The fee "cost" is plainly stated in the swap info along with the dates, # of participants, etc. This one is $9.00, reflecting the post office's current rate for a set rate priority padded envelope, if they (USPS) don't raise it again before the swap is over.

Speaking of post office, I read an article that USPS is beginning another slowdown Oct 1 and will be raising prices again later in the year. So just be advised, it may take longer to get the swap finished.

okieheart said:Speaking of post office, I read an article that USPS is beginning another slowdown Oct 1 and will be raising prices again later in the year. So just be advised, it may take longer to get the swap finished.

This is one (of several) of the reasons I had to make the difficult decision that I just tree-mailed everyone about today. Last year's USPS delays made the mailing/receiving part of the swap miserable for most folks and we're setting up to see a repeat of that again this year. (I'm going to guess it will be even worse this year, actually.) I'm hoping that, after the holidays, we'll see shipping speeds pick up again.

I'm noticing a lack of cacti/succulent and tree seeds and wonder, why there are so many flowery and cabbagey bits around? Also not a lot of indoor/exotic/tropical plants in general, which is quite sad. Searched through the whole 60 pages of swaplist and found only three items that would remotely be of interest.
Am I too specific in my search or are others too focused on green leafy
edible things?

@dewayx
I usually put in a few things like that, but due to a badly smashed finger last February my yearly "pilgrimage" to California where I find the more interesting seeds was spent in place, getting surgery and convalescing. I have some self collected red dutch amaryllis seed (the parent was grown indoors from a seed swap seed) that I haven't added in yet, but that's it for indoor plants from me this year. Is anyone else planning to add cacti/succulent or tree seeds?

dewayx said:I'm noticing a lack of cacti/succulent and tree seeds and wonder, why there are so many flowery and cabbagey bits around? Also not a lot of indoor/exotic/tropical plants in general, which is quite sad. Searched through the whole 60 pages of swaplist and found only three items that would remotely be of interest.
Am I too specific in my search or are others too focused on green leafy
edible things?

I'm personally looking for edibles or something for pollinators...

Most of the house plants we do are easily divided when they get root bound or send runners, so don't really have any of those seeds... Our snake plants and spider plants often flower, but I've never bothered saving seeds as the aforementioned ways of multiplying them are very successful for us and didn't bother looking up to see if the seeds were even viable.

Oh that brings me to another question...
Some Kalanchoes are unable to produce seeds but make tons of bulbils along their leaves. Are only seeds allowed or cuttings, "runners", and bulbils too? As long as we can ensure they survive shipping, of course.

We've done bulbils before (garlic, lilies), but not cuttings or runners.

Does anyone have any Consort black currant seeds? I'd rather not have to buy another bush/tree... My wife will kill me if I buy any more... lol... I've already bought 21 fruit trees and 10 blueberries, 2 honeyberries, a 6-pack of boysenberries, and a red currant... I got free strawberry runners from a neighbor assuming I didn't get them in the ground too late... but I was hoping someone might have the black currant too. Just curious

Hammerojustice said:Does anyone have any Consort black currant seeds? I'd rather not have to buy another bush/tree... My wife will kill me if I buy any more... lol... I've already bought 21 fruit trees and 10 blueberries, 2 honeyberries, a 6-pack of boysenberries, and a red currant... I got free strawberry runners from a neighbor assuming I didn't get them in the ground too late... but I was hoping someone might have the black currant too. Just curious

No black currant seeds here, but just a note on the strawberries. Here in Zone 6A early November is an excellent time to transplant rooted strawberry runners according to a fellow who grew large quanties for many years. He said too much earlier and the heat may kill them. Now is a great time.

DraDiana said:
No black currant seeds here, but just a note on the strawberries. Here in Zone 6A early November is an excellent time to transplant rooted strawberry runners according to a fellow who grew large quanties for many years. He said too much earlier and the heat may kill them. Now is a great time.

I just transplanted a whole bunch last week... Lol and I'm in 6A too... So not far off

dewayx said:Oh that brings me to another question...
Some Kalanchoes are unable to produce seeds but make tons of bulbils along their leaves. Are only seeds allowed or cuttings, "runners", and bulbils too? As long as we can ensure they survive shipping, of course.

