China has shipped thousands of unmarked seeds to cities across the US. The department of agriculture is urging people not to plant the seeds. I feel like we should have a warning on the home page or something about this since many new enthusiastic gardeners will see seeds and get to planting. Here are some news links from various states.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=...

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I want to know what they are! To grow some out in a controlled environment and identify and see what the deal is, it is so bizarre! (So far, China has not sent any seeds to me.) Has anyone grown some to discover their nature? Or are the warnings all just because "weird unknown seeds from China"?

Don't grow some to discover their nature. Curiosity should not overcome basic precautions. Leave the discovering to the experts who are no doubt growing them under controlled conditions.

kylaluaz said:I want to know what they are! To grow some out in a controlled environment and identify and see what the deal is, it is so bizarre! (So far, China has not sent any seeds to me.) Has anyone grown some to discover their nature? Or are the warnings all just because "weird unknown seeds from China"?

I read something recently that said you shouldn't even handle the seeds barehanded. I find it rather suspicious that China would ship numerous packages of unidentified seeds to people in the U.S. (or any other country) labeled Contents: Jewelry.

DITTO to what Baja just said! From the US Dept. of Agriculture page: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aph.... USDA urges anyone who receives an unsolicited package of seeds to immediately contact their State plant regulatory official or APHIS State plant health director.

These packets have appeared in peoples' mailboxes in all fifty states. The CIA and the FBI are looking into it right now, so if any of you get a random seed packet in your mailbox, I'd suggest not touching it until either the CIA or the FBI say it's ok.

Never mind, Lin beat me to it

In our current state of constant fear and suspicion, I refuse to be afraid of seeds. There is just a limit to my acceptance of paranoia. That said, I haven't received any seeds, not really sure what I would do if I did.

This is why a huge warning should be posted because some people will plant them. I guarantee someone somewhere is germinating some this very second. Some people will plant them just to curve their curiosity and others may plant them thinking they where a gift or something they ordered. Either way we should do all we can to warn folks and hope they listen.

Bonehead said:In our current state of constant fear and suspicion, I refuse to be afraid of seeds. There is just a limit to my acceptance of paranoia. That said, I haven't received any seeds, not really sure what I would do if I did.

My suggestion to not open the package has nothing to do with fear. Fear is irrational. If you educate yourself about this situation (which would be my best advice before deciding what to do) you will find out that not sowing those seeds actually has to do with reasonable suspicion. I prefer to allow my actions to be dictated by reason whenever possible.

Well, I suck at growing anything from seed even if I wanted to, so this is just not on my radar. I'm also weary of China-shaming. For what its worth, I know of no one who has received unsolicited seeds and my circle of friends/family includes a lot of gardeners. It seems that IF this is a real thing, the 'experts' would have grown them by now and have better information on what they might be. Or...is this just yet another distraction?

Baja_Costero said:

My suggestion to not open the package has nothing to do with fear. Fear is irrational. If you educate yourself about this situation (which would be my best advice before deciding what to do) you will find out that not sowing those seeds actually has to do with reasonable suspicion. I prefer to allow my actions to be dictated by reason whenever possible.

I definitely agree, Baja. Just because a pandemic is going on, doesn't mean I will go into a grizzly bear cave because I don't want to be ruled by fear. So many people would be dying if it weren't for fear. Fear of dying is what keeps us away from cliff ledges, jumping out of a plane without a parachute, or anything else that is/could be fatal.

Bonehead said:Well, I suck at growing anything from seed even if I wanted to, so this is just not on my radar. I'm also weary of China-shaming. For what its worth, I know of no one who has received unsolicited seeds and my circle of friends/family includes a lot of gardeners. It seems that IF this is a real thing, the 'experts' would have grown them by now and have better information on what they might be. Or...is this just yet another distraction?

No one here is "China shaming"! The seeds apparently came from China, these are the facts. And it's not IF this is a real thing, as Lin posted, this is the official government link with their statement:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aph...
And it's dated the 28th, seeds take time to grow.

Fairly uninformative article: 'suspicious' seeds that 'appear' to come from China with 'no evidence' that it is not simply a 'brushing scam'. Not particularly fact based. I do apologize for implying that folks on this site were China-shaming - I meant that in a much more general way, and acknowledge that I may be a bit skewed against that as my nephew and his family live in China. I will continue to look at this as a non-issue. Bowing out.

Cognitive biases can harm or kill people

Regardless of who or where they come from and regardless of whether or not you trust your government agencies, if one source is seed-bombing in a suspicious way, there should be a warning. And, NGA is the one to do it.
David

Unbridled paranoia. I hope I get some of these mystery seeds, I will immediately plant them.

Hiss, boo!

plantladylin said:
I read something recently that said you shouldn't even handle the seeds barehanded. I find it rather suspicious that China would ship numerous packages of unidentified seeds to people in the U.S. (or any other country) labeled Contents: Jewelry.

Yes, no worries, have not received any of said seeds and would not grow them out myself, y'all! But I am curious. Also I read that China is asking the US to send the seeds back as they want to investigate, and the suspicion is that this is some kind of scam to get addresses who "received" jewelry but "did not pay" to try to extort funds somehow? So it is not *China* the nation who sent them, but individuals in China... seems like.

Anyway, nevermind, there are far bigger juicier mysteries afoot these days!