F1

[4x4]

I've been looking at chilli seeds/plants on the internet and they say F1 by the name.
What does this mean?
Cheers.

[muddled]

It means a hybrid seed.

A mix of two or more varieties in one seed...usually to achieve the best qualities from both.

However, this also means that you can't save seed from the plant to resow the following year because it won't 'come true' and might display the worst traits of the parent plants or even be completely infertile.

[4x4]

Aah, right. Thank you.

[jonny the plant pot]

Yeah but is that true or what they tell you

[skeggijon]

It's true Jonny. Unless you're only growing the F1 variety in a controlled area, then there's a good chance it will cross pollinate and there is the possibility of it not growing true.

[Alison]

It's true Jonny. Unless you're only growing the F1 variety in a controlled area, then there's a good chance it will cross pollinate and there is the possibility of it not growing true.

It doesn't matter how you grow it, it's a first generation cross and therefore not likely to be stable for the second generation.