What's the diff?

[Denim Deb]

Like most of you on here, I'm interested in growing plants that I can collect seeds from. I had hoped to order plants from Baker's Creek or elsewhere this year, but didn't have the money. Plus, I have a ton of seeds that I haven't used from other years. So, I don't really need to buy many seeds this year.

But I got to wondering, many of the seeds that I have or that I've seen in the stores have the same name as what I'd planned on buying. For instance, the broccoli I was going to buy was Calabrese green sprouting broccoli. The seeds that I had are the same variety. So, is there any difference between the ones I already had as compared to what I could buy? These were much cheaper when I got them. I got them for 20 cents for a pack as compared to $2.25 from BC. I'm sure the package was smaller, but I don't really need 300 seeds!

 

[rhoda_bruce]

I don't think 100% of the seeds you buy @ stores are hybrids, but a lot of them are. Some of them proudly claim "Hybrid." IDK. If I really was thinking I needed to save seeds for future, I'd hopefully have heirloom, but regardless, if I needed to, I save whatever I had.

 

[Wannabefree]

Heirloom is heirloom. They're the same. I was looking at seeds at Walmart the other day and the ORGANIC heirloom seeds were outrageously priced, while the cheapy brand was the same thing, but just not organic. So, I say grow them, and save seed. They are the same thing, just the mother plant was cultivated differently.

 

[Denim Deb]

I bought one pack of the organic seeds. And, only because I couldn't find those tomatoes any other way. But, you sure don't get many seeds for that price! They're coming up, so I'll be saving those seeds for sure.

 

[FarmerJamie]

you can always wait until later in the season and scoop up what's left and on sale for next year?

 

[Wannabefree]

Yes you CAN get some deals at end of season seeds and starter kits. I am saving money to buy a bnch and put them back for next year when they go on sale. I have went through SO many seed trays and seed starter soil with this greenhouse! I have ran our of my own seed starter long ago and STILL getting plant orders about every other day! I hope not to buy much more, but at least I get that back when I sell the seedlings Okay...done rambling

 

[cheepo]

I saved seeds last year...will plant...but mix it up with store bought because...I am not sure if all are herloom...
will be an experiment...will let ya know...

 

[~gd]

There seems to be a lot of confusion about saved seeds, heritage [heirloom], open pollinated and hybrids. Before WWII most seeds were open pollinated. Heritage seeds really arent all that great in some cases because they were selected for local growing conditions. If your conditions are the same they can be great, but if not they can be worthless. Before there was selective breeding, first nature and then man did the selection. If the plants didnt survive to set seed that was selective, then man saved the seeds from the plants that had the features that he wanted in his next crop. A seed line can become inbred just like animals [and people] do.

Most people dont know that to keep heirlooms pure you must isolate them from other plants of the same type. If a bee visits a gourd plant before your melon plant some of your melons could be gourd/melon hybrids and who knows what those seeds could grow into.
You can produce your own hybrid seeds to save, you just have to grow the two parent strains, make sure that they pollinate each other in the correct way [it does matter who the father is and who is the mother]. WAM out