Practical Gardening Series; Chapter 1, Seed Selection.

In this segment, chapter 1, of this series we will look at seed selection.

This is likely going to be an emotional based selection after you look at the various catalogs. That is OK, as long as you keep it balanced. Most seed catalogs will do a pretty good job in describing the various plants. Many times they will have pictures with them and whether we are coming out of winter time or even going into winter time, the whole idea of planting a garden will be very exciting.
Since we have been introduced to some ideas from the overview segment, let’s dig in, so to speak, to the one very important part of the process, the beginning. Beginning is important, right? You will see a list of various types of seeds as to certain terms used in letting you know the type of plant the seed has come from. In this sense I am talking about Open Pollinated, Hybrids and GMO. We are not going to discuss the GMO ones, for several reasons. Normally seeds in this grouping are targeted and developed for the professional grower. The typical gardener will not usually encounter these types of seeds in the normal channels of seed purchasing sources. So we will not touch on them at this point. Then we have the Hybrids. This can be a very confusing category. Here is why you see several sub groups here. The typical gardener will come across these and the designation can be hard to understand and actually find, listed on the seed packet. But keep in mind that hybrids are not GMO. With the hybrids, the cross breeding that takes place is done by natural means. Usually the cross breeding is a generalized targeting to produce certain traits. Many times these are to make the selection a little more sweet in the result of the produce. Whereas the GMO is done by breeding of the plant in a laboratory setting, physically altering the DNA, IE: the so-called hybridization of this category is not done naturally. The GMO deal allows a wider range of manipulation of the plant’s DNA. But with natural hybridization, it has to fit into a natural process and it has its limitations to the developments of this type of seed.
When you look at the Hybrid seeds they will usually have some designations as to their hybrid factor(s). In the disease aspect, which is the one of the main reasons for hybridization, you will see abbreviations for the hybridization. Here you might see Foc, which means it is resistant toward Fusarium Wilt. Another is St. This is a resistance toward Pink Rot. Pn; Which means a resistance toward Neck and Bulb Rot. Whereas in some cases the letter and number of F1 means the material associated with the type of hybridization. However, in reality most any plant has some factors of natural selection by hybridization. This is generally due to cross pollination. For me personally, since I understand this stuff, I don’t have a whole lot of beef with MOST hybridization. However, some of these seeds that are GMO and or hybrids are patented seeds, so you cannot legally save and use the seeds from successive plantings.
To confirm my bias here, I am not in favor of GMO. I would only use those in a situation where I had no other choice or am forced to do so. So I would suggest that all of you focus on the next category to be discussed.I In addition to using GMO seeds in the past. I have also used a wide range of the chemicals, IE: Herbicides , Pesticides and Insecticides. I am not convinced that the use of these things are worth the financial costs and the results they produce. That is my story and I am sticking to it, lol.
The main category that I want to cover here is the Open Pollination category. This is where a lot of your focus should be. These types of seeds will be more forgiving to you and will be the easiest to grow and work with. These types of seeds will list that they are “Open Pollinated” types. Besides, most Open Pollinated seeds actually cost less money than the fancy designer seeds do. Plus, you can save these seeds from plantings and use them for future plantings. Within this grouping, these plants will be more receptive to the care you give to them. These seeds will be more true to the descriptions and historical contributions to your nutritional needs.
The open pollinated seeds do require a different mind set of care. As mentioned they are more forgiving in the care you give to them. You can give them general, novice care and they will still be prolific and thrive. Whereas the other categories will require a more specific focus in serving their needs. Generally the Hybrids and GMO types do not require a wide of a range of fertilization as does the open pollinated types. They also require higher amounts of a narrow range of nutritional needs than the open pollinated type do. But the flip side is that making the determination of the open pollinated types is much easier and you can use some generalizations in what you need to feed them with and still be OK, if you aren’t perfect in your selection and methods. Basically, the open pollinated types will cost less money all the way around and in the vast majority of cases will produce just as much as the designer types.
So what do I select?
First off, the question is this; What do I like to eat? That should be your main focus. Then you have to look at the basic growing season for your specific area. Sometimes this might only allow for you to have a narrow window of time, Whereas in some areas you might have a wide time frame. With this type of area you can actually have 2 plantings, like 2 seasons in one. Some areas are sort of an area in between. The type of plant, a C-3 plant is the type of plant that will tolerate a cooler setting. These types of plants will be many of the vine plants like Beans, Peas, most root crops and such. The C-4 plants require a much warmer growing season. Normally, you will see Corn here. Then you will have the CAM type of plants. These are plants that need very hot, usually hot, dry deserts. Most of you will not be dealing with these types of plants. Another need that plants will have is that they vary from plant to plant, is that they need or will do better in a full sun environment. Whereas other plants will need or will tolerate some shade. Almost all of the descriptions will instruct you on these fine points other than the C-3, C-4 and CAM aspects. For these you would need to do some supplemental research. So in this category, you need to select what you like to consume. Maybe the whole theme idea would work best for you. If you are just starting out, don’t over do it. Another aspect to this whole thing is flowers. Over the past few years, more and more is coming out about flowers and their high nutritional content. They also have powerful, positive psychological effects on the individual. I could go into this aspect, but that would require a whole chapter, and a long chapter at that, to properly discuss this area. But in simple terms it isn’t too hard to learn about this stuff to get you started. You need to just research it. The key board freaks/influencers haven’t got the message to mis-lead you, yet!  So most information on this topic is still pretty safe and rational. Another area for you to consider is the seed sprouting stuff. With this idea you can change 1 pound of seed into 6 pounds of safe, nutritious food in a matter of a few days inside of a week, depending on the seed. This area is a powerhouse of a nutrition source. So Maybe we need to cover this too in another chapter as well.
Where do I get decent Open Pollinated Seed?
There are many sources. With life being what it is today, all you have to do is just “think it”, and you will start to have ads for these companies show up for a wide range of these seeds. I have purchased from a number of these sources. I have not found them to be anything other than they represent themselves to be. Plus, you can just do a little bit of research and find what you need. However, there is one company that I want to make note of, as they produce a catalog of 532 pages this year, on a wide range of plants and provide at least some information about some of their growers and historical background of the various seeds. So that company can be located at www.rareseeds.com their company is Baker Creek Seeds. As a side note they own the farm where Laura Ingles Wilder and Almonzo spent most of their life at and where the Little House on the Prairie was mostly written from. I have never been there, someday I hope to.visit, Leiann has been there.. But keep in mind that many other seed companies are right there as to providing quality seed and information as well. So let's not make this a political, emotional deal. I just used these as a reference to possibly start with. Also, keep in mind, what is said about seeds have a direct relationship if you select plants that are already started. So if you select plants that are already started, same information applies. I will cover specifics to transplanting in a future chapter. Also, sometimes the purchase of plants that have already been started can be the way for some people to go.
So with this area, we have covered it in a real general sense. As always, if you have questions, if I can answer them I will do what I can for you. Obviously, we are only skipping along the surface here, but I hope it gives you a point to begin with.
Until next time, Hang in there. KK