I am a newbie gardener and just moved into a new home and I have an acre to landscape! I am new to gardening, but I enjoyed playing a little in the dirt last year. I live in zone 4 and would like to plant perennials, annuals, and an heirloom vegetable garden (especially tomatoes). Being new to gardening I don't really have seeds to trade, but maybe I could offer some homemade cookies or handmade cards in return?
Thanks!
CLOSED: Wanted: seeds for newbie's garden - anything goes!
Hi vb, You can go to this site and send off for free seeds, plus alot of great reading. Trudi also offers free tomatoe seeds.
http://www.wintersown.org/wseo1/Free_Seeds.html
http://www.wintersown.org/wseo1/Tomato_SASE.html
Enjoy, Connie
vbishopwi,
Send me a SASBE (Self-addressed, stamped bubble envelope) 6 x 9 with 3 stamps on it and I will send you some seeds. D-mail me for my address. I'm paying it forward to honor someone who sent me seeds when I was a newbie. Some of the seeds will just have the general name, but I don't know the variety.
frausnow
If you want I would be glad to send you some seeds? Send me your address please.
I can send you some seeds as well. Some are a little old, but I have some tomatoes you might like. Also flower seeds in there. Just send me an SASBE if interested. I am in the address exchange.
:) Kim
Welcome to DG! You'll like it here.
I can offer some calendula mix, giant Mexican amaranth, wild senna, prairie mimosa for the sun and Jack-in-the-pulpit for the shade. Let me know if you would like those.
vbishopwi, you can send me a SASBE (Self-addressed, stamped bubble envelope) 6 x 9 with 3 stamps on it, too. I have quite a few kinds of seeds to share with you.
vb, included me in the SASBE and I'll mail you out a variety of flower seed......Lauri
how do you feel about snapdragons? I have lots. Just send me a SASBE.
Ditto here. I have plenty. Just send a at least a 5 x 4 bubble envelope with return postage(2 or 3 stamps) and a addy label. I will fill it up for you. D-mail me for addy or I am in the addy exchange(you must join it to be able to get others addys) it can found by clicking on the extras link above
Wow! This site is great. You are all so generous. I have D-mailed each of you. Thanks so much!
Vanessa
didn't recieve D-mail
vb, gotcher dmails and am starting to organize a few packs for you.
Here are a couple of sites with inexpensive seed. But let me say that the more expensive websites I'm adding further on often can be cheaper, because:
#1 in many cases, more expensive outfits sell a larger volume of seed than the "cheapies" for the money you pay. When you divide # of seed into price for a packet and then compare the results between a "cheapie" and a more expensive outfit, the more expensive outfit is often cheaper.
#2 Consider seed viabiity. Some seed, like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, chinese mustard greens, etc. - all of which belong to the cabbage family - often is viable for up to 5 years. So, if a pack of seed may last you 5 years, then paying a little more initially might be worth it.
So, here are some links:
Cheapies:
http://www.crosmanseed.com/
http://www.superseeds.com/
http://www.valueseeds.com/
More expensive packets, but more for your money:
http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/
http://www.stokeseeds.com/cgi-bin/StokesSeeds.storefront
Seed Viability
See the link above for J L Hudson - some of their descriptions include seed viability info - perhaps more so in the print form
https://matcmadison.edu/mchristoffel/plants/seeds/viability.htm
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1995/3-3-1995/seedv.html
http://www.hillgardens.com/seed_longevity.htm
Welp, the above strategies work best if you save seed propery, so here's a great link on saving seed:
http://theseedsite.co.uk/index.html (Click on Seed Harvesting)
vb, welcome to DG - very glad to meetcha
karen
Vanessa,
If you send me 52 cents worth in stamps, I can send you a big mix of morning glories that was given to me, if you don't mind that they are all mixed together and I don't know what varieties are in there! lol ;)
I have a few odds and ends that you might enjoy, too.
You can just send a regular-sized envelope with stamps inside, and I'll send back seeds in one of my own envelopes... then you can reuse my big envelope to trade or send SASBEs. That will start you off on envelopes, too! ;)~
I was afraid when I first started trading that the USPS wouldn't mail something if it looked too messy, but you'll find that they accept nearly anything as long as it's got enough postage!
~Gina
I will send you an assortment for SASBE if you want..I am in the exhange.
JanetS
for sasbe if you want them i have:
scarlet milkweed
red tx. star hibiscus
double purple and white datura
rudbeckia maxima
pink hardy hibiscus......unknown variety
yaku jima dwarf maiden grass
red morning glory........ipomoea hederifolia
yellow cleome...........15 seeds
pink milkweed..........prob. incarnata
blue flax
i am in the exchange. and if you send an sasbe please make a list of what you would like me to send so i won't forget.
for sasbe, I have any number of different seeds, much more than I can use this season.
