Choosing The Right Seeds
Good morning my favourite class of growers-that-will-change-the-world! Let's begin today's lesson on choosing the right seeds... Although you only need to purchase seeds just before you start planting, a prior knowledge of... Darryl, are you being naughty?? I said ARE YOU BEING NAUGHTY??? Then tell me, what do you plan to do with that compass in your hand? ...before we start planting, a knowledge of the various seed types is important. Right now, the Rolls Royce of seeds, "Certified Organic" are both difficult to find and very expensive. One of the primary goals ofPlanting Season is to increase demand for good quality seeds. Don't listen to the economics text books! If we increase the demand for organic seeds, then the price will come DOWN. Organic (or close to organic) seeds are available locally (albeit sporadically), but already seed growers are preparing to supply a wide variety of high quality seeds at much lower prices. They just need someone to sell to!To create demand, go to your nursery and ask for organic seeds. If they don't have certified organic, then ask them for the closest they have to what nature intended. If they try to bamboozle you with rubbish about pests and the importance of chemical fertilizers, say "no thank you!" For a small backyard garden or indoor planter, you do not need to destroy your soil with chemicals. Remember, pests are very reluctant to attack healthy plants that are cared for and loved (just like us!) An understanding of seeds is so important that I'm going to waffle on a bit here before I bring in our resident expert. It is believed that because of global monoculture (the growing of the same farm crop over and over again in the same soil) coupled with the desire to maximise yields, around two thirds of the worlds variety of seeds have all but vanished. Around the world right now a few organisations are painstakingly preserving some of the most magnificent species of plants you can imagine. They are waiting for it to become feasible to release them back to the world. In other words, they are waiting for us. Search Google for the Doubleday Association (HDRA) or take a look at:http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/02/photogalleries/seedvault-pictures/photo6.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svalbard_Global_Seed_Vault
How can you and I increase the demand and proliferation of seeds right now? Through KNOWLEDGE. And that is why today's special guest is Simon Hodgson. Simon is a seed fanatic. I know he's a seed fanatic because I spoke to him on the phone for an hour and hardly got a word in. This man just loves seeds. Maybe that's why he as 12 children? (Just kidding).
Simon, before you choose a seed, what do you need to do?You first need to ensure that you have the basics correct. All of these points, I believe, will be covered in later lessons? Before we choose seeds, we need to make sure that:
So how do we choose the right seed?In South Africa we generally have Open Pollinated varieties and Hybrid varieties available to us. These are available in the form of seed and seedlings from any number of outlets such as Supermarkets, DIY shops, Garden Supply Stores as well as Nurseries and Landscaping Outlets.
What is the difference in the types of seed available?OPEN POLLINATED SEEDS Open Pollinated Varieties or OP varieties. These are plants, which when left to produce their own seed, will produce a seed, which when allowed to germinate, will have the same characteristics as the parent plant from which it originated. (So if you want to keep your own seed, once you have produced a crop, this is the type of seed you need to plant.) All traditional heirloom varieties, which have stood the test of time and give reliable yields, are open pollinated seeds. Heirloom Varieties also ensure that we have a wide genetic spectrum of vegetables and varieties to choose from. HYBRID SEEDS Hybrid seeds are the first generation (F1) offspring of two distant and distinct parent lines of the same species. Hybrids are developed for disease tolerance, size, speed of growth, taste – in fact for any reason which may be considered desirable. Because they are a cross and need both a male and female parent, the seed produced by hybrids will not necessarily produce a plant similar to itself, as an OP would. Seeds taken from a hybrid may either be sterile or more commonly fail to breed true – that is, not exhibiting the desired traits of the F1 generation. Most seed producing companies have breeding and production programs to continually try to improve these varieties, and more importantly maintain the desired traits of the hybrid. As a result of the processes involved with producing hybrid seed and the time and money spent on developing these hybrids, (a lot of them are hand pollinated) - the seed generally tends to be more expensive and aimed at the commercial grower as opposed to the household organic gardener. As a rule of thumb, commercial nurseries use hybrid varieties of vegetables, as opposed to open pollinated varieties. Hybrids should not be mistakenly called GMO’s or genetically modified organisms, which are any organism which has been genetically altered using molecular genetics techniques such as gene cloning or protein engineering.
