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California High Desert CinnamintStick@msn.com

I am a newbie here but I am confussed about all the fuss over selling seeds. I have read a few threads now that make it seem wrong for people to sell seeds. I would like to know the background of how all this free seed give away started and why it seems to be a tradition that is now being broken. As a newcommer I felt funny asking for something free from people I did not know. I didn't grow up asking for handouts. I paid for my seeds. Now I feel I did something wrong. Like I suported something bad.

4/13/2008 11:45:22 AM

Logan Utah

there is nothing wrong with selling seeds. It is just there are so many good generous growers willing to give free seeds not as a handout but as a boost to get new growers started into the hobie.

4/13/2008 12:06:56 PM

Webster, NY

At one point Howard Dill had the patent (or whatever you call the right to grow and see a new variety of plant). That patent has now run out and others are allowed to sell. I do agree with the Brothers Kunz however, there are so many generous people here, it is usually not necessary to buy seeds.

Dave

4/13/2008 5:05:34 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

There has been a lot of discussion on this over the years. Most growers readily share their seeds in the year the pumpkin is grown, for free. The reason for this is first because an unproven seed really has very little value. Secondly by giving the seed away to other growers there is a much better chance they will get planted and then proven. Once a seed is proven it now has “value”, either for trading purposes or for cash. The reason person to person sale of seeds is frowned on is because the seed was originally give away free, now it has value and personal gain from a gesture of the gift is bad form. Now if a grower wishes to sell his own seeds or wants to consign them threw one of the organized seed sale web sites, that is considered acceptable. Also, seed auctions and raffles, with the proceeds to go to worthy cause, such as weigh off prize money etc is also accepted as ok.

If someone is willing to give you a proven seed, without anything in return, you should now consider them a true friend

The free seed trading we have in this hobby is what makes this such a great sport and allows it to continue to grow. This first year I grew, I was given a 1458 Whittier, by Bruce Whittier himself! At that time, that was the largest pumpkin ever grown. I had never met Bruce. I sent him a seed request and a couple $$ for postage and he responded with the free seed. Now I thought I had the world by the tail. That seed grew my 721.5 pumpkin, which I thought was huge at the time. I will forever be grateful to Bruce for that gesture that has lead me to be a serious grower.

In my opinion the free seed exchange needs to be fearfully protected in order to keep out hobby strong.

4/13/2008 5:33:12 PM

Webster, NY

Well said John.

4/13/2008 6:01:05 PM