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View Full Version : Is it because I am in Canada?...


The Hollyberry Lady
05-24-2009, 08:37 PM
I am wondering if the reason why I am having such a difficult time finding anyone to trade seeds or pups with me, is because I am in Canada?

Allow me to share some personal experience...

I belong to several other gardening forums, and have traded many seeds and cuttings with people in the US successfully, and for very little money. I write 'garden supplies' on the packaging, and everything always makes it just fine. I even sent two people seedling passion flower vines, and they made it safely, and are now growing! I only ever spend a couple bucks, to boot! Seeds and cuttings are cheap to exchange between US and Canada - in case anyone thought otherwise.

I am so excited about growing a banana plant, but yet can't seem to locate any seeds or pups - on a banana forum!!! LoL. I am hoping there are other gardeners out there who enjoy trading, and don't mind helping out a newcomer who wants in on the fun.

This forum sure is terrific, and has taught me a lot already. I have a real greenthumb, so I think I could grow a banana plant wonderfully. I am especially interested in smaller, dwarf varieties.

Also, does anyone know if a banana plant will survive our winters here in canada? Are they perennial? Please don't laugh at my ignorance!

: )

willy1der
05-24-2009, 08:50 PM
I have not yet found an american willing to ship to canada,send me a pm and I can send you to some places that sell bananas here in town.

willy1der
05-24-2009, 08:51 PM
forgot to mention Im in london also!!!

The Hollyberry Lady
05-24-2009, 08:59 PM
Yeah this forum seems really weird about sharing. Stranger too, because on other gardening forums, Americans do exchanges with me all the time! It really isn't a big deal.

Wow - you're in London! Blow me away! Too cool. Do you happen to have any pups or seeds that you would be willing to trade, or share? I can't believe you're in London. So awesome. Now I don't feel like such an outsider.

Thanks for the responses.

: )

Scuba_Dave
05-24-2009, 09:10 PM
Possibly people think it is harder to ship to Canada
Possible problems with customs etc
I sell & ship Halloween & Christmas decorations & have sent several to Canada. As long as they are under 108" combined girth USPS is the cheapest way to ship. So far no problems

I'm just getting going myself, recd my 1st 4 banana plants last week

I'm not sure what zone you are in
OK - saw the zone, colder then where I am
Banana planst will notmake it thru the winter for us without some pretty good insualation methods
Somebody built a styrofoam box for theirs & runs 3 light bulbs in it to keep them warm thru the winter
I'll winter mine either in the greenhouse or garage - as do other northern people

MediaHound
05-24-2009, 09:19 PM
Check the membermap (http://www.bananas.org/vbgooglemapme.php), there's some people in Canada that might be willing to help you out. Send them a personal private message and surely someone will step up for you.
There are some rare bananas already in Canada, trust me... :)

The Hollyberry Lady
05-24-2009, 09:29 PM
Thank you Scuba Dave!

I mailed one of my passion flower vines to someone in MA, and like I said previously, it made it just fine. Another went to Oklahoma! I think people have the wrong impression about US and Canada seed and plant exchanges. Too bad, because when I do finally get some banana varieties - I love to share. Gardeners should always share with each other, and boycott these greedy seed companies.

Heck, Lorax, who's in Ecuador, and who invited me to this forum, has even done a seed exchange with me!!! I am hoping more people will read this thread, and see that it is more than possible to do a trade with a Canadian, and it only costs 1-3 bucks!!! I do it all the time.

: )

The Hollyberry Lady
05-24-2009, 09:31 PM
Thank you MediaHound!

I am hoping to find out from Willy1der, about the places here in London I can get some plants from too. I am determined that I will grow a banana plant this season, one way or the other.

I want in on the insanity!

: )

MediaHound
05-24-2009, 09:38 PM
Some people only check in once per week, some once per month... give it a little bit of time and you will have a network of people to exchange with all setup.
As an avid gardener, I am sure you have patience.. :)

cedardave
05-24-2009, 09:44 PM
Indeed there are some rare bananas in canada.....:ha:
Even if you dont get some from a member on this site... there are always lots of places where you can find some of the more common ones likely right around where you live. It just takes a little looking.

kaczercat
05-24-2009, 09:48 PM
Hey, I am Canadian too. I have had A few people On here that i have bought pups and such from and it worked out well. This form is great lots of friendly people to talk with. I have tried to buy banana plants from ty ty , going bananas, and Sandy @northern tropics. Since they have a business and a license they cant ship to Canada :( . The only bananas i have found here are basjoo and dc. This is why i want to move to the states ( Florida) when i finish high school or collage. So i can have more of a verity of tropicals, bananas citrus ect. Anyway its fun here on this site.

