Sourcing Rare Seeds
Hello everyone, and welcome back! Today, I’m excited to share a fantastic seed sourcing tip with you. Earlier this week, I stumbled across an intriguing post on Instagram showcasing a bronze bupleurum. This reminded me of our humble yet wonderful green bupleurum, which is currently in full bloom.
Starting Bupleurum
Bupleurum is often misunderstood when it comes to seed starting. Contrary to some beliefs, starting these seeds is a breeze. Our current crop of bupleurum self-seeded from last year’s plants. Even in cold climates like ours, they drop their seeds and flourish with gusto. They produce an abundance of seeds, as those tiny flowers transform into seeds themselves, allowing you to collect handfuls effortlessly.
However, here's the catch: the biggest mistake some growers make is starting bupleurum in warm spaces like seed trays or greenhouses. Rather, bupleurum thrives with cold stratification. If you buy seeds now or in the fall, you can cast them out in your garden in the fall, and allow them to experience the cold. Last winter was exceptionally long and cold, and our plants are thriving more than ever! Don’t be afraid.
The Quest for Rare Seeds
Now, to find rare seeds like the bronze bupleurum, I recently noticed a comment thread under an Instagram post about its beauty. Enthusiastic gardeners expressed their desperation to acquire this stunning plant. It piqued my interest, and I delved into a bit of detective work to find out why this seed was hard to come by in the U.S.
My search led me to discover that many UK companies offer this seed. However, none of them shipped to the U.S., which was a minor setback. Through further research, I realized that these seeds had been circulating within the UK gardening community for quite some time. I even considered reaching out directly to UK seed companies and gardeners in hopes of obtaining the seed.
A Small Business Hack: AI to the Rescue
Before taking such steps, I thought of trying a tech-savvy solution—ChatGPT. Some might raise an eyebrow at using AI, but there are aspects of AI I find incredibly beneficial for small businesses. With a simple prompt into ChatGPT, I discovered that a family-run company in South Carolina, GeoSeed, carries the elusive seed. You’ll need to download their catalogue to find it and place an order.
The traditional search engines didn’t surface this information, likely because many small plant companies still use outdated PDF catalogs that are not indexed online. ChatGPT saved me a trip to England and a heap of time!
Not Just About the Seeds
In conclusion, if you're having trouble finding a product, try using ChatGPT or a similar AI tool before booking your flight abroad. It could uncover hidden gems not picked up by regular web searches. Of course, there are plenty of great reasons to visit England, too!
Thank you all for joining me today. Happy gardening, and until next time!