The SRGC Seed Exchange

The SRGC Seed Exchange No. 71 for 2017- 2018 invites seed donations.

Seed Donations: Autumn 2017

Please send fresh clean seed as early as possible - but no later than 31st October -  to Ian and Carole Bainbridge, Luckie Harg’s, Anwoth Road, Gatehouse of Fleet, Castle Douglas, DG7 2EF, Scotland.

Late seed can be accepted if a list has been received by post or email before 31st October. The list will be compiled on 1st November, so late seed may not make the exchange.

On each packet, please write clearly the full name of the seed and where it was collected (if wild) along with your name or initials. Put all seed of one type in one packet, using small packets when possible (avoid big packets!)

Supply a list of donated seed in alphabetical order, note your phone number, email and membership number, in case we have any queries and provide comments on any  new or rare seed. 

A HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who send in seed; without your contributions there would be no seed to distribute to all our members at home and abroad. Please do support the Seed Exchange by donating seed from your plants.

Wild seed:

There has been much discussion recently about illegal collecting of wild seeds. The reputation of the SRGC is at risk if we offer seed that has been collected illegally, or which does not have distribution permission. This could harm future attempts by people who want to collect seed legitimately. The SRGC is not able to check every seed submission, so please do not submit wild-collected seed that would put our reputation at risk. Please also retain the documentation giving any relevant permission for as long as possible.

All seed correspondence, lists and queries can be sent to  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Â">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   - we will ensure the emails reach the relevant manager.

SEED EXCHANGE TEAM

 Seed Reception Managers:

Drs Ian and Carole Bainbridge: 01557 814141.

Luckie Harg’s, Anwoth Road, Gatehouse of Fleet, Castle Douglas, DG7 2EF, Scotland.

Seed Packeting Manager

The Ayr Group has taken on the job of managing the seed packeting and George Watt is Seed Packeting Manager.

George Watt: 01292 592445

Burnside, Littlemill Road, Drongan, East Ayrshire, KA6 7EN, Scotland

Seed Distribution Team Manager Carolyn McNab:

Barmagachan House, Borgue, Kirkcudbright DG6 4SW, Scotland.

Seed Request Manager

Neil McNulty, 6 Main Rd, Crookedholm, Kilmarnock, KA3 6JT, Scotland.

Note: all seed correspondence, lists and queries should be sent to:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Seed Lists:

All members (except those with a paperless e-subscription) will receive a seedlist automatically  by post in late November. Ensure your membership is renewed promptly to be sure of receiving the seed list.

The request system will be live until 15th January 2018, which is the closing date for the receipt of all seed orders. 

To access the online ordering system you need to register and activate an account each year, using the password printed in the Secretary's Pages/"Dryas"  of summer 2017 (this document is also available from the  website). You will also need the digits of your membership number( e.g. member  REW 97836 should use 97836)

All queries  re passwords and membership numbers can be sent to  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.%C3%82%C2%A0">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

SEED PACKETING

Seed packeting will be done during November /early December. 

An appeal for volunteers to packet seed:

For recent SRGC members, "seed packeting"  is the process of placing donated seed in small glassine envelopes for later distribution. It is the middle operation of the SRGC seed exchange and is of vital importance.  Last year we had only just enough olunteers to cope and are anxious to recruit new volunteers.  It has been agreed that volunteers need not be members to take part and that friends of members would be more than  welcome to take part. Please do consider joining the team.

George Watt, the Seed Packeting Manager would be very grateful to hear from any UK member willing to volunteer to packet seeds. 

Full instructions and guidance will be provided; details from George Watt,  email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SEED DISTRIBUTION: EARLY 2018

The South-West Scotland Group will manage the distribution again in 2018. Full details of the arrangements for ordering seed will be included in the seed list and on the website.

Seed requests must reach the Seed Request Manager, Neil McNulty, by the deadline of 15 January 2018.

The seed distribution will begin in early January and all main requests will be sent out by late January. Donors’ seed requests are completed first, then non-donors in order of their arrival date, followed by surplus seed requests. This means that main and surplus requests are sent out separately and may arrive a few weeks apart. The whole distribution should be completed by the end of January.

