- Author: Delise Weir
- Contributor: Growing Vegetables Subject Group
- Editor: Kamille Hammerstrom
A few things to consider when choosing seed
Commercial vs. Boutique Sources
Growing commercial seed requires certain latitudes for some varieties to grow. Large companies such as Burpee and Park source from large commercial growers in China, Eastern Europe and US within appropriate latitude ranges. Smaller, boutique seed companies such as Baker Creek and Bountiful Gardens contract with a network of farmers who grow seed on commission.
Open Pollinated vs. Hybrid
Open pollinated seeds breed true to seed. That means if you plant it, grow it and save seed from it, then plant the saved seed, you will get the same genetic characteristics as the parent plant in future generations. Heirloom seeds are open-pollinated because the integrity of the seed is passed down through generations.
Hybrid, also known as “ F1,” are seeds intentionally crossed between two varieties of the same species. The resulting cross, or mix of genetic inputs, results in a unique variety with unique characteristics. If you plant a hybrid, grow a hybrid, save seed from a hybrid and then plant that saved seed, you will NOT get the same plant as the parent; it will revert to one or another of the original varieties that made up the crossed hybrid. See the table below for a summary of the differences between open-pollinated and hybrid seeds.
Open-Pollinated (OP) | Hybrid (F-1) | |
Seed Saving | True-to-type year after year.* | Must be purchased every year, does not breed true. |
Diversity | Wide ranging selection of varieties to choose from. | Selection limited to commercially viable crops due to cost of production. |
Genetic Implications | Plants grown year after year adapt to local growing conditions. Maintains diversity in the gene pool of food plants. | Bred for desirable characteristics such as disease resistance or unique size, color, growth habit etc. |
* Some plants are “self-pollinating” others require 2 plants to set seed. Self-pollinating OP plants breed to the parent plant but those that require more than one plant to reproduce (i.e. male and female) have the potential to accidentally cross in your garden, creating an unintended hybrid.
Other questions about selecting seeds
GMO – Genetic engineering (GE) is a very expensive process and at this point, is reserved for large scale commodity crops like corn, soy and other grains. It probably won't be a problem for the home gardeners to differentiate GE seeds from non-GE seeds for some time but until labeling is required you won't really know. According to Monsanto's website, “In the United States, there are only two vegetables that have been developed by genetic modification: sweet corn and squash.” The best way to ensure you're getting non-GE seed is to buy open-pollinated, heirloom and/or organic seeds.
Where do I get them?
Local nurseries – The quick and easy way to pick up a packet of seed is to go to the local nursery or hardware/box store on the rack. Check the package for hybrid(F-1) vs. Open Pollinated (OP). It's easy to find a broad selection of vegetables, herbs and flowers in garden centers by Renee's Garden and Botanical Interests which both sport gorgeous illustrations and detailed planting advice. Sometimes you'll find a Seeds of Change organic seed rack and in the Monterey Bay Area.
Catalogs and websites – By far the greatest variety will come from a little homework and it's fun to browse through the catalogs or surf seed descriptions. Paper catalogs are often free but websites are always available. Here is a fairly complete list of US seed companies followed by some specific sourcing tips.
Just a few of the many heirloom seed sources:
Ethnic/Culinary sources:
- Asian: Kitzawa and Evergreen Seeds
- Italian: Franchi (sometimes found in garden centers)
- Central American & Southwest: Native seeds
Organic-only sources:
Broad Selection one-stop-show catalogs – Sometimes one doesn't have the time to review 50 websites to find a packet of radish seed. Here are a few broad selection catalogs that make it easy to find what you're looking for in one place.
Broad selection sources:
- Johnny's Selected Seeds
- Burpee - includes a nifty planting guide by zip, and gardening supplies
- Park Seed
Now that I have them, how long will my seeds last? Can I use last years' seed?
That depends on what kind of seed you're using and how it is stored. For example, lettuce and onion seeds are usually only good for 1-2 years if stored properly, tomato seeds can last 10 years. Store seeds in a cool dry environment, a tightly sealed zip lock bag or jar in the freezer is ideal. However, LET THE CONTAINER COME TO ROOM TEMP BEFORE YOU OPEN THE JAR OR BAG so condensation doesn't get the seeds wet. I keep mine in jars in a cool, dark closet and that works for me.
