House plants, fruits and veggies

Friends have the same issue when they come to Canada for air shows and the like.

They use UPS to box and ship, marked as "live plants", the plants to themselves. All they do is pick the UPS store nearest their border crossing point, then mark the package as "hold for store pickup" and send it off.

We got into Canada with salad veggies in Calais (I wish I would have brought more!).

Returning to usa I had some salad veggies. She check the origin of the pepper, asked about citrus and left. That was at the entry south of montreal in ny.

House plants...give it away or wait and see if they take it. I don't think they will like the soil.

harold1946 wrote:
We go back and forth every year with plants, never had a problem. That is into BC and Sas. Other provinces may be different.

Yep, us too. One houseplant sits on the dash in clear sight of everyone and we've never had an issue with it. We've never been questioned about plants and have crossed the border at least 20 times since 2006. We've crossed at Skagway, Haines, Sweetgrass, AB, Dawson City, YT, Idaho, Detroit and Niagra. If I'm ever asked about it, I'd, of course tell them up front I have it, but I don't volunteer information they do not ask about. We have been given one 2 hour close examination and have had at least 5 US and Canadian customs officers entered the rig without a comment or question.

John

The problem isn't so much the plant as it is the soil, there are too many problems that can occur when bring soil from one area into another, they worry about plant diseases and insects that can travel in soil. We have the same problem going into the states or back from Mexico.

Please see stickys at top of page.

I have known someone to apply to send a plant across the border. It wasn't totally impossible then , but severely restricted with all kinds of things you had to do to make sure you were not taking dangerous infective things from one country to another.

So, go direct http://www.inspection.gc.ca/plants/imports/eng/1299168480001/1299168593866 Pick up the phone and call. Sit there waiting to get through. If it's that important to you comply with all regulations and make sure you've checked them out every which way.

One thought, find a florist, greenhouse, or some other plant commercial establishment and pay them to keep your plants. Idea, check out radio talk shows near border. Someone will be answering call in questions about gardening. & that person will know who might keep your plants while you're in Canada and may know how many $ you'll have to pay to make that happen.

:S

We go back and forth every year with plants, never had a problem. That is into BC and Sas. Other provinces may be different.

Oh wow! That bothers me. We full time and I have no place to leave my plants. My few plants help make our motorhome a home. One is a cactus garden I bought several years ago in Arizona and another is a grafted cacti from New Mexico. One is a babied variegated miniature corn plant.

We are crossing from Niagara and taking the ferry from Tobermory to South Baymouth and across to Sault Ste. Marie back into the U.S. Any ideas for my plants would be VERY helpful. Thank you.

If you can take your plants into Canada, you will NOT be allowed to enter back into the USA with your plants. They most likely will be seized and destroyed at the border. If you can’t leave them at home your next best action would be to have someone on the south side of the border “hold” them for you until you return.

Lakeside

I had some nice New Guinea Impatiens at our NY state seasonal campsite and wanted to bring them home. I asked at the Canadian Customs before doing so and was told adamantly no plants whatsoever.

Keep the fruits and veggies low as they may or may not allow them across. It changes all the time and from one area to another. As for house plants, I think you are not allowed any type of living plants. We were told that a couple of years ago, but maybe someone has more updated information. The same would hold true for returning to the USA including the live plants...they may not allow them back into the USA.
Best to leave home without them....

Where are you all heading to...need any suggestions on places to see and things to do??????