I'm in the address file.
vb, I have some columbine seeds and maybe some strays, if you would like some just send me a couple of stamps, I have plenty of envelopes :-)
Lea
Edited to say, put your DG name in there so I will know who you are and I'm in the exchange.
This message was edited Dec 4, 2006 4:33 PM
Hello everyone good to see ya all again.
Venessa,
I would be glad to send you a ton of seeds. I am in zone 5 and I try to get perennials, however I have lots of annuals also like Morning Glories. Just dmail me and I will send you a list of what I have then you can send a SASBE for them.
Happy Holidays,
Beck
Vanessa, Your seed are going out in the mail today......Lauri
VB, you like tomatoes, do ya? Lots of people out there willing to send you a few seeds. Please take this honest advice. If you buy any tomato plant(s) at your local garden center, DO NOT buy any that have yellowing leaves near the bottom of the plant. Don't even buy the plants adjacent to the ones with the yellowing leaves.
You'll be repeating what Dudley Moore said in that fun movie with Liza Minelli - "I think it's a goner"
Hi Vanessa got your envie today. Will fill it tonight and back out in the morning mail. Love the cards Thank You
Vanessa,
Do you know what zone you're in? Here's the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to help, if you don't: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html?
Received your envelope and stamps with those very creative cards, too - loved them. It'll take me a few more days to finish your envie - knowing your zone will help.
karen
Got your envelope and will be mailing it out tomorrow. Thanks for the cards!
:) Kim
Hi all. I have emailed some of you to let you know I sent my SASBE. I will email the rest after I go restock (again!) on bubble envelopes. I am so surprised at the response I have gotten here on DG. You are all wonderful!
Vanessa
I thought you may have gotten overwhelmed! ;) Don't worry, our offers are still standing.
~Gina
Vanessa,
I see u found out what I meant in my dmail. Welcome aboard my dear. You will repay the favor some day yourself.
Beck
Cookies! I'll take cookies
I have a lot of stuff I collect but never use.
Al
getting your package prepared so when the envie with address arrives, it will go out next day. my mail is late delivery so can't do same day.
You'll find out what grows for you and what doesn't with what everyone is sending. When things grow well and you have the chance to gather seeds, do so, then list them back here to offer trades. That's how everyone does it and as you see, it's a system that works quite well.
Hi Vanessa,
It took a while to fix all the seed packets, but they went off to you today. Here are some links to help with germination, and don't forget to check out DG's Wintersowing Forum - a great way to get around damping-off fungus issues that plague indoor sowing.
http://www.theseedsite.co.uk/germination.html
http://www.onrockgarden.com/
http://tomclothier.hort.net/
http://www.gracegardens.com/ggseed.htm
I would just take a fraction of each seed and try different ways to germinate - don't sow the whole pack at once. For instance, if possible, try part of a packet of perennial seed with the wintersowing method and another part of that same packet after frost outdoors in a specially prepared bed inside a coldframe with a screen top to keep off the critters. Sowing in clean pots in sterile nonsoil medium rather than the coldframe would get around insect and slug problems.
Also, in the past, I have found it helpful to research what type of germination works best for each type of seed, and then group like with like when I sow - that way, sowing a dozen kinds can be like sowing just one.
That information can also be helpful with wintersowing in that some can be sown on the solstice and perhaps others might prefer to wait to be sown closer to the last spring frost date - that way, you can spread out your wintersowing. Dollar stores have deep tin roasters with hard plastic tops very inexpensively if you haven't saved enough recycled containers for wintersowing.
Let us know if you have any questions and how things come along -
karen
Karen thanks for the tips I have saved the sites also. Very informative.
Thanks
Beck
Wonderful ! Can't wait to see pictures of your gardens . Seeds are so much fun !
Karen, thank you so much for your post. It's just the information I needed. I'm bookmarking this thread!
Deborah♥
Vanessa,
Got your SASBE the other day and I sent you an envie stuffed with seeds! There's a lot of good advice and information here, but the best advice is to have fun!
JoAnn
Yes Karen, thanks for the advcice and websites. I'm sure I will be using them a lot this coming spring and summer.
Vanessa
Vbishopwi,
Dmail your address and I can send you seeds.
Merry Christmas!
Marilyn
Edited to add that I don't have any veggie seeds to give you (just have parsley and that's dead now), just flower seeds.
This message was edited Dec 18, 2006 4:55 PM