Please allow for delays in the postal system before enquiring about the whereabouts of your seed.

Please wait until after 5th February; after when queries should be addressed to Neil McNulty, 6 Main Rd, Crookedholm, Kilmarnock, KA3 6JT, Scotland, UK, or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

US Members

Members from the USA must have a ‘Small Lots of Seeds’ permit, which is issued by APHIS.

You can find details of how to get a permit at:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_imports/smalllots_seed.shtml

This must be a ‘small lots’ permit, as this does not require UK phytosanitary certification.

Please apply for your permits ahead of the seed exchange to ensure there is no hold up in getting your seeds back to you.

You must enclose a copy of the permit and conditions and a green/yellow customs label for each request - one for a main request, and one for each surplus request of 50 packets.

If you order seed online, you must still post the permit documents and labels to Neil McNulty, as soon as possible - to arrive before 15 January (or you may send them to Ian and Carole Bainbridge with your seed donation).

You can copy your permit as many times as you need. Please ensure your permit is still valid before you send copies to us; the permits are valid for three years.

We must stress that “no permit, no seed” is the SRGC rule! Several packs were left unsent last year as the paperwork never arrived. We will do our best to get everyone their seed, but it must be in compliance with USDA regulations.

US, Australian and New Zealand members

We still need you, please, to send a named and numbered list of main order seeds requested, unless you order online, when the computer will do that job for you and us.

Other overseas members

Please check with your authorities whether your country has any seed import requirements. Let us know what we need to do, and send any necessary documentation. We do wish to comply with any laws relating to seed imports.

About the SRGC Seed Exchange

Seeds of over 5000 species and varieties of alpine and rock plants and bulbs suitable for rock, peat and woodland gardens are listed annually in the Seed List of the SRGC Seed Exchange.

A great many of these seeds are not available commercially.

The SRGC Seed List is prepared each year from donations by Members and is issued in late November: only current SRGC members may request seed - subscriptions are due in October. Holders of electronic subscriptions who access SRGC information online are asked to check the status of their subscriptions and fill in all their profile details to ensure they are valid members in order to take part in the Seed Exchange.

Seed is distributed during January and February, so members receive their seed in time for spring sowing.

In the opinion of many, the SRGC Seed Exchange is the world's best.

COLLECTING AND CLEANING SEED

It is great fun to grow plants from seed and there is additional satisfaction in growing plants from seed you have collected yourself.

Links which may be of interest:

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4426.0  -Seed photos with scale to help identification and

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1010.0 for Seed discussion and links to other websites etc of use in seed ID etc.

For good practical information on seed sowing and care of the seedlings, click here for a superb Seed Sowing Tutorial  by Ian Christie, nurseryman and former President of the SRGC.

The Archived Files : lists from previous years

Follow the links below for the last six Seed Exchange lists which are available in the form of downloadable PDF files. These lists are now closed, but the lists remain on the website as a reference and an information source.

We will keep old seed lists here for reference purposes only.

Seed can no longer be requested from these lists.

If checking seed numbers from previous lists, please check that you are consulting the correct year’s list.

Remember, the numbering for all species changes each year as different seeds are donated.

Click Here for the SRGC 2016/2017 Seedlist No. 70

Click Here for the SRGC 2015 / 2016 Seed List No. 69

Click Here for the SRGC  2014 / 2015 Seed List No. 68

Click Here  for the SRGC  2013 /2014 Seed List  No. 67

Click Here for the SRGC  2012/2013  Seed List  No. 66  

Click Here for the SRGC 2011/2012 Seed List No.65

Click Here for the SRGC 2010/2011 Seed List No.64

Click Here for the SRGC 2009/2010 Seed List No.63

Click Here for the SRGC 2008/2009 Seed List No.62

Click Here for the SRGC 2007/2008 Seed List No.61

Thanks to all the Members who have donated seed and to all the volunteers working to collate the list, packet the seed and organise the distribution of the seed to SRGC Members worldwide, we hope you all enjoy the process and have great success in growing your SRGC Seed.