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Hosta swapping from the 'old days'

12 years ago

I was looking for something entirely different, actually who might have experience with 'Cherish' (for Esther's thread) when I ran across an old thread from back in 2010.

It was about hosta swapping, and it was on this forum. The only name in this particular thread that I recognized as a participant today (sadly everyone else seems to have vanished), is Chris-E.

In the year of posting to this forum, on a regular basis, and reading most every post as well, the topic of swapping never came up.

What gives with this? Was it removed as a forum practice? Turned into a private affair? Morphed into the Hosta Alphabet? Spooked by HVX?

Inquiring minds like to know. Thanks.

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Comments (6)

Babka NorCal 9b
12 years ago
Other forums still have swaps. I never participated because California has such stringent laws regarding the import of plants from other states. Then, I think it was the spread of HVX that made people less willing to accept "the friendship plant", as hostas were once called, from anyone they didn't know personally. I know it was a lot of fun for the participants to get "surprise" packages from the cute dude in the brown truck. It involves a bit of organizing...you could start one if you'd like and see how many people sign up.

-Babka
Steve Massachusetts
12 years ago
Also known as "Nematode Swap."

Steve
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anniegolden
12 years ago
Hi Barbara,
Them ole days is done gone away. Sigh.
BTW, I'm not a born southerner, (more of a yankee liberal) but did get drawn slowly into the cadence. Places in the heart...
Christine
flowerchild59
12 years ago
I swapped many plants 10 years ago or so, but nematodes and viruses put a stop to all of that. I really enjoyed the friendships and fun that we all had from the plants though. Sigh......
linda_p
12 years ago
I was one of those old-time plant swappers. I don't post often anymore, but still check in now and again. Nematodes and HVX ended the swapping for me. It was good fun while it lasted, though!
hostaLes
12 years ago
I have done a little swapping - but only when I have seen the gardens where the incoming plants come from and know the gardener is as conscious of and concerned about HVX and nemitodes as I am. With this approach I am more concerned about purchasing infected plants than swapped plants.

I am amazed at how even established nurseries seem unconcerned about selling infected plants. The owner of one, last year, at least knew what HVX was, but felt he sold only "safe" plants because he didn't buy from Dutch sources-only from American sources.

If I found an HVX infection in any of my hosta I would never swap until I felt it was under control. I have in the past maintained a "quarantine garden" for new intoduction I might question. I know transplanting them then can slow development of a hosta, but feel it is the lesser of two evils.

I am sure the quarantine approach comes from my tropical fish experiences, where I often quarantine new fish for months before placing them in my aquarium of choice. It is much easier and less risky to treat a couple of fish in a small tank than hundreds of fish in large tanks. Same with hostas.

Les

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