CLOSED: 2014 Spring Round Robin Seed Swap - Interest Thread!

Greetings!

My name is Amanda, and I will be your host for the 2014 Spring Round Robin Seed Swap! As the name suggests, we collect seed from our garden and/or fresh commercial seed to share with each other. When the time comes I will prepare my own seed and whatever is left from the 2013 Fall Robin, pack and ship the box (the bird, the Robin, etc.) to the first participant. They will take some seed and add some seed and then ship to the next ready and waiting participant who will do the same. And so on!

You don't have to have a lot of seed to contribute to participate. Any DG subscribing member is welcome to participate as long as you will be a subscribing member thru the end of the Spring swap (date(s) to be determined), sometime in May or June, 2014.

I have established some controversial RULZ* for the Robin intended to ensure seed quality and high germination rates consistent with fresh seed and to foster RESPECT and TRUST among fellow participants.

As of the date of this post we are in or about the middle of the 2013 Fall Round Robin Seed Swap**.

We are a friendly bunch dedicated to seed swapping and hoarding.

Many of us have participated in this time honored tradition hosted in the past by Susie (deejay9). Some of us have not participated in the Robin before. Please feel free to ask any questions of the HOST or participants on this public thread or by dmail.

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2014 Spring Round Robin Seed Swap Participants/Interest List

AmandaEsq (Amanda!) - NC
gaMadGardener - GA
CheerMom - (Sue G) - AZ
StillPlaysWithDirt (Becky L) - TX

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Thanks for playing and for unrepentantly pointing out any flaws or errors inherent in the HOST's logic or lack thereof.

~Amanda

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*Kindly review and refer to the RULZ established previously for the 2013 Fall Swap here:

RULZ:

In the interest of FAIRNESS to participants
and to maintain the INTEGRITY of the Round Robin tradition
we each agree to:

(1) Treat the Robin as an individual swap taking the same time and care with our contributions to the Robin as we would with an individual trade;
(2) Take what you want, give what you can, generous in contribution and modest in appropriation - particularly if the amount of seed in the Robin is scant;
(3) Contribute only seed of known origin (commercial seed, harvested from our own garden, etc.) not older than 2011;
(4) Package our seed contributions to the Robin in clear plastic zip lock bags and/or glassine envelopes so that contents are visible and easily accessible by other participants in the Robin;
(5) Properly label our seed contributions to the Robin with our DG Name, common and botanical name of species contributed, and date of origin (PREFERABLY ON PAPER LABEL INSIDE BAG/ENVELOPE);
(6) Respond within 24 hours to communications from other participants and HOST of the Robin by dmail, telephone, or other means deemed acceptable by the HOST;
(7) Post on the main thread the arrival and departure date(s) of the Robin into and out of each participant's possession;
(8) Maintain possession of the Robin not longer than 4 days including holidays and weekends;
(9) Ship the Robin to the next participant as directed by the HOST;
(10) Submit USPS tracking/confirmation information by dmail to the HOST only, not by public thread;
(11) Be a good sport; and/or
(12) Be hung in effigy and/or ostracized forever by participants and/or HOST for failure to follow these RULZ.

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Check out our 2013 Fall Round Robin Interest thread HERE:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1336761/#top

Review our 2013 Fall Round Robin Haves and Wants list from participants HERE:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1337395/

**Link to the 2013 Fall Round Robin Seed Swap, On the Wing HERE:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1341445/

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'American Robin and chicks' image Courtesy:

http://blog.duncraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Robin-and-chicks.jpg

This message was edited Jan 12, 2014 6:26 PM

This message was edited Jan 13, 2014 11:32 PM

This is for Round 2, yes?

I'm still not sure, I've already started a few things, might be full up by then. Or not...

Hi Pam - yes! Round 2 and/or 2014 spring.

Hope all's well. ;)

A.

Soup Nazi from Seinfeld:

"The main thing is to keep the line moving."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVqBzP0xdKk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVqBzP0xdKk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVqBzP0xdKk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVqBzP0xdKk

Seed Nazi:

"The main thing is to keep the Robin moving."

I would love to get in on this. Are there any categories, Or is it a mix?

So happy you are already planning another, Amanda!

I don't think I can resist this time around.. mind if I join in? I have lots of seed I received in trades that I can't grow this year due to lack of room! Are seeds from previous trades even allowed? Just wanting to make sure I'm not breaking the rules before this even starts! :D

If not, no biggie, I'll still have my own.. Hand collected by moi and also some commercial.

going to keep watch but not sure i will be into next round yet but will see.

Not sure if I'm in on the 2nd round yet but will watch and let ya know...

...flower pix cuz I'm ready for spring!!!!

Pretty flowers, Kathy, I think we may be turning the corner here in the Piedmont.

Lurkers are welcome. :)

Becky, hi! The question of whether the seed comes from prior trade with fellow DG members is quite controversial. I don't believe we debated this point on our prior interest thread. However, I will volunteer my opinion and hope to hear from others on this point.

