Bananaman88

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

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.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

Bananaman88

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

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...

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D_&_T

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

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magicgreen

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

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(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)

Bananaman88

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

southlatropical

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

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Taylor

Wow, that's fast.

mskitty38583

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.

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xavierdlc61887

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