Potentially diseased seeds online

[veggiechicken]

Thought you might like to be aware of this
Buying seeds online - why you should be careful
I've seen the strangely coloured strawberries for sale in the net and they so bizarre they must be photo-shopped, or...........who knows what

[Nicos]

I was annoyed to buy broad beans with bugs in them.
Two_Sheds alerted us to them at the time, but by heck, I really expected professional seed sellers to check them out properly.

[Spunky]

To me that seems like a witch hunt against people selling seeds outside the uk and trying to put in people's heads the seeds are diseased
If rather them just say don't buy these seeds because there blue strawberries and obviously fake........unless there real who knows

[Thelma Sanders]

The point is that unless the seeds are sampled and tested, as they are in the UK/EU we can't tell if they are diseased or not.

Even then, sometimes things go wrong - but with no testing, who knows what rubbish you'd get in a packet.

[Bigmallly]

There appears to be quite a bit of photoshopping going on especially from China. Last year I grew some so called Purple Tomatoes which were very nice in taste but can only presume they were "Black Plum". They were no more purple than "Black Icicle".

[Guest]

I found the coloured strawbs when looking for a particular chilli. There were several sellers and looking at the other seeds like giant strawbs that take two hands to hold and other things it seemed dodgy enough for me to go with an entirely different seller. Unfortunately there are a fair few people that want money for nothing and will do what ever it takes to get it regardless of regulations or ethics

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

I have bought seeds off of Amazon and did not notice that the seller was based in China. When I received them the Customs certificate said "gift". I didn't open the envelope and the whole lot when on the fire. If someone lies to get something through customs then I don't want it. Thing is the seeds were Aquilegia -nothing exotic.

Like most people I've noticed the weird and wonderful on eBay and Amazon but the photos just do not look real.

I still buy seeds etc from Amazon but only from British based companies (although still no guarantee of importing any nasties in - I remember Two Sheds thread involving a large, well-recognised British company).

[Lisasbolt]

Frostyfreckle, you will find they say gift because of getting out of paying taxes.

Although i would never buy seeds from china, just better to be safe. I like to stick to who i know and i have personally tried and tested

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Yes but by passing paying taxes also means the retailer by passes testing of the seeds.

[Kristen]

Yes but by passing paying taxes also means the retailer by passes testing of the seeds.

They haven't bypassed the tax, it is you that would be charged the tax (by UK Customs, then recharged to you by Postie most commonly).

I expect they do it because the majority of their customers tell them too (varying from "please put GIFT on customs declaration" to "I'll only buy from you IF ..."), so I don't think its necessarily an indication of rubbish quality - I have bought lots of stuff mailorder from overseas, never asked for a customs declaration to be "fudged" (but I ain't complaining!), and on reflection I would say that the majority of the packets have either said "gift" or stated a reduced value compared to the actual contents.

There is also the issue that there is a limit on the number of packets of seed in a parcel which can enter the UK (not tax related, from memory its a Ag & Fish restriction, although why I am not going to import disease with 5 packets of seed, but I am with 10 packets, beats me). Anyway, I've had packages stuffed with packets of seed with a custom declaration saying "5 packets of seed, nominal value" ...

[heirloomsquash]

you guys are arguing about pointless maybe since even best seed supplier can sell seed that is contaminated with a disease or pathogen. Contamination can easily occur after testing has been done. As for seed quality or germination rates many factor can effect it.

As friend used say a restaurant could get perfect score for safety from health inspector the day before 6 people die of food poisoning after eating there.

[Guest]

you guys are arguing about pointless maybe since even best seed supplier can sell seed that is contaminated with a disease or pathogen. Contamination can easily occur after testing has been done. As for seed quality or germination rates many factor can effect it.

Grapes don't argue - they debate and voice opinions

As friend used say a restaurant could get perfect score for safety from health inspector the day before 6 people die of food poisoning after eating there.

Thats cheery, especially for this time of year so how was your christmas, did you go to any nice restaurants?

[veggiechicken]

Maybe heirloomsquash is concerned that we'll stop buying seeds from the US

[BigV]

What is your problem? Seeds come from everywhere usually by birds the soles of your shoes etc etc

[Bigmallly]

What is your problem? Seeds come from everywhere usually by birds the soles of your shoes etc etc

And your point is?