What about Organic Seeds? Other types of seed which are available are Organic Seeds and seeds which are commonly termed Heirloom Seeds. In South Africa Organic seed production is in its infancy. Organic seeds are self explanatory in that they are produced under certified organic growing conditions, i.e. without the aid of pesticides and herbicides. Heirloom seeds are generally considered to be seeds from open pollinated varieties which are 50 years old or older. These open pollinated varieties have kept their characteristics over time, they are no different to standard OP’s but are just older varieties.
How do you go about choosing which seeds to get? When making a decision what type of seed to plant – either a hybrid or an OP an organic or an heirloom variety – decide what you want from it. If you want to keep your own seed, then grow an OP, if the crop will never have a chance to set seed then you may consider a hybrid. In South Africa the bulk of commercially produced vegetables are hybrids. For example, if the crop is one such as Cabbage, Cauliflower or Broccoli - where we eat the developing flower of the plant and the plant doesn’t have a chance to fully develop its flower and set seed, then a hybrid variety with increased disease tolerances may be considered, or on the other hand, if the crop is something like a pumpkin or gem squash or butternut squash, where the seed is fully developed in the fruit – an OP may be used, as the seed can be hollowed out and saved. Both OP and Hybrid varieties can be grown organically – ask your seed seller or your nurseryman and they will be able to tell you which varieties are open pollinated and which ones are hybrids, you can then make an informed choice. Seeds may be selected according to individual needs and wants – either open pollinated, hybrid or organically produced. When growing those seeds, ensure that soil health is maximised, as a healthy, working soil will help reduce the incidence of plant pathogenic organisms.
If a seed has been modified using natural selection, is this a bad thing?Natural selection is just that – no man made interference. If a seed has a characteristic bred into it, it is usually a hybrid. All open pollinated seeded varieties have been as a result of natural selection, or the age old adage of “survival of the fittest.” Here nature ensures that the dominant genes survive for the furtherance of the species or variety. If a seed has been modified in any way by human input then natural selection falls away from the cultivar. What does happen with OP varieties is that we as humans observe the desirable traits as they occur and then select those particular plants to continue that cultivar. For example – we came across one passion fruit plant that produced multiple flowers, and as a result potentially multiple fruits at each leaf axil instead of only one flower, and one fruit. Instead of harvesting the fruit we kept them to take seed from, to ensure we could get this trait in the next planting, to increase yields. A simple way in which desirable characteristics are passed on by selection and nothing else. We did not modify the seed – nature did that. We did select it though - because of its characteristics. This is how OP varieties adapt themselves, and we take advantage of it. Happy growing!! Thank you Simon!! Under biodynamic principles (the purest of all growing methods), you should not plant anything but the purest seeds. Seeds that have been altered by man in any way cannot be used and, under this method, they are planted and harvested according to celestial cycles. Please avoid using genetically modified seeds at all costs. Ask for the most natural wherever you go because we need to increase demand for good quality seeds and therefore good quality produce!
How can you and I increase the demand and proliferation of seeds right now? Through KNOWLEDGE. And that is why today's special guest is Simon Hodgson. Simon is a seed fanatic. I know he's a seed fanatic because I spoke to him on the phone for an hour and hardly got a word in. This man just loves seeds. Maybe that's why he as 12 children? (Just kidding).
Simon, before you choose a seed, what do you need to do?You first need to ensure that you have the basics correct. All of these points, I believe, will be covered in later lessons? Before we choose seeds, we need to make sure that:
- Our soil is prepared and ready to go,
- We have a nutrition and organic spray program formulated for the plants we are going to plant,
- We know what crop we are going to plant and when,
- We know how long it will take to grow until we can harvest and eat it,
- We have a rotation plan as well as a green manuring and composting procedure in place
So how do we choose the right seed?In South Africa we generally have Open Pollinated varieties and Hybrid varieties available to us. These are available in the form of seed and seedlings from any number of outlets such as Supermarkets, DIY shops, Garden Supply Stores as well as Nurseries and Landscaping Outlets.
