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Post by paquebot on Feb 8, 2019 20:01:57 GMT -5
For mailing small seeds, I use 5" x 7½" manila envelopes. Expensive to buy just a few but I get a box of 500. Cut a magazine down to about ¼" smaller and then use 2 pages. To keep the packets from sliding around and piling into one corner, each packet is taped to the packing.
When I was sharing a lot of beans, used #000 bubble envelopes. Again, not cheap except when buying case of 500. Postage got to be too much so I stopped that when I still had 300 or so. Donated most them to Jung's.
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
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Post by september on Feb 8, 2019 23:33:57 GMT -5
Mine came through just fine. I think for just a few packs of small light weight seeds like tomatoes or peppers, the paper towel padding works well.
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Feb 9, 2019 0:19:09 GMT -5
september, Thanks! I was hoping it would work. Everything is so darned automated these days that humans hardly touch them.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Feb 9, 2019 13:23:37 GMT -5
The paper towel method seems to work for a few packs of smaller seeds like tomatoes.
But the bottom of the envelope is where it rolls through the mailing machinery and seeds that sit at the bottom of the envelope can get crushed. I have seen even small seeds get crushed this way, especially if they are round, like brassicas. So I fold up a piece of paper to fit in the envelope and tape*** the seed baggies to the edge of the paper that will be at the top of the envelope. That way the seed packets stay clear of the rollers. Then I fold a paper towel around the paper with the seeds for a little extra padding. It seems to work.
But large, thick or round seeds like beans, peas, or okra need to be sent in a bubble envelope or a box.
***Two notes about taping seed baggies: (1) tape WILL remove any writing from the outside of the baggie, so keep the tape clear of any writing. (2) Painter's tape peels off either paper or plastic seed baggies without tearing or stretching the baggies, and doesn't leave a sticky residue on plastic baggies.
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Post by brownrexx on Feb 9, 2019 15:53:42 GMT -5
I usually ask the clerk at the post office to hand stamp my envelope and that causes it to avoid the machinery with the rollers. I even mailed some beans in a thin bubble envelope this way and they arrived fine
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Post by daylilydude on Feb 9, 2019 20:33:15 GMT -5
Looks like it worked to me, the seeds you sent me aren't crushed at all... thanks again for the seeds hairymooseknuckles,
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Post by bestofour on Feb 9, 2019 21:46:57 GMT -5
ditto what daylilydude said.
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Post by paquebot on Feb 9, 2019 22:26:14 GMT -5
Just filled a request for 12 tomato varieties. Used a 6" x 9" envelope for those. same double magazine paper with the packets taped in 3 rows of 4. Feels perfectly flat. Packets can't slip around and bulge anywhere. Packet of bottle onion seeds went out in a 5" x 7" and taped right in the center. I think that DLD is the only one here who has received seeds from me and know how I do it. Until this year, I also used my own postmark but too hard to set the date with my ailing eyes.
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
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Post by coppice on Feb 10, 2019 16:19:19 GMT -5
Seeds arrived in good condition. and flew under USPS fee-surcharge radar. They have just popped last night. Tomato races are on.
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Post by pondgardener on Feb 11, 2019 20:05:44 GMT -5
hairymooseknuckles, seeds arrived today in great condition and I will get your package out soon, now that I have your address. Thanks again...
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Post by tamaraann on Feb 14, 2019 15:34:00 GMT -5
I'm new here, but would love to grow this! Is it too late to join in?
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Feb 14, 2019 21:49:25 GMT -5
I'm new here, but would love to grow this! Is it too late to join in? Of course not! Pm me your addy and I'll get some out to you.
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Post by tamaraann on Feb 15, 2019 14:43:07 GMT -5
I'm new here, but would love to grow this! Is it too late to join in? Of course not! Pm me your addy and I'll get some out to you. Just sent it! Thank you so much!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2019 7:24:07 GMT -5
hairymooseknuckles, I can't find anything about Frosty Pink Plum. What can you tell me about it?
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Feb 17, 2019 10:26:23 GMT -5
hairymooseknuckles , I can't find anything about Frosty Pink Plum. What can you tell me about it? I've never been able to find anything about it either. I've been asking in different places over the years. So, here the story. I used to do a lot of trading on Garden Web and various other places. Somehow, I traded into those seeds, put them up and forgot about them. The package is marked Frosty Pink Plum and dated 2006. I think I tried to grow around 2007/2008, but I'm not sure. Normally, I record who I get things from, but occasionally sometimes I get busy and forget. That's what happened in this case. Same thing happened with a purple pepper of mine. Last year, As my wife and I were digging through my cooler of seeds, we found them. I wont bore you with the details, but if your interested, you can go to my diary and read about them.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2019 11:15:22 GMT -5
hairymooseknuckles, hmmm, well, if you've still got a few seeds, I'd be happy to be part of your little experiment....maybe between all of us, we can get a handle on this mystery variety.