Reference links
http://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/files/29795.pdf
http://www.monsanto.com/products/pages/genetically-modified-vegetable-seeds.aspx
http://www.thefarmersdaughterusa.com/2014/10/excuse-me-why-is-your-seed-blue.html
http://www.hortmag.com/weekly-tips/propagation/how-to-know-if-garden-seed-is-viable
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Happy New Year 2012 to everyone! The parties are over, the leftovers are gone, and the weather is a little gray. What is a gardener to do? Well, there are some very wonderful seed catalogs available to spark your imagination and help you plan for a new year. They may even offer you the opportunity to plan for a spring or summer vacation centered on gardening events.
Two new catalogs for me both offer heirloom and open-pollinated seeds. An open-pollinated (OP) variety is one that breeds true from seed, meaning the seed saved from the parent plant will grow offspring with the same characteristics. OP seed is produced by allowing the natural flow of pollen between different plants of the same variety. Heirloom varieties are OP varieties with a long history of being cultivated and saved within a family or group. They have evolved by natural or human selection over time.
A hybrid variety, on the other hand, does not breed true from seed. Hybrid seed is produced by crossing two different parent varieties of the same species. Hybrids do not remain true in generations after the initial cross and cannot be saved from generation to generation unchanged. So if you like to save seeds from your favorite flowers or super sweet tomatoes, this is good to know.
As I was looking through the beautiful pictures in Seed Savers Exchange and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, I noticed that Crane melons were in each catalog. These melons bring back memories of my childhood in Sonoma County. The melons were introduced in the 1920’s by Oliver Crane whose family farmed six generations near Santa Rosa, California. The melon is a pear-shaped Crenshaw-type fruit that grows 3-5 pounds. The yellow green skin is covered in dark freckles and is ready for picking when the freckles turn orange. The light orange flesh has a great sweet flavor and takes 75-85 days to produce. Perhaps they will ripen even faster under Solano sun.
To get copies of the Seed Savers Exchange catalog from Decorah, Iowa go to www.seedsavers.org. The Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds can be found at www.rareseeds.com. Although Baker Creek is based out of Mansfield, Missouri, there is a seed store in Petaluma, called the Seed Bank, originally the first Bank of America building in town. Both catalogs have calendars of garden events for 2012 and even some free webinars that don’t require travel.
- Author: Susan Christiansen
One of the most striking peppers out there is an African-American heirloom fish pepper, Capsicum annuum. Its variegated green and white leaves with green and yellow striped peppers really stand out in a vegetable garden. The color of the fruit ranges from green, orange, brown, white, and red (watch out for the heat on the red). Mildly hot in the green form, these peppers can be used in many dishes, especially fish and shellfish dishes.
The pepper came to America in the 1870s and was widely grown in the Philadelphia and Baltimore areas. It is a secret ingredient in fish recipes, not showing up in cookbooks, but known through oral tradition.
Easy to grow in containers as well as raised and ground gardens, this pepper needs full sun, water 2-3 times per week until established, and mature in 80 days. Because of its handsome display, the plant is valued by ornamental landscapers.
You can get seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds; I ordered starters from Redwood Barn in Davis; Morningsun Herb Farm might also be able to order them.
One of my favorite fish dishes is grilled salmon, especially if I caught the salmon in Sitka, Alaska.
Grilled Salmon with Fish Peppers
2 salmon fillets
2-3 Tbsp olive oil
1/8-1/4 cup white wine
juice from 1 lemon or 1 orange
minced garlic to taste
salt and pepper to taste
minced fish pepper to taste
Marinade fillets in all ingredients for about 3 hours. Grill for 5-7 minutes on side depending on how well done you like your salmon. Enjoy.
![green peppers with milky variegation green peppers with milky variegation](http://ucanr.org/blogs/USS/blogfiles/9565.jpg)
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