Cut up my debit card please!

I was unaware that we needed a phytosanitary certificate in order to get seeds. I thought it was only for plants. That is ridiculous. It seems like a big outfit like Chiltern's would have that warning on their website if that was the case.
I'm glad I saw your post, though, before I complete my order from Chileflora. Most of what I would want is sold out anyway, but I did find a few things. Have you ordered from them before? I have not heard that the seeds from them are difficult to germinate, unless they are something that takes a long time in the wild.

Kathy, I have that plant and certainly did not pay that price for it. I bought mine at the Seattle flower and garden show for 12$ last year. I'm trying to remember who had it. It was a larger nursery. May have been Naylor Creek because I remember a lot of hostas. Are you going to the show this year? Looks like it will be the last year for the show. Very sad. It's such a tradition.

Pix, I haven't heard about the PNW Flower and garden show being it's last year, clue me in. Jim

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/947925/

Check out that link, Jim. It was in our Tacoma paper yesterday. The owner is looking for a buyer for this show and for the San Fransisco show. I guess what I'm wondering is, if there is no buyer, won't somebody else start another show? I realize they cannot use his logo, etc, but this is such a tradition, and I'll bet it makes a ton of money for the convention center. I cannot imagine someone else wouldn't start another one.

Pix, I think the problem is they get too greedy and then there's no profit in it for the organizers. that's just my opinion, Jim

With the things the way they are now, alot of places are closing. We are in a recession and it could get worse. How can they make a profit.

Could be part of it, Jim. The article did say that, at 59, the owner wants to focus on spending time with his wife and writing! Sounds like it could be a mid-life adjustment as well. I just hope someone else picks it up or they start some other kind.
So true, Tills.

Hi Pixy most companies fill one out. Some will charge you and some don't. Usually they will send the seeds in a plain envelope and at intervals not to be caught. I have been buying seeds for years and that was the only time it happened.

Well, I agree with Chilterns. It's a stupid law. We have a number of those.

Heidi, I know another vendor who had to scrap part of an order going to Japan. because they said the Arisaema they were shipping weren't packed in the right medium. total loss $6,000. your buddy Dan, I'm sure has a lot of horror stories about shipping plants to the USA, Jim

I know Dan had a few things held at the airport. Kelly from far reaches had problems with arisaema's as well and wasn't going to import them any more. I think they went in with naylor creek. I can see a form for plants since there could be bugs in the soil ect but seeds I don't think so. Heidi

I went to the USDA's site on importing plant parts, etc. and it's just ridiculous! No wonder we pay so many taxes to cover government programs. I wonder how many people got paid to figure out exactly which taxonomic categories should and should not be considered 'dangerous'. etc. Then, true to form, if you click on the link to apply for a permit under the 'small lots' program, it takes you to a warning that only federal government employees are allowed to access the site. To go further you actually have to have a log-in. So much for applying for that program. Even if you could apply, you have to list every species that you plant to import. So if you decide later you see something cool you'd like to try, it's not going to be on your form and you risk them confiscating it. For someone like me, I think I'll just take my chances. Stupidly, I can go down to the local nursery and buy an entire flat of english ivy, which is horribly invasive where I live, and no one will care. But the law tries to prevent me from ordering seeds from another country, even if the plant has no chance of being invasive in my area because I'll have to give it it's own room to get it to grow! It seems to me that the people who are willing to pay the extra time and money to order from another country are the ones who will be the most responsible about making sure that what they are growing is no risk to their own country. Bah! I'd say 'don't get me started', but it's too late. I wonder if Obama would be interested in what I have to say about this use of tax payer resources. Maybe I'll write a letter.

Pix, be careful, you don't want to be on some list as an antagonist. Jim

Jim, I think those days are finally over!! :)

Hi there I tried to fill out the small seed lots and even talked to someone for some help and still couldn't do it. I gave up and thought I have enough cool stuff Ican't have everything. But I can try.

I just hope to stay under the radar. But I didn't bother to place an order with Chileflora. Mostly because I do NOT need more seeds.

So far nothing has sprouted from them. I have cold stratified. some they say don't need smoke and I know they do. We'll see. They might be late to germinate or might be duds. Can't wait to see you. Heidi

Heidi, how do you apply smoke? Jim

Jim, this has great information -

http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/Germination.htm

"Prepare a dilute smoke solution by adding one part commercial smoke flavoring to nine parts water. Either soak the seeds in this solution overnight (or until they swell), or water the pot or flat once with this solution. Smoke flavoring is found in the spice and flavoring or barbecue section of the grocery store . It comes in small brown bottles of liquid, called "liquid smoke" or "hickory seasoning". Look for the "all natural" type that lists only water and natural smoke concentrate as ingredients. "Wright's" is the brand we find out here in California.
Smoke treatment is still experimental, and you may have to try different dilutions. Let us know your results! Another method is to burn a layer of straw or pine needles on top of the flat."

