I AM NEW HERE AND I RECENTLY READ ABOUT THE HAND CANCELING PROBLEMS AND SEEDS GETTING CRUSHED DURING SHIPMENT. I HAVE AN IDEA THAT I THINK WILL WORK. AT LEAST I AM GOING TO GIVE IT A TRY. SO GLORIA AND GINGERLILY LET ME KNOW HOW THIS WORKS. I WILL BE MAILING YOUR SEEDS TOMORROW. I AM GOING TO USE A CARDBOARD TUBE FROM A ROLL OF PAPER TOWELS, TIN FOIL ETC. PUT THE SEED PACKS IN THE MIDDLE AND FILL BOTH ENDS WITH SOMETHING LIGHT LIKE BUBBLE WRAP, PAPER TOWELS, TISSUES, ANYTHING THAT WILL LIGHTLY FILL THE TUBE UP. WRAP IN BROWN OR WHITE PAPER, SECURE WITH PACKAGING TAPE, ADDRESS AND MAIL. I THINK THIS WILL REALLY WORK BECAUSE THE WEIGHT WILL BE VERY LITTLE FOR THE PACKAGING AND THEY CANNOT PUT A TUBE THRU THE POSTAGE MACHINE OR THE SORTER. WHAT THE HECK IT CAN'T HURT TO TRY IT CAN IT. WE'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW IT WORKS NEXT WEEK.
REMEDY FOR SEEDS GETTING CRUSHED IN MAIL
The seed companies are using padded envelopes which are slightly oversized and will not go through the Postal Service machinery . The post office has these envelopes and also some tube mailers that could be re-used.
Bud
I keep hearing of crushed seeds but I have only gotten one package that had seeds thaat seemed kinda crushed a bit and it actually seemed more like it may have been that way prior to shipment but I can be wrong. I have had anything from a small amount of paper towel wrapped around to bubble mailers to a box. I also have never gotten any negative feedback on crushed seeds but I think most people would not tell someone as long as there was no obvious neglect. Funny thing is the other day I got back my sase and it was not really protected much and my envelope was mangled and distorted but the seeds were in great shape, no problems at all. I also think for those that with some seeds that are hand collected, if they are left in the pods as much as possible then it helps to protect them even more. Even though it is taking me weeks to get all the seed seperated from my big box-o-seed from a wonderfully generous person, I am glad that I both have the opportunity to see what to look for when I get ready to harvest and also that when I ship seeds back out they will have a bit more protection. It also helps in guaging how many seeds come from each pod or seed head.
I love the dried peppers that were sent to me and the poppy pods that I just shake and hear all the seeds.
I have thought about all those pill bottles I throw away. They can be quite useful for some of the bigger and fragile seeds. Some people use a lot of film also and have those little canisters that are perfect to stuff some seed in.
JCF, C
all me cheap, but I went scavenging yesterday behind stores and found tons of boxes and bubblewrap. Hey, you just can't beat free! I will let you know how the seeds look when they get here.
Angel,
The film canisters and pill bottles sound like a great idea, too. But you'd probably still need a small box to mail them in.
Funny, I always thought I was 'doing good' by cleaning all my seeds before shipping. But know that you pointed it out, there are a lot of advantages to leaving them in the pod. Including all the time it takes to clean them!
LOL, yep... it takes a long time to get all those seeds out if you have a lot of them. I had though about packaging on those little bottles and canisters and never tried it yet but i was thinking that jusyt taking some scrap cardboard and wrapping around it should suffice. You can tape it well and still have room for postage and address if you make it just big enough. It still shouldn't weigh too much and you dont have to worry about it getting crushed. You can fill it with more seeds rather than stuffing this way too. Just an idea that sounds good on paper but have never tried.
I like the padded envelopes too, Bud. You can buy them for about $.50. I mail all my seeds that way. :)
P2
I've gotten seeds in all forms, from loose (not even a packet to contain them!) in a envelope to greatly padded. I've only gotten 1 pack of seeds that were ever damaged and (like Angel) they only seemed kinda crushed a liitle and it seemed more like it may have been that way prior to shipment. I've been trading since Oct 2000, over 200 trades so far.... odds are the seeds will be fine no matter how you send them, but if you know they are a easily damaged type don't take a chance on it.
JCf, just wanted to let you know I got my seeds in great shape. The paper towel tube was as if it had just been used. Not crushed or even bent slightly. Guess we have to give the Post Office a thumbs up this time. (for a change!)
Good idea!