How to set up 2 different shipping base rates?

I have items I need to send priority and items that will send USPS first class mail. How do I limit the option to each product, and also need to ship 2 different times a year?

Example: Plants are shipped in Spring, Seed packets shipped now.

Plants get shipped priority with a base rate of $5.00 (plus added sho weight per quantity ordered) (shipped in Spring)

Seed packets on the same order get shipped Now with a base rate of $2.00

How do I set this up so customers know I will be shipping their order out (per product chosen) 2 different times?

Another example: A customer order
(ships in Spring priority)
(1) plant of one variety ($5.00+ based on zip code)
(10) plants of another variety (+ weight of 4 lbs)

(ships separatley (now) first class mail)
(1) arthritis salve (base rate $2.00)
(5) seed packets + weight of 0.5 oz ea=2.5 oz

Total shipping should be ($5 + 4lbs (priority)+$2+2.5 oz (first class mail) (based on zip code)

How do I set this scenario up?

thank you!
Wendy

I think you should look into a custom module to do that the way you want.

windowla:

I have items I need to send priority and items that will send USPS first class mail. How do I limit the option to each product, and also need to ship 2 different times a year?

Example: Plants are shipped in Spring, Seed packets shipped now.

Plants get shipped priority with a base rate of $5.00 (plus added sho weight per quantity ordered) (shipped in Spring)

Seed packets on the same order get shipped Now with a base rate of $2.00

How do I set this up so customers know I will be shipping their order out (per product chosen) 2 different times?

Another example: A customer order
(ships in Spring priority)
(1) plant of one variety ($5.00+ based on zip code)
(10) plants of another variety (+ weight of 4 lbs)

(ships separatley (now) first class mail)
(1) arthritis salve (base rate $2.00)
(5) seed packets + weight of 0.5 oz ea=2.5 oz

Total shipping should be ($5 + 4lbs (priority)+$2+2.5 oz (first class mail) (based on zip code)

How do I set this scenario up?

thank you!
Wendy

Better yet...how do I simply set a base rate for a category and have the cart just add the weight of additional items without adding the base rate for each and every item plus it's weight?