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I feel another stupid question coming on - saving seeds

EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
in Tools and techniques

My stupid question is about cross pollination when you’re saving your own seed. We live a fair distance from our nearest neighbour, so if I were to grow only one variety of each type of veg, and leave them to their own devices, it’s possible that they would only cross with their own variety and come true from their seed next year.  But a) I don’t want to only ever grow one variety of my veg and b) how do commercial producers of open pollinated seed do it? Do they hand pollinate every one? It doesn’t sound practical on a large scale. 

Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


Posts

  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    edited June 2020
    Vegetable seeds don't cost that much; is it worth it?  I only save seed from flowers, I buy veg seeds, from organic growers as far as possible.  Could it be that commercial producers only keep one variety per greenhouse?  It isn't a stupid question; I don't think there are any when it comes to gardening.
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    I was planning to do it for interest rather than cost savings. Also because the Real Seed company reckon that your own saved seed would be better than commercial seed (including theirs), because you would save the best from a plant that did best in your conditions. In theory, you would gradually develop strains ideal for your plot. I thought that sounded interesting and was going to try it on one or two veg only. 
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    They do it through massive technology investment. Biotech is a huge industry. Have a watch of this: https://www.syngenta-us.com/thrive/production/better-seeds.html#:~:text=Syngenta creates better seeds through,with extensive quality-control measures.&text=From planting to harvesting to,every step of the way.
  • BraidmanBraidman Posts: 274
    Sometimes when sone abandons (quite often) their plot, next season parsnips and carrots that were left and self seeded grow, they end up taller than me.
    Don't know how the seed companies produce true seed after seeing the self seeders!
  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    edited June 2020
    I've started saving some veg seed - it's very satisfying. I think the issues of cross pollination vary a lot between different plants. I found this website both useful and beautiful: https://www.diyseeds.org/en/ and there's this on isolation techniques in particular: https://www.diyseeds.org/en/film/isolation-techniques/

  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    Thanks, They look useful. It’s the seed sowing and germination that I love most about veg growing, so this next step will be even better. 
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    BTW @stephentame are you growing just one variety for seeds? using nets? I don’t think I can justify a hive of bumblebees! 
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Runner bean and sweet pea seeds are easy to save from seed. Even then, I refresh the stock with commercially bought seed every two or three years.  Any F1 hybrids will not come true so don't even try.
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