Collecting seed

[andrewo]

I am interested in how you collect seed off courgettes and whether you can, I know other members of the family e.g. pumpkin, you're not supposed to collect them as the seeds do not come true. Is this the case with courgettes?

I am also interested in what people collect seed in, what is the worst and best seed to collect? Share your triumphs and gripes.

I have a personal favourite, I collected ornamental chives one year, and placed them in a bag but didn't label them and accidently burnt them with the garden rubbish, funny thing is - they seeded where I had the bonfire.

[Alice]

I always collect the seeds from the nasturiums to plant out the following year. I store them in a dark cupboard in a brown paper bag. I take the seeds from the blue meconopsis as I find although they do well here the plants are quite short lived. They germinate best if planted straight away. I also take the seeds from the primulas and plant straight away. I leave them in the unheated greenhouse for the winter and they germinate in spring.

[andrewo]

Blue meconopsis has always been the bane of my life, can never get them to germinate, they always die on me. Any tips?

[nick the grief]

If I remember right these need to be stratified Andrew, so I'd sow them in a good gritty compost & stick them in a coldframe & forget them till spring. Just make sure they don't get to wet & freeze up in the pots

[sewer rat]

Andrewo
Was just reading an article in GW magazine about Blue Meconopsis before I logged on, so here is the advice given by Carol Klein.
"Surface sow fresh seed on seed compost in pots or half-trays. Always mix the seed with dry sand to ensure even distribution. Poppies hate root disturbance so prick out seedlings into cell trays when their first true leaves appear. Grow them on, then plant out when they're large enough to survive"
She then goes on to say that they are most succesful grown in woodland conditions, thriving in cool damp areas and on acid soils.
She continues "Meconopsis betonicifolia has the reputation of being difficult to grow, but removing flowers stems in it's first year can encourage it to bulk up and prolong it's life."
I have some in my garden but I was given these as young plants as a leaving present - have never tried to grow from seed myself.

[Emma]

I buy most of my seed from the Real Seed company. They are great as they sell seed for people just like us. None of their varieties are F1 so the seeds come true. With each packet of seed they send you instructions on how to collect and store the seed for next year. Not sure how long they will be in business for as a result, but everything I've ever bought from them has been great and I'm looking forward to harvesting my seed this year. Wish me luck.

[nick the grief]

A lot of people just can't be bothered Emma So I suspect quite some time! Then you get the people who will only grow F1 hybrids that cost an arm & leg.

I think it's a great part of the hobby propagating things. If I buy a new plant like a Fuchsia in, I don't go for the ones with the most flower buds on, I look for the ones I can get the most cuttings from!

I've got 2 old plants of a variagated Geranium (pelargonium to be accurate) the flowers aren't hals as good as an F1 hybrid, but I tkae about 30 cuttings off these two every year Who needs big & blousy when you have colour like this

[Geordie]

Emma,

I have used Real Seed company for years, and yes its true I could save most of my seed and then not buy any, but the passion and energy these guys have make me feel I should support them in their efforts.

If not already and you only try one thing go for the chereokee beans or the sweetcorn!

[andrewo]

Do you have the URL for the Real Seed Company or an address for the catalogue?

[sewer rat]

Andrew
www.vidaverde.co.uk should get you there !

[andrewo]

Wow, it's fantastic, like a smorgersboard of seeds!

[nick the grief]

What they come with raw fish