Cottage Garden Seed Swap & Chat #16

Yes Dec. sounds good for me, I may be done with mine by then lol I would love to save some seeds to the side for Suzy, sounds good to me :)

I put your name on my list Star for the petunias :)

Tcs. Would ya mind emailing her and asking if it ok if we use her post set-up and also asks does she mind if we start a winter one, so thos eof us in southern states can winter sow. You all are wintersowing when we got stu ff poppin gup. The seeds that I got that need a good winter chill the best I cna giv ethem without snow and real deep cold, I have had to save to start this fall, cuz it was too hot to early down here.

Suzy did such a great job and while I woudl like to get seed for the winter, don't want to step on her toes if she woudl prefer we just wait til she gets back at the beginning of the year.

Star -- i already did.

I'm sure she wont mind... but if and when she replies... i'll post it.

Terese

Star, the Nov/Dec seed swap you're thinking of would also be great for involving folks in the Gus and Ike areas, too. I can think of a couple of newbies off hand I'd also like to see join us - want2bee (spelling?) and singing wolf - this is such a great opportunity to keep this swap going with *virgin swappers* (Ansonfan was such a good sport about that moniker - wonder how he's been doing this past summer?)...wonder if we could shanghai Critter into participating in the coming fall/winter swaps?

It's not just aquiring the seeds, to me...I learned a lot about seeds from Suzy and others...and the comaraderie (spelling?) was so much fun.

Star, I am petunia-less. My petunia spot went to Convolvulus sabatius, but no seeds grrr.

Star, if the academically gifted and non-at-risk folks had your emotional IQ, the world would be an infinitely kinder and humane place to be.

It would be great if Suzy could pop in from time to time and kibbitz with us.

I thought Suzy's membership lapsed ... though i could be mistaken.

next time i get an email... I'll let her know how much she's missed, and that you'd love her to kabbitz.

shanghai Critter? LOL My seed collecting has been a bit patchy this year so far... If I can get a few packed up by Dec. , I'll send them along to share, but otherwise I'm more likely to be organized by the January time frame.

I've been missing seeds on a lot of my plants due to being out of town and/or just not checking at the right time... petunias are coming up pretty much as a zero so far, and despite all the blooms I'm not getting many seeds from my Chocolate Daisy (Berlandiera lyrata). I did notice today though that I may have some ornamental peppers to share if we don't get an early frost ('Black Pearl' and 'Pretty Purple Pepper').

Last year, the late fall swap was for fresh seeds I think and then the winter "piggy" swap was an anything goes affair (leftovers, older seeds, etc.)... am I remembering that correctly? I didn't actually participate in the piggy swap because I had so many seeds already from the first swap, but I joined in the kibbitzing anyway. :-)

Looks like the next round of piggy swaps is going to be THE place for kibbitzers to hang out - I may join the Kibbitzer Chorus, too...I do have some seeds to send in, though. Perhaps there could be an earlier, Nov/Dec swap for fresh seed and early birds, followed by a later, Jan/Feb swap for anything goes (that could germinate) and delayed birds? It'll be easier for me to get organized for the later one, too.

Hi Folks,

I would love to participate in any next swap. But hosting would be difficult, I'm afraid, being on the other side of the big pond........

I have loads of fresh, and a little less fresh seeds available for whoever of you wants them.

Petunia's too, by the way!

I am game whenever-I did like the anything goes rule type:) And I agree, it wasn't just about the seeds for me either, but also about the sharing of info, having a place to ask dumb questions and the friendship:)

Ok, I found again Suzy's orginal post. Here it is. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/801335/ Ya all know I the worstest typiest, so does somebody wanna go through and edit it to fit us and then dmail it to me

Tuink. She had posted somethign about some slip in their for those across the seas's what was she talking about. How did you get your box? I know we have even more overseas people on forums now and need to make sure thinsg go smooth for them.

Bluespiral I would make it open to anybody. I know there alot of folks that had damage, but not real serious and think they not taking advantage of the Ike Gustuv because they either shy or want to make sure that those folks really in need have that thread open.

I didn't know Suzy had a fall and a spring one too. Only one I knew about what was her second chance one. Anybody got a link to her fall one so I could look at it?

