Since I'm new to this Tomato/Pepper Seed Trading, I wanted to ask a question about bags that people are using. Corey, I saw that you said that you were using 2 x 3 inch ziploc bags. Is 2 ml adequate? Did you order those online? I looked online, and several places offer them. Are there any online or retail places you recommend? Are you placing a piece of paper with the information in the ziploc bag with each bag of seeds, or are you putting a an address label type sticker with the information on the outside of the bag of seeds? Does this all sound complicated? I just want to do this so shipping is economical, and I'm in line with what other people are doing. Maybe other people are wondering also.
Hope habaneros are drying successfully!
CLOSED: Come join us! 3rd Annual Tomato & Pepper Seed Exchange
I get my baggies from Hobby Lobby and I talked to Heather about labling. I'm writting name of seeds, number of seeds, where they came from, and my DG user name on the baggies themselves. This way the info can't get seperated from the seeds. This is just how I'm doing it I'm sure there are many other effective ways.
Lisa
Plastic isn't the greatest storage method, because of the moisture..Coin envelopes work well.
Hi Busy!
I'm a New Bee also. I found the 2x3 ziplocks plenty big for the small amounts of seed I have to offer (except for Snow Peas). I have access to a laser printer at work, and 10-point font is readable, so I go crazy putting as much text as I can onto double-sided paper labels inside the zip-locks. If I think anyone might take out a few seeds and leave the rest for someone else, I put in multiple labels. But I think this is going overboard, maybe even bordering on OCD. But it makes me happy!
(I didn't have any havy thread other than very heavy waxed thread/twine which seemed icky for chilis that I may also cook with. For the pretty-dry half-pound batches of Anaheim chilis and (I guess) small red Thai chilis, I have been just spreading them out inside paper bags on their side. I think I'll be transfering them to big organza bags when they feel dry enough. But I may yet string up the wet Habaneros that are going so slowly.)
I have not found any online store that beats Wal-Mart's price for Zip-locks! Around 1 cent each. The "Crafts" or "beading" section. And these Zip-locks seem cheaper than any other option, unless you tape your own packets out of recycled US mail envelopes from bills and ads.
But I used "Clearbags" for something, I think glassines and 2x2 ziplocks. I had to increase my order up to something like $40 and then the shipping cost mysteriously decreased by a lot. http://www.clearbags.com/stationery/envelopes/translucent-en...
And "Gifts International" for seed-collecting Organza bags (WEBSITE: http://www.giftsintl.com)
http://www.fetpak.com has great prices on many things if you buy moderate quantitites, and a killer special sale on TINY colored 5/8" x 5/8" ziplocks ... but a $7 handling fee for orders under $100.
Kraft paper coin envelopes I got from Staples in a big box, though not every local Staples had them in stock, and I thoguht they were expensive (~~ 4 cents each?)
Mostly, online sites' prices with shipping only seem like a good deal if you are buying $50 or so in one order, suggesting that a co-op purchase would be more efficient. If you just need a few seed-collecting mesh bags or want to try glassine envelopes, let me know and I'll send some. I think I have enough for several lifetimes!
Thanks, Russ, I had not thought of slitting them. (I'm a little afraid of touching them!)
Corey
Araness,
>> Plastic isn't the greatest storage method, because of the moisture..Coin envelopes work well.
Many people agree with you strongly.
My theory is that the seeds need to be dry enough BEFORE going into storage. Once well-dried, I believe that plastic protects them from swings in humidity - I live in the Pacific NorthWet, and it rains a lot, most of the year.
I only use paper while they are still drying, which can take weeks where I live. Folded coffee filters or coin envelopes or paper trays.
Once well-dried, I store seeds inside in 2x3 Ziplocks, inside 3x4 Ziplocks, inside big plastic jars with dessicant.
I read up on it, partly at the "Drierite" website. It turns out that polyethylene lets water vapor through gradually, and I figure that the "zip" is far from a heremtic seal.
Hence if my seed starts out dry enough not to rot, and goes into a plastic Ziplock in a jar with dessicant, my risk is greater that they will become too dry, than rot. I've read that ideal conditions for most seeds are 10% or less RH, with seed water content around 8%.