If the seed is not from your own garden within the referenced seasons (e.g. 2011 or later) or commercial seed in original packet within the referenced seasons we cannot truly vouch for seed quality or germination rates consistent with fresh seed.

If someone (say Pam or Kathy) has started sowing seed from a recent prior trade produced within the referenced seasons and can vouch for germination rate and quality then that seed could be offered on the thread and origin of seed disclosed if a substantial amount of seed is available and desired by fellow participants. Participants may then evaluate offer and side trade could be included.

We've seen during this Fall Robin that there is no lack of space in the package and with postage of the box easily $10-$15 or more, we don't need to stuff the bird with unwanted seed or seed that does not comply with the Rulz*.

Them's my thoughts on that. Others?

Welcome GAmadGardener. :)
Sounds like you will fit right in. You will find any manner of seed in the box. No restrictions or categories except those enumerated in the Rulz*. You might want to look at the prior Haves and Wants thread (link listed above) to see examples of what may be in the current Robin.

As always thanks for playing. Have a great day - we finally have some SUN so I won't dally.
A.

I'm in for round 2.

Sue G

Still lurking. I am still sorting out my seeds from prior trades as well as things I have hoarded in the past. I am (really) trying to slim down my large underbed tote of seeds.

Some need to be sown in place, and some started indoors. I have not yet set up my system for indoors yet. Some for outdoors will just be sown in "Square Foot Garden" beds that are not being used yet for summer veggies.

I have lettuce and cole crops already growing in some, as well as seedlings from my Summer Start in August. I need to pull a few apart...pansies, daisies, campanula.

This message was edited Jan 13, 2014 5:01 PM

Just beginning to start seeds for the season, many from previous seasons will be included. Those that I received on the second go around last spring will be started now as it was too late to begin them then. You just never know how long they are viable, remember I started some last winter that were more than 10 years old and germinated just fine, actually better than I had expected, (sure am glad I hadn't thrown them out (Ammi rubra)....lol.) but truely understand the time limitations...

Okay, yes, I completely understand the controversy surrounding seeds of unknown viability, so I'll go ahead and leave them out. Maybe once I get those sorted out I can post a list of them and if anyone wants to give them a shot I can label them as such and send them along, like you said, as a side trade :)

There is a methodology some swear by and I don't know the thread offhand, but it is the use of hydrogen peroxide to enhance the germination of old seed - some people have said they were able to start seeds that were 50+ years old!

I for one am not afeared of germination rates of my own things, but when you're invested in a project like this I think it's best that we keep enthusiasm and excitement high with a product we can count on. I know some seeds are viable for decades, just keep them on your personal trade lists with the appropriate disclosure ( be warned! these seeds were collected from my great great great grandmother's terrace gardens in Austria a thousand years ago).

Off to continue the Zoo Chores.
xo
A.

O Good Grief Becky!!!

Had no idea it was your birthday. Or someone else's birthday wine. Either way - glad you got a laugh. :)

I did just receive another packet of milkweed from you - thanks so much for helping me with this most very important conservation project I have going.

Hope everyone's enjoying a good night.

A.

It was MY birthday wine! I am such a lightweight nowadays, I swear.. The birthday tequila shots of my twenties have been replaced by wine spritzers!! And I suffer the next day just the same..

Anywho, I will play nice and follow the rulz.. All questionable seed will be kept to myself. Muhahahaha :D

Glad you got the milkweed, sorry it took me so long but I just wouldn't have felt right sending you all that fluff!! I hope it's the yellow, most of the A. Tuberosa I see is orange. Not a big fan of orange blooms myself..

Well Happy Birthday dearie!

Love Orange. Love Yellow. All good - welcome aboard. :)

Happy Birthday Becky! Welcome aboard, it's been a blast and I highly recommend a blast!

I will probably be in on the second round. I don't have anything new to contribute, but can add more of some of the wildflowers if the ones I sent get scooped up.

I am still trying to catch up with myself , thinking about how long it takes me to go through seeds , it might be risky to let me in ,,
I have some there are many seeds of like a couple types of Kale fewer possible like four to six seeds of things like White Swan Coneflower ,When they are few like Coneflower I feel like I am cheating ..But then again I have about a dozen or so I have several of ..
Maybe I should , and do list , when all is decided .
Elderberry
Could add a few Daylily seeds
Guess I need to talk with Amanda ....
I don't know if they were used for the project but the one or two ,A Tuberosa sent from me were , both orange and a yellow that may have came from crosses , One older plant I have is nearly three feet tall , and blooms more yellow , the hotter the temperatures get ,, I just wrote A Tuberosa Orange ,, If I don't know the Hybrid name , I usually do that , and most do grow as orange from garden seeds of home gardeners

This message was edited Jan 16, 2014 12:37 AM

Hi there Ju - it'd be great to have you jump in.

