Good to know that I wasn't the only one.. Guess they're right misry loves company.. I'm over it but wish that wasn't the first think I experienced at the same time.. Oh well, can't be all good all the time right?? :)
Seed trade problems
Icosden, I've had the same thing happen. So, you aren't alone. : )
I'm like Beth, above. I don't mind if just the name is handwritten. I'm just thankful for each seed I receive. I can usually figure out by looking it up, what it's real name is, and how it grows. Or, I just ask on here. : )
~Lucy
Im glad i found this thread.
Yesterday went through my seeds and sorted them out all by name and where i got them. I had a bunch of little vanilla 2 inch envelopes. I also found some of the things you all have mentioned about when trading. One of them was a big bag of something and it had a question mark too .:P lol :)
It sure cleared up a bunch of things for me, now i feel more confident on trading and i won't irratate people and be a bad trader. :)
thanks again
sue
Ugggg, i hate that baggie of "mystery seed"
I have 30 of those mystery packs in front of me. One says purple flower another is a picture of some grass and one says, I don't know you'll have to plant it and find out and let me know what it is. lol and of course there is no name to contact on it.
Some are easily recognized but other are a big whopping 0 on what they are. I'm throwing them all out by a fence and see what comes up.
Thanks for starting this Robyn! I have to 'fess up and admit that I learned about labeling from Illoquin before I started, so I have literally copied what she does. It was great to read the process and see what people want and why.
On the germination info: I use the info from DG as a starting point. If DG doesn't have info on germination, then I'll google and research for a bit, and add that to the label. I figure I'm already online, and doing that bit of research doesn't take me that long and may help the person on the other end save some time.
Thank you for that. And thank you to everyone who posted, I'm sure this is going to make better trades for everyone involved.
Sue -- can you take a photo of the seeds.
I'm sure someone will know what they are.
But -- sometimes surprises are fun.
Thanks very much for all the input and information you've been kind of enough to provide on this subject. I'm almost finished and want to get this into approval within the next couple of days. I'll try and get as early an opening for publication as I can.
My very first one is published today!! I'm so excited! LOL
I just wanted to throw my two cents into the ring being a newbie and all....I know that I have had to literally scour the files to find latin names (sorry - I did say I was a newbie right?) I posted a few seeds I have but have several more I need to find latin names for...in fact as soon as I read the primer on seed trading I had to go to the dictionary to understand the diff. between genus, cultivar etc...ok you can stop ROFL now :)~ but as a new member I want to do things right and I know when I put my seeds up just for myself I put the month, yr, color, where in the yard it was planted, whether I grew it from seed or purchased at the garden center...you get my point....
so good luck with getting everything updated...I for one would like to be sure I do things right and don't upset or disspoint anyone in a trade or swap
No ROTFL here as I am a newbie as well and the same way!
I was thinking about this today, and how far I've come since last year. It seems to me that if you get a little better every year, you are doing your job as a DG member, a trader, a gardener. Just sort of raise the bar every year on what you expect from yourself and that's all anybody can ask.
Last year I graciously sent out coneflowers, but instead of the little beige Apollo space capsule-shaped seeds, I sent carefully cleaned long black splinters! In the WS Swap, I sent out hybrid Ageratum seed where only one seeds in 50 germinated.
So, hopefully next year I don't have to report any big whoopsies, but no doubt I will. No doubt somehting wonderful I sent out this year is sterile or all chaff, but it happens and you shouldn't feel that bad about it if your intentions are good and you ;earn something from your mistakes.
Rednyr, Nice butterfly pic!!! If you need help on Latin names, send me a Dmail and I'll try.
Doc, Congrats! Send us the link.
All, I applaud you using the fence row and back forty for the mystery seeds instead of trying to pawn them off on somebody in a round robin! I hope you all have the most beautiful flowers next summer as your just rewards!
Suzy
Yeah, I've got a few of those "mystery" pkgs myself. Sometimes I think you learn more from your mistakes........LOL
Here's the link http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/272/ and it's about broccoli, go figure! That's what the Boss asked for, so that's what the Boss got............LOL
LOL! I read that, but didn't realize it was yours! I was laughing while I read it --
Last May I was in the vegetable stand where I always look to see what's on sale in the plants while I'm buying vegetables. I got to the vegetable cell packs and picked up some parsley for the Swallowtails and thought I'd add some cabbage for the Sulphurs (loopers, inchworms if you're going to get nasty abot it LOL!)
I get home and plant it all, but this time I had my glasses on. It wasn't cabbage, it was broccoli! Now who on earth can't tellthe difference between cabbage and broccoli??? Oh,well, they'll eat broccoli, too. So I grow the broccoli, the Sulphurs come and feast, and all is well. Then I had the most beautiful yellow flowers later in the summer! They make an excelent cut flower, did you know? Except they have a thick broccili stem, so they look sort of weird and don't fit in a vase very well. LOL! But if you cut the stems shorter, they look good in those wider containers where you use the flower pin holders. Nice yellow filler.