I think there are many kinds and thicknesses of polyethylene, and also other plastics that may form more of a barrier. Polycarbonate?
Here is what decided me firmly against paper in a humid climate:
I have humidity-indicator strips inside my jars. I had packed some commercial Bok Choy seeds in Kraft paper envelopes, lots of them, each with just a little seed, so i could trade or sow small batches without fiddling.
In that jar, even with industrial-strength dessicant, the humidity shot up to 30% for weeks, while the dessicant slowly pulled humidty out of the paper envelopes. Then the dessicant became exhausted, and I replaced the spent Drierite with fresh Drierite plus silica gel. THAT finally was able to overcome the humidifying effect of the paper.
And I recall from living in a basement how carboard boxes pulled humidty out of the air, and held it against the contents for months after the air dried out.
So I'm down on papper and up on plastic-plus-dessicant for storing dried seeds in humid climates.
But many people agree with you.
I think a majority of seed-nuts store in paper in open or semi-sealed containers with no dessicant ... in moderately dry locations, or at least where humidity doesn't cycle from 100% to 30% every few days.
And I agree that plastic would cause rot while drying seeds.
(End of rant.)
Corey
Thanks for the info on the bags. It clears things up for me. I'll look at Walmart, JoAnn's, and Hobby Lobby to check out prices.
When I string peppers, I use heavy duty cotton thread for buttons, carpet,and hand sewing. I have one spool that I've had for a long time and it's come in handy. It says 60 cents on the spool, and a spool of thread hasn't cost that much in years.
You may be bordering on OCD, but I think we all have a little in us.
Corey depends on you climate, I live in a VERY humid place and doesn't matter if the seed was dry as dust before putting it in the plastic it will accumulate after. I've tried both methods (btw I only use commercial seeds) and I find that the paper does the best. I also store them with the humidity packets that come in shoes, electronics etc.
Heather,
If I get my seeds all packed up, can I send them now? Or should I wait closer to the end of October to send them?
Corey
Araness-totally off topic, but didn't you grow Fireworks this year? If so how did it do for you?
Corey- I think you can send your seeds now, some people already have, that way she doesn't get them all at once.
yes I did, was ok iin taste and produced well in our weather. Humm..dang I forgot the hybrid I was impressed by..let me ask I01 what it was...she'll remember.
araness-At least you got to taste it. I think IO1 grew Fireworks too.
OK back to seed trading
Corey...by all means...send your seeds in whenever you have them ready. I'll keep posting updates on this main thread as seed envelopes are received.
Thanks....Heather
yep and the one I liked so much I got from her I think...
We're up to 100 participants. Looking to break last years record of 120. Come join in the fun !!!!
We're up to 104 participants. If anyone has been lurking...there's still time to join. If you live in the US or Canada, as long as you're able to mail your seeds by Nov 1, they should get here in time. For those living outside Canada and the US, you still have time if you can mail your seeds within the next week or so.
My seeds were mailed on Friday.
My seeds were mailed today. Since this was the first time sending to Canada, I didn't know I had to fill out a customs form. You need to know the weight of the package in ounces and approximate value. Otherwise nothing difficult. Grab the form and fill it out before you get in line, or you have to wait in line twice.
I sent...
Fish hot pepper
Poinsettia hot pepper
Beaver Dam hot pepper
Wisconsin Lakes sweet pepper
Sheepnose Pimento sweet pepper
Silvery Fir Tree Tomato
Riesentraube Cherry Tomato
Purple Russian Tomato
Mortgage Lifter (pink) Tomato
Moonglow Tomato
Sugary Cherry Tomato Hybrid
Yellow Tumbling Tom Cherry Tomato hybrid
Wisconsin 55 Tomato
Japanese Black Trifele Tomato
I'm getting excited to see what surprises will await me!
I was afraid that after I wrote in "seeds", the postal clerk would go 'postal' and tell me
"You can't send SEEDs to CANADA, you idiot!"
