Beetroot seed savers

[Elfeda]

SInce there were many seeds, I had no plans as such seedsaving while sowing time, so no lables. but few were grown to bit bigger and do not have heart to eat/waste them at this time of year.

they are in fruit patch, so definitely in isolation. may not the f1's but as said had no labels, does upcoming f2 beetroots canbe useless?

[Cadalot]

Any seed from an F1 can be used but the likelihood is that you will get one of the parent plants and not the hybrid, as long as they taste OK what is the problem with that, what have you got to loose in giving it a try?

[Guest]

If you have the space there is no reason why you shouldn't save the seed and try them - if you need more seed that is. Also it is not good practice to offer unknown or f2 seeds in swaps.

[Mr Bones]

Did they run to seed in their first year or their second. I'm sure you're already aware Elfeda but for anyone else wanting to save seed the beet family is biennial, if they produce seed in their first year it's quite likely any offspring will continue the trait and bolt before they've produced a decent crop.

[Scarlet]

Personally I wouldn't bother saving from any crop if I didn't know what variety they were. It's very much pot luck with what you get with saving F1s. Everyone likes to save a few pounds but for the cost of a packet of seed it's not worth the time and effort.

[sparrow100]

It's not just that they might be F1s. If you are growing on an allotment, it's likely that everyone's chard will be flowering like billy-o at the same time as your beetroot. Beetroot and chard will cross-pollinate, giving pretty useless seeds. They are outbreeders and wind-pollinated so isolating properly is your only real option. I wouldn't bother faffing for beets I can't remember the name of.

I am saving beetroot seed this year, rouge crapaudine, which I am isolating by growing on my balcony. It's a mile from any allotments and hopefully out of range of any backyard chard, being about 8m up in the sky.

[Elfeda]

NG, yes the space is never been issue and I won't be doing any extrawork towards it. why we speaking about swaps? not really bothered to collect seed itself as I have many for years to come..so they will go self seed. yet I do not mind to offer any of my excess seeds for voluntery takers despite the returns..seeds are not my wealth.

Scarlet, I stopped to worry about 'saving money' on seeds once I did cross my seed limit i.e an year a go.

Sparrow, I just was sure that I will not have any chard..but coming to neighbours, luckily therewouldn't be any around 4 ot 5 plots radius..but will have an eye surely.

[Guest]

I only mentioned swaps as they produce a lot of seed so it may seem like a good idea. However, you really don't sound fussed about the seed, so if I was you I would just pull them and compost them before that point. The flowers are not a big draw for insects so I can't see any other reason to leave them in.

[sparrow100]

Sparrow, I just was sure that I will not have any chard..but coming to neighbours, luckily therewouldn't be any around 4 ot 5 plots radius..but will have an eye surely.

For info, if you or anyone else are interested in saving true strains of beetroot seeds, the advised isolation distance is 2 miles without any other precautions because they are wind pollinated, not insect pollinated. 4-5 plots isn't far enough without wind-proof caging.

By all means go for it if you want to, but prepare to be disappointed with the results!

On the other hand, I have self-seed tomatilloes & achocha on my plot - now those are great!

[Elfeda]

hmm, interesting bit.. the current location where it is sitting is wind protected for around 60% ( raspberry rows on both sides and 2 blocks of pallet compost area....also upcoming rubarb on risky side might help a bit. rest I leave it upto it and experiment for self-seed beetroots (or baby beetroots ) .. thank you all.

[veggiechicken]

I have lots of self seeded chard but they're no threat to your beetroot!

[Alison]

On the other hand, I have self-seed tomatilloes & achocha on my plot - now those are great!

I gave up actively sowing tomatillos some years ago when I realised the self seeded ones were better plants and the cropped up everywhere. Just dig 3 or 4 up in early summer and plant where I want.

[Elfeda]

I have lots of self seeded chard but they're no threat to your beetroot!

am going to throw all my chard seeds in ground this year. clearence sowing !!! they wouldn't be threat to my beetroot flowers on 2nd plot away.

[Elfeda]

I gave up actively sowing tomatillos some years ago when I realised the self seeded ones were better plants and the cropped up everywhere. Just dig 3 or 4 up in early summer and plant where I want.

interesting , just now I googled about tomatillos.. one more pack into clearence sowing, all I need to find a permanant space. thank you

[sparrow100]

am going to throw all my chard seeds in ground this year. clearence sowing !!! they wouldn't be threat to my beetroot flowers on 2nd plot away.

As already stated above, yes they will be if you let them flower at the same time as your beetroot. The pollen is very fine and beetroot flowers reach 4 ft in height. VC's are in Wales though...