So there! Proof that we are all different!
Suzy
I have already ordered seed for some purple broccoli and yellow cauliflower..........I think that will be so neat to try. I have seen broccoli used in floral arrangements and it is very attractive. However, I really prefer it in the house, cooked on a plate.........good eating. As a matter of fact I have 3 more heads I need to get out and harvest. My cabbage is so-so, this was a NOID variety and I'm not real impressed, but the bunnies sure seem to like it. grin
Don't forget those flower seeds you promised me, Illoquin. Glad you enjoyed the article, it's a tough subject to try and sell and keep people amused. Do you realize there are fools out there, who don't like broccoli?? What is up with that? LOL
Yeah, I liked the title of your artcile...otherwise, you're right, I would never have clicked on it. Kind of awesome that you are on the DG front page!
Nope. Not forgetting the seeds (after the swap). I see you're in Virginia, though, does that mean you'd need them before, say Feb 14? Hmm, I can kinda tell what no one is picking up from my list, maybe I should send them out today? I can, if you want. It's always hard for me to tell in other zones what they're doing garden-wise.
Don't ask me -- we love it!
I remember teaching my kids how to spell it:
B- r- o -see, see, I ate the "o" thing ! LOL! Maybe it translates better when I sing it. NOT!
Suzy
Congrats on the article doccat! I was on email and got the weekly DG email (I like to check it to see what I may have missed) and there was your article!! Very fun :)
I remember the english garden at Chi Botanic Garden, they never deadhead or pinch there - and the wonderful Oakleaf Lettuce always puts on a show when it bolts, and people are always surprised to find that it's a lettuce bloom!
rednyr - no one here will ever laugh at you! Believe me - this is a truly generous and helpful bunch. If it had a mission statement it would include things like "Gardeners are a Gardener's best friend" and such. In the years I've been on DG (lapsed membership that I renewed, silly of me to let that happen) I've never seen an arrogant or hurtful post, and this group has welcomed me with patient and open arms. I agree with Suzy, everyone has good intentions but sometimes we miss our target - we just have to learn and improve our aim - LOL!
Robin
I'm glad you're back, Robin :-)
Thanks Seandor ;-) I was off sorting seeds for a certain Suzy...and watching a little football...LOL! And don't take that to mean I was working either - Suzy thinks I'm helping her with this, but really I'm just a little Remora and pick up all the info I can!!!
No hurry,Illoquin. I know from experience there's no point in starting too much too early. As hard as it to be patient, but I get my "dirt" fix, by forcing bulbs, sorting seeds and drooling over seed catalogs! LOL
Thanks very much, you guys, I'm glad you liked the article.
OKay I'm probably one of those bad traders!!! Please forgive and give me another chance. I'll be good, I promise. I think I'll sit down and make several info thingies for each one I have, then print them out and I'll have them. My problem is I'm lazy and when I get ready to do it, I think, "Nobody wants these things, why go to the trouble!!!
What if you don't know the n;ames of the diff plants. Like I have Lots of morning glory's but have no idea what cultivar they are.
Lorraine you are pardoned for your past laziness, everyone is. LOL
Just kidding, In those cases of not knowing, just put down UNK. We all have to do that when we just don't know. But at least if you put something like
Morning Glory unk or NOID
LorraineR
I grew this in 07
Don't remember the color might be purple.
This is from a trade.
We at least know something. Don't fret to much over it, we are just trying to get people to be aware of what they are growing and how it can be grown. This way when it is pasted on to others they will want it and not through it out because they have no idea what to do with it.
Think of it as an heirloom to pass on to your kids or grandkids, You want them to know everything you can think of about it.
Just do the best you can. It will help others and others will start doing it which can help you, too.
LorraineR, If you don't know which morning glory it is you can go to the morning glory forum and there are lots of proud people there showing pictures of their newest morning glory that's how I id mine. I warn you though everytime I go there I spend the day looking at all of those pretty MG's!
You are such an Enabler.
LOL.... i too was gonna suggest the MG forum.
they are like hostas, and marigolds for that matter..... thousands of 'em.
Lorraine.... most of the trades i've gotten have had a scribbled name on the baggie and that's about it. some have just the common name, some have the scientific name.... as long as there is something, you can google it, which usually leads you back to Daves, where you will find a lot of info on it. then when it grows/blooms, snap a pic and keep it with your files... and even post that image on the ID forum or specific forum for that plant, and someone will be able to ID it for you.
Seed Trading Etiquette Article do to be published Feb 27 ;)
Doc... you writing it ??
if so.... do send a reminder... i never read the "headlines" off to the side... but i do scan the Monday morning Email.
