SEED AND CUTTING EXCHANGE

[forest]

I have:
organic grosse lisse tomato seeds
organic sweet basil seeds
some vanilla orchid cuttings - these need tropical conditions
flannel flower seeds

I'll list more next week.

[barely run]

Would like some basil seeds...can exchange dried other herbs, rose petals dried for craft or massage oil, sport, relaxing or sensual.
Ta,
Cathy

[Cornonthecob]

Does that oil come with a massage? :shock:

I have a packet of Tommy Red Toe tomato seeds (Diggers) unopened (Best by Jan 06)

Would gladly swap for some organic grosse lisse tomato seeds? Or if anyone else had something.

:)

[barely run]

:lol: Gotta come visit for a massage... :razz:

[forest]

Sure thing, Cathy and Corn. I'm PMing details.

[Cornonthecob]

Have pm'd back forest

:)

[Steve J.]

Forest,

I would be keen on swapping as many vanilla orchid cuttings as you can spare for organically grown native tubestock (banksias acacias, native grasses, eucs etc) or organic culinary herbs as tube stock or rooted cuttings?

Steve

[barely run]

Steve, do you have native root stock and herbs for sale??
Cathy

[~Tullymoor~]

Quick plug for Steevie Weevie :heart: :rock: :heart:

Cathy, he grows and sells a large variety of quality native tubestock at his local (Merimbula area, NSW) markets but is willing to send by Australia Post.

PM him for a catalogue and pricelist of available stock :D :D :D

Steevie Weevie's Hedges and Sedges, when only the best will do......

[forest]

Steve, I could do another 4 cuttings. Do you have any Gymea lilies - Doryanthes excelsa or Doryanthes palmeri? If not, I'm interested in any native shrubs with small flowers (similar to the Geraldton Wax) that can be grown in a subtropical zone.

Do you know that vanilla orchids need tropical conditions?

[forest]

Veggie Boy, Cathy and Corn. I've posted your swaps. :)

[Steve J.]

Tully

I mainly do potted semi advanced culinary herbs for the markets as Coles and Woolies (who have a monopoly of fruit and veg in my area :evil: ) produce horrible expensive soggy cut herbs (and everything else). As I have a low tech, organic production and no truck haulage etc, my quality and price is far better than the corporate food sellers. The native tube stock I grow is mainly for regeneration of my 21 acres, but I usually have a surplus of tertiary plants (acacias, banksias, grasses etc) and eucalyptus which I am happy to trade and send via the post (I will donate them to genuine local landcare or bush-regen groups). I am interested in cuttings or seed of good culinary herbs or hardy natives (frost tolerant).

Forest, sorry no Gymea's, a little frosty for them down here (kills the flowers) so I don’t grow them. I don't have much in the way of small flowered shrubs, I am currently growing Eriostomen myoporoides (long leafed wax flower) , Westringia fruticosa - Coastal or Native Rosemary and Westringia `Wynyabbie Gem'. These are all a month or so away from being ready (they are only just rooting up now). Interested in any of these? We are building an atrium to grow tropical plants in hence my desire for the Vanilla Orchard.

Steve

[forest]

I have 4 Wynyabbie Gems but I like the sound of that long leafed wax flower. I'm happy to send you the vanilla cuttings. I'll PM you.

[wwoofertobe]

i've got jerusalem artichokes to swap for seeds to suit nsw south coast.

[wwoofertobe]

(i'm in sydney at the moment)

[forest]

thanks Corn, the tommy toes arrived this morning. 8)

[Cornonthecob]

Cool...hope they grow well for you :)

Yours arrived today too....Ta!

:)

[Steve J.]

Forest,

Your cuttings and seeds arrived today, thank you so much I am genuinely excited. I'll send the Rock Lilly's off first thing Monday when I am in town again, ( I got a bit busy planting this week and ran out of daylight).

Thanks again
Steve

[forest]

Excellent Steve. Good luck growing your vanilla. :)

[forest]

Cathy, your lavender and roses petals arrived today. What a treat it is to have it in my home. The scent is amazing, must sweeter and stronger than any of the store-bought stuff I've bought in the past. Thank you so much. I love it. I'm looking forward to using it in my first soap. I'll let you know how it goes. :D

[bella]

I have loads of luffa (loofah) seed available.

Would welcome as swap anything that'll grow in the tropics, no particular wish-list at this stage! :lol:

Bel

Names:
luffa sponge, loofa, loofah, sponge gourd, Luffa cylindrica, Luffa aegyptiaca, and aegyptica.
Uses:
- edible when young and can be cooked and eaten like squash or okra
- cleaning almost everything, including dishes, people, cars, boats, plastic buckets, and anything that needs scrubbed but can't withstand steel wool.
Growing:
Most are grown in a warm climate and have the benefit of a long growing season. Luffas grow best in full sun in a well-prepared bed. It is optional to soak in warm water for a few hours before planting. Some say this improves germination rates. Plant seeds 20-30cm apart along a fence. Once they get established, the plants are quite vigorous. They grow on vines that can reach 10m in length. A strong supporting trellis is a must.
The small seedlings grow very slowly while the roots become established. Once they are about 15cm tall the increase in growth rate is phenomenal. When the vines bloom, bright yellow flowers attract all types of nectar gathering creatures. The flowers are quite pretty and abundant. When the flowers wilt, slender cucumber-like vegetables appear. The vines continue to grow and produce fruit until the weather cools and the sponges begin to mature.
Harvest and Process:
When the sponges are ready for harvest (dark brown and dry shell, very lightweight and rattle when shaken) they can be peeled. Crack the dry skin and peel off, starting at the stalk end. When you get to the base, many seeds will tumble out so be ready to catch them. The remainder of the seeds can be shaken out. Give your sponge a good scratch and wash, shake well and set to dry in an airy place. Your luffa is ready to use or give. Save plump seeds in a cool, dry place until next Spring.
More:
These sponges are machine washable. They can be sun bleached, or lightened using hydrogen peroxide or a diluted chlorine bleach solution. Ours are fine in their natural state. To colour or dye clean and cut the sponges to desired lengths and dye using natural or commercial dye. Dry well. Attach cord through one end of the luffa to hang in the shower. Cut into many shapes for pads, mats, and other craft items - cut the sponges lengthwise and remove the core to make sheets of sponge material.
References:
http://www.griffin.peachnet.edu/
http://www.luffa.info

