Oh, so the seeds weren't labeled as Pushki? Did you just I.D. them as such?
As far as your frustration with inadequate labeling, I really have to say I understand. While some traders are very specific in their labeling, others are not. I suppose it is directly related to how and why we garden. If you love anything that grows and every new seedling is a wonderful surprise, then receiving a package of seeds marked 'columbine' or 'pinks' or 'poppies' might be an adventure. If you are looking for a specific species or variety, that isn't acceptable. I've just decided that by labeling my seeds well, adding information and pictures, and giving germination instructions, I'll please either type. I enjoy the process of researching, photoing and labeling, so it's worth my time, even for freebies. I can understand why some folks can't afford or just don't have the time or inclination to do so, but in a trade, one should be able to know what they are getting.
Seed trade problems
Thanks, Misty... we must have cross posted. I was a newbie to much of this back in 2002, and it seems to me that the international traders were much more likely to use the botanical names on their packaging. I think some of us in the US forget that common names are different from country to country.... even from state to state.
There was a piece of paper about one inch long and about 1/4 inch wide in the pachage. One side had a heart drawn on it and the other side had the word Pushki typed on it. That was all that was with the seeds. I couldn't even see the Pushki until I dropped the package and all the seeds moved to the side. The package was a hard heart shaped plastic type container now that I think about it. So you see all I had to go on was a word and a heart drawing.
You are quite welcome, Weez! Yours are awesome, for sure! :)
Robynz, I just noticed your first post was back at the end of December, so it sure wasn't anything I sent to a swap. If the seeds weren't labeled, and you are only making the ID from pictures of the seeds, it may not be pushki. That's a pretty uncommon common name for it.
Hey, Misty... ;)
Hey Weez, I can't wait to get my petunia seeds out you sent me!!!
Weez, there was a small paper in the package that said Pushki on one side and a heart that was drawn on the other side. I know it was not from you, you have a great package for your seeds. I had no idea that the seeds were Pushki or not. I googled the word and that is what I figured the seeds were since that was all that was with the seeds. Since I didn't know what the seeds were for sure it is one of the reasons I started this thread, to make people aware of these things and put more info on their packs.
Here is an example of why botanical names are sooooo useful. I received in trade a package labeled Chinese Lanterns. I have no idea whether these are Abutilon (aka Flowering Maples or Chinese Lanterns) or Physalis alkekengi (aka Chinese Lanterns) Either way, I am thrilled - but it would be nice to know how to treat the seeds. :-)
Robyn, here is a picture of pushki seed. They are quite large and have a papery flat husk.
I gotta tell you guys, these types of requests are the reason I don't contribute seeds anymore to any swaps, I won't even mail in bulk seed anymore. If I had time to label exactly just right, I would never do anything else. There are several people that have lots of seeds, but do not have the time or the energy to be labeling for everyone and their brother.. Everytime I see these swaps, I go look somewhere else, cuz I don't have time to decorate each pack for every season you all can think of, so.. that eliminates alot of the people that do have rare seeds but don't like the BS that goes along with the swaps.
I don't mean to sound MEAN, but, you ask alot for FREE seeds. Pershaps you would be better off buying what you want instead of joining swaps where you won't get what you think you should or how you think they should read or be wrapped. Next thing you know, we'll have to grow them out for you too.
I have nothing against any of you on this thread, I don't even know you, but just wanted to say something that others may be afraid to say. It is getting harder to give anything away, without almost PAYING the person to take them, pretty soon they will expect that too.
I can see labeling the things with at least the common name, but to add your zone and other information that you should be looking up yourself is too much for me to even phantom... no wonder no one gives free seeds anymore.
If you don't like what you got, either throw it out if you think it is too dangerous or give it to someone that can use it. Sheesh.. I thought I'd heard it all. There now it is off my chest. lol.. I feel much better. Feel free to hang me now. lol..
Gourd,
Being a newbie I can TOTALLY understand her point. I have received so many that aren't labeled, or it is not legible, or spelled wrong. This is all she is meaning by it. Would you really want to throw something out if you don't know what it is and it end up being something you have really been wanting? Wouldn't it be nice to know what it is someone sent you? Yes, I have gotten many a seed from people on here, some sent out of the kindness of their heart, but MOST of them I paid postage and sent an envy. I wouldn't expect everyone to go to the trouble that Weez does, but hers are EXCEPTIONALLY nice! I have gone out and bought my own plants, seeds, and what not, but the seed swaps on here are a lot of fun and we really enjoy ourselves! You are missing out if you won't join in on them! I don't think anyone is gonna hang you, just give their 2 cents worth, as you have! :)
I understand the part of getting a label on the seeds, but they are still free to you and everyone else here, you would pay for postage anyway, and if you think they didn't charge you for the envelope (that is where the shipping and handling charges come in).. plus the money for the seeds themselves.
