Please remember that you must list a minimum of 50 named varieties, traded seeds are not allowed.

A listing like the examples below do not count as a
named variety.

1. Larkspur pink
2. Nigella pink
3. Coreopsis

It would need to be listed like below to count as a named variety.

Larkspur Qis pink
Nigella Mulberry rose
Coreopsis Jethro Tull

This does not mean that you should name it yourself. This should be a purchased and/or traded known named variety that you grew out and collected seeds from. Yes, seeds can cross but a named variety is required.

I would also like to address seed counts because there have been a few concerns brought to my attention.

Seed counts, they can be tricky.

There are some seeds that are large/rare/expensive or the plant just doesn't produce many viable seeds. These types of seeds are normally offered at lower seed counts.

An example of an expensive/rare and larger seed would be the variegated foliage cotton plant that several swappers are now offering. I originally paid $20 for 10 seeds of this plant. I offered a few seeds here. This would be one where it would be acceptable to offer a lower seed count. They are not only unusual to come by but very expensive to purchase and require a lot of effort for someone in a cold zone to collect any seed from.

Large seeds are usually offered at 10/12 seeds.

The norm for the more common/collected seeds is 25/25+. There are many who offer a lot more! For me, it depends on what I have been able to collect but I aim for at least 25 seeds because not all seeds germinate!

When commercial seeds are offered, they are usually offered with a lower seed count because you don't have a lot to share. There are many seed packs that don't even come with 25 seeds. I have offered as little as 5 seeds of a perennial geranium or morning glory because my commercial packet only came with 10 seeds to begin with. This is acceptable.

There should not be anything listed with 5/10 seeds of a common/collected variety unless it's one of those stingy plants!

There should not be offers of 5 seeds of commons with multiple packs. This should be listed as 1 pack of 15 seeds.

We're all garden friends here and should try to be as generous as we can and share with each other

I have been, and will continue to adjust seed quantities when I open the seed packets and find out how many are there. I started low - no one will be disappointed that way. (If that bonus pack of Red Merlot Lettuce doesn't have more than 10 seeds to offer, I'll withdraw the offer and plant them all myself!😉)
Those with less swap experience will soon find that offering too few seeds per pack is a good way to get stuck with them.

@DraDiana please don't take it personal. I didn't even see that listing! I'm not a vegetable grower so 10 seeds of lettuce would go unnoticed by me.

I scanned everyone so itemsjust came up and names were not noticed yet because I didn't look at individual players yet.

For the New to trading on this site.

I should have added that if you want an idea of average offerings you can search all lists for say Zinnia seeds to get an idea of what others are offering so you can decide how to list your goodies!!

I'm sorry-In just about every trade group I'm in, 10 seed trades for tomatoes and peppers is the norm. If its small seeds like lettuce or kale, I try to do about 1/4 tsp. Are you saying that my 10 seed tomato and pepper trades are incorrect just because they are self harvested?

My tomatoes are all around 10 seeds too. Most people don't need more than 10 of the same tomato seeds. On the other hand, 10 seeds of something like Sweet Alyssum would be inadequate to most people.

Most of us are vets at this, but I agree with you, @ishareflowers, about offering 3 packs of 5 seeds being not appropriate. Being as generous as we can is a good rule of thumb.

Regarding tomatoes and peppers, I generally offer 10, or less if I don't have 10. Now, in my personal stash, I have MANY named tomato varieties, and of course will pick up more in the swap. My property is less than a third acre, I wouldn't want more than 10 seeds, and if only 3 sprouted, that would be fine.

@DraDiana, Merlot lettuce is a premium variety - I am eating from my plants now. I say go ahead and offer it even if the seed count is low. Someone out there will want it!

@feebean , Like I said to draDiana, I'm not a vegetable grower.

I do know that 10 tomato seeds is acceptable. I had asked @janinilulu what was fair many years ago.

I'm sure there are many ""special" vegetable/herbs that could be offered and have less than 10 like flowers and be totally acceptable.

I should have excluded vegetables from this post.😊

I want everyone who joins in in the Mile High to be happy and when I receive a complaint, it's addressed.

Lisa, no personal offense taken - that's why I put "😉" on my post.

kywheeler, I really will keep and grow at least 10 Red Merlot Lettuce seeds for myself. I sure hope that bonus pack is generous!

No one likely questioned the following entry, but it's a good example of something where a small quantity is okay:
There's only 8 seedless watermelon seeds because
1. I had to eat 7 watermelons to collect them, and
2. The last time I bought seedless watermelon seed there was only 9 seeds in the commercial pack!

