Question 1

How to buy your seeds? What are the payment options?

Accepted Answer

Shopping in our online store is simple and secure. To do this, go to the "shop" page or click on the "order online" button, choose the varieties you like by putting them in the basket and pay by:

- Bank Card

- through PayPal (it's free for buyers),

- Offline payment: Bank transfer or Check (Account in France only).

When your order has been placed, you will receive an order confirmation by email and then a shipping confirmation (if you have not received it, remember to check in the "junk box").
If you used PayPal, you will also receive a PayPal payment confirmation. Make sure you enter your details correctly. In the event of an error message or if you notice an error after payment, do not hesitate to contact us so that we can correct the situation.

Question 2

Do you accept deliveries outside of France? How much are delivery charges?

Accepted Answer

We ship our seeds worldwide via La Poste within 48/72 hours of payment, excluding weekends and public holidays. Shipping in France with tracking number €2.10 and €5.10 to other countries, regardless of the number of sachets ordered or the weight.
Free delivery for orders over 25€ for France and 35€ for other countries.
 For more details, see the sections "Delivery and payment" and "General Conditions of Sale".

Question 3

How long does it take to receive my order?

Accepted Answer

Orders (letter followed) are delivered between 2 and 7 working days for shipments to France, Corsica; 4 to 12 days for shipments to Europe, the Antilles, French Guiana, Reunion; 12-25 days for international shipments.
In rare cases where the courier has not arrived and tracking is not available, we will cancel and refund the order or resend the order at your option.

Question 4

Can I cancel my   order or change my address?

Accepted Answer

If you decide to cancel or change your order/delivery address, email us as soon as possible. If your item has already been marked as shipped, unfortunately it is too late for us to cancel/modify your order.

Question 5

What packaging do you ship the seeds in? How many seeds are there in your bags?

Accepted Answer

All seeds are sent in individual reusable clear zip bags with the name of the variety and the quantity of seeds on the label. (you can read the description on the online page).

Each bag contains a minimum of 10 seeds or 5+ seeds for low seed or very rare varieties.

Question 6

What is the history of your collection? Where do your strains come from?

Accepted Answer

The story of our collection began many years ago and today has more than 1400 varieties. A large number of varieties have already been planted and tested in the past, but many are still waiting their turn.

All our strains are the result of cooperation with global breeders, collectors, enthusiasts and also with individuals who share their rare family heirlooms with us. In turn, growing this or that variety, we study its history, characteristics, the correspondence of the main parameters with the original. And if everything goes well, if the tomato meets all our requirements and we like it, we gladly keep it in our collection.

We carry out a rigorous selection of all varieties, so we can say that the tomatoes grown from our seeds have high quality characteristics.

Our in-store selection is updated regularly. We add exciting new varieties each season, but since our garden is limited in size and we only grow 1-2 plants of each variety, seed supply is often limited.

Question 7

Are your varieties reproducible?

Accepted Answer

All our varieties are non-hybrid, non-genetically modified and correspond to stable varieties. They are reproducible and you can collect seeds and use them in the future. Your plants grown from such seeds retain all parental signs.
In our collection, in addition to the old varieties, there are many new varieties created in the last decades and some of them are not completely stable. We experiment with such varieties, but do not include them in our catalog, or we inform you in the description, that the variety is not yet fully stabilized.

Question 8

Where do your seeds come from?

Accepted Answer

All seeds featured in our shop come from our own organic harvest, grown in harmony with nature in the French Alps near Annecy. They are reproducible, non-hybrid, non-genetically modified, collected manually and prepared with a natural fermentation process.

We carry out regular germination tests, ensure proper storage in a dry and cool place to bring you only excellent quality seeds. We grow our plants outdoors (with temporary shelters during the initial period), and despite the frequent vagaries of the weather, we receive very good results. So we can say that they are quite well acclimatized to our region.

