From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Delaware, Ohio

I read a lot of posts in the message boards where growers are asking for seeds, mostly they are new growers and just want to get a nice start in this great hobbie. My question is.... I have seeds, some good seeds, some really nice seeds and some from my pumpkin from last year. Other than the seeds from my pumpkin, the seeds that I have were given to me to plant by other growers(Thank You), is it proper for me to give the seeds that I am not going to use to other growers? I know that every seed I have been given is in the hope that it gets put in the ground. I also know I can save the seeds for another year. What is the proper etiquette?

5/1/2007 11:27:22 PM

Buffalo, MN ([email protected])

Here is my take on this. If seeds are given to you by the grower you should hang onto them for at least the first year. After the first year you can do with them as you wish but it would be polite to ask the grower if he would like them back.

If you get seeds from a raffle or purchase them from a club or elswhere they are yours to do with as you wish.


Bill

5/1/2007 11:44:09 PM

[email protected]

I see no harm in asking the donor if they mind if you share the seeds with someone else. We all end up with many more seeds than we could ever grow. Giving surplus seeds to someone who WILL grow them would likely be considered OK if the original grower approves.

5/1/2007 11:51:30 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Steve doesn't line 4 of section 8 Chapter 3 of the Pumpkin Manual. Require that you give seeds to anyone stupid enough to ask for them. I know in the next chapter it talks about giving a warning to new growers about the obcessive behaviour giant pumpkins can create.

5/2/2007 8:04:05 AM

Rexburg, Idaho

When I give seeds away I give them away. I hope they get put in the ground. But I give up all rights and claims on them. If the person I give them to wants to plant them all the better, store them for future consideration thats okay, give them away to someone else I have no problem with that. Sell them to someone else is getting a little sticky, roasting them is problably poor taste. But the bottom line is I have given them away and the reciever is free to do with them as they desire.

5/2/2007 8:13:24 AM

Santa Cruz, CA

When we give away our seeds, we add a little note saying, if you don't use these seeds feel free to pass them on. We are so glad that anyone would consider growing our seeds being that we are newish (3 years) to growing big pumpkins. I know if I ask for seeds myself from a specific grower it is in hopes that we will receive that seed and that we will definately grow it if they will send us one. I do like spreading the fun this hobby gives and if I can do that by giving our seeds away, it makes it all that much more fun for me. I understand that if you are an experienced grower with amazing seeds (of which there are so many) and if someone asked you for seeds and you saw that they were giving them away or selling them, that that would make you feel bad too.

5/2/2007 10:42:04 AM

Jericho Vermont

If I give seeds away that are my own I have no strings attached to what should become of them."Maybe they would make a nice necklass" But if someone asks for a proven seed that I may have, I would be real upset if the seed was not atleast put in the ground. (unless it was through a trade situation)

I was given a proven seed as a gift this year and a month later found that it would not fit in my garden. I emailed the grower back and offered the seed back to them as well as thanking them and apologizing for not being able to grow it. The grower suggested to send the seed to another friend of his. Which I gladly did. The seed now will be planted, which was the initial intent.

Remember we only get one name in life. make sure to communicate and follow through with fellow growers.
John

5/2/2007 1:00:28 PM

Vermont

Do with them as you please,most growers have plenty of seed left after the dust settles.I gave out a lot of seeds with no commitment to grow them.Just let'em go people,just let'em go!!!!

5/2/2007 1:24:34 PM

Ohio

Im with you on this also, If I send you my seeds you can grow them , give them away or sprinklle salt on them and eat them. Now If I give you a proven seed that is from another grower and you promise to plant it and do not, and then you end up trading it for another seed, well, I wouldnt like that so much.

5/2/2007 1:38:41 PM

Puyallup, WA

I have discovered that we are all different! We are born with different temperments. When I give seeds away...do with them as you please. I am a realist knowing that not many will find their way into the soil. We of the "choleric" temperment wish that you "melancholys" could just get over loving each seed!

5/2/2007 2:26:19 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Stan,
I think I'm a "phlegmatic". Maybe that explains why my hoop houses aren't out in the garden .

5/2/2007 3:04:39 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I meant to say out in the garden "yet". I'm a procrastinator...I don't blame that on my temperement, or my personality...but I don't doubt that they may be contributors. I find the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator(for personality) and the explanation of the four temperaments quite interesting.

5/2/2007 3:13:28 PM

I don't have too many "big" seeds in my collection, and I don't have any "big" seeds to my name. But I have lots of seeds from generous people. When I send a new grower seeds, I often will send a few of my own and a few of other people's. That way, there's a good chance the new grower is going to grow those. You can look at it two ways ...
1) I gave the seed away because I didn't think it was good
2)I gave the seed away and now there's a good chance it will get to see dirt

The first time I ever got giant pumpkin seeds from someone, I got theirs and a few other people's. So maybe that is why I view that as the proper way of doing it.

5/2/2007 3:16:45 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

If some one gives you something its yours.. unless they attach strings to it..with out any strings you can give the seeds away, plant them or eat them.. they are yours to do with what you like..

5/2/2007 4:03:17 PM

Flowery Branch, Georgia

hmmmm blkcloud

Let us smoke the pipe of peace.

From the hills!

5/2/2007 4:40:44 PM

Rhode Island

this past winter ron and i sent out close to 350 bubble packs, which does not include the 100 sets we gave the club for the seed promo.

if a grower asked for a certain seed and we sent it then yes you would be a bit jacked if you found out that person passed it on via trade or gift to someone else.
but the average bubble pack set of seeds? not a big deal.

like the earlier reply stated "at least they will hopefully get planted ".

the reality of it all though is this. no matter how you got the seed its still yours. you do with it as you see fit and thats the end of it. life goes on.


pap

5/2/2007 9:07:28 PM

Waitakere New Zealand

Shannon I follow line 4 section 8 chapter 3 to the max didn't like chapter 4 so ripped it out [didn't read well so bunkum humbug] The seeds are for growing if you can't and someone else can, thats good.

5/3/2007 5:28:10 AM

Delaware, Ohio

Thanks to all who posted.
Dang, the manual I recieved was missing section 8 chapter 4. Hope I'm not missing any really good information.

5/3/2007 7:59:21 AM