Seed sales up

Burpee, which sells directly to gardeners and via retailers such as Home Depot, told the Financial Times that sales of vegetable seeds had grown 20-30 per cent this year.

Burpee has responded to the frugal mood by marketing a $10 multi-pack of vegetable seeds dubbed the "Money Garden", which includes seeds for tomatoes, peas, carrots, basil, peppers and sugar-snap peas.

Harris Seeds, which supplies both commercial growers and gardeners, estimated that sales of seeds to gardeners were up by 50 per cent this year, with the company seeing a surge in first-time customers on its website.

Park Seeds, another leading seed company, is this year again selling a "Victory Garden" multi-seed pack, that also includes squash and beans, with its marketing recalling the victory gardens planted in the US and the UK during the second world war.

Bell's says sales of its preserving jars and lids increased 40 per cent last year.

Lowe's, the home improvement retailer, also suggested last year that strong sales of freezers partly reflected increased freezing of garden produce.