Sending seedlings through the post

[pigletwillie]

Has anybody sent seedlings through the post before and if so how did they do it?

Now as the seedlings will be going out gratis I dont want to be paying out for fancy packaging, I want to be able to use stuff to hand. I have several ideas but any extra input will be welcome.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Hi PW - since the new post regulations came into force in August, I don't think that you'll get away with sending them as anything else but a 'packet' (due to the fatness of the envelope).

With regard to protecting seedlings, what about popping each one into a little length of plastic tube (the grey ones that they plumb houses with these days) - i think that they are 25mm so that would be sort of small plug size. The length of tube could be long enough to envelop the whole little plant, and they should be robust enough to withstand the post.

With a packer of damp cotton wool at the root end and the whole lot in a plastic bag for waterproofness (is that a word?) I reckon that you could maybe get 6 to 8 in an A5 jiffy, and it would cost about £1 in postage.

Mind you, I may be reinventing the wheel or something - on re reading it does sound a bit Heath Robinson!

[pigletwillie]

I was thinking of sending out a clump of seedlings in a toilet roll inner with the seedlings wrapped in cling film ready to be pricked out.

Your idea sounds better though Hazel.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I think that you may have some rather flat seedlings on arrival, PW - BUT as long as they are padded in a jiffy bag, they might not be the worse for the experience!

I guess that you're going to have to send 1st class - I would have thought that the lack of light would affect little plants somewhat?

Seedlings in the supermarkets are sold in mini trays with plastic covers over - you could use those, but then you'd have to put the whole lot in a little box for posting - actually this might protect them better, but you'd have to put them in boxes to post them which would have to be quite a snug fit.

Actually, I've just thought (it's the second glass of a jolly good red getting me thinking...) surely the best way to send seedlings is how the seed companies send them out. I've never send off for them in the post, but I'm sure other grapes have and can advise.......

[wellie]

Presumably you're talking Toms, Chillies, Peppers etc. Piglet?
I'd say Hazel's idea is good, as toiletroll cardboards may get crushed and therefore damage the cell structure of the seedlings....?

Hope you're having a great time off.

[bramble]

Wrap them inside corregated cardboard piglet, or the toilet roll holder is a good idea as well. It should protect the plants. And of course, wrap the roots with damp kitchen towels.

[shirlthegirl43]

Perhaps putting them in a freezer bag (after your own toilet roll idea) and blowing this up and knotting it - then putting the whole lot in a small box would be an answer. After all, the air bubble things that are used for padding out fragile items cost nothing to post and do their job quite well. I got some leeks on ebay and they came wrapped in damp wallpaper but were rather more robust than most seedlings would be.

[smallblueplanet]

How many are you thinking of sending out at a time pw?

Maybe you could combine bubble-wrap (have you any?) with the two bottom halves of vegetable/mushroom trays?

Dunno really it depends what things you have to hand. I'd have thought some way to stop them being bent and keep the roots damp....

Or another way to use the bottom halves of milk containers/plastic bottles?

[ugly gourd]

I would pick the idea that would be easiest for you and post some to yourself to see how they survive worth the cost for peace of mind

[Hazel at the Hill]

I would pick the idea that would be easiest for you and post some to yourself to see how they survive worth the cost for peace of mind

What a fabulous idea, you clever grape!

[ugly gourd]

What a fabulous idea, you clever grape!

I have a brain wave occasionally Im just laying down to recover!!

[JennieAtkinson]

My mother, when she was alive, always sent me plants each year. Normally perennials so they had a bit of a root, but she used to wrap them in paper tissue (hankechief variety), then kitchen towel, which she dampened down and then wrapped clingfilm around the wrapped roots. Then she cut a piece of cardboard which she folded over and placed the plant in and stuck it at the side with a bit of sellotape and put in a jiffy bag. Everything always got here ok (and that was from South Wales to Shetland) and was still damp, but not soggy.
Might not work for annuals with not much of a root. But at least you might have all the "ingredients".

[CarolineSonning]

How about damp paper around roots then place in those little plastic pots you get those Bio drinks in (like Actimal). Individual bomb proof housings and recycling something plastic! (Not sure what it would do to the postage costs though )

[pigletwillie]

Its the postage thats the killer espesh with the new rates. I sent out some ickle Agave plants with a tiny bit of soil that were in toilet roll inners and only had shredded paper as protection but they cost £1.

The idea worked and will probably work for small seedlings too.

Now who wants some aubergine, tomato, pepper?

[jools]

The insides of kitchen roll is tougher than loo roll so that might do.
Jools