Best of luck to anyone who is struggling a bit to make that 50 seed minimum. Now is the time I can usually talk the feed stores and others into discount seeds. I'm still waiting for the local healthfood store to mark their "Botanical Interests" seeds 1/2 off. You might be able to glean seeds from friends' gardens too, if they can tell you what their plants are.
Don't be shy. It good advertisement for this garden site. (I tried to beg some free seeds off Rvrgrl a couple of years ago, and gained a local NGA member and swapper instead. )

ishareflowers said: Please remember that you must list a minimum of 50 named varieties, traded seeds are not allowed.

A listing like the examples below do not count as a
named variety.

1. Larkspur pink
2. Nigella pink
3. Coreopsis

It would need to be listed like below to count as a named variety.

Larkspur Qis pink
Nigella Mulberry rose
Coreopsis Jethro Tull

This does not mean that you should name it yourself. This should be a purchased and/or traded known named variety that you grew out and collected seeds from. Yes, seeds can cross but a named variety is required.

I would also like to address seed counts because there have been a few concerns brought to my attention.

Seed counts, they can be tricky.

There are some seeds that are large/rare/expensive or the plant just doesn't produce many viable seeds. These types of seeds are normally offered at lower seed counts.

An example of an expensive/rare and larger seed would be the variegated foliage cotton plant that several swappers are now offering. I originally paid $20 for 10 seeds of this plant. I offered a few seeds here. This would be one where it would be acceptable to offer a lower seed count. They are not only unusual to come by but very expensive to purchase and require a lot of effort for someone in a cold zone to collect any seed from.

Large seeds are usually offered at 10/12 seeds.

The norm for the more common/collected seeds is 25/25+. There are many who offer a lot more! For me, it depends on what I have been able to collect but I aim for at least 25 seeds because not all seeds germinate!

When commercial seeds are offered, they are usually offered with a lower seed count because you don't have a lot to share. There are many seed packs that don't even come with 25 seeds. I have offered as little as 5 seeds of a perennial geranium or morning glory because my commercial packet only came with 10 seeds to begin with. This is acceptable.

There should not be anything listed with 5/10 seeds of a common/collected variety unless it's one of those stingy plants!

There should not be offers of 5 seeds of commons with multiple packs. This should be listed as 1 pack of 15 seeds.

We're all garden friends here and should try to be as generous as we can and share with each other

I know I'm guilty here. I will run through my lists again and adjust.

What about trees and bushes? Do people really want 10+ tree seeds?

And is 10 a reasonable limit on vines? And cacti?

Jeana,
I think 10 is okay. Last year I dibbed on an offer of 3 peach seeds (all 3 germinated). I only listed 7 pawpaw seeds. They are huge. This swap is actually for flowers, vegetables and herbs. I listed pawpaws and persimmons, but didn't count them towards my 50 varieties.
Cacti and vines count as flowers in my book. For those, let the size and or rarity of the seeds/plants be your guide. I put in 30 Biznaga prolifera seeds per packet because it is a small cactus that produces tons of seeds. I could do more, but they are tedious to harvest and clean. 10 saguaro seeds should be enough if the germination is good. Who has room for more?

I have only 5 seeds for a canna lily because I only have a few more than that and want to plant a few myself. Should I take it off? It doesn't have to count towards my 50.

Since it is from a named variety, you only have enough for one offer, 2 people have wishlisted it and poisondartfrog has offers of 8 seeds and 6 seeds, I would add one more seed to your packet for a total of 6 and leave it in the swap.
BTW, I am NOT wishlisting ANY cannas - never have and never plan to, so that's totally unbiased advice!

ishareflowers Thank you for the helpful tips on seed listing. I redid several of mine.

Any number of Canna seeds gets my attention.

Black Walnuts in their husks are almost the size of baseballs, which is why I list them in 3's, but unless you are starting an orchard from seed, I would think 5-10 seeds would be adequate.

poisondartfrog said: Any number of Canna seeds gets my attention.

The thing with canna seeds is they aren't true to pollen parents. I have quite a few of mixed varieties if you want, I'll add them just for you.

Thank you! I don't grow them out looking for specific cultivars. They are easy to grow from seed, make a statement in the garden right away, entice hummingbirds and if I find a particular specimen particularly to my tastes, I protect it so that I have it for the next year too. They never disappoint me.

for the , Mary Jo.

poisondartfrog said: Thank you! I don't grow them out looking for specific cultivars. They are easy to grow from seed, make a statement in the garden right away, entice hummingbirds and if I find a particular specimen particularly to my tastes, I protect it so that I have it for the next year too. They never disappoint me.

I'll get some packets listed