I buy veg Plants from my local market, that way i get what will grow in my area. if you want to buy seeds to use after TSHTF you need to buy "heritage" seeds not hybrid (F1 type) seeds as any plant grown with hybrid seeds will be infertile.
(4 December 2011, 11:03)bigpaul Wrote: [ -> ]I buy veg Plants from my local market, that way i get what will grow in my area. if you want to buy seeds to use after TSHTF you need to buy "heritage" seeds not hybrid (F1 type) seeds as any plant grown with hybrid seeds will be infertile.
Didnt know that either, ta very muchly.
All F1 seeds, which is what you normally get in packets from a shop or garden centre, are GM(genetically modified) to be non reproductive, so that you have to go back each year to buy fresh seed from the shop or supplier, thats how these seed companies make their money.
BP,
I had that understanding but it is not 100% true.
I had this discussion on the main site a while ago. The seed farmers buy is sterile but the stuff we buy will reproduce but not always with the same properties. For example a pea with cold resistance may produce other peas but without the cold resistance.
I contacted a manufacturer and they confirmed it. So we can use F1 seeds but your point is true. Buy heirloom by default for our long term supplies. However you should also have hybrid for short term, because some grow quicker, bigger and in more hostile conditions. Ideal for us straight away after an event.
So I decided to buy some hybrids but mainly heirloom.
Buy F1's for Now but if you want to store seeds buy Heritage or Non Hybrid types SD, it is true some F1's MAY grow seeds that will grow again but they dont grow true and there will be some variation, and not ALL seeds will grow again, so to be actually certain i personally would NOT store hybrid seed.
BP,
Exactly. Just pointing out that we should not ignore F1 seeds. They have their uses. When I started looking at seeds though I found that finding heirloom was difficult. Most seeds now are genetically modiied in one way or another and I was concerned. Now I now that they have their place I can fit both into my plans.
you will find them listed in seed catalogues as "non hybrid" if it dosent say this then they are F1.
The Organic Gardening Catalogue is available from
http://www.Organic Catalogue.com. They were formally known as the Henry Doubleday Association. They have a heirloom section but this is seperate from the catalogue. You probably have to be a member to access it. However, it does not cost anything, just ask for it and they will mail it free. Kenneth Eames.
Appologies for my error, website should read
http://www.OrganicCatalogue.com. No gap between Organic and Catalogue. Sorry. Another good catalogue is
http://www.suffolkherbs.com. They sell vegetables as well as herbs. Kenneth Eames.
thankyou kenneth just ordered mine