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Ok, reading through the catalogue in bed last night in bed a few things occured to me. How do you save seeds from things like beetroot, carrots, and leeks? Peas, beans, squashes, toms I can understand, but even then - how would you save the seeds over if you're growing other varieties aswell? Or is that where the seed guardians come in?
Last year, of my HSL seeds I successfully grew Martock beans and Stephens peas, but alongside them were F1 varieties - is that bad practise?
It's all very technical this growing malarky innit?
Broadies cross Wayne. It's good practice to separate your broad bean varoieties by at least 9 metres. I put some in the front garden and some in the back. Peas don't cross easily. The sexy bit is encased in a sealed capsule of petals (the keel) and it fertilises itself. In fact, if you decide, as I did, to cross pollinate peas, it's quite a performance. Especially if you decide to do it AFTER growing one parent at home and one on the lottie! I shall take more care where I grow things this year so I'm not transporting scalpels, and pollen in little glass tubes, round the village!
Broadies cross Wayne. It's good practice to separate your broad bean varoieties by at least 9 metres. I put some in the front garden and some in the back. Peas don't cross easily. The sexy bit is encased in a sealed capsule of petals (the keel) and it fertilises itself. In fact, if you decide, as I did, to cross pollinate peas, it's quite a performance. Especially if you decide to do it AFTER growing one parent at home and one on the lottie! I shall take more care where I grow things this year so I'm not transporting scalpels, and pollen in little glass tubes, round the village!
Ah, looks like my Martock seeds will undoubtedly be hybrids then? Being a seed guardian must be blummin tricky!
Try 'em and see! They''ll still be edible - you might get some pure seeds and some hybrids. It'll make an interesting meal or two! I've got a few crossed climbing beans. I'm still going to grow them on their own wigwam and see what happens. They came from HSL as Soldier (dwarf french) but they climbed and had black seeds and red pods. (Just one plant - the others were definitely Soldier.) I assume they crossed in the Guradian's garden. I'm growing this variety separately - Flummery's Delight (?)
I got mine, but I'm struggling... Don't really fancy anything except the Leek - Early Market, which I had last year and are fantastic, but I haven't got any seed from them yet obviously.
Any recommendations anybody? I've got loads of pea/bean/tomato seeds. In fact, I've got more or less all the seeds I need except carrot & parsnip...
Does anybody want some of my choices?
Ok, reading through the catalogue in bed last night in bed a few things occured to me. How do you save seeds from things like beetroot, carrots, and leeks? Peas, beans, squashes, toms I can understand, but even then - how would you save the seeds over if you're growing other varieties aswell? Or is that where the seed guardians come in?
Last year, of my HSL seeds I successfully grew Martock beans and Stephens peas, but alongside them were F1 varieties - is that bad practise?
It's all very technical this growing malarky innit?
carrots flower in year 2 and then you get little tiny seeds which have to be rubbed out - flipping nightmare as they cross so easily with st annes lace so they have to be isolated.
bootroot - not done this yet as my attempt this year had to be pulled up 2 days ago when the builder came as it was in the way of the garage access...but they flower and form seeds in some form or other...
leeks - again flower in year 2 - you get a hard inner that sticks its head up - it looks like a russian hat - you let it flower and then eventually you get little black seeds - 3 in each little flower head. Leave to dry somewhere and rub them out.
Oooh, this is my first year and I didn't realise that they responded that quickly. Took me ages to decide but hope that I get at least some of my first choices. What did you get Andrea?
Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.
cukes - sigmadew
pea - *****
leek - early market
pepper trifetti and a lucky dip nardello
onion up to date
tomato black plum
I got my request in the next day, and the sooner they get the orders back, the sooner they send them out.
I'm very excited!
Think I put the ***** peas down as a second choice and the up to date onions were one of my first choices so fingers crossed on what I get. Think I sent mine back about 3 or 4 days after it came so hopefully I'll get something in the early New Year.
Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.
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