What is the difference in the types of seed available?OPEN POLLINATED SEEDS Open Pollinated Varieties or OP varieties. These are plants, which when left to produce their own seed, will produce a seed, which when allowed to germinate, will have the same characteristics as the parent plant from which it originated. (So if you want to keep your own seed, once you have produced a crop, this is the type of seed you need to plant.) All traditional heirloom varieties, which have stood the test of time and give reliable yields, are open pollinated seeds. Heirloom Varieties also ensure that we have a wide genetic spectrum of vegetables and varieties to choose from. HYBRID SEEDS Hybrid seeds are the first generation (F1) offspring of two distant and distinct parent lines of the same species. Hybrids are developed for disease tolerance, size, speed of growth, taste – in fact for any reason which may be considered desirable. Because they are a cross and need both a male and female parent, the seed produced by hybrids will not necessarily produce a plant similar to itself, as an OP would. Seeds taken from a hybrid may either be sterile or more commonly fail to breed true – that is, not exhibiting the desired traits of the F1 generation. Most seed producing companies have breeding and production programs to continually try to improve these varieties, and more importantly maintain the desired traits of the hybrid. As a result of the processes involved with producing hybrid seed and the time and money spent on developing these hybrids, (a lot of them are hand pollinated) - the seed generally tends to be more expensive and aimed at the commercial grower as opposed to the household organic gardener. As a rule of thumb, commercial nurseries use hybrid varieties of vegetables, as opposed to open pollinated varieties. Hybrids should not be mistakenly called GMO’s or genetically modified organisms, which are any organism which has been genetically altered using molecular genetics techniques such as gene cloning or protein engineering.
What about Organic Seeds? Other types of seed which are available are Organic Seeds and seeds which are commonly termed Heirloom Seeds. In South Africa Organic seed production is in its infancy. Organic seeds are self explanatory in that they are produced under certified organic growing conditions, i.e. without the aid of pesticides and herbicides. Heirloom seeds are generally considered to be seeds from open pollinated varieties which are 50 years old or older. These open pollinated varieties have kept their characteristics over time, they are no different to standard OP’s but are just older varieties.
How do you go about choosing which seeds to get? When making a decision what type of seed to plant – either a hybrid or an OP an organic or an heirloom variety – decide what you want from it. If you want to keep your own seed, then grow an OP, if the crop will never have a chance to set seed then you may consider a hybrid. In South Africa the bulk of commercially produced vegetables are hybrids. For example, if the crop is one such as Cabbage, Cauliflower or Broccoli - where we eat the developing flower of the plant and the plant doesn’t have a chance to fully develop its flower and set seed, then a hybrid variety with increased disease tolerances may be considered, or on the other hand, if the crop is something like a pumpkin or gem squash or butternut squash, where the seed is fully developed in the fruit – an OP may be used, as the seed can be hollowed out and saved. Both OP and Hybrid varieties can be grown organically – ask your seed seller or your nurseryman and they will be able to tell you which varieties are open pollinated and which ones are hybrids, you can then make an informed choice. Seeds may be selected according to individual needs and wants – either open pollinated, hybrid or organically produced. When growing those seeds, ensure that soil health is maximised, as a healthy, working soil will help reduce the incidence of plant pathogenic organisms.
If a seed has been modified using natural selection, is this a bad thing?Natural selection is just that – no man made interference. If a seed has a characteristic bred into it, it is usually a hybrid. All open pollinated seeded varieties have been as a result of natural selection, or the age old adage of “survival of the fittest.” Here nature ensures that the dominant genes survive for the furtherance of the species or variety. If a seed has been modified in any way by human input then natural selection falls away from the cultivar. What does happen with OP varieties is that we as humans observe the desirable traits as they occur and then select those particular plants to continue that cultivar. For example – we came across one passion fruit plant that produced multiple flowers, and as a result potentially multiple fruits at each leaf axil instead of only one flower, and one fruit. Instead of harvesting the fruit we kept them to take seed from, to ensure we could get this trait in the next planting, to increase yields. A simple way in which desirable characteristics are passed on by selection and nothing else. We did not modify the seed – nature did that. We did select it though - because of its characteristics. This is how OP varieties adapt themselves, and we take advantage of it. Happy growing!! Thank you Simon!! Under biodynamic principles (the purest of all growing methods), you should not plant anything but the purest seeds. Seeds that have been altered by man in any way cannot be used and, under this method, they are planted and harvested according to celestial cycles. Please avoid using genetically modified seeds at all costs. Ask for the most natural wherever you go because we need to increase demand for good quality seeds and therefore good quality produce!
