Variety Name, or 'Can I Google this?'
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Hello all,
This is my first year gardening, and I’m learning as I go. This winter it was garden planning, and collecting seed catalogues. This spring it was building beds, seed starting, and grow light setups. Now I’m learning about saving seed for next year but – Oops! I didn’t think of that when I ordered my seeds and I don’t know what I can save. I know the ones marked as hybrid are right out, and the ones marked as heirloom are okay. But what about the ones that are not labeled (which is most of them, really).
So my question is this… Are seeds that are named the same, the same? For example, if I were to Google the radish ‘Cherry Belle’ and it was listed as open-pollinated or heirloom elsewhere could I assume that my ‘Cherry Belle’ seeds are too?
Thank you,
-Kiri.1 thumbs up!Posted about 1 year ago -
Simple answer is yet. Most likely if you google & find it stated that it your variety is OP, it should be the same from every source. BUT, some websites mis-name or mis-label seeds, some don’t list hybrids, sometimes there is a hybrid & an OP with the same name.
Unless you have very unusual varieties it shouldn’t be hard to reseach them. You can use the Folia database, compare it to Daves Garden, compared to a general google search. Or just post the ones that you are unsure of & see if the Folians know the variety (:
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0 thumbs up!Posted about 1 year ago | Last edited about 1 year ago
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You might also like to look at a catalogue or two of only heirloom / OP varieties and see what jumps out at you. For instance, this year I bought eschalion shallot seeds ‘Zebrune’ from T&M – not knowing or believing them to be OP – then found the same variety on sale at realseeds.co.uk which confirms that it is, in fact, OP.
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0 thumbs up!Posted about 1 year ago
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Pick up a copy of [i]Seed to Seed[/i]
http://www.amazon.com/Seed-Growing-Techniques-Vegetable-Gardeners/dp/1882424581/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336099636&sr=8-1or/and The Seed Saver’s Handbook
http://www.amazon.com/The-New-Seed-Starters-Handbook/dp/0878577521/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1336099636&sr=8-10Both are excellent. The latter is a bit more accessible to beginners.
Hybrid seed can be saved, but there is no guarantee it will come true to type when planted.
“Heirloom” seed is open-pollinated, these are varieties that have stabilized over time so they come true to type. However, you need to also learn about cross-pollination. Some plants easily cross so seed may not come true to type. Squash, melons and pumpkins are all cross pollinators. If you have zucchini and pumpkins in the same garden, saved seed is quite likely to give you a zumpkin.
Most gardeners seem to agree that tomatoes and beans do not easily cross (within their species). You should be able to save seeds from both with surety. Beans are easy to save – you just let them dry on the vine and then crush them out of their pods. (Store in the freezer for at least two weeks after drying to kill any weevil larvae).
Tomato seeds need to be fermented and dried before storage. A quick google will reveal the method, it sounds intimidating but it’s quite easy.
Opinions on cross-pollination of pepper plants varies. Some say they cross readily, others disagree.
When species are known to cross, the only way to ensure pure seed in a small garden is to isolate the plants (using screens or blossom bags to keep out insects) and hand-pollinate.
My suggestion for you is to pick a few easy to save plants like beans and tomatoes for this year. Then read up on methods over fall and winter in prep for next season.
Have fun. And welcome to folia!
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0 thumbs up!Posted about 1 year ago
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Thank you for your wonderful replies. You guys are super.
I have been able to google pretty much all of my seeds. I’ve emailed the seed companies to ask about the last few.
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0 thumbs up!Posted about 1 year ago
Hi there! You're reading a conversation in the Seed Saving group on Folia.
This group is for those interested in seed-saving, i.e. collecting seeds from existing plants for future use and maintaining your own seed bank.
Relevant topics include seed-saving techniques, which seeds to save and why, preserving and storing seed, viability of stored seed, etc.
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