Seed Swapping for Beginners: Rules, Etiquette, and How to Have Fun

Dave's Garden began as a seed-trading community, and it remains a vibrant hub for gardeners to exchange seeds, stories, and friendship. If you've hesitated to join swaps because the rules seem intimidating or participants sound "mean," rest assured: seed trading is overwhelmingly generous, welcoming, and fun. Here's your crash course.

Getting Started

Use the Trade Tracker to manage exchanges (who, what, when, where) and the searchable Trade Lists to find traders with your desired seeds. Both integrate with PlantFiles for instant plant info. Forums like Seed Trading Discussion and Group Trades, Swaps, and Round Robins (subscriber areas) host active exchanges—from specific variety requests to free-seeds-for-postage offers.

Types of Swaps

Hostess swaps: Everyone sends seeds to a host who redistributes different varieties to each participant. Great for beginners—often 10 packs in, 10 packs out.
Round robins: A box travels a circuit; each person takes seeds and adds replacements.
One-on-one trades: Direct arrangements with flexible terms.

New Trader Reassurance

Everyone starts somewhere. As one member shared: "My first trade ever, I asked her to tell me step by step how to do it. I was so scared. It all went well though in spite of me." Veteran traders remember that fear and go out of their way to help.

Sourcing Seeds

If you lack homegrown seed, buy bulk from reputable wholesalers (e.g., Hazzard's Wholesale Seeds) and divide honestly—label as purchased, not homegrown, unless the swap specifies homegrown-only.

Top 10 Pet Peeves (and How to Avoid Them)

1. Illegible labels. Use a printer if handwriting is poor.
2. Seeds stuck to tape. Use fold-over packets (free printable templates on DG) or glassine envelopes inside zip bags.
3. Late or no follow-through. Communicate delays promptly.
4. Missing DG username on packet. Always include your ID (e.g., "grampapa").
5. No flower color noted. Specify color, or "mixed/unknown."
6. Too few seeds. Guidelines: 10–15 large, 25 medium, 50 medium-small, 100+ tiny (poppy-sized). Use a ¼ tsp measure for consistency.
7. Mostly chaff. Know what the seed looks like. If inseparable from chaff, send extra volume and note it.
8. Sharpie rubbing off plastic. Use write-on label areas, stick-on labels (laser/inkjet sheets), paper coin envelopes, or place labels inside clear bags.
9. Old or non-viable seed. Send current or last year's harvest. Note age if uncertain. Never send sterile hybrid seed knowingly.
10. Missing botanical name. Look it up in PlantFiles. Common names vary (e.g., "Chinese Lantern" matches 5+ genera). Botanical names prevent confusion.

Packaging and Mailing

Use zip bags, coin envelopes, glassine envelopes (for tiny seeds), or homemade fold-over packets. Mail in bubble envelopes (SASBE = Self-Addressed Stamped Bubble Envelope) to prevent crushing. Add a few grains of rice to bags to prevent static cling.

Labeling Systems

Computer-generated labels on zip bags work well. Include: botanical name, common name, color, height, hardiness zone, your DG name, and optionally a small photo. Keep your name label separate for reuse.

The Joy of Swapping

Seed trading connects you with gardeners worldwide. You'll grow plants you'd never find locally, save money, and experience the thrill of bubble envelopes arriving in your mailbox. Start small, follow the host's rules, ask questions, and have fun!