I don't have a lot of fresh gathered, the extra extreme heat and the worst drought in history did most flowers in, most of what I have is commercial bought and som eleft over from trades where not all the seeds were sowed and some older what I call rares or maybe hard to find that I had bought and just never got aroudn to sowing last year.

For real. Even with as much as I sprout, I learned about so many ne wplants and ways of doing things and how to sprout and grow things I had been afraid of trying.

Made lots of new friends and that was the bestest part. : )

Starlight,

People in the European Union are allowed to import seeds for private use. So SENDING seed to them is not difficult. You can drop your boxes at the post office, fill in some little green form stating that the package contains "Seeds for gift" and that's it. It's RECEIVING seeds from overseas that can be tricky. Most certainly if the seeds enter the USA via Chicago. You will find a list of what seeds can and cannot be imported into the USA here: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/nursery_stock.pdf
It may be best if you got yourself a permit from Aphis, it's free as far as I know but it may take some time.

Me myself, I always slip the seeds in by using a company envelope and wrapping them in a lot of bubbly plastic. This way they think your sending a T-shirt or something like that.

For some countries if you don't list out the botanical names of the seeds they will never make it:( I have traded lots overseas and Australia is a stickl;er-when I fill out the form all the way it usually only take about a week to get to the person:)

Star, I'll help ya fix up the initial post for the swap - and locate both of the major ones we did while I'm at it. Would it be okay to wait for me until Wednesday night?

Karen

I've got seeds to send to Australia and I hate those little green forms they don't have enough room to put the botanical names esp. if you have several seeds, plus I can't write that small, now blue wouldn't have any problem with writing that small at all lol

I'm game for "what ever"

I do have a lot of [or will have] fresh seed from this year.
I have some left over seeds from last year, and some seed that i was sent that I'll never use, like Rose of Sharon, and a few other stuff.

most of my fresh 'stuff' is listed in my HAVES list

I do not believe i have any big projects that will keep me from getting "sorted" and baggied up by late Nov/ Early Dec.

but once the Piggy thread is up and running, i'll post what i have to offer.

as for sending over the pond -- i've never had a problem. The only problem i had was seeds coming to me from Canada. They were confiscated.... huge thread on it in the Trading forum.

Tuink -- did your seeds get to Suzy OK last year? I bet they came thru Chicago, with Indy being so close.

Terese

Thanks Karen.. Whenever ya get a chance is fine. I at school on tuesdays and thursday all day long so don't get on here usually til late.

I hope Suzy doesn't think we were asking about her just because of the swap. I just miss her and of course her "kibitzing." I have learned so much from all of you and Suzy is right at the top of the list.

I don't really need much this year except maybe a few annuals, but I will of course be happy to share anything I still have (see above dog related incident). I'm still collecting from a few plants and I've got quite a bit left over from last year's piggy swap to throw into the ring as well.

I don't know what that word means. Never heard it before. Since the piggy Swap and Piggy Queen is the pet name for our Suzy maybe we cna call this one the kibitizing fling or something that if it a good cool word. Couln't find it in my dictionary.

kibbitz

From Yiddish, from Hebrew קבץ, influenced by German kiebitzen.

To chat; to gossip; to make small talk or idle chatter.

That pretty well sums us up don't you think Star?

L_J ,,, Oh, i dont think Suzy would think that at all.

I told her we all miss her and wish she'd pop in to Kibbitz with us.

Lea-try printing it out and taping it to it:) I can't write that small either:)

I sent seeds to Australia and on the outside of the envelope I just wrote "seeds". Didn't have a problem.

Guess it depends on the person that handles it, what day of the week it is, what he had for breakfast, and . . . . . . . .

Jeanette

Hi everyone, I don't know if I'll be ready for the first swap. I will send in any seeds I promise anyone. I just don't know if I'll need many seeds for next year. I may have to move : ( I'll know better by the time we do a Jan. swap. I don't need seeds any sooner than that for winter sowing here. Me and the family had a very nice day today. We went to a farm down the road that gives free hay rides out to the pumpkin patch and then you can pick one out. It was a beautiful day for it, it was sunny and about 75F and all the leaves are turning colors. They also had some small animals like goats, sheep, rabbits and different birds. The kids really seemed to like it. : )

Everyone . . .. THIS IS IMPORTANT! (well, maybe just to me . . . . ^_^ ) I have successfully grow two corkscrew vines which look just as lovely and smell even better!