The Hollyberry Lady
05-24-2009, 10:20 PM
Yeah, the funny thing is, I've never even seen an actual banana plant, let alone grown one, and I am already addicted! Looking at all the gorgeous pics, I can only imagine one in person. I just love them.

Thanks for all the great replies everyone. It seems pretty cool here. I can't wait to get a plant too, because I am addicted to posting pics! Are ya only allowed to post pics of banana plants? Or other plants as well?

I am ashamed to say that no, I am not a very patient person, even though I grow from seed, but I am trying. I will definitely give it some more time, and see what comes...

: )

kaczercat
05-24-2009, 10:33 PM
You can post pics of any plant you want. I have pics of blueberry plants palm trees and of coarse banana plants :P

The Hollyberry Lady
05-25-2009, 12:16 AM
In that case then, here are some of my current indoor seed grown plants!

The first 2 pics are my African Daisy hybrid (Osteospernum). The next pic is my French Vanilla marigold. The two after that are my indoor rose pink lilies, and the last pic is my entire living room window setup...

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI0325-1.jpg

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/025.jpg

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI0312-1.jpg

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/013.jpg

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI0313.jpg

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/072.jpg

kaczercat
05-25-2009, 05:45 AM
Wow they are beautiful flowers . I have had god luck with marigolds and thats it one of my fav flower :) i love Christmas cactus too too bad they only flower just before Christmas. i wish i had this great talent growing from seeds. thanks for postin the pics

Crazy_canuck
05-25-2009, 06:19 AM
I agree with Kaczercat you can find a Dwarf Cavendish, Basjoo, or more commonly Super Dwarf Cav. at almost any nursery or even grocery stores in the summer up here. If you become more interested in growing bigger banana’s you can find some good varieties with some patience.

ewitte
05-25-2009, 07:59 AM
Even here everything you find in the stores is ornamental. Luckily its not that hard to get shipping or even find people here in the same city.

sunfish
05-25-2009, 08:04 AM
I don't have banana seeds but I have passiflora seeds. What passion flowers are you growing , do you have any seed for trade?

The Hollyberry Lady
05-25-2009, 08:04 AM
Yes, I am going to have a look around and get a plant that really appeals to me. Thanks for all the compliments!

Yes, those marigolds are quite special, and are not easy to acquire. The big carnation-like blooms are so pretty. Shame you have no banana seeds - we could have traded. I am big on seed trading.

You can get a xmas cactus to bloom in summer, but you have to put it on a 12/12 cycle (12 hours of darkness, and 12 hours of light everyday, until buds appear). You can trick your cactus into blooming even in the warmer months - I've done it.

: )

The Hollyberry Lady
05-25-2009, 08:08 AM
Sunfish:

I am growing caerulea passiflora, and may have a few extra seeds for trade yes! Which kinds do you have? I am also expecting a couple more varieties from a trade very shortly, but I don't know what they are just yet...

: )

sunfish
05-25-2009, 08:22 AM
Caerulea
Fredericks
Tripartyta Mollisima Banana Passion fruit
Alata
Racemosa Buzios
Quadrangularis
Belottia
Aurantia
Capsularis
Foetida
mollissima
Laurifolia
Maliformis
Sidaefolia
Vitifolia
Subrotunda
Coccinea

sunfish
05-25-2009, 08:24 AM
I have 30 other varieties of seed on the way.

lorax
05-25-2009, 10:06 AM
They'll be P. mixto and P. ligularis, Hollyberry.

The Hollyberry Lady
05-25-2009, 10:19 AM
Thank you Lorax!

Yes, and another friend is sending me a couple other passiflora varieties from their mail order when it arrives. This is my first time growing passion flower but the vine is wonderful so far. I am looking forward to seeing the amazing flowers and fruits!

Some of your varieties sound amazing, Sun Fish!

: )

sunfish
05-25-2009, 10:42 AM
I am new to passion vines also,only one year. We will see how many make it thru next winter. When you get your seed ,let me know I would trade for some p.mixto. Here is a list of the seed I have comming.

Manicata ,Colinvauxii
Gracilis
'Aurora'
Naviculata
Biflora (Trinadad sp.)
Alata
'Eclipse'
'Sarah Ammie'
Cinabariana
Giberti
Rubra
Tenufila
Subpeltata


Ligularia

Macrocarpa
Pittieri
Arbelaezii
Sexflora
Choconiana
Tricuspis
Rubra
'Zipacon'



Antioquiensis
Sublancalata
Lutea
Incarnata
Constance Elliott
Arida
Aurantia


,

The Hollyberry Lady
05-25-2009, 10:58 AM
Alright SunFish - sounds good.

