Guest guest Posted March 23, 1999 Report Share Posted March 23, 1999 > Why collect seeds? In cold climates sometimes seeds are ruined by snow > and dampness. I have to collect marigold seeds if I want to be certain of > getting any that will germinate. > > Second, what about plants that shouldn't be planted in the same place two > years in a row, such as solanacea like tomatoes and peppers? Collect the > seeds so they can be planted in another place next year. > > Comments? > > your servant, > > Hare Krsna dasi > Certainly climate may be a factor for many seeds, we only get a few frosts a year so it is not a problem here. As for solanacea we have self seeded tomatoes in the same part of garden year after year with no problems, potatoes for three years but this year some had hollow sections which I will have to investigate. I don't believe that the same field cannot have the same crop year after year this certainly happens in nature although in a polyculture setting. How would species survive if they could not self seed in the same area each year? Fukuoko used the same field for decades without a fallow period. I take agricultural extension officers advice with a grain of salt as they are dealing with very sick soils. Bare earth agriculture in my opinion is not sustainable. Your servant, Gokula das Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 1999 Report Share Posted March 24, 1999 > Certainly climate may be a factor for many seeds, we only get a few > frosts a > year so it is not a problem here. > As for solanacea we have self seeded tomatoes in the same part of > garden > year after year with no problems, potatoes for three years but this > year > some had hollow sections which I will have to investigate. I don't > believe > that the same field cannot have the same crop year after year this > certainly > happens in nature although in a polyculture setting. How would species > > survive if they could not self seed in the same area each year? They wouldn't survive. That is why you don't see vegetables growing wild. Most vegetables have been selected for characteristics over hundreds or thousands of years. The tradeoff in getting better tasting, larger vegetables is that they have lost the ability to compete in the wild. They have a symbiotic relationship man. They need the hand of man to survive. Even in nature, the polyculture that is stabile can take thousands of years to evolve. Even in wild populations of plants there is change and succession. Tomatoes is the one exception to the rotation rule, although corn may be another. The principle of rotation is something that is solid and valid. It