Re: Heirloom seeds

ModernDayBetty 1/16/2012, 1:04 pm

Tread carefully friends... don't get this awesome post on Heirlooms locked up. Wink

Red-Leg 1/16/2012, 1:06 pm

Strange...I just posted to get back onto the rails but don't see it.

ETA - Just went back into my browser history to re-post it.

Red-Leg 1/16/2012, 1:07 pm

Thread derail complete - Back on topic.

During the holidays, MyPatriotSupply had a deal with Markdown.com where you could get a $30 voucher for $15. I definitely took advantage of that and have received a few emails since then with an ongoing partnership between the two organizations.

Regards,
Darren

**camprn** 1/16/2012, 3:55 pm

ModernDayBetty wrote:Tread carefully friends... don't get this awesome post on Heirlooms locked up.

Thanks for keeping an eye on things Betty! Good job! We certainly want to keep the topic on gardening and the like... And thanks for getting the conversation going again Red! In case any one needs a review, TOS study

HunkieDorie23 1/16/2012, 8:10 pm

I ordered my heirlooms fromAnnies heirloom seeds. I have already started the sage seed I ordered and I had near 100% germination. The are a non-GMO company and have awesome customer service. I haven't tried any other of my seeds yet but will let you know.

Teresa

LittleGardener 1/16/2012, 9:11 pm

HunkieDorie23 wrote:
I ordered my heirlooms from Annies heirloom seeds. I have already started the sage seed I ordered and I had near 100% germination. The are a non-GMO company and have awesome customer service. I haven't tried any other of my seeds yet but will let you know.
Teresa

Awesome!

on Annie's site: "Heirloom are open-pollinated. That means if you harvest seeds from your heirlooms and plant them again, you'll get the same great stuff in the next generation."

Given that people can replant these seeds again, which is what the seed-companies do, why the need to buy more seeds the following years? - just wondering Smile

Chopper 1/16/2012, 9:25 pm

LittleGardener wrote:
Given that people can replant these seeds again, which is what the seed-companies do, why the need to buy more seeds the following years? - just wondering

As long as you buy the open pollinated you can do this. Saving seed is an extra step and more work and not everyone wants to do it. Also, many people plant a mix of hybrid and open pollinated or all hybrid. And if you forget which is which...

My guess is the main reason everyone does not do it is the extra work. Saving seed is somewhat labor intensive to get a lot of those seeds clean. And then dry, and then labeled. And, it rather kills the fun of shopping the seed catalogs. BUT - you CAN do it if you want.

LittleGardener 1/16/2012, 9:56 pm

Chopper wrote:
LittleGardener wrote:
Given that people can replant these seeds again, which is what the seed-companies do, why the need to buy more seeds the following years? - just wondering
As long as you buy the open pollinated you can do this. Saving seed is an extra step and more work and not everyone wants to do it. Also, many people plant a mix of hybrid and open pollinated or all hybrid. And if you forget which is which...

My guess is the main reason everyone does not do it is the extra work.
Saving seed is somewhat labor intensive to get a lot of those seeds clean. And then dry, and then labeled. And, it rather kills the fun of shopping the seed catalogs. BUT - you CAN do it if you want.

I actually do know what you mean. - I did it with Tomatoes, & sweet Bell peppers, & even Cherry pits.
The Cherries (even after a little wintering in the freezer), never sprouted. - But gonna keep trying Smile

and the Bell peppers, got mixed-up Embarassed

Yeah for less work, lol

cyclonegardener 1/21/2012, 11:13 pm

Thanks for all the info. I ordered from both Baker Street and Seed Savers, since they are the closest. Baker Street was the quicker of the two, although Seed Savers was only a couple of days later. Baker Street did put in heirloom flower seeds as a thank you. Tried two kinds of Radish, peas, bush beans, watermelon and carrots.

quiltbea 1/22/2012, 12:19 pm

You can't just take a crop and save the seeds thinking it will breed true the following year. There are variables, like bees and insect and wind pollination and cross-breeding of the heirlooms. Some plants require hundreds of feet distance from another variety in order to breed true, others can be isolated with a net bag, like tomatoes and peppers because they are self-pollinating. Not everyone has the capability to save those heirloom seeds, and those that can't, buy more the next year.

happycamper 1/24/2012, 1:36 am

"on Annie's site: "Heirloom are open-pollinated. That means if you harvest seeds from your heirlooms and plant them again, you'll get the same great stuff in the next generation."

Given that people can replant these seeds again, which is what the seed-companies do, why the need to buy more seeds the following years? - just wondering "

You are 100% correct! Why buy more seeds next year. The money you save can be used to buy seeds of other items that you have never grown before.
I save seed each year from spinach, lettuce, arugula, turnips, radish, three kinds of peas and several types of beans among a few other items.
Example: I grow Kentucky Wonder pole beans every year, I bought seed in 1999 from Territorial Seed and have never purchased it again.

Heirlooms seeds in my experience "breed true" and if interested, you may want to do a little online research regarding several vegetables that are not prone to cross pollination. Try experimenting and saving seed from items that you like to grow. Happy Gardening!

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