: )

Laticauda
05-25-2009, 04:08 PM
I'll be sending P. quadrulangaris and P. alata. And when my bananas that I just ordered pup out, YOU will be getting at least one of each!!

Hopefully next time it won't take two weeks to get to you!

The Hollyberry Lady
05-25-2009, 04:17 PM
Oh my goodness, Laticauda - what a pleasant surprise! So nice you are here too - welcome! Thank you for letting me know the varieties - I know you told me, but I forgot!

: )

Rmplmnz
05-25-2009, 05:39 PM
What are the best sources for Passifloria seeds?

sunfish
05-25-2009, 06:09 PM
I got most of mine off ebay. For passion vines with edible fruit go to ebay search passiflora fruit seeds. Also tradewindsfruit I have had good luck with there seeds

lorax
05-25-2009, 08:14 PM
But really, Rmplmnz, the best sources are fellow members. I grow three varieties that are strictly edible, and a few others that I eat (and get the wonky eye from Ecuadoreans for doing so.) Sunfish has an impressive list, as do a few other growers. I'm sure there's a passiflora thread kicking around somewhere out there....

Rmplmnz
05-25-2009, 08:54 PM
But really, Rmplmnz, the best sources are fellow members. I grow three varieties that are strictly edible, and a few others that I eat (and get the wonky eye from Ecuadoreans for doing so.) Sunfish has an impressive list, as do a few other growers. I'm sure there's a passiflora thread kicking around somewhere out there....

Thanks.....I will look..

I luv eating passionfruit...:woohoonaner:

Rmplmnz
05-25-2009, 08:55 PM
BTW..I made a trip to Ecuador in 1977..we went to Quito & Guayaquil....awesome trip!!

The Hollyberry Lady
05-25-2009, 09:02 PM
Exactly Lorax - I agree wholeheartedly in fellow members trading. I love to trade, and do it every chance I get! I belong to a few other gardening forums as well, and have an amazing collection, that is far too long to even think about listing!

I am also an extremely active seed collector, and never allow seed companies to pinch me twice on the same variety. There was once a day and time, when seed companies didn't exist, and neighbors did something that is almost unheard of anymore - share!


Here's a few pics of my 320 Spring bulbs I planted around the apartment building I reside in - I am the gardener here. It took me 15 hours, spread across 4 days to get them all buried.

When they came up this early Spring, boy was it worth it...

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI0168-1.jpg

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI0171-2.jpg

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI0204-1.jpg

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI0198.jpg

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI0203.jpg

The Hollyberry Lady
05-25-2009, 09:05 PM
Woops!!!

The Hollyberry Lady
05-25-2009, 09:21 PM
So sorry about the 'woops' post, but I had a double post of my tulip pictures - must have sent it twice. Sorry about that.

I would love to go to Ecuador. Problem is, Lorax would have to boot me out!!! I wouldn't want to leave. I have seen pictures, that have left me drooling.

Chironex
05-26-2009, 12:37 AM
I have not yet found an american willing to ship to canada,send me a pm and I can send you to some places that sell bananas here in town.

Wouldn't Canadians be Americans as well? Same for Peruvians, Equadorans, and so on.

kaczercat
05-26-2009, 06:51 AM
good question, i wish i was.

lorax
05-26-2009, 09:17 AM
Hollyberry - I never said I'd kick you out! That would be the most hideous double standard ever! You know that I came here for vacation and never really left, right?


Scot, that is exactly the point I argue with people here that call me an American. It's worth the wonky look they get when they realize that they're Americans too.

Which is why many people here now call United-Statesians "Yanquis" (regardless of their state of origin). But that's OK. Most Ecuadorians think that I'm French.

The Hollyberry Lady
05-26-2009, 09:25 AM
I thought it was pretty presumptuous of me to assume that I would be staying with you, Lorax, if I were to come to Ecuador! The nerve!

I would be like you though, and wouldn't want to leave. You would at least be encouraging me to get my own place, because between the two of us, there would be absolutely nothing but wall to wall plants, everywhere!

: O

lorax
05-26-2009, 09:47 AM
Ah, but you forget, Hollyberry. I live in a jungle. It is wall-to-wall plants, everywhere.

The Hollyberry Lady
05-26-2009, 10:33 AM
Well of course, but I was more referring to indoors! Good heaven's it would be a greenhouse, not a home!

: )