Seeds from Russia, Ukraine, etc.?

Free for all about gardening techniques, tips and questions.
Post Reply
Greatgardens
Reactions:
Posts: 127
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2019 12:01 am
Location: IN 5b

Seeds from Russia, Ukraine, etc.?

#1

Post: # 10124Unread post Greatgardens
Fri Feb 14, 2020 5:40 am

I've ordered tomato seeds from Russia, Croatia, and Ukraine in the past and had no issues. I recently discovered a Russian seller on eBay that carries lots of "hearts." Quite a few are determinate; several are F1 and det. So I'm planning on ordering some soon. (It would seem that heart varieties are quite popular in Russia.)

But has anyone ordered and received seeds after the changes in the U.S. plant/seed import restrictions? Did they come through OK? I know that some states restrict specific varieties, but that's a different matter. Hate to order these and have them confiscated at customs.
Last edited by Greatgardens on Fri Feb 14, 2020 3:35 pm, edited 2 times in total.

kath
Reactions:
Posts: 159
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2019 7:07 am
Location: Zone 6B Southeastern PA

Re: Seeds from Russia, Ukraine, etc.?

#2

Post: # 10193Unread post kath
Fri Feb 14, 2020 2:56 pm

I ordered Chocolate Miracle from an eBay seller from Russia on Jan. 23 this year. The estimated date of arrival was given as Feb. 13- Mar. 3 and the seeds were delivered in a padded mailer yesterday, Feb. 13.

eyolf
Reactions:
Posts: 67
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2020 9:03 am

Re: Seeds from Russia, Ukraine, etc.?

#3

Post: # 12828Unread post eyolf
Wed Mar 04, 2020 9:38 am

My kids say that people order marijuana seeds from Europe through the mail. I assume sellers figure out ways to sneak them through.

I have traded seeds in the past by putting them in greeting cards with foil decorations

User avatar
pepperhead212
Reactions:
Posts: 3107
Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2020 12:07 am
Location: Woodbury, NJ

Re: Seeds from Russia, Ukraine, etc.?

#4

Post: # 12837Unread post pepperhead212
Wed Mar 04, 2020 10:51 am

I can't speak about seeds from those regions, but I've gotten a number of things from India since those new restrictions took place, both spices and plant seeds, and have had no problems. Received everything fairly fast, and none looked like they had been opened for inspection.
Woodbury, NJ zone 7a/7b

clara
Reactions:
Posts: 256
Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2020 1:02 pm
Location: Germany near Cologne

Re: Seeds from Russia, Ukraine, etc.?

#5

Post: # 12986Unread post clara
Thu Mar 05, 2020 6:45 pm

If you are afraid, seeds sent from Russia may not come through, try Estonia.

https://seemnemaailm.ee/en/

They offer a lot of Russian/Ukrainian etc. seeds (not only tomatoes). I've ordered from them several times, always got my order rather quickly (in a padded envelope). The only bad thing is that you have to use a translator because almost all descriptions are in Russian, Ukrainian, Estonian language and very few in English.
per aspera ad astra

User avatar
MissS
Reactions:
Posts: 5599
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2019 4:55 am
Location: SE Wisconsin Zone 5b

Re: Seeds from Russia, Ukraine, etc.?

#6

Post: # 12992Unread post MissS
Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:00 pm

I have not had any problems. Orders came fast and safe.
~ Patti ~

NarnianGarden
Reactions:
Posts: 132
Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2020 5:02 pm
Location: Finland, EU

Re: Seeds from Russia, Ukraine, etc.?

#7

Post: # 13028Unread post NarnianGarden
Fri Mar 06, 2020 8:16 am

I have ordered plenty, some in professional packages. (there were error seeds in some of the commercially packed though.. not always correct..)

Now, the current legislation forbids ordering any seeds from outside EU countries.. shame.. but I got plenty for the next ten years..

NarnianGarden
Reactions:
Posts: 132
Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2020 5:02 pm
Location: Finland, EU

Re: Seeds from Russia, Ukraine, etc.?