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Post by paquebot on Feb 17, 2019 12:18:19 GMT -5
A problem with a lot of "mystery" tomatoes is often that someone doesn't write down the name of a variety and then forgets exactly what it was. It is not a fact that all tomato varieties have been discovered or reported but odd are getting slimmer. Frosty Pink Plum may well exist as a real name which got lost in the trades. Someone possibly forgot the name and wrote down the description as a frosty pink plum. Next person only saw that and Frosty Pink Plum became a name rather than a description. Whatever it is, it's already made the cut for my garden this year.
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Feb 26, 2019 10:34:21 GMT -5
ladymarmalade, paquebot, tamaraann, Ok guys, They are finally in the mail. Martin, I know it took me awhile so please forgive the delay. Good luck everyone!
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Post by tamaraann on Mar 1, 2019 23:23:23 GMT -5
ladymarmalade , paquebot , tamaraann , Ok guys, They are finally in the mail. Martin, I know it took me awhile so please forgive the delay. Good luck everyone! Got my seed today! Thank you so much! Can't wait to see what they are like! :-)
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Mar 1, 2019 23:30:10 GMT -5
tamaraann, You're welcome. I hope they do well for you. I had a lot of fun growing them. I documented them in my diary here last year. By the time I got around to growing them, my seeds were quite old. The plants started off as runts, but once in garden they grew and produced well. They are quite lovely.
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Post by paquebot on Mar 2, 2019 15:07:32 GMT -5
Got mine today. Many thanks. Quickly added them to the 2019 grow outs of new varieties.
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Mar 4, 2019 17:00:12 GMT -5
september , spike , daylilydude , brownrexx , pondgardener , bestofour , Laura_in_FL , paquebot , coppice , tamaraann Hey guys, Have any of you started seeds yet? I will be watching with curiosity. I'm not growing anything, so I'm watching y'all. Please report as they germinate and let me know if they are emerging normally or if they are slow like mine were. I'm almost 100% sure mine were slow due to the age of the seeds, but still it's something to watch. You're seeds are fresh, but If they are slow, don't give up. They rebound quickly once set out.
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Post by pondgardener on Mar 4, 2019 19:55:07 GMT -5
hairymooseknuckles, still at least 3 weeks away here in Colorado. With the exception of a few early tomatoes, I don't start any tomatoes until about 6-7 weeks prior to our last frost date, which is about the middle of May. But I do plan to put a couple of plants that would be visible in the picture of the month, so progress can be monitored on a month by month basis.
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Post by spike on Mar 4, 2019 20:56:38 GMT -5
hairymooseknuckles, Won't be starting my seeds until the beginning of April. Can't actually plant out until June. I promise to keep you posted about my progress!!
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Post by paquebot on Mar 4, 2019 23:12:03 GMT -5
I never worry if some tomato seeds are slow. Not all embryos are the same size so some have to work harder to produce the cotyledons. Doesn't matter if the seeds are fresh or old as long as they grow.
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
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Post by september on Mar 4, 2019 23:21:37 GMT -5
Will be the end of March for me to start most tomato seeds. I may do a few early that are destined for pots or hanging baskets.
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Post by bestofour on Apr 19, 2019 16:32:30 GMT -5
I am having a slow start this year and am not planning on starting my seeds. Does anyone want them? Hate for them to be wasted. I just can't do it right now.
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Post by spike on Apr 19, 2019 21:29:47 GMT -5
Been busy as heck but I will take pictures and post them tomorrow!!
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Apr 19, 2019 21:32:53 GMT -5
I am having a slow start this year and am not planning on starting my seeds. Does anyone want them? Hate for them to be wasted. I just can't do it right now. Keep them. They should be good for at least 10 years. The seeds those seeds came from were 2006 seeds. I figured when I planted them they were iffy, but nearly everyone of them germinated. They did take off slow, but for 12 year old seed, they did well. I didn't even do any special soaking either. Just planted like I always do. so please keep them and try them one of these days.
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Apr 19, 2019 21:38:10 GMT -5
Been busy as heck but I will take pictures and post them tomorrow!! I look forward to it!
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