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Seed Exchange

Blandy Veggie PacketsWhat can gardeners do in the dead of winter when the ground is frozen and plants are dormant? Get ready for planting next spring’s garden, of course! A good way to get started is to join the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association and the Friends of the State Arboretum at the FREE Seed Exchange at Blandy. 

When

Last Saturday of January
10 am to 2 pm
The 2021 Seed Exchange is canceled because of the pandemic. 

Where

The State Arboretum of Virginia
Blandy Experimental Farm
400 Blandy Farm Lane
Boyce, VA 22620
(Route 50 East)

About the Event

If you’re a home garden seed saver or have some extra commercially grown seeds left from last year’s planting, bring them to the Seed Exchange at Blandy. Even if you don’t have seeds to share, you’re encouraged to participate. Gardeners are always happy to share their knowledge and harvest with others. If you don’t have seed to share, please come join us anyway and go home with up to 5 packets of seed.

Types of Seeds Typically on Hand

  • Vegetables
  • Herbs
  • Perennials
  • Annuals
  • Bulbs and Cuttings (yes, we know these are not “seeds”)
  • Vines
  • Woody Plants
  • Commercially packaged seeds donated by growers, retailers, or fellow gardeners.
    • See our Donations Page for some who generously donated seed for our 2020 exchange.

Other Activities at the Seed Exchange

  • “Ask a Master Gardener”
  • Gardening book and magazine exchange 
  • Vendors with plants and other items for the gardener
  • Information stations and hands-on demonstrations

Tips for saving seeds for the exchange

While volumes have been written about saving seeds, below are some general tips, depending on the seed type. If you need envelopes, use some our seed packet templates and ideas.

  • How to save seed for:
    • For many herbs and flowers, allow seed heads to dry on the plant before collecting and then hang upside down to completely dry. Crumble the seed head to separate seeds.
    • For legumes, allow seed pods to thoroughly dry on plants. Do not harvest while wet. blandy-seed-packetsSeparate seeds from pod.
    • For plants such as pumpkins, squash, or watermelon, leave fruit on the vine past when you would pick them for eating and then store for an additional three weeks before removing seeds. Scoop seeds from the fruit, place in water to clean. Viable seed will sink to the bottom. Remove viable seed from water and dry. Pumpkin, squash, and melon seeds can benefit from fermenting as described for tomatoes below.
    • For tomatoes, leave fruit on vine until fully ripe. Squeeze seeds and some pulp into a jar with a small amount of water. Allow seeds to ferment: keep at 75–85?F for 1.5–5 days, leaving for about one day after bubbling or white mold appear, then clean in water the same as for pumpkins above.
  • Place clean, dry seeds in paper bags, paper envelopes, or glass jars. See our seed packet templates and ideas page for ideas.
  • Label bag, envelope, or jar with the common name, Latin name, date of harvest, and any useful instructions if unusual seeds.
  • Please do not bring seeds for invasive plants. See a list of invasive plants at http://blandy.virginia.edu/arboretum/virginia-invasive-plants.
  • You also are welcome to bring in commercially packaged seeds.
  • Please avoid bringing seed that is more than 2–4 years old.

Inclement Weather Policy

If Mother Nature sends us a light dusting of snow for the seed exchange, the event will go on as scheduled. Cancellation due to heavy snow will be announced on the Blandy website at www.blandy.virginia.edu.

Symposium 2021

Visit our event web page to register.

Gardening in the Valley Symposium graphic

Save the Date!

  • Gardening Symposium (A Virtual Event) – March 6, 2021
  • Beginning Vegetable Gardeners Webinar 2 – March 18, 7 p.m.
  • Beginning Vegetable Gardeners Webinar 3 – April 15, 7 p.m.
  • Beginning Vegetable Gardeners Webinar 4 – May 20, 7 p.m.
  • GardenFest/Plant Sale – May and June 2021
  • Beginning Vegetable Gardeners Webinar 5 – June 17, 7 p.m.
  • Gardening in the Valley Tour – June 26
  • Beginning Vegetable Gardeners Webinar 6 – July 15, 7 p.m.
  • FallFest – September 11, 2021

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On Facebook…

Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association

3 hours ago

Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association
Symposium is more than a day of education. It's a way for you to help fund scholarships for high-school seniors; a few of our prior awards recipients are pictured. Register today!Get more details on our scholarships at nsvmga.org/programs/scholarships/.Learn more about and register for the "Gardening in the Valley Symposium" at www.facebook.com/events/232627084911109. Planned talks include:- Raised Beds vs. Traditional Gardens with Lynne Phillips- Herbs for Healing and Health with Sondra Baker Johnson- Urban Beekeeping and Apiculture’s Role in Sustainable Urban Agriculture with Brad Garmon- Back to My Roots with Diane KearnsVisit www.biddingowl.com/Auction/index.cfm?auctionID=25928 to see and bid on items in our silent auction, which also benefits the scholarship fund. You don't need to attend Symposium to participate in the auctions! Thank you to the generous EMG Volunteers, members of the public, and businesses who've donated items to our auction! If you'd like to donate an item, please email NSVMGAinfo@gmail.com.---This VCE Educational Event is supported by the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association. Extension Master Gardeners are volunteer educators who work within their communities to encourage and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices through sustainable landscape management, education, and training. As an educational program of Virginia Cooperative Extension, Extension Master Gardeners bring the resources of Virginia’s land-grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, to the people of the commonwealth. Learn more about the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program at ext.vt.edu/lawn-garden/master-gardener.html.---Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. department of Agriculture cooperating. Edwin J. Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; M. Ray McKinnie, Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State University, Petersburg.If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Mark Sutphin, Frederick County Extension, at (540) 665-5699/TDD (800) 828-1120 during business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event. ... See MoreSee Less

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