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first year offering seeds-any suggestions?

Posted by pufftrinket 5MI (My Page) on
Sun, Nov 2, 08 at 9:25

This will be my first year participating in trades. I have many seeds organized in containers, I just need to bag them up. There are still more seeds for me to collect. I've read all the FAQs and I hope to do this right.

I'm worried about a couple things, though.

1) Chaff! I have chaff in my seeds. I personally find this a bonus when WSing, because then I don't sow too close together.

2) What if they don't germinate right, or there are extra seeds of a different type accidentally mixed in with what I send? Will people be disappointed?

I am thinking of making a little statement to go on my emails that explains how I collect and store my seeds, so people know what to expect. Then, if they like "perfect" bags, they could opt out. Good idea?


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: first year offering seeds-any suggestions?

Yes, a good idea. I'd simply put a disclaimer on my trade list, like "My seeds contain chaff. If you don't find this acceptable, please don't ask to trade with me". Many people do this, I do too. Also, make sure that you send a good quantity of seed/chaff mix so the trader gets enough seeds, not all chaff.

I don't do a whole lot of trading, but I do some and also some SASBE offers. If anyone has been disappointed they haven't told me.

Karen


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RE: first year offering seeds-any suggestions?

I agree with Karen,if they know up front what to expect they can't complain....although I don't know anyone that does anyway!:)
Some of my seeds come with chaff,I just make sure I can see plenty of seed that's all! :)

Don't be so nervous,this is a fun hobby,don't let the FAQ scare you! ;)

~Angie


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RE: first year offering seeds-any suggestions?

Last winter I jumped into everything at once - ordering a bunch of seeds, WSing, and doing a SASBE offer (because I bought so many seeds and realized there was no way I would ever use them all, hehe)! Ended up doing about 20 SASBEs and 5 or 6 trades too. It was very fun and they all went pretty smoothly, but it's not perfect. Some seeds from trades didn't sprout, and probably some that I sent out didn't sprout either. But then, most but not all my commercial seeds sprouted. So who knows?

One trade I supposedly received Asclepias curassavica (tropical milkweed). It ended up being Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly weed). But that worked out great, because the A. tuberosa I WS'd didn't germinate well.

Another trade I was supposed to get white Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot). Talk about chaff, the person just sent a seed head! I tore that thing apart bit by bit and ended up with about 6 seeds (that didn't sprout). Oh well.

Don't be nervous, seed traders are generally very nice and generous people.


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RE: first year offering seeds-any suggestions?

You know what this seed trader really appreciates? A good clear label: plant name, zone (if perennial), Height (so I know where to put it) and flower color (so I know what to put it next too!). I'm fine with chaff; it's a lack of information that drives me nuts! Also, put your GW name on there so that a person can find you to ask questions if they need to.
I do my seed labels on the computer, but I realize that not everyone wants to go that route. Handwritten is absolutely fine if all the writing is legible. Mine isn't. I find I can use labels stored on the computer over and over, saving me a lot of time.

Nancy


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