But no, there was no problem.
Corey
thanks for the updates everyone. It's definitely not a problem sending seeds to Canada. Whether or not you have to fill out a customs form, completely depends on your post office. More than half the envelopes I receive have no customs form on them and it's absolutely fine. You will need to allow a couple of weeks for seeds to arrive if you are sending from the US.
Thanks....Heather
Corey,I was just wondering that. Thanks for clearing that issue up. Mine will be in the mail in the next day or two. Note to self: Do not wipe your eyes without washing your hands after handling Chiltepin seeds!
Today I received seeds from "gardadore".
Thanks...Heather
I'm relieved to hear that they arrived! My seeds were postmarked Oct. 6 so took 12 days to get from Pa to Canada. Heather is right when she says it can take up to two weeks from the US! I don't believe they took that long last year - about 8 days if I am right. I had to fill out a form both times.
The bird has flown...
Today I received seeds from "DonShirer".
Thanks....Heather
Will you be posting a list with all the participants on it? I think it would be great fun to see how vast our network is for this trade. (I'm already excited beyond words. Kind of a nice treat now that I am in the midst of tearing down the gardens for the season. I picked about 3 pounds of tomatoes this evening, along with a quart of beans, some snow peas, Swiss chard, Malabar Spinach, and a few Okra. Over the weekend I cleaned out three of the 2'x4' beds and prepped them for winter. Night, night, ya'll!)
Hi Sequee,
I won't be posting a list of the participants, as I wouldn't be able to do that without also listing the "other" forums people belong to. That's strictly against d.g. rules.
I'm sure having a lot of fun sorting through all the seeds that are coming in. Lots of great varieties :)
Say, did anyone send in "Tommy Toe" cherry tomatoes? I would like to add that my Wish List, and I know that NisiNJ is looking for Tommy Toe.
Corey
I'm sorry, it is "Maxine", not "NisiNJ" who told me about Tommy Toe.
Corey
I'll add "tommy toe" to your wish list Corey.
Thank you very much.
However, if it turns out to be in short supply, I just this moment ordered a packet from Holland, from a very nice lady named Jonna Sudenius who got good reviews in DG..
http://www.seedsite.eu/r__t_3.htm
Corey
She's a great gal! I woulda been happy to send you some, too.
Didn'trealize you were doing diff sites, hmac - how cool is that!? I was already blown away... but, wow! Your organizational skills are incredible!
God bless!
Yup...got a few different sites involved and even a few people that are not yet members of any site. My philosophy is...the more people we get involved in the swap, the bigger variety, and the better chance of getting some interesting varieties into everyone's hands. Really hoping to fill at least a few items on everyone's wish lists.
As a friendly reminder...if there's anyone that previously signed up for the swap, but has changed their mind for any reason - please get in touch with me to advise so I don't hold up the swap unnecessarily waiting for an envelope that isn't coming.
Thanks for your consideration everyone.
Still time to sign up if you haven't already done so. We're up to 106 participants and lots of great seeds coming in.
For any lurkers out there, the last day to sign up for this exchange is October 29th !!!. You must be able to mail your seeds no later than November 1st for them to get here on time.
Got my envy all ready to go to the PO on Monday. Really looking forward to this swap again.
Hi again everyone,
If it's not too much trouble, if I haven't already confirmed receipt of your seeds, could I ask you to let me know when you've sent your seeds? It helps me with organizing the exchange. Thanks in advance...Heather
This message was edited Oct 24, 2010 3:31 PM
My customs form is dated October 15th. from Cocoa Beach, FL.
Would that be the Cocoa beach right near Syracuse???
(Cracked me up when I saw it... Until I realized that YOU were in sunny Florida, while I was out picking tomatoes in the snow flurries yesterday!)
I sent mine this morning. I live in a small town and it really thru them off that I was shipping out of the country. They had me fill out the wrong form, then they filled out the right one. You would have thought I was sending them to Mars.
I sent my seeds out this morning.
LOL1lisac! I had the same issues here; but they are getting better since I moved to town and send seeds all over the place. HA! ^_^