Here is the Plant file: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1884/

Anyway, I have several long, fat, but still-green seed pods (look like long green beans). I need about 2 -3 weeks of above normal termperatures to ensure that the seeds are mature and viable.

Commerically, these seeds cost like prescription medicine! Five seeds for five dollars! BUT, if we are very lucky, the seeds will mature and I will have lots (a relative term, mind you!) to share with those piggy swappers who might like to try these. (And you should . . . these are amazing). You can't winter-sow them; they have to be started inside - but they are really worth it.

So please, please cross your fingers (and toes) that these seeds get a chance to mature.

Thanks,

Seandor

I AM A CROSSIN!!!!

Crossing here too! I know those things are like gold Michaela.

Oh, congrats! I lost my plant last winter, but I never got blooms early enough for seeds to form. I do have a few seeds left, but no plants to show for the ones I started last spring because that darn mouse ATE the seedlings. They are really spectacular blooms and well worth any trouble to grow!

Meredith, where are you thinking of moving to & why? I think I've missed something...

Seandor, Keeping my fingers crossed for you so you get those seeds and so I get to see a few more glads bloom too. lol
Critter you didn't miss anything, I just kinda threw that out there. I don't want to move, but I may have to, the economy among other things might force us too : ( I am afraid if I go any farther it will be waaay off topic so I am going to stop there. : )
I am trying to keep my plans for the garden to a minimum just in case.

Yes, I can just see you trying to load up 237 winter sowing container on top of the boxes in the moving van... well, if you decide to post more about your plans & possibilities somewhere, please give us a link here!

ROTFL, that is exactly what I'm trying to avoid! : ) It's bad enough I'm going to want to try to dig at least one of everything I have growing here! Especially all the new stuff that I haven't even seen bloom yet. : (
Even worse if it happens before spring and I'm out there trying to dig in frozen ground! Imagine that - I know I wouldn't be the first one. : )

Oh Seandor. That is important news and not just for you. Congrats on not only getting yoru plant grown, but to get it to make seed too.

I sure hope the weather holds off ya. Got figners toes and legs all crossed.

Meridith. Sure hope ya don't have too, moving no fun. but if ya have too, sure we could post threads and see who up your way to help ya move everything.

Good luck Seandor, got my fingers crossed for ya :)

Meredith, I sure hope you don't have to move if you don't want to, if you do I'm sure we'll all have some extra seedlings for next year, I don't plan on growing a lot this year but you know how that goes LOL I'll share what I can :) All you have to do is let me know where you are :) Good luck Meredith, we all need luck in this day and age, it's pretty scary out there!

Thanks for all the finger and toe x-ing. I will try to keep you informed on the seed progress ^_^

Seander, where do you have your plant? Is it out side? How do you keep it from freezing? Just a heavy mulch?

Jeanette

Seandor, you are so lucky! I direct sowed ours and it is growing but hasn't even produced a bloom yet. I never thought of starting the seeds indoors first. My fingers are crossed for you too!

I started the seeds inside in February. I have heat mats and lights. The seeds came from South Africa! I received 20, most of them I shared with others.

I understand that the vine creates a tuber, so I will dig it up and see if I can keep them (2) over the winter. Apparently, I should have taken cuttings in July and made lots of copies - who knew?

There is no hope the vine will survive the winter here - hence my anxiety regarding the seeds.

You might try potting one up and keeping it in a sunny window over the winter... I did that with mine and it struggled but survived for a couple of years. The year I tried storing it as a dormant rhizome -- no good. :-( YMMV!

Wonder why the tubers wouldn't work like dahlias? Or were they not tough like a dahlia? One of my Ornamental Sweet Potatoes had a couple small tubers and they were very thin skinned looking baby- potato like tubers.

Interesting tho. I wonder about cuttings. I have finally learned this year that if you want young plants for the following year, to take the cuttings early when the plants are in the mood to grow.

Otherwise, they are terribly hard to start.

Jeanette