Confession time.... collecting seeds on holidays

Right... I hope I'm not the only one who can't resist collecting seeds whilst on holidays in south. I'm fully aware of the risks of potentially introducing a new Japanese Knotweed into North Tyneside ecosystem so always swear to keep my seedlings as houseplants.

And then there are the pests, viruses and diseases to consider.

And yet again, we just returned from Portugal with a plump seedpod of this , it was such a lovely twining climber with carnivorous looking blooms, some prickly pear seeds from a ripe, stolen fruit eaten by my daughter and a legume- type seedpod from an unknown tree. I'll soak and sow them all tomorrow

Do you collect seeds or cuttings on holidays? Any thoughts on the risks, any success stories or cautionary tales?

 

I’m pretty sure it is legal to transport plant material within the EU as long as no soil is with it. I’ve done this. A friend of mine who used to live in Italy brought plants to the UK and was allowed to do this but had to repot them in peat, no soil.

I think the risk of introducing a potentially invasive plant from further afield is greater and I would not do that plus there is a risk of introducing pests and/or diseases.

 

This document may help answer any questions

https://assets.publishing.service.g...fruit__veg_and_plants_into_the_UK_leaflet.pdf

 

I've brought back cuttings from within Europse often enough in the past, inside my sponge bag! The honeysuckle at the end of the garden and an echeveria and a graptopetalum (succulents) on the patio were all originally acquired this way. Also various tradescantias - not sure all of those will have survived the hard winter though.

 

Thanks kazzawazza, very informative and interesting! Apparently one can bring more or less anything from EU countries, and restrictions seem to follow political rather than geographic borders

Within the EU, you can bring in any plant products as long as they are grown in an EU country, are free from pests and diseases and are for your own use or consumption.

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This one made me smile

Certain European and Mediterranean countries include: Albania, Algeria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canary Islands, Ceuta, Cyprus (the area not effectively controlled by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus),

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Brought a load of some sort of pea seed home from one of the Disney parks in Florida last year.. all rotted off Tried getting my sister to bring some back from her trip the other week but she wouldn't budge..she was fearing customs!

 

Maybe they only grow in Disneyland soil...

 

I've brought seeds and cuttings back from Europe with no problem at customs, I've also had seeds and plants sent to me from outside of Europe mainly America, Japan and Hong Kong, nothing bought on ebay, from clematis friends, never had a problem with customs getting plants in, just costs a fortune in postage

 

I have picked up the occasional seed pod when in Nepal, although this is now illegal without a licence. So I have a couple of Sarcococcus hookeriana, Cotoneaster microphylla and some roses of unknown species very thorny, very shrubby and very tough; given they came from a bleak, arid windswept hillside at over 4000m.

 

I have brought cuttings and seeds back from most trips abroad with no problem except maybe when it comes to rooting or germinating them!!

 

I think what this thread highlights is the danger of bringing potentially invasive species into the UK or even the EU. Follow the rules, folks; there is too much to loose otherwise. This is serious.

 

Found this thread when I was about to start a new one.

Just back from a week in Bulgaria and was disowned by my wife while we were out for a meal one evening. They serve some dishes with a fresh chilli on top. Its hot but not overly hot. Out came a napkin, rolled half of the chilli in my hand and I now have a load of seed to try next year.

Then on to lunch. One of the buffalo heart tomatoes was really tasty so I scraped some seed away, rinsed it in the tea strainer (first time its been used in the 10 years we've had the place), dried on tissue and then left to dry further. That's another lot of seed ready for next year.
Again, lots of head shaking from my wife.

 

I used to bring back cuttings and seeds from India. Then got serious and used to pack the gel pots purposely sold for rooting cuttings, so I could start them there. Bougainvilleas were about 20p on the local markets. Just before leaving, I washed the soil off, sprayed them in insecticide to get rid of any mosquitoes wanting to hitch a lift, wrapped them in lots of beach towels and brought them back in the hold baggage. Most survived, despite Bougainvilleas not liking root disturbance