- Author: Ed Perry
Hybrid
Most of the dependable varieties of vegetables that you grow in your garden are from hybrid seeds that were developed to improve the yield, quality, and dependability of crops. However, along with these advantages, the opportunity to grow seeds at home was lost because hybrid seed must be grown under very special conditions not found in most home gardens.
Hybrid seeds result from crosses between parent plants that are unlike. These crosses bring together the desirable characteristics of the parents, and allow you to grow better quality vegetables. However, any seed you save from hybrid plants and grow the next season will produce plants and fruits that have unknown and usually unfavorable characteristics. If you want to grow hybrids, the only solution is to purchase new hybrid seeds each season.
Open pollinated from plants that cross with other kinds of plants
A number of vegetable crops, including corn, squash and melons, cross-pollinate in your garden. In order to grow genetically sound seed from these crops, you must plant them at a considerable distance from similar plants. The distance varies for different crops, but ranges from several hundred feet to a quarter of a mile. Saving seeds from this group of vegetables is likely to give you disappointing results, unless you enjoy growing odd vegetables.
Open pollinated from plants that do not cross with other kinds of plants
Examples are tomatoes (non-hybrids), peas, beans, peppers and eggplant. You may save satisfactory seed from these crops from one year to the next for several years. However, even with these crops, a little genetic change takes place from year to year, so it's a good idea to get new seed every three to four years.
As a gardener, I get really excited to plant some of my favorite foods. Broccoli, cauliflower, swiss chard, kale, and lettuce always grace my table each fall and into the winter months. Carrots and sugar snap peas greet me next to my front door. Green and purple cabbage have even lined my walkway tempting me with thoughts of the sauerkraut that will be made from their crunchy heads.
While the majority of my experience has been with planting my veggies in raised beds and in ground, when I was first starting out on my gardening venture I planted several varieties in pots and containers. Lettuce, carrots, sugar snap peas, have all grown well for me in containers.
The best thing about growing lettuce, especially romaine, is that you can harvest the lettuce throughout out the season. By snipping off the older, outer leaves, you can keep your lettuce growing and extend your harvest. I usually sow my seeds every two weeks just to make sure I have lettuce all fall and winter long.
Sugar snap and snow peas are great for containers. I've normally use transplants from the nursery but seeds will work just as well. Choose a container that is quite sturdy as these peas like to have a trellis to grow upon. Place a homemade trellis in the pot and place your transplants or seeds about two inches away from the trellis. Alternately, I have placed my peas in pot next to a pretty trellis leaning against the garage wall and they have loved it. The best thing about growing peas is the more you harvest, the more they produce.
Carrots, for me, are a little trickier. First time I tried them the container wasn't deep enough and I had these little stunted carrots. Choosing a deep container or pot, at least 12” led to better success and a very tasty treat. Remember to thin out your carrots as well or you'll have some very interestingly shaped and twined carrots. They are still edible, but don't look very pretty.
Yes, fall is one of my favorite times of year. Not just for the weather, but for the abundance of produce that we can grow here in the Central Valley. Fall veggie container gardening is a great way to get started on your adventures in gardening.
Terry will be co-teaching our upcoming Fall Vegetable Gardening class on August 25. Save the date! More details coming soon.