What is the best way to mail seeds to ensure their safe arrival?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Is it appropriate to trade seeds acquired last year? How many seeds are considered a 'fair' trade? How should I package my seeds? What is the best way to mail seeds to ensure their safe arrival? Is it acceptable to just send a dried flower head or pod? Can I be certain seeds will be fertile and grow true to the parent plant? Are there seeds that should not be traded during the winter? Is it necessary to include growing information with my seed trades? How and when to collect seed from my garden plants? Is it necessary to dry all seeds before storing them? How do I dry them? How do I prepare seeds inside berries for storage/trading? Is it really necessary to clean seed before storing or trading it, and if so, how? How should I store seed after harvesting, drying, and cleaning it? How do I know if my seed is viable?* How do I know if my plants are hybrids that may not produce seed true to the parent plant?*

It is prudent to protect seeds with some sort of soft padding: folded paper towel, bubble wrap, etc. If you are sending out several packets of seeds, it is helpful to tape the packets down individually to an envelope-sized piece of cardboard before wrapping with padding so the packets don't shift on top of one another, making a bulkier envelope that is more easily damaged. Regular letter or legal size envelopes should be kept as flat as possible with minimal padding to avoid being torn in transit. Generally speaking, large, soft, and/or very fragile seeds require more careful packing and will probably travel safest in a padded mailer. You can save and reuse any padded mailers you receive to help lower expenses. International trades should be sent in padded mailers. The United States Postal Service requires a customs declaration form be filled out by the sender, identifying the contents and declaring a value: the simplest is to put 'flower seeds' and 'gift - no value' so no duty fees will be assessed. Seeds crossing international borders must be individually labeled with full Latin names. See the FAQ regarding rules and regulations of shipping plant materials for more information. REGISTER YOUR SEEDS   Full name: Email address: GROUP INVOLVED: ANGLSEYBLAENAU GWENTBRIDGENDCAERPHILLYCARDIFFCARMARTHENSHIRECEREDIGEONCONWYDENBEIGHSHIREFLINTSHIREGWYNYDDMERTHYR TYDFILMONMOUTHNEATH AND PORT TALBOTNEWPORTPEMBROKESHIREPOWYSRHONDDA CYNON TAFFSWANSEATORFAENTHE VALEWREXHAMOTHER IF OTHER, PLEASE STATE: TYPE OF SEEDS OFFERED VEGETABLESFRUITFLOWERSCUTTINGSBULBS DATE HARVESTED DD/MM/YY AMOUNT OFFERED POST DISCRIPTION:

[ TERMS & CONDITIONS ][ LAND-SHARE REGISTER ][ BANK ][ BARTER ][ GIFTING ] [SEED EXCHANGE ][ BOX DELIVERIES ][ GAZZETTA ][ CONTACT US ][ LETS GROW FORUM ][ LET`S LEARN TO GROW ][ POST MESSAGE ]