David Unnerstall Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 On New Years Day, after checking the roof for holes (it was like a war zone up here on the edge of the city limits) I was getting caught up on my reading. I read an article in Mother Earth News titled "Sourcing Truly High-Quality Garden Seeds." http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/high-quality-seeds-zm0z14djzsto.aspx?PageId=1#axzz3Nhqewhkx It is said in the article that seed companies have no knowledge of their seeds origin. And seeds should be bred for your region. Now there are some things I have success with (I might quit my day job and grow pole beans for a living) but others I have not. I am curious to know how much thought others have put into this.
Feathers and Fins Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 My watermelon seeds are cave city watermelons so im very picky about them. My maters came from my grandfathers Giant Beefsteaks I get about 1 out of 5 to take but that's fine I only need 2 a year. Green beans came from family down south and they produce like no ones business. The rest I just pick-up at some store. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beaver-Lake-Arkansas-Fishing-Report/745541178798856
MeatintheFreezer Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 I have never put much thought into where my seeds originated, but it does make sense. If it was a "local" seed, you would think that it would have a better chance of flourishing here than anywhere else. I just ordered my seeds for this spring online through Gurney's, they have unique hybrids and guarantee everything for a year. You can't beat that. Remember - If at first you DO succeed, try not to act surprised & quit while you're ahead.
jdmidwest Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 I buy all of my seeds from a local farm supply. They buy the seed in bulk and repackage them for themselves and other farm stores in the area. As far as them being raised local, I have no idea, but have always had good luck with them. They also mill all of their grass seeds and are a local buyer. I have been in the plant when they were doing a run of fescue, a fairly interesting thing to watch. Most "professional gardeners" I know buy their seed from Gurneys, Park Seed, or Burpee. I am really sure they are grown in a place far, far away. Maybee even overseas. But they seem to have good luck. I save alot of seed when I can. Pretty easy to do with beans, peas, okra, squash, cucumbers, and flowers. Impossible to do with hybrids like corn and tomatoes. "Life has become immeasurably better since I have been forced to stop taking it seriously." — Hunter S. Thompson
ness Posted February 16, 2015 Posted February 16, 2015 There are gardeners who go to the effort of identifying their best plants, save seeds, and fine-tune varieties particularly well-suited to their conditions. Google 'landrace'. Don't really have the time or attention span to do too much. I get seeds from Baker Creek in MO, Seed Savers in IA, and others. John
Terrierman Posted February 16, 2015 Posted February 16, 2015 I buy all of my seeds from a local farm supply. They buy the seed in bulk and repackage them for themselves and other farm stores in the area. As far as them being raised local, I have no idea, but have always had good luck with them. They also mill all of their grass seeds and are a local buyer. I have been in the plant when they were doing a run of fescue, a fairly interesting thing to watch. Most "professional gardeners" I know buy their seed from Gurneys, Park Seed, or Burpee. I am really sure they are grown in a place far, far away. Maybee even overseas. But they seem to have good luck. I save alot of seed when I can. Pretty easy to do with beans, peas, okra, squash, cucumbers, and flowers. Impossible to do with hybrids like corn and tomatoes. Heirloom variety tomatoes can be grown from seed that you save.
ness Posted February 16, 2015 Posted February 16, 2015 I save alot of seed when I can. Pretty easy to do with beans, peas, okra, squash, cucumbers, and flowers. Impossible to do with hybrids like corn and tomatoes. Terrierman is right, and there are open pollinated (non-hybrid) varieties for about everything including tomatoes and corn. The two seed sources I mentioned are 100% OP or heirloom. There's always the chance of cross-pollination if there are multiple varieties around, but plants that are self-pollinating (tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, beans, peas) don't cross as much. Insect or wind-pollinated plants (corn, cukes, squash, melon, beet, radish) will readily cross and need isolation to insure you get seed that's true to type. I buy seed, store it in a cool, dry place and can usually get a few years out of it. John
jdmidwest Posted February 17, 2015 Posted February 17, 2015 Try this place. Just got their catalog yesterday. Website and catalog shows how to collect and save the seed. All are heirloom. http://www.seedsavers.org/ "Life has become immeasurably better since I have been forced to stop taking it seriously." — Hunter S. Thompson
ness Posted February 17, 2015 Posted February 17, 2015 Try this place. Just got their catalog yesterday. Website and catalog shows how to collect and save the seed. All are heirloom. http://www.seedsavers.org/ Looks like a good one, JD. Also Baker Creek in Mansfield, Mo.http://rareseeds.com John
David Unnerstall Posted February 23, 2015 Author Posted February 23, 2015 Try this place. Just got their catalog yesterday. Website and catalog shows how to collect and save the seed. All are heirloom. http://www.seedsavers.org/ I always thought you had to have seeds to exchange to get seeds but apparently that is not true. I will look into this.
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