I shall do that ;)
OH .... Ugggg, i will be out of town and not have PC access.
I will [hopefully] read it when i get back... being away from a PC for 9 days is gonna be something....
You can get it via e-mail. You can set that up in your preferences. And do read the articles, guys. There's a tremendous amount of information there written by very knowledgeable people who are interested in sharing their knowledge. Do take advantage of the opportunity!
Thanks doc .... I'll leave myself a "post it note" on teh desk top as a reminder to read that article... my INBOX will be stuffed and a lot to sort thru.
Thanks for enabling me. LOL I should have realized what I needed to do, because I have lots of those little bags too, the ones wit no info at all and I'm so new I spend a lot of time trying to find what they look likem, etc.
Anyway, I'm going to be the most organized person ya'll have ever seen. I'll go down in history and be known as the penacle of the trading world
You would think I'd be more organized after all the years teaching and having to keep up with all those little knuckleheads
Robin, Pushki is commonly called cow's parsnip. Some people break out from handling it, I understand. It is a tall, handsome plant with umbrells of white flower heads that can measure 8-12" across. It grows along roadsides here and reseeds readily. I would imagine these seeds were sent you by Illoquin, as I think she was trying to outsource the native Alaskan seeds I sent her. Seed packets were sent to her with complete information on each one, entirely visible and informational. In addition, I sent her the original ziplocks from which I filled more small packets. These may not have been adequately labeled, but were sent with the completed seed packets attached. I have no idea whether you received them in the same way I sent them to Illoquin.
I am sure, in my seed collections, there are many seeds that can be harmful if one does not understand their potential when growing them. If pushki is to dangerous to trade, then, by all means discard it. Please also discard the devil's club, if you got some of that. It has thorns. Consider, also, discarding any monkshood, digitalis, castor bean, and many, many others that are poisonous. My point is, all seeds should be handled carefully, and we should all research the new plants we plan to grow.
The trade seeds I sent to Illoquin were to be distributed and used. I did not ask for anything in return. If the seeds you are referring to are mine, please let me know and I will supply you with any information you may need, including photos and the planting instructions that appear on my packaging. Did you, in fact, trade for these seeds?
Hi Weez, no I did not trade for the seeds and I can not say for sure who they came from. All that was with the seeds was the word Pushki on a tiny slip of paper. I am not trying to blame anything on anyone. I was just trying to explain to people that if they do get seeds sent to them and they don't have info on them, find out what it is. Don't ever assume other people will know what it is.
Weez, you always have everything listed on your packets from the common name to the color of it. If this was yours and this was early last year, whoever sent it in the swap just put a few seeds in the packet, put a tiny paper with the name on it and sent it out. Suzy doesn't do that she list details too. This could have been the third or fourth trade of it, I don't know. This is why there should be info on all packs and if someone is passing along a trade just state it on the package and leave all the info on it.
I hope you understand what I am saying and I don't want you to think I was blaming you for anything, I am not doing that. You did nothing wrong. I was the bad person, I threw away the seeds, it was how I felt about the seeds not the person whoever it was that sent them. I am sure there are alot of people out there that has them and will want them. I'm just glad I researched it before I planted it
Weez, I wish every pack of seeds I get looked like yours. But the computer challenged like myself will have to deal with hand written labels with as much as I can put on them.
Sorry I got upset, Robynz. I guess I'm a bit prideful about my packaging, and a bit defensive about the much maligned pushki. It is not a dangerous plant. However, I don't know why anyone would send you such a thing without asking. Here, where it is happy, it grows to over 6 ft tall, has a hollow stem the size of a small tree, and a tap root like a comfrey. If someone sent you these seeds without your requesting them, I'd say it was a poor choice. This is a native specialty plant, in my opinion. The name 'pushki' is an Alaskan name, so I am assuming it is my seeds. If you feel comfortable in telling me, please email me with the name of the swap or sender, and I will track it down.
I truthfully couldn't tell you who it was. I know it had a heart on it. I actually thought the paper that had the heart on it was just a piece of scrap paper someone tore off of a magazine or something with a strange name of an electronic game on the other side. One day I decided to see what it was and that how I found out it was the seeds. I had no idea of what the seeds were or that the name was Pushki. It is a beautiful plant and I thought wow that would look great in the yard. But not with all the kids I have running around hear playing ball and what not.
What scared me most was I had no idea of what it was and whoever sent it to me didn't know either or surely they would not have put it in without letting me know or asking me if I wanted it. Hence, passing the info on.
I'm glad you understand. Like I say there is a few DGers here that go all out when trading their seeds and putting info on them and you are one of them. I love getting seeds from you.
I have to add my 2 cents worth here and say that Weez has the BEST packaging I have ever seen! :) But, I also agree with Robin about other packages I have received. Being a newbie, it is hard to figure out what things are with things spelled wrong, etc....