Hi there! I just wanted to follow up on your question because you received an answer about bulbils but not about cuttings and I wanted to clarify the general stance on seed-like items that have any moisture (such as cuttings and even bulbils, really). I have highly discouraged cuttings and other items that have any amount of moisture in the past, not because I wouldn't love to trade cuttings with everyone (I would! ), but because the process of waiting for and receiving seeds, then sorting, and then mailing them back out can be quite time-intensive and it is unlikely cuttings would survive; I hate to set people up for disappointment like that. Bulbils have a pretty good longevity in packaging, so I've allowed it as long as everyone in the process is clear on the fact that they very well might not. I noticed that you're in (southern) Germany, so cuttings are even less likely to make it to you than people here in the US (both because of time and because live plants are often much more highly regulated when shipping from country to country).

Coincidentally, my friend just moved back to Southern Germany and I'm about to send her a package, so in a few weeks here, I will have confirmation of roughly how long it actually takes for things to get there. (The US Post Office has been warning us that things will take substantially longer to deliver in the upcoming weeks. Last year, some packages took a MONTH to arrive, which created a lot of disappointment among the members and broke my heart a bit.) But, having just done a pricing estimate for shipping a lightweight package to Germany, I can tell you that the cost will be at least about $25 for shipping. I don't want to scare you away because I would LOVE to have you in the swap, but I also know you were citing some doubt about having things you would be interested in and I want you to be happy with what you get. No disappointment allowed! I do hope you'll join, though! If not this upcoming swap, then maybe the following swap. It amazes me to see some of the unique seeds that people put in this swap each year, but I have heard from numerous members that this has simply been a difficult gardening/seed harvesting year for a variety of reasons, so there may not be as much of a variety as normal.

Whatever you decide, I'm really glad you poked your head in and inquired! Please feel free to ask any other questions, we are happy to help! The seedies in this swap are some of the most helpful, kindest (and seed-craziest) people you could meet, so always feel free to ask questions!

I was sailing for the last week, so just now able to get back to you.
Cuttings, yea, probably won't make it for most plants except for the most healthy and strong ones that you'd call a weed and pest cuz you just can't get rid of em normally.
Bulbils of Kalanchoe survive 3 months without water or sun, able to go wheeeee :P
I may note in their description, that whoever receives them needs to plant as many of the survivors of the shipping as they can and then take the bulbils of the plants that sprout. Because those Kalanchoes won't grow straight or pretty if they had a hard time for a month or more, but they'll still produce bulbils after a while of growing.

Kalanchoe cuttings can survive for three weeks in full sun without water, they would definitely survive it without sun in a package. I'll write that in the description too

I"m removing the hickory nuts I had posted. They didn't pass the float test.

bummer, but thanks for the heads up

How much is normal for a package of penny violets seeds? I have a bunch that has been producing seeds throughout the winter. Still got one more month of winter to go and planning stuff.

I would offer pecan tree seeds but I don't know how to harvest them. I seldom offer seeds I've collected myself because I don't know how to collect seeds & am afraid of doing it wrong. Of offering chaff while throwing out actual seeds . I buy vegetable seeds from my local feed store, which usually sells by the half pound, pound, etc. so I just divide them up. When I buy flower packets or other seeds, I usually get 1 or 2 extras to have for trading.

I'll have Mimosa & redbud tree seeds if I can get to them in time.

@Joolie, where do you get the seaweed extract?

scgibbs said: How much is normal for a package of penny violets seeds? I have a bunch that has been producing seeds throughout the winter. Still got one more month of winter to go and planning stuff.

There's no set rules. 20 to 30 seeds is what I might do.

Kathy547 said: I would offer pecan tree seeds but I don't know how to harvest them. I seldom offer seeds I've collected myself because I don't know how to collect seeds & am afraid of doing it wrong. Of offering chaff while throwing out actual seeds . I buy vegetable seeds from my local feed store, which usually sells by the half pound, pound, etc. so I just divide them up. When I buy flower packets or other seeds, I usually get 1 or 2 extras to have for trading.

I'll have Mimosa & redbud tree seeds if I can get to them in time.

I have been looking up seed pictures on the internet to determine what a mature seed should look like vs. chaff or a partially developed non-viable seed. That has helped me cull out quite a few duds.
Another way of learning is to collect what you think is good seed and try to grow a bit of it yourself.
I appreciate your carefulness.