All, I'm trying to say, is this.. if you get a common name on there, look it up... you will learn so much.
A.
I'm glad you feel better, Gourd. In all fairness to Robyn, I think she said that she threw the unmarked seeds away. Like you, I don't participate in swaps very often, and when I do, I send seeds, not ask for them. I'm just too picky, and I admit it. However, my seeds go out with good labeling, and I do it because my research and photos save the recipient a lot of time. I just want to see my seeds get planted and enjoyed.
Since I don't get into the swaps much, maybe I don't understand how they work. I thought people generally send in seeds to get seeds... sort of a trade. I didn't know they were getting free seeds. I guess they do when folks like me send in without expecting seeds back, but that's not really a swap, is it?
Gourd, I'll bet if you started a thread that offered seeds, and people knew up front they were just seeds with a common name on them, you'd be getting all sorts of responses. Some folks really don't care, and that's fine. Some of us do, and we'd be pretty rude to expect your seeds to have custom made packaging and instructions for growing. If a seed swap asks that seeds be well-labeled, I guess that's the way they should be. My rule of thumb is to send them the way I'd like to get them. It gives me pleasure to do that. If it didn't, I'd probably do the same as you and keep my seeds to myself. We're all different, and that's what makes us so interesting.
Gourd, part of the reason I like to label my seeds is that it is good research for me. After all, I'm growing the plants in the first place, so I've already researched them, no doubt. Common names would be fine if they weren't so confusing. I grow Dorotheanthus bellidiformis here in Alaska. It is commonly called Livingston Daisy, but here most people call it Ice Plant. However, there is also Aptenia cordifolia which is also called Ice Plant, and it is a perennial in zones 10-11. I'm a zone 3. I've learned to use botanical since I joined DG in 2002 and began trading outside my own area, particularly outside the US where the common names may not mean anything to the recipient. I guess we all need to let people know, up front, what we expect.
I gotta go make dinner, but, I've been giving my seed to gardeners as bulk for their bird habitats.. it seems to work out for us both.
TTYL.
A.
Good idea. I've been using some of my unidentified poppy seeds to sprinkle on my bread loaves... it all works out!
I have been watching this thread for a long time and have to admit I wish it would finally go away. LOL
Part of the reason is that we all think we are guilty and it takes some of the fun out of trading seeds when we are afraid we will offend someone or not measure up.
know I have sent out LOTS of packets with only a common name. But I have gotten most of them that way since day one and I didn't know better. I never knew. No one asked me for more info.
There are also a lot of threads here where newbies or just people reading threads ask for seeds for a SASBE or just have a packet sent to them at no charge. That is great, I do that a lot. I love paying it forward. BUT, in that case, you only get a common name. I am here for further info if you need it. I do a lot of one on one swaps, too, but again mostly name only. Again, I am here for more info.
I think going forward, that it should be up to the person running the swap to set up the ground rules for that swap. That way we participate if we want to follow the rules. No one is disappointed.
The last thing we want to do is disappoint each other, so set the expectation up front and we will all live happily ever after. LOL
I love all you guys. cyndie
Gourd, thank you for your response, that is what this thread is all about and I respect what you are saying. If I am doing a one on one trade I usually know what I am getting so just a common name is fine with me. The person has given the info for it and I have researched it so all is well there.
If I am in a swap, I send in my seeds with as much info as I can write on a label, mostly because I want the person that gets it to know exactly what I know about it rare or not. If it is a Daisy and I know the color at least then they will too.
I'm not saying 'Gourd, you have to put all the info on it or you cannot trade with anyone.' I'm just saying it is a nice gesture to put a little extra on the packs if you are swapping with others.
You certainly don't have to put anything on your packs at all, not even a common name, that is up to you.
By the way, I do send out lots of free seed. From small packets to bulk and I send it without asking for anything, not even postage or an sasbe. I do take the time and put info on the seed packages unless it is something that is very common and the person already knows what they are getting. But swaps are different.
The swaps are for fun and comradery. We make friends, play around and swap some seeds. Nice clean fun, If it is serious trading you want to do then the swaps aren't for you. Too bad.
Like Weez, I do research on all the seeds I get and I try to pass on what I know. It may help the next person who can't do the research, someone who may not have full access to the web. Someone whose are are not as good.
It is a personal accomplishment for me.
Sorry Weez, I forgot to tell you that those do look like the seeds I got. They are a beautiful plant. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us. It makes us very happy.
I think I will be afraid to participate in any seed swaps in the future.
Ah, heavens to Betsy, it's just a matter of trying to makes sure there's good info going out with your seed. It's really not a big deal, if you just think about it a little and plan a bit. DG has a whole collection of seed envelops you can print out and some of them already have the info blanks printed on them. They've been created by some our very talented friends on here for us to use and they are beautiful. A printer, scissors, glue stick and a pen. How hard is that?
