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first year offering seeds-any suggestions?
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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?
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: first year offering seeds-any suggestions?
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| 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 |
RE: first year offering seeds-any suggestions?
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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 |
RE: first year offering seeds-any suggestions?
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| 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. |
RE: first year offering seeds-any suggestions?
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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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