In a recent thread we got into the "homesteading" art of seed saving. In the modern world its all well and good to nip down to the garden centre for next years seed - but what did a pioneer do? Well they bred, crossed and saved their own. I enjoy the process and am happy to pass on my "excess" each year. I have also been lucky enough to benefit from the kindness of Toddy, Slowworm and other form members.
Each year I save a lot of peas (mainly self supporting bush varieties), beans (all sorts - but this year smaller beans - Dutch Brown, Soya and Haricot), Oca Yacon and other tubers.
We also produce more unusual seed - all "open pollinated" (true breeding) varieties
I thought a thread on producing our own seed may (or may not) be interesting
This is a new one on me. Three years ago I started growing rhubarb from seed - its time consuming (two years to a harvest) but easy. We now run thirty rhubarb heads that we can for year round fruit. The flowers look like this
Rhubarb Flower by British Red, on Flickr
They turn to these seeds
Rhubarb Seed by British Red, on Flickr
You can cross and interbreed your favourite varieties to improve the strains by doing this. People suggest only dividing existing plants - but we have great success from seed
Next up - sorrel - a fantastic early perennial veg. Everyone should have this for Spring salad
Sorrel Flower by British Red, on Flickr
Parsnip - the British root crop before spuds. Its biennial so in the second year you get huge flowers - 8' from a good root. These are babies yet
Parsnip Flower by British Red, on Flickr
I love alliums - Spring Onion is also Biennial - but seed saves well
Spring Onion Flower by British Red, on Flickr
as does onion
Onion Flower by British Red, on Flickr
and Welsh Onion
Welsh onion seed heads by British Red, on Flickr
although this is our first year for Babbingtons Leek
Babington Leek Flower Head by British Red, on Flickr
and seed saving Ramson
Ramson Seed by British Red, on Flickr
and just for fun we would like to try from a seven foot tall Cardoon
Cardoon Flower by British Red, on Flickr
Anyone else produce their own seed?
Each year I save a lot of peas (mainly self supporting bush varieties), beans (all sorts - but this year smaller beans - Dutch Brown, Soya and Haricot), Oca Yacon and other tubers.
We also produce more unusual seed - all "open pollinated" (true breeding) varieties
I thought a thread on producing our own seed may (or may not) be interesting
This is a new one on me. Three years ago I started growing rhubarb from seed - its time consuming (two years to a harvest) but easy. We now run thirty rhubarb heads that we can for year round fruit. The flowers look like this
Rhubarb Flower by British Red, on FlickrThey turn to these seeds
Rhubarb Seed by British Red, on FlickrYou can cross and interbreed your favourite varieties to improve the strains by doing this. People suggest only dividing existing plants - but we have great success from seed
Next up - sorrel - a fantastic early perennial veg. Everyone should have this for Spring salad
Sorrel Flower by British Red, on FlickrParsnip - the British root crop before spuds. Its biennial so in the second year you get huge flowers - 8' from a good root. These are babies yet
Parsnip Flower by British Red, on FlickrI love alliums - Spring Onion is also Biennial - but seed saves well
Spring Onion Flower by British Red, on Flickras does onion
Onion Flower by British Red, on Flickrand Welsh Onion
Welsh onion seed heads by British Red, on Flickralthough this is our first year for Babbingtons Leek
Babington Leek Flower Head by British Red, on Flickrand seed saving Ramson
Ramson Seed by British Red, on Flickrand just for fun we would like to try from a seven foot tall Cardoon
Cardoon Flower by British Red, on FlickrAnyone else produce their own seed?
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