If I grow organically must I buy organic seeds?

[Bluemchen]

How important is this?

If they're organic seeds, they will be more suited to a chemical-free existance and thus survive/ produce more successfully?

[Alison]

My understanding is that to call a seed organic means that it has been taken from a plant which was grown organically etc etc and although they may well be of varieties which lend themselves to organic growing I don't believe they will perform any better than the same variety in a non-organic packet. I buy normal seeds and then grow the plants without chemicals and as closely as possible to organically as I can. I am confident that my crops are good for me and have no concerns about any fertilisers etc that have been used on them. However I don't want to register as organic and therefore only need to do what I feel is necessary. I do however avoid treated seeds as I don't want to introduce such treatments into my soils. Again a personal thing.

[Snadger]

How important is this?

If they're organic seeds, they will be more suited to a chemical-free existance and thus survive/ produce more successfully?

I think your second sentence sums it up..............if organic seed are available at a good price I would definately prefer using them. Having said that, I don't go and search them out.

We all have to do what we feel comfortable with, but theoretically, organically produced seed should be better suited to organic growing methods methinks!

[bluemoon]

I agree with both Snadger AND Alison, theoretically organic seeds should do better in an organic situation, but the variety you want isn't always available organically produced. I grow organically almost to the point of obsession and always try to obtain organic seeds, but if I can't get the type I'm after I'd much rather buy non-organic than compromise with a different one. In the end it's me who has to eat the resultant crop and a huge part of the pleasure of growing your own is the flavour of the veg so I'd much rather buy the variety I like than stick rigidly to organic seeds and end up with something I don't enjoy quite as much.

[Snadger]

The other thing is that if you can't get organic seeds and use others...................... grow them organically and save your best plants for seed each year, after 3 or four years your plants will be ideally suited to organic growing I would think.

[gojiberry]

If you want to claim to be organic you need to use organic certified seed. Having watched a programme on bees the other day where it was stated that seed can now be bred to contain pesticides within the seed, I think the future trend will be for the majority of us to be looking towards organic seeds. Unfortunately agriculture is driven by profit which is driven by a quality saleable crop which in turn means ensuring a pest free crop regardless of the impact on the environment. (end of sermon) I just want to know what I am eating.

Ian

[Pies]

I got a load of organic seeds in the wyevale seed sale at 50p per pack its the Duchy range,you might still be able to pick some up

[Alison]

Good point up there by Snadger, am trying to save more and more seeds each year (partly cos I'm tight, partly to be a bit self sufficient and also to get seeds adapted to my conditions) and that way I can have extra confidence in how my produce was produced.

[RedThorn]

If you want to claim to be organic you need to use organic certified seed. Having watched a programme on bees the other day where it was stated that seed can now be bred to contain pesticides within the seed, I think the future trend will be for the majority of us to be looking towards organic seeds. Unfortunately agriculture is driven by profit which is driven by a quality saleable crop which in turn means ensuring a pest free crop regardless of the impact on the environment. (end of sermon) I just want to know what I am eating.

Ian

It's the seeds with built in pesticides that worry me! to have organic certified seed, they have to be saved and sown a good few times and only grown in a totally organic approved method(about 5 years - could be wrong on the number but you get the idea) I am not totally organic but do try and tend towards the organic methods ( slug and snail bait is probably my biggest downfall saying that though I have only used it twice this season) Once you've settled on varieties you like, save the seed from the strongest and after a few years, not only will you have "organic" seeds, but also seeds adapted to your local environment. A winner all round. As I tend toward the more organic methods, therortically so will my seeds

[Princess Unicorn]

I am interested in using organic seeds also. May I ask about the basics of letting your plants go to seed?

[Two_Sheds]

May I ask about the basics of letting your plants go to seed?

Basically, just that: you leave the plants to make seed. then you harvest the seed. more info here> How To Save Seed

[Princess Unicorn]

Basically, just that: you leave the plants to make seed. then you harvest the seed. more info here> How To Save Seed

Thank you very much!