook for this year has not come out yet. Joining SSE and acquiring seeds that way might be possible.
    Remy

  • TOM A Z5a-IL.
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Remy- Thank you for your advice. I tested Crispy Frills for National Gardening in 1999 and thought I could always get more if my seed ever failed to germinate.
    Tom

  • Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
    12 years ago

    Tom, it looks like it is available via Burpees, as well as the Amazon site linked below. Their shipping is $4.55, but if you click on their site name, possibly you can find other seeds of interest to you. They have good feedback rating.

    Sue

    Here is a link that might be useful: Crispy Frills Lettuce Seed Packs

  • Miss kk
    8 years ago

    Not sure if Tom A is still on the forum, but if you are did you ever find the crispy frills seed? I'm looking for it too, can't seem to find it anywhere.

    has anyone found a source for it?

    Thanks!

  • TOM A Z5a-IL.
    Original Author
    8 years ago

    Miss kk- Crispy Frills lettuce was an exclusive of Burpee seeds. The year before it went on the market in 1999 I was a seed tester for the Midwestern United States and I tested Crispy Frills. I rated it by far the best leaf lettuce I had ever grown and it went on the market in 2000. In late 2011 I found out from one of the breeders at Burpee that they had lost the germ plasm for Crispy Frills. Consequently, if someone has not saved the seed since it became unavailable in 2008 or 2009 it no longer exists.

    One final note: There were sales of a Crispy Frills lettuce by Burpee between 2008-2012 or so which were not the original Crispy Frills and was far inferior. The seed of the 2008-2012 was brown and the original seed is white.

    If anyone has saved white seed of the original Crispy Frills please let me know!!!

    Thanks,

    Tom


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