I work off my laptop, and do not have a printer.. you do what you gotta do, and I'll do what I gotta do.
Very good ideas if you have the urge and the time, which I do Not.
You just need to see all aspects from everyone.
A.
I do not see the problem at all -- Swaps seem to be very clear on what is expected from the participants on the very first post, so people who don't want to go through the work of it all, and can't be bothered putting the Latin name and a color and height on their seed packs don't join the swaps where those items are required.
It's not like those people aren't ALLOWED in the swap in a discriminatory selection process, because it is their CHOICE.
Suzy
Yep, Suzy. Just trying to make it less confusing for the newbies.
It wasn't a question to who and who was not allowed... It was my response as I see it. Just reading all of the rules, discourages me..lol. it just got too complicated. And, I just wanted to point this out because I'm not the only one that feels this way.
I hope you see this comment as a constructive contribution to this thread. It is not an attack. Please don't take it that way.
A.
Gourd, I do understand what you are saying and I guess some do want more than others. I kind of look upon this as teaching others about the different plants and trying to encourage them to be more alert and pass on their knowledge to others. Kind of like being a good neighbor sort of thing.
If I have seeds that I winter sowed and I am passing them on because they bloomed and were prolific, I want those who receive them to know how I did it to get the great results I did.
By all means if you only want to put a common name on your seeds, do so, that is entirely up to you. Please understand that we are just trying to better ourselves and hopefully someone else will want the same thing.
I started this thread becuase of my frustration of getting seeds with no clue to what they were and I wanted others to know it wasn't fair to me. I am not talking about bagged seeds that just say something like 4 O'clocks, for heavens sake everyone knows those, I am talking about a bag with a picture on it and I am supposed to figure out what is is. Another is Daisy, fine I can kind of get a picture of what it is, but it would be so nice to know if it is a Painted or an African or what. I really don't mind getting ones that say African Daisy pink. At least I know where in my garden to put it. I won't be putting something pink on my Blue garden then.
Do you see where I am coming from? Daves teaches all of us and I just think it is a nice thing to do for myself and others.
Hi, I was reading this thread and think like you do about the pack of seeds you get. So I made labels( Avery 08162) like follows:
Seed Type:
Seed Name:
Latin Name:
Type: Zone: Year:
Sow: Color: Height:
DG Name:
Is that complete for you, or is there anything you can add?
Thanks for the thread (being a newbie myself)
There are some spaces in between type, zone, year, sow, color, and height and don't seem to show when sent.
This message was edited Jan 24, 2008 11:21 PM
Those are all good, I like it. I also include somewhere on the pack if I can if it was a trade from someone. But most of the time I just tell whoever I am trading with if I grew it or it's a trade.
At least with half that info you have a good way to look it up in Plant Files and find what they look like.
Good job.
Thanks. The labels are already printed.
I need to learn how to do that. Computer challenged here. lol This is a Mac and I haven't quite figured out how to do some things yet.
Smegtone, Great job! I'd be happy to trade for your seeds or receive them in a swap.
As an aside, I got some seeds in a trade last year where the labels had been made & printed by a computer, probably 48 to a page and the person just circled all the information....so the words annual, perennial and biennial were all there, she just circled the appropriate one. The zones might have looked like this :
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 and she'd circle the range. Then there were lines for the Latin name, but all in all, I though it was pretty clever.
Suzy
Sorry, I am very good with a pc but do not know anything about mac. If you have ms word, you type or copy what I sent in the earlier thread, you higlite what is in your page, chose copy, then go to Tools, choose Letters and Mailing, then Envelopes and Labels, click on the Label, from options on the right, you choose the right label for you, and paste what you have typed in, and print. Voila , done. It could be any other word processor that is label ready.It prints the whole page or just one label, your choice. André
I like that idea too. Time to hire my daughter to fix me up with a label program.
Macs don't use windows. Besides that what I sent her to college for, she is a graphic designer. She owes me something. Right? Right! haha
You betcha! She *owes* yo ubigtime! Tell her to draw or find a graphic of a little Robin in a nest, too. LOL! Make that girl show her stuff!
Suzy
LOL!! If she ever gets home from work on time.
Hi Suzy, That is a good idea also, and depends on how many labels in the 8 1/2 x 11. Mine has 14 labels and can't write too much information.
The labels are 4" x 1 1/3 " André
This message was edited Jan 25, 2008 12:38 AM
That's a wonderful idea, Smegtone..clever one that you are :)
I should also have added that she must have used 7 point text because you can hardly read it, it's so small. LOL! Buy by golly that info is all there!
Oh, and they were not labels, they were sheets of paper cut to size and stuck inside those little plastic craft ziploc baggies.
Suzy
Thanks, not that clever just a user like everybody. I have been around computers for a long time. My first little pc was a Sinclair, I have done so much since then. I also sold and repaired them. So, I used lots of softwares and games.