Crushed seeds!

Bananaman88 · 12-14-2007, 01:38 PM

I sent some seeds to Fernando (Fernie) in Pharr, TX earlier this week and he told me when they arrived they were nothing but dust! These were Musa velutina seeds. Everyone here knows how hard nanner seeds are. I just don't understand how they could have become crushed! I sent it like one would sent a letter or a bill. Do they go through some automated machine that would be strong enough to crush the seed to dust? I'd like to know so that next time I could send them properly, maybe in a bubble-wrap lined envelope instead. Any suggetions?

Sorry, Fernie!

Gabe15 · 12-14-2007, 01:46 PM

Yep, its happened to me before, they are rather hard, but Musa seeds do have a threshold to what they can take, some species are very delicate while other are really like rocks, most are in between and I always use a small piece bubble wrap around the bag in the envelope. Or you can get the premade padded envelopes too.

Bananaman88 · 12-14-2007, 01:55 PM

Thanks, Gabe. I just made a little pouch from printer paper to secure them inside the envelope. I just never even considered that they might get damaged. I guess I'll know better next time, huh?

Randy4ut · 12-14-2007, 02:25 PM

Brent,
I ran into this last year when I shipped some velutina seeds. This year, I placed them in the padded envelopes and even added some styrofoam peanuts into some of the packs. I did not hear of anyone I sent seeds to having this problem. Makes you think twice before you send anything of value through the mail... Too much volume of mail to hand sort these days...
Better luck next time. BTW, sorry to hear about the situation...

D_&_T · 12-14-2007, 04:12 PM

yes regular first class mail is sent through a read that is designed to read hand writing as well as type, at least in large P.O. plus can cancel the stamp

seen this and a chirstmas time news show

magicgreen · 12-14-2007, 06:55 PM

Yes, they do go through a machine. I Use to work there. I hated it!

Bananaman88 · 12-16-2007, 11:42 AM

Thanks to everyone for their input. Fernie, let me know if you want me to try again.

southlatropical · 01-14-2008, 10:15 PM

I work for the US Postal Service in maintenance. I work on the very machines that crushed your seeds. Large envelopes (the size of a magazine) are sent through a machine that uses mostly soft rubber wheels. Your seeds are not likely to be crushed on this one because most of the pinch points are spring loaded and 'give' in order to accomodate mail of various thickness to be sorted. Letter sized envelopes however go through at least 2 machines that use belts which are driven by steel rollers. The envelope is sandwiched between two belts as it travels through the machine. There are many belts inside the machine, and at the begining and end of each set of belts there is a roller on each side creating a pinch point. These machines are less forgiving to thick mail. In any case, always use a bubble envelope. Avoid small boxes (size of a pack of cigarettes for example) and tubular packaging.

Here is an mpeg of the Delivery Bar Code Sorter in operation. This is one of the machines that sorts letter size mail. Notice how fast the mail is zipping through the machine.
http://www.teterboro-online.com/imag.../usps/m538.mpg

Taylor · 01-14-2008, 10:56 PM

Wow, that's fast.

mskitty38583 · 01-14-2008, 11:48 PM

zip-loc baggies folded in half, wrapped in bubble wrap( bubble wrap is wrapped around ziplocs 3 times) and then put in a bubble envelope. might pay a little more for shipping but it works, no smashed seeds. i like bubble wrap anyway, its fun to play with....i mean the cats like to play with it.

xavierdlc61887 · 02-12-2008, 11:56 PM

Hey guys thanks i just saw this thread and its cool dont worry about the seeds i mean randy sent me some seeds and non have germed im shocked because i said i could germ them. Randy sorry bro your seeds are still brewing waiting for life to emerge but no luck um anyways thanks for the seeds and ill post an update if i see any changes

ok laters and peace out

12-14-2007, 01:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Pearland, TX Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,096 BananaBucks : 8,583 Feedback: 15 / 100% Thanks: 112 Thanked 304 Times in 209 Posts Welcomes: 8	Crushed seeds! I sent some seeds to Fernando (Fernie) in Pharr, TX earlier this week and he told me when they arrived they were nothing but dust! These were Musa velutina seeds. Everyone here knows how hard nanner seeds are. I just don't understand how they could have become crushed! I sent it like one would sent a letter or a bill. Do they go through some automated machine that would be strong enough to crush the seed to dust? I'd like to know so that next time I could send them properly, maybe in a bubble-wrap lined envelope instead. Any suggetions? Sorry, Fernie!

12-14-2007, 01:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gabe15 MC Banana Commander Gabe15's Photo Gallery Location: Honolulu, HI Find me on the map! Zone: 11 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,537 BananaBucks : 16,567 Feedback: 4 / 100% Thanks: 1 Thanked 772 Times in 322 Posts Welcomes: 1	Re: Crushed seeds! Yep, its happened to me before, they are rather hard, but Musa seeds do have a threshold to what they can take, some species are very delicate while other are really like rocks, most are in between and I always use a small piece bubble wrap around the bag in the envelope. Or you can get the premade padded envelopes too. __________________ The only hemp Im growing is Manila.