I did not include your seed in the swap. Not sure which of yours you're referring to, but I'd love to have yellow tuberosa. The ones I included are from my own stock which have taken several years to really put out blooms. I'm not one who enjoys growing things that don't bloom the first year. It's mostly by trial and error that I figure these things out. :D

Hello Amanda . The milkweed seed sent to you , for project , had a couple of A Tuberosa seed packages , I did not get many of those ,
I will see which plant it is , if it stays blooming yellow . I will see if I can get you one ..
In the meantime I will put a few things together ,, I have to omit a lot of seeds , because their are unknown , of germination , or source ,, however I should easily be able to do a dozen or so adds ..
Most are things like 6 to 8 tomato seeds I know are good A few tree seeds , yarrow , Marigolds , A couple types of Kale , red runner bean a few climbing speckled lima , for butterfly gardeners Black mustard (only a few ) dulcermera vine is the true poison American bittersweet
Some of these I don't know anyone would want ..lol Some red volunteer seedling seed (daylily ) an Electric orange seedling seeds daylily blooms after the wild orange here ,, few things there , herbs I have to look back through..
Keep me up to date , when this starts and all ,, back in while

I'm thread Happy lol
My list so far , all but two are bagged and ready

white swan Echinacea 1year old commercial
White Bells Campanula 1 year old commercial
Christmas Lima
Red Runner Bean
Electric Orange Daylily
Red Volunteer . seeds are seedling of Daylily
oenthera Biennis
Rose yarrow dwarf 12 to 14 inches long blooming
Coreopsis Lance leaf (wild)
prunus serotina (Wild Black Cherry tree ) 4 seeds ? commercial
Sparky Marigold
Echinacea purpurea (Eastern Purple Coneflower)
Purple liatris (eastern Blazing star)

Well I have to play some , I'm just that way .. This about a 1/4 of eventual will be listed , if this part of the Robin happens ,,


This message was edited Jan 16, 2014 9:42 PM

This message was edited Jan 17, 2014 12:31 AM

IF?!

As if. :P

How many people decide too , most will be growing what they have .
If the planet does not end ,,
Amanda I know , you are more serious ,and my humor lacks a little ,,lol

Evelyn ; Working on the Atmosphere machine for mars and a couple moons ,, next project ..

Really I am trying to keep as much chaff out of the seeds as I can , and looking for things people may enjoy growing ,, One needs a sense of humor ,,,
My list keeps growing ,, My mind keeps shrinking ,, so it seems , Like too much time , to not enough time ,,, sigh ,, dreams of the all even smooth plane of existence ..lol

Do you start your asclepias indoors or wintersow?

Winter sow here , Cannot do the ones I have in a pot or even move them ,, difficult (wild things they are )
What kind are you talking about ?I know A tuberosa . and Syrica Are wintersow and they do not show up until mid to late summer .. a long while .. I think Incarnata is the same , (only one so far here )
I know WarriorsWisdomKathy , Has good luck(or experience) pot germinating them , we talked last year about it .
I only seem to be able to that with Cynachium laeve ) honeyvine ,,, Yeah I know it is only one of the strongest plants on the planet though ..

I have been sitting here sorting more Spearmint seeds ,, tiny tiny tiny ,,,,
Most of the seeds are a while done , organizing will take a while longer ,,


This message was edited Jan 18, 2014 11:29 PM

You might be able to , my skill does not get me there. I have all kinds of trouble moving them , long deep early tap root , all that .. Yes I sow mine outdoors .. that doesn't mean you have to ..lol I am not skilled when it comes to Milkweeds ..
A lot of gardeners start them in seedling trays or pots , like any other perennial ,I'm just not one of them ,
It took me three seasons of trying to get a plant and two more once I got one to get them to establish , one more for nice blooms, Plant takes a lot of patience with me ,, You may be different , everyone to their own ,,,

I have not yet grown them. I was hoping for the best way to get them going.

For me the best way was , stratify , and or wintersow , Plants appear June - August . Only real success I had was that way ,, Maybe some else lurking about might answer ?

Here's a pix of my Asclepias incarnata Ice Ballet from 2013 after I had potted them on. Shortly after pix they lost all their leaves and died to almost soil line. After cutting them back they resprouted another growing node and leafed out again. They got planted last fall and and hoping they make it thru the winter and bloom this June for me. The dying back to soil line seems to be normal as I've had it happen numerous times when growing them in the past.... Hope that helps Evelyn... I surface sow, sprinkle just a bit of vermiculite on them so they sta yin place til sprouted, 5-7 days under flourecent lights. Started last season 12/29, sprouted 1/7, potted on 2/1, pix was taken on 2/22.
This season I'm trying several varieties and hope they allllll sprout, some were from you in the Robin..

Thank you, Ju and Kathy. I will try some both ways and see what happens.

This is what I have so far, 11 seedlings of Asclepias tuberosa. One flopped over yesterday, for some reason it wasn't taking up water from the bottom and dried out. I cut off the wilted cotyledons, and the tiny true leaves seem to be growing still.

Amanda, what color is your rudbeckia triloba. I have a pack of it here and I was just deciding where to put it.

Dee, the color is about the same as those (?) sunflowers in your profile picture.