Saving Seeds (forum)

DellDGM starts with ...
I am thinking of trying to save my own vegetable seeds this year and have been trying to get information on how to do so. well I am having a bit of trouble - lots of information on not using open polinated plants and not hybrids - but where my problem begins is that I have just used seeds that I have brought and I can't find any information on the packets to tell me which one they are. Any information on basics, how to, and determing what sort of plants I have would be great

Time: 14th September 2007 6:04pm

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About the Author Delldgm
Adelaide
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Julie says...
The Seed Savers' Handbook by Michel and Jude Fanton is a really useful book. Don't know how much it costs now, but you might be able to get it at your library.It covers everything you need to know. Seed packets used to have info written on them re hybrid/open-pollinated, but not these days.

Time: 26th September 2007 1:38pm

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About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
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Rev says...
hybrid seed usually costs more

but hybrids often do come true enough in the F2 generation anyway
as sometimes two otherwise indistinguishable varities are crossed to double up on genes for disease resitance

i recommend julie deppe's book - breed your own vegetable varieties

self fertile crops incl
beans, lettuce, tomato and its relatives among others you can save from every year

dont bother saving seed of Corn, cabbages and the like, open pollinated or not, unless you can grow 200, rogue the offtypes and collect seed from 100 plants. hybrids are a good thing with these field crops that suffer terribly from inbreeding

watermelon, pumpkins, passionfruit, pawpaw - you can use seed from shop bought produce no problems.
limes, bowen mangoes, and custard apples, loquats are fine from seed
same as chestnuts and macadamias give perfectly fine nut trees

apples, most other citrus,lychee,olive, avocados, stone fruit (except peaches) - dont bother, unless your terminally inquisitive like me ;)

Time: 19th November 2007 2:10am

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About the Author RevNQ1
Tabulam
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DellDGM says...
thanks guys for the info - I think I will start small ie just the tomatoes and peas and beans.

Time: 19th November 2007 5:03pm

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About the Author Delldgm
Adelaide
#UserID: 129
Posts: 31
View All Delldgm's Edible Fruit Trees