Phacelia seeds

[Steel]

Phacelia seed seems impossible to get in Australia in packets larger than 50 seeds.

Does anyone know anything about exporting seed to Australia or possibly have done it before.

 

[Suffolk boy]

Would Kings Seeds in New Zealand be a bit easier to try than importing from the UK? http://www.kingsseeds.co.nz/
Pretty expensive compared to UK prices

 

[Steel]

Thanks, had not found that. Looks like about $25 Australian per kg
I might buy a few kg and try to grow it and harvest some seed myself.
Cover crops are really just starting here and the demand for seed will increase.

 

[York]

Thanks, had not found that. Looks like about $25 Australian per kg
I might buy a few kg and try to grow it and harvest some seed myself.
Cover crops are really just starting here and the demand for seed will increase.

Steel,
I think you have to look at the wine pages in Au. They are much more into cover cropping.
also a good address might be Biodamic farming, Alex Podolinsky, as they also use Phacelia for a long time.
One quote of their web page I find a strong statement:
<http://www.demeter.org.au/application.htm>
To receive Australian DEMETER Bio-Dynamic Certification a farm must demonstrate soil structure development.
Can't resist and place the questions: How many of the certified organic farms here would pass this test....
Sorry, this was a little off topic.
York-Th.

 

[Stuart J]

Phacelia seed seems impossible to get in Australia in packets larger than 50 seeds.

Does anyone know anything about exporting seed to Australia or possibly have done it before.

That's incredible, since there are some reasonably large areas grown in New Zealand for seed!

 

[Steel]

That's incredible, since there are some reasonably large areas grown in New Zealand for seed!

When I do a search I get plenty of place offering packets of 50 seeds, but nothing larger.
I have my local seed dealer also looking for some seed, but he has not sourced any yet.
I want to plant at least a hectare and see if I can harvest seed, as I am sure the demand will increase here and I want to try some large scale cover crop trials.
I want to try different combinations of Crimson Clover, Phacelia, Radish and Sun Hemp over summer before wheat.
Sun Hemp will be interesting to try as I have been waiting on seed a couple of years. My seed seller tells me he will have some in August.

 

[Steel]

Would Kings Seeds in New Zealand be a bit easier to try than importing from the UK? http://www.kingsseeds.co.nz/
Pretty expensive compared to UK prices

Got a reply from Kings, Can't do it due to Quarantine.
"Sorry but our stock of Phacelia seed has come from a locally grown source and most likely has too many weed seed contaminants in it to pass AQIS inspection."

 

[Suffolk boy]

Well i'm surprised they can sell it as seed in NZ if their that that worried about high levels of contaminants

 

[Great In Grass]

Got a reply from Kings, Can't do it due to Quarantine.
"Sorry but our stock of Phacelia seed has come from a locally grown source and most likely has too many weed seed contaminants in it to pass AQIS inspection."

That's increased their sales, not. [emoji15]

 

[Steel]

I have sent AQIS an email asking what I need to import seed from NZ. If I have to I will get on a plane and go and buy a bag and bring it back if I can find what I need from AQIS.

 

[SorenIlsoe]

If you are interested, we have a shop run by our mintill and CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE organisation FRDK in Denmark.
You have to be a member to buy seeds (170£/year), but prices are fine and all seeds are certified EU.
Several could go together to save freight and the membership....
You find it here: www.shopfrdk.dk