[Cornonthecob]

G'day Bella.....I have a few organic vege seeds I'd swap for some loofah seeds.

cucumber: mideast prolific
capsicum: california wonder
eggplant: black beauty
zucchini: cocozelle
broccoli: early green
pumpkin: butternut
watermelon: crimson sweet

Let me know if you'd like some or all of them.

:)

[bella]

Corn,

cucumber: mideast prolific
zucchini: cocozelle
watermelon: crimson sweet

I'd like to try these three, please. I will PM you my details and pack up the luffa seeds right away.

Bel

[Cornonthecob]

Have replied Bel

:)

[bella]

They are on their way...
Anyone else? No need to swap. I am happy to send luffa seeds for free - we have an abundance.

Bel

[Veggie Boy]

I'd love some Bella - have PM'd you with details and the meagre offerrings I have in return.

[bella]

PM back at you. Not meagre at all. Appreciated!
Bel (with many more luffa seeds yet - anyone?)

[Cornonthecob]

Cheers Bella....seeds arrived today.

:)

[bella]

Corn, yours got here too. Might try a cucumber, but will keep the rest for a bit, till the weather's less ick. (Technical, huh?)

Veggie, yours left today. Sorry for the delay!

Still 1000s of the things to move, anyone?

Bel

[JayJay04]

hey!
I live in Tasmania, I dunno about the rules for this sort of thing here.

I love the idea, and I edited my forum to try and get it going on a larger scale.

Im not sure if im allowed to post links, but its here >
http://ajs.4.forumer.com/index.php?showforum=43

Im not a spammer, and Im sorry if the link isnt allowed :(

I have a hedge plant called luma apicalata, im trying to take cuttings from it, but after 3 months its still go no roots, I guess I did it wrong lol :lol: :lol:

By the way PSA is PLANT SWAP AUSTRALIA :wink:

[murray]

jay - what's your forum for exactly?

edit: ah i see now. plant swap australia.

[Franceyne]

Hey there Jay,

Have you tried dipping the ends of the luma apicalata cuttings in honey before planting? What are you planting them in?

Good luck.

Cheers,
Fran.

[JayJay04]

I just put them in potting soil and rooting powder from big w, works for pretty much everything else, id say they were semi-hardwood.

never heard about the honey thing before, does that incourage them to grow roots, is it a rplacement for rooting powder, or use both?

[Franceyne]

The honey keeps the root clean from invading bacteria and seems to allow the cutting to root when in moist soil...I don't use rooting powder at all.

Perhaps give it a try :)

[JayJay04]

The honey keeps the root clean from invading bacteria and seems to allow the cutting to root when in moist soil...I don't use rooting powder at all.

Perhaps give it a try :)cool, thanks!
I will 8) 8) :D

[Cornonthecob]

G'day folks, I have the following seeds I'd be happy to swap..

Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
Rosella (Hibiscus sabdariffa)
Tamarillo (Cyhomandra betacea)

All are Green HArvest seeds, and are organic seeds to boot.

I only need half of each packet so quite happy to swap the other half.

PM me if you have something to swap, either now or in the future.

:)

[bella]

Ta, Veggie. Seeds arrived today. Lotsa yummy lettuce!

Anyone else want Luffa seeds, please pm me as I do have lots.
Bel

[Veggie Boy]

No worries Bella - thanks for the luffa and bean seeds.

I gave you plenty of the lettuce because I have heaps and I reckon the best way to sow is the scatter method - which of course uses more seeds.

When I bought my broad ripple current tomato seeds, I found them very difficult to propagate. Only ended up with 2 seeds in the whole packet coming up. Reckon they were just bad seed, because the plants that I took the seed that I sent you from were self sown, about 100 metres from where the original plants were (thanks no doubt to some sort of bird).

Hope the asparagus are useful also, I am harvesting at the moment, and am eating asparagus every night. I love the stuff, but am not so keen on the way it makes pee smell :lol:

Asparagus is a long term project, but is great once it is ready to harvest. Must plant some more for myself :idea:

[bella]

I am going to have to research where I should put the asparagus. We love the stuff, so it'd be wonderful to grow our own. Have to get the books out, or do a search tonight. Thank you again! Seeds in the letterbox are sooooo exciting!!
Bel

[koladis]

Does anyone have any vanialla cuttings I can try out, I would like to grow them in Brisbane and in Bundaberg

[chrissy d]

hello forest.
I am very interested in the vanilla cuttings you offer. Is there anything you are after that I could offer to swap, or is money ok?