Delivery charges can make the difference so it's worth making the comparison, although it's rare that one supplier lists everything you need, so you might not be able to make the most of the free post and packing.

We've summarised UK deliveries - if you live in a far-flung part of the UK (far-flung from the supplier, or far-flung in the eyes of the Royal Mail), or on an island, you may well have to pay extra, but then you probably already know that! Outside the UK, it's likely that various departments of agriculture ban the export/import of plant material so overseas shipping is not always possible.

This is primarly a guide to seed delivery charges - expect heavy/bulky items (eg seed potatoes and onion sets, which of course are not seeds) to incur higher charges. Having said that, Dobies, Marshalls and Suttons (see below) do include seed potatoes and onion sets in their seed postage price - bargain!

Click on the links below that will take you to the relevant website page and the up-to-date details - and always check your shopping total and the delivery charges at checkout before you click that final Buy button - things do change!

In order of price for a seed order only:

Blooming Direct - free.

Mr Fothergill's - seed orders free. Non-seed items (i.e. plants, bulbs, potatoes, garlic, onion sets, mushrooms, shallots and garden equipment) have a single £3.95 postage and packaging charge per order. Fruit/vegetable cages have a higher carriage charge.

Dobies, Marshalls and Suttons - 95p per order for seeds, onion sets, garlic, shallots & mushrooms; flat rate of £3.95 for other items.

Crocus - seeds £1; other items flat rate £5.99 but does not deliver to whole of the UK.

GardenCentre.co.uk - from £1.39 (increases with weight - can see effect of adding more items to your shopping basket).

Unwins - postage appears in your shopping basket as you add items and there seems to be a flat rate of £1.75 for seeds.

Organic Gardening Catalogue - £1.98 unless the order is over £28.

Thompson and Morgan/T&M - seed £2.29; other items £4.45. If order includes both seeds and other products a maximum charge of £6.74 is possible.

Gardening Direct - flat rate £3.95 per order

Greenfingers - £4.95 unless the order is over £29.