12-14-2007, 01:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Pearland, TX Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,096 BananaBucks : 8,583 Feedback: 15 / 100% Thanks: 112 Thanked 304 Times in 209 Posts Welcomes: 8	Re: Crushed seeds! Thanks, Gabe. I just made a little pouch from printer paper to secure them inside the envelope. I just never even considered that they might get damaged. I guess I'll know better next time, huh?

12-14-2007, 02:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
Randy4ut Moderator Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Location: Cleveland, TN Find me on the map! Zone: 7a/b Name: Randy4ut Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 887 BananaBucks : 14,155 Feedback: 17 / 100% Thanks: 413 Thanked 330 Times in 158 Posts Welcomes: 33	Re: Crushed seeds! Brent, I ran into this last year when I shipped some velutina seeds. This year, I placed them in the padded envelopes and even added some styrofoam peanuts into some of the packs. I did not hear of anyone I sent seeds to having this problem. Makes you think twice before you send anything of value through the mail... Too much volume of mail to hand sort these days... Better luck next time. BTW, sorry to hear about the situation... __________________

12-14-2007, 04:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
D_&_T 2nd winter growing indoor D_&_T's Photo Gallery Location: Northern Indiana Find me on the map! Zone: 5-6 Name: Dan and Tara Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 705 BananaBucks : 2,964 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 495 Thanked 105 Times in 93 Posts Welcomes: 176	Re: Crushed seeds! yes regular first class mail is sent through a read that is designed to read hand writing as well as type, at least in large P.O. plus can cancel the stamp seen this and a chirstmas time news show __________________ Dan & Tara in need of greenhouse

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12-14-2007, 06:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
magicgreen magicgreen's Photo Gallery Location: cincinnati OH. Z6 Find me on the map! Zone: Z6 Name: Lynn Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 828 BananaBucks : 3,059 Feedback: 8 / 100% Thanks: 379 Thanked 145 Times in 122 Posts Welcomes: 122	Re: Crushed seeds! Yes, they do go through a machine. I Use to work there. I hated it! __________________ (Started growing bananas July 2007) (Zone 6)

12-16-2007, 11:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Pearland, TX Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,096 BananaBucks : 8,583 Feedback: 15 / 100% Thanks: 112 Thanked 304 Times in 209 Posts Welcomes: 8	Re: Crushed seeds! Thanks to everyone for their input. Fernie, let me know if you want me to try again.

01-14-2008, 10:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
southlatropical Member southlatropical's Photo Gallery Location: Fordoche, Louisiana Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Isaac Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 250 BananaBucks : 4,618 Feedback: 14 / 100% Thanks: 31 Thanked 36 Times in 30 Posts Welcomes: 1	Re: Crushed seeds! I work for the US Postal Service in maintenance. I work on the very machines that crushed your seeds. Large envelopes (the size of a magazine) are sent through a machine that uses mostly soft rubber wheels. Your seeds are not likely to be crushed on this one because most of the pinch points are spring loaded and 'give' in order to accomodate mail of various thickness to be sorted. Letter sized envelopes however go through at least 2 machines that use belts which are driven by steel rollers. The envelope is sandwiched between two belts as it travels through the machine. There are many belts inside the machine, and at the begining and end of each set of belts there is a roller on each side creating a pinch point. These machines are less forgiving to thick mail. In any case, always use a bubble envelope. Avoid small boxes (size of a pack of cigarettes for example) and tubular packaging. Here is an mpeg of the Delivery Bar Code Sorter in operation. This is one of the machines that sorts letter size mail. Notice how fast the mail is zipping through the machine. http://www.teterboro-online.com/imag.../usps/m538.mpg __________________

01-14-2008, 10:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
Taylor KING OF KORM. Taylor 's Photo Gallery Location: VA Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Taylor Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,402 BananaBucks : 10,903 Feedback: 13 / 100% Thanks: 187 Thanked 147 Times in 97 Posts Welcomes: 190	Re: Crushed seeds! Wow, that's fast. __________________ Taylor Update: 23 California Gold fruit expected by Thanksgiving!

01-14-2008, 11:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: sparta, tn. Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,598 BananaBucks : 16,626 Feedback: 24 / 100% Thanks: 23 Thanked 462 Times in 393 Posts Welcomes: 59	Re: Crushed seeds! zip-loc baggies folded in half, wrapped in bubble wrap( bubble wrap is wrapped around ziplocs 3 times) and then put in a bubble envelope. might pay a little more for shipping but it works, no smashed seeds. i like bubble wrap anyway, its fun to play with....i mean the cats like to play with it. __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION "kokomo" beach boys:

02-12-2008, 11:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
xavierdlc61887 xavierdlc61887's Photo Gallery Location: Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Fernie Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 472 BananaBucks : 9,985 Feedback: 14 / 100% Thanks: 60 Thanked 58 Times in 50 Posts Welcomes: 31	Re: Crushed seeds! Hey guys thanks i just saw this thread and its cool dont worry about the seeds i mean randy sent me some seeds and non have germed im shocked because i said i could germ them. Randy sorry bro your seeds are still brewing waiting for life to emerge but no luck um anyways thanks for the seeds and ill post an update if i see any changes ok laters and peace out

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