Katie, I have a JL Hudson catalog, I guess I should read it. I missed on the smoke treatment. thanks, Jim

Hmm, well I guess I'm glad I haven't ordered anything then. Looking forward to the 16th!

I have tried the smoke from the grocery store and haven't had very good results. Usually seed hunt sends smoke with plants that need smoke or I get mine out of silverhill seeds or chile flora has smoke soaked vermiculite. Most plants in the protea family or restios need smoke. It will not the heat but a chemical in the smoke. Places like Australia catch fire and that is part of the germination process and South Africa as well.

Ron denos book is also good. I got mine through Hudson.

I've used the liquid smoke and had moderate results but nothing to jump up and down about. On another thread I posted that I'm hanging some seeds in my woodburing stove, out of the way of the flames, so that real smoke can get at them. I have cynara (some moroccan variety the species of which I can't pull up just now) as well as Ferrula communis. I'm going to compare the germination rates of these using the liquid smoke treatment and also the real smoke treatment. The Ferrula has an erratic germination rate anyway so it may be hard to tell. I'm a researcher at heart.

Pix, yes I'm looking forward to the 16th also, Jim

Jim are you coming? If so could you bring the cable? If not thats ok I'll drive down on Vac.

Mary, sure, no problem, just remind me the day before. I have been forgetting things. I'll most likely stick it in my car this week. Jim

I'm very excited to say that I had 100% germination of Rhodocoma gigantea after smoke treatment, sticking them in coffee filters and hanging them in front of the heat vent. Now if they will just survive the transplant to soil. I still have seeds left so I can experiment.

Linda - which smoke treatment did you use?

I thought of this discussion while watching the news about the horrific fires in SE Australia. Some really tragic stuff.

I've got a young friend who is likely helping fight those fires. I worry about him. He lived with us for awhile and attended school, now is a firefighter and paramedic in Sydney. I hope he is doing well.

Linda, that is excellent germination for that species. They are supposed to be a bit difficult. Did you use the liquid smoke?

Thanks Jim,
No worry on that I have been forgetting alot of things lately. See ya next Mon.

Can I relate to this one. I figured if I plant 60 seed types per day I might get through my seed planting by June. We built a 12 x 14 film greenhouse a few months ago and it's already full of bulbs. Not sure how I'm going to get the seeds going -- and as mentioned, once the seeds sprout there's always transplanting.

Mary, what time are we looking at? Jim

Hi Jim, Not today next Monday the 16th. Around 11 Am.

Welcome Lesplantlady.

It sounds like you will fit right in with the seed sowing crowd. Maybe the gals here can give you some suggestions for maximizing green house space; e.g., creative pot/tray stacking techniques. Heh.

What kinds of seeds are you sowing? What kinds of bulbs do you have planted?

Hi Les, welcome.

I wanted to share my new invention, my little GH is full of plants wintering there all are doing fine, so far have lost some. don't want to tell what I lost. I'm so sad to have lost them, my fault I did not bring them in when I should have.
But anyway, I want to start my seeds. I remember when they came out with the mini GH. I am making one ( wish I bought one)
Here's the results
Wire rack for small spaces, Deli cups under the pots so water doesn't drip every where. will hold 20 pots. then cover with clear plastic.
Any ideas to help ????

In the window view.

The very large Binder Clips would work well to hold the plastic covering to the shelving posts.
Think about access - if you don't want to remove the whole thing each time you need to check it. (Open from the front or side-front?)

Thanks Kate, that sounds good. I so wish I bought one of the kits that had the zipper. Lesson learned.

I used the paper smoke wafers from Silver Hill Seeds. I know JL Hudson has it to.
I think restios are hard to germinate but these were a breeze. I have a few more varieties that I just started soaking, we'll see what they do.

AFFORDABLE GREENHOUSES

Here's is a pretty good price for those, Mary:

http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/RTProduct.asp?SKU=GAR-R687&src=froogle&kw=GAR-R687

This is a little more expensive, but bigger

http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/flowerhouse-spring.shtml

And here's a great price on a small greenhouse. I think you can add extensions to this. My SIL has it and likes it a lot!!

http://www.planetnatural.com/site/juliana-basic.html

Welcome to our addiction, Les Plant Lady! Whatcha growing?
I've got the GA-3 from JL Hudson. I've never tried the wafers. Someone posted an excellent link on my smoke germination thread. I'll have to retrieve and post it here.

Tills, that looks like a great idea! My suggestion, though, is to use small square pots. You'd fit a lot more on those racks and have no wasted space.I had to make a plastic cover for my portable outdoor germination station last year and I just used painter's plastic and overlapped it in the front. No muss no fuss and easy access.

I fear I am at the potting up stage for many things and I am already running out of space in the greenhouse. It's those darn brugmansias. They are such royalty.