#8

Post: # 13029Unread post NarnianGarden
Fri Mar 06, 2020 8:17 am

Yes, seemnemaailm is always an option. Their postage costs though - not so encouraging..

clara
Reactions:
Posts: 256
Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2020 1:02 pm
Location: Germany near Cologne

Re: Seeds from Russia, Ukraine, etc.?

#9

Post: # 13056Unread post clara
Fri Mar 06, 2020 3:12 pm

Seemnemaailm always sends with insurance, so I don't think the postage costs are too high. The costs depend also on the weight of your order.
per aspera ad astra

Greatgardens
Reactions:
Posts: 127
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2019 12:01 am
Location: IN 5b

Re: Seeds from Russia, Ukraine, etc.?

#10

Post: # 13279Unread post Greatgardens
Mon Mar 09, 2020 6:20 am

Update: I received my order promptly, but one of the varieties was missing -- EM-Champion, which was the one I really wanted. No reply from the seller yet, although she was listed as "out" on her store. Hopefully I will get this as a second, later mailing.

User avatar
Nan6b
Reactions:
Posts: 1545
Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 2:58 pm
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Re: Seeds from Russia, Ukraine, etc.?

#11

Post: # 13431Unread post Nan6b
Tue Mar 10, 2020 4:38 pm

You ordered them when they were out of stock? I'd think most seed sellers only get one seed harvest a year...

Greatgardens
Reactions:
Posts: 127
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2019 12:01 am
Location: IN 5b

Re: Seeds from Russia, Ukraine, etc.?

#12

Post: # 13654Unread post Greatgardens
Fri Mar 13, 2020 12:52 am

Showed in-stock when ordered. Seller has since contacted me and says she has now mailed EM-Champion. The seeds I've received thus far are all commercial "seed rack" packets. I also ordered several F1 hybrids, so I don't believe she is a grower-seller -- instead, a re-seller, so she could have gotten more stock. I suspect that several of the varieties I've received are every bit as good as EM-Champion, but it is a "known commodity" to some degree. And thus far from my limited experience with Russian/Ukrainian varieties, they are hardy and good!

User avatar
loulac
Reactions:
Posts: 62
Joined: Thu Mar 12, 2020 6:14 am
Location: South of France

Re: Seeds from Russia, Ukraine, etc.?

#13

Post: # 13663Unread post loulac
Fri Mar 13, 2020 6:58 am

Hi everybody, I'm a newcomer from Tomatoville, glad to meet here former acquaintances.
I have ordered seeds from Croatian seeds, they were delivered very quickly. Prices are reasonable.

https://croatianseeds-store.com/index.p ... 2/tomatoes

All the best

User avatar
Nan6b
Reactions:
Posts: 1545
Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 2:58 pm
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Re: Seeds from Russia, Ukraine, etc.?

#14

Post: # 13670Unread post Nan6b
Fri Mar 13, 2020 9:37 am

GreatGardens, I'm very interested to read about your results from those that might be similar to EM-Champion. Please share later in the season! :)

Greatgardens
Reactions:
Posts: 127
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2019 12:01 am
Location: IN 5b

Re: Seeds from Russia, Ukraine, etc.?

#15

Post: # 13673Unread post Greatgardens
Fri Mar 13, 2020 10:26 am

Will do, but at most I might get 3 of these planted this season.
Here's what I ordered, and a link to Olga's eBay store:
https://www.ebay.com/str/olzzza

"EM-Champion" (no longer listed at her site, but was originally) IIRC, she sold over 100 packets of this one. This was the only internet source that I found, so probably quite a few folks had the same idea.
“Honey Heart”
“Pink Large F1”
“Golden Mile F1”
“Pamela F1”
“Ruby Heart F1”
“New Orange F1”
“Heart Striped”

IIRC, these are all hearts, and all or nearly all are determinant. Alas, EM-Champion is the only PL variety. She has pretty good descriptions in English. Some of the words are a bit "off," but way better than having to Google translate them. She writes emails in English, also.

Post Reply

Return to “General Discussion”