SRGC Seed Exchange 2024-2025

[Maggi Young]

Please note, all details may be found here on the main SRGC Website:
https://www.srgc.net/welcome_seed_exchange.asp

[Catwheazle]

Thx :-)

[Richard Green]

The SRGC Seed List is now available for browsing online in advance of ordering opening on 1 December.
The list can be downloaded as a pdf, or an Excel file.
Ordering online opens on 1 December.
This year's seed donors do NOT have no hurry to put in their orders because Donors' orders are picked on the basis of their donation history NOT on the basis of the date and time of their order.
Non-donors' orders ARE picked in order of receipt in due course.

[Richard Green]

The 2024/25 SRGC Seed Exchange will be open for ordering ordering in just over 12 hours at 00.01hrs GMT on 1 December.
The seed list can already be downloaded as a pdf, or an Excel file for you to pick your seed numbers in advance.
Orders from this year's Donors.  Donors do NOT have any hurry to put in their orders because Donors' orders are picked on the basis of their donation history NOT on the basis of the date and time of their order. Orders from donors of the most seed for the most years are picked first.
Orders from Non-donors. These ARE picked in order of receipt in due course.

[fermi de Sousa]

Just put in my order!
I noticed that a few seeds were listed as "banned in Australia" which are on our current "Allowed List".
Please don't remove them from my order if I'm lucky enough to get them! I double checked BICON - for example most Iris seed was listed as banned but they are there on the allowed list. Perhaps someone was looking at the wrong list when they added them.
BTW I like that you have gone to the trouble of adding "banned in Aus or NZ" to the actual seedlist.
Please let me know if this will affect my order,
cheers
fermi

[Neil J]

Like Fermi, I found many species were incorrectly listed as not available to Australia. In my case  these were Erythronium & Primula species. I simply didn't try to order them, but would really liked to have had some.
It's hard enough trying to get seed into Australia now without further limitations.
If help is needed in checking with BICON, please ask.
Regards,
Neil

[Richard Green]

Morning all.  Yes, we have tried to indicate this year (for the first time) those species which are not listed on the AUS BICON website and hence not 'allowed' for import by the AUS government.  Unfortunately, it is obvious that we have a few issues in matching names, for instance currently all Narcissus are showing on our seed list as not allowed, and some are indeed listed as allowed by BICON.

Australian members are advised to make their own checks on BICON before ordering to satisfy themselves that the seed they are ordering is allowed.  Our website WILL let you order seed which is has a 'not allowed' marker. We shall check all Australian orders rigorously against the BICON list before dispatch. We shall also update our allowed/not-allowed markers as soon as possible.

[fermi de Sousa]

Thanks, Richard,
That's reassuring.
cheers
fermi

[Richard Green]

Lots of computing work on a Sunday night has meant that we have updated the AUS Banned/Allowed list, and we hope it is correct now.
There are still several inconsistencies in naming, e.g. where Fritillaria kurdica is treated as either a species or a subspecies, and a few spelling inconsistencies, but we shall try to iron these out shortly.   

[ashley]

Richard, thanks for all the work that's gone into the ordering system. 
It's a pleasure to use.

[Neil J]

Thanks Richard for a prompt response. Unfortunately my order is done now. I shall just have to wait until next year for the other things I wanted.
As I understand several other countries besides Australia check all imports against species names on an "allowed" list, could we encourage those listing hybrids to list them with their parent species, where possible.
This would greatly assist the availability of seed for those of us in countries where such restrictions apply. I suspect more countries are moving to this type of system.
For example: 1021 'Joanna' could be listed as 1021 Erythronium tolumnense x E. revolutum 'Joanna'. This would enable it to pass through Australian Biosecurity checks as both species are listed on BICON.
I realise all this adds to already stretched workloads, but it also greatly enhances access to new hybrids for many of us.
Regards,
Neil

[Richard Green]

Hi Neil,
There are several possibilities.  We are seriously constrained by the names supplied by donors, and the lack of time available to check names in detail.  We have thousands of seed donations, limited numbers of volunteers, and only a couple of weeks to check names in November.
Currently we know only Australia and NZ have 'allowed' lists, whereas USA and EU have 'banned' lists, and CITES applies Worldwide.  If you know of other countries with restricted lists then please advise us, giving their website link for checking if possible.
Our list is only advisory, and we say everywhere on our ordering pages that it is up to members to check their seed ordered against AUS BICON, NZ MPI etc. so our website still allows ordering of asterisked species. Our AUS orders will be subject to more detailed checks this year in due course.
You will note that over last night we have already updated the website with corrected AUS/NZ banned/allowed markers.  If you still see any problems let us know by email to the email address on the seed pages, rather than here.  These should be mainly missing species names such as Erythronium 'Joanna' and Campanula 'Samantha' or differences of opinion regarding spellings, particularly single or double 'i's. 

[Richard Green]

Just a quick note for UK Members.  Your paper copies of the Seed List were mailed out yesterday on Wednesday 4 December.  Hopefully they should arrive on doormats by the weekend.  We prefer that you please order and pay online if at all possible.
A note for Overseas members. You will NOT receive paper copies of the seed list, but can download a Adobe pdf or Microsoft Excel copy from the website Seed Ordering pages.
Any overseas member wishing a paper copy of the Seed List can request one by email to the address on the Seed Pages.  Copies will be mailed out to those who have already asked for one probably by this coming weekend.
Any overseas member without internet access should know from instructions in previous Dryas newsletters that our Yearbook gives telephone and postal contacts for the Seed Exchange Team as always.  We are very clear that no member will be disadvantaged by any lack of computer literacy.

[annew]

Congratulations to all for the seed list - amazing amount of work involved for all. Well done on an excellent online ordering system too.

[DaveM]

Please note that there is only a week left to order your seed this year.

Already there are some 700 orders online but some of these have not yet been completed (paid for). Please hurry if you want your order to be fulfilled. It greatly helps our team of helpers if orders can be completed and paid for online.

Thank you
All best wishes for a happy, healthy and enjoyable year
on behalf of the Seed Team