So I kind of knew what I might be getting myself into, from doing a lil research and previous reviews from this site. But I like to give the benefit of doubt when trying a new supply or vendor, mainly to formulate my own bearings and sound opinion. Also I'd like to give a current review for the 2012 stock of plants and shipping now.
I ordered a handful of species from them, of which the positive aspect was the prices were not too bad, especially when ordering more than one variety, as you receive combined shipping, and the plants were in four packs which averaged out to 1.50 to 3 dollars a plant shipped, Anyways, the shipping was indeed fast, the packing was less than beautiful though, no preventative damage techniques. The peppers were placed in a large box in their starter pots and drowned in starch based packaging peanuts, I specify starch based because I spent 45 minutes picking off sticky, gangley, pieces of white corn peanuts from the plants. I think they placed them in the box wet or sprayed them before shipping.
The majority of the plants were in OK shape, all were certainly root bound and nicely stunted. The free aphids that came with them were kinda cool....another 45 minutes of popping the miniature goo babies....for fun, then sprayed with Fox Farms "don't bug me" Most of the plants were also from a Michigan grower "Wenke Greenhouses" and had just been re-sold, they were still in the original starters from that green house with ID tags. The exceptions were the Fataliis and Butch T's.
Now the really "really?" part. I had read deep into their feed back history looking for a response on one of the purchased Butch T's. I found one, it stated "The plants I received were not the Butch T's purchased" ok, right on, well maybe they were in fact shipped the wrong species, truly by mistake of Hirts Gardens. Well, benefit of doubt, I also ordered a four pack of Butch T's, 11.99 for a four pack, sure why not. Well, I also sent them a message asking if they were indeed Butch T's, here is the response;
Dear tweaksairaxx,
We purchase the Butch T Seed from Outback Traders in Australia.
- hirtsgardens
Aw yeah sweet! The dirty "cayenne" Butch T special seed. Sure enough it is either the most horticulturally handicapped Butch I've seen, or one of dem dirty suprise cayenne type peppers that like to wear a different badge
: More so than anything, just keep a heads up about these people, I'm not going to say they are terrible, or cant sell plants if the world depended on it, but I wouldn't by peppers from them again, for all i know they may be the worlds best potato people yah know? But they certainly have mis-represented a popular product and are collecting profit for false advertising, they've sold quite a few of these "Butch T" dirty guys. Watch now, its going to blow my mind and be something crazy..........
Here's a pic of the Hirts Gardens "Butch T"
Good Vibes
Alex