We always try to serve our customers with care and attention. However, we are only human beings and occasionally an error may occur. Rest assured that in the rare event that this happens, we will always do our best to find a solution and remedy the situation.
If you have any questions, or are not completely satisfied with our seeds, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Question 9

Are your seeds organic?

Accepted Answer

Although our seeds are not certified organic (obtaining organic certification is a long and expensive process for a small team like ours), they are all natural, non-GMO, naturally grown organically, without chemicals or pesticides and away from any industrial culture. We carry out a minimum of tillage, using compost, mulch, green manures, natural "vitamins" present in nettles, ferns, comfrey, seaweed.
Growing pure and natural products is one of our golden rules: we don't want to grow and sell what we think is harmful to health and the environment. All these practices generally require a lot of experimentation and observation, but bring us many satisfactions, both in terms of respect for nature and great benefits for biodiversity.

Question 10

What is the germination capacity of your seeds?

Accepted Answer

The age of the seeds presented in our store is no more than three years, and most of them are seeds of the current year's harvest. We collect seeds from the ripest and most beautiful fruits that meet all the characteristics of a particular variety.
Considering that our plants are healthy, grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides, we can talk about the optimal germination rate. Of course, we cannot guarantee 100% germination (everything is possible in nature), but we can say with certainty that it is very high.
Please note that seeds are living products, the effectiveness and success of which depends on many important conditions such as temperature, soil moisture, light intensity, soil pollution. planting medium etc…
Although we do our best to provide you with the highest quality seeds, these factors are beyond our control, and the success of your plantings depends essentially on you.

Question 11

How long can your seeds be stored?

Accepted Answer

Tomato seeds can be stored for a long time, but as a rule, they retain good germination for 4-5 years.
Care should be taken to store them in a cool, dry place away from light (Temperature and humidity during storage are one of the main reasons for loss of germination).< /p>
We have experience of seed germination after 8 and 9 years, but the germination percentage is decreasing.
 It is very good to keep the seeds in the freezer in airtight containers (and this practically for life). At the same time, the quality does not suffer at all, on the contrary, freezing improves seed germination and speeds it up.

Question 12

How do you protect your tomatoes from the risk of hybridization?

Accepted Answer

If we want to preserve the purity of the variety, its varietal characteristics, then the isolation of flowers, of course, is important.
We protect the flowers from flying insects by placing them in organza bags. But... There is nothing permanent in nature and everything is possible. Even when providing plants with seemingly reliable care, variations sometimes occur.

Question 13

What is the tastiest and sweetest tomato in your collection?

Accepted Answer

For us, the tastiest tomato is the one we grow in our garden. The tomato, harvested at the right time and tasted with all its flavors, is quite simply priceless. A healthy and natural product, without chemical fertilizers, without pesticides, full of sun and care, what could be better?!

The taste of each variety is unique, and in our opinion, the tastiest, sweetest or most perfect tomato does not exist. Tastes (like colors) are not discussed. A tomato may appeal to some and not to others.
In addition to the genetic characteristics of the taste of tomatoes, other factors play a huge role: the composition of the soil, the sun, the humidity, a good balanced diet. Sometimes the same variety of tomato growing in different gardens turns out to taste completely different. And that makes sense.

Therefore, information about taste and sweetness is very subjective and really it is not easy for us to answer these questions.

Question 14

What is the secret of your success?

Accepted Answer

Choosing a good strain is only 50% of success. The remaining 50% depends on us.
If the strain is not showing its best characteristics, then something needs to be changed in its growing conditions. There are at least two solutions to this problem. 
Or choose varieties that will immediately suit your soil, climate, etc., that is, varieties that are more flexible, adapt more quickly to new conditions and are less susceptible to our mistakes. 
Or, if possible, create conditions for tomatoes to show you their best qualities and thank you for your work and care with a high yield of tasty fruits.

And here it should be remembered that tomato plants are alive and some of them can sometimes be capricious. It is possible that some varieties require longer adaptation than others.
Don't put them aside. Give them your love and another chance to grow in your garden.

Let's keep the traditions...

Foire aux questions