Connecticut Residents: Don’t Plant The Mystery Seeds in Your Mailbox

Did you recently get an unsolicited package of seeds in the mail here in Connecticut? Don't plant them, and don't throw them right into the trash.

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station have issued an advisory on ct.gov warning residents of Connecticut to be wary of unsolicited packages of seeds arriving in the mail. Way back in the innocent 1970's & 80's it was pretty common to get plant seeds in the mail from local or national gardening clubs, and veggie seed companies, but it's not so common now in 2025. The type of seed is not identified, but there have been numerous reports from across Connecticut.

If you do receive a mystery package of seeds in the mail, do not just throw the envelope into the garbage. The CT Department of Agriculture strongly suggests that you (If possible) bring the mystery seeds to Wallingford to drop them off in a sealed ziplock bag, with your name, address, and phone number on it, to the USDA Plant Protection and Quarantine Office at 97 Barnes Road.

Too complicated? Can't make it to Wallingford? No problem - According to the USDA you should wrap the unopened seed package in duct tape, then put the duct tape ball into a ziplock bag, burp the air out, wrap it in another layer of duct tape, and toss the whole thing into a dark, dry garbage container.

If you've already planted these mystery seeds, send an email to caes.stateentomologist@ct.gov, and await further instruction.