moving to Ireland

21 years ago

There is a good chance that my family will be moving to Ireland next spring and I would like some advice about getting my more unusual seeds over there. I've looked online about plant/seed bans and I can't find anything. Some of my morning glory seeds can't be found at retailers in the UK or the US and I would hate to lose them. I was thinking of breaking them up into a few groups and having people mail them separately so that I might get at least one group, but perhaps I don't need to go to so much trouble? I also have some plants that have been with me for fourteen years that I would really like to ship there instead of leaving them in the US. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you! Renee

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Comments (5)

shrubs_n_bulbs
21 years ago
I know the UK regulations on plant importas and expect that those to Ireland will be similar. All imports of live plant material require a phytosanitary certificate and some are completely prohibited. There are exemptions for most seeds. There are exemptions for small quantities of live plants for household use from some countriues, but not from the USA. The relevant website for Ireland may have some information specific to that country.

I would suggest that mailing seeds is really pretty straightforward, although technically restricted, unless you are mailing big boxes of the things. I've never lost any small enevelope of seeds mailed to me in England. Mailing plants is controlled much more strictly and I wouldn't try it.

On the Morning Glory, my advice would be don't bother. Ireland is neither hot enough nor sunny enough and you will be disappointed. They grow OK in the southeast of England in a nice baking sunny spot, but nothing like the rampant beasts they are in the US. More generally, get used to growing different plants, because 90% of what thrives in Texas won't thrive in Ireland.
nuggy
21 years ago
Hi Renee

Where abouts in Ireland will you be moving to?

Don't forget there are many plants you can grow here that won't tolerate the heat in the USA.

Sue (in Ireland)
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Claire_W
21 years ago
Also depending on which part of Ireland you're going to you will quite possibly have a longer growing season too for a lot of veggies, which might be nice!

If you check out thompsonandmorgan.co.uk they have a pretty good web site and the plants and seeds they have available will be suitable for the climate in Ireland as well as the UK.

Wow, you are going to have such a shock moving from Texas to Ireland, it's going to be amazing for you!!! It will be so GREEN there all year round! Even when there are no leaves on the trees there will be brilliant green grass all winter.
ionads
21 years ago
Hi Renee,

If you're moving to the south-east of Ireland, the weather is quite mild, but the growing season is short. I grow several Morning Glories and they all flower, but the flowers are smaller than the ones I grow in my polytunnel.

You will have to forget about all those lovely heat-loving plants that grow so well in Texas I'm afraid. You would only be able to grow them in a greenhouse, and there too they wouldn't grow as well as in the US.

But we do have a plethora of other very beautiful plants that will do wonderfully well for you in Ireland.

The main problem that most gardeners face over here (i.e. if you are close to the coastline, and who isn't on this emerald isle!) is wind damage, so if you intend to grow any of your plants from Texas, if they cannot withstand the strong winds here, they will get scorched very soon.

Re. mailing seeds to Ireland, you won't have a problem with those, just send small packets. But it would be more difficult to send plants in the post. The question you have to ask yourself is whether they will grow even if they get through the post!

Best of luck, Iona
Anchoress
21 years ago
Ireland varies greatly... I am in Co Leitrim, inland, and high up...midlands, north west, but facing south and very sheltered. After Orkney where I lived before the climate is balmy..Wind is not a problem all over Ireland
There are good sources of seed and advice here. See
http://www.irishseedsavers.ie/
and http://www.theorganiccentre.ie/
I have passion flowers in a polytunnel...
A wonderful adventure awaits you..Please mail me if you want, via my web site...

I have successfully sent live shamrock to the USA more than once...

Here is a link that might be useful: Anchorhold

moving to Ireland

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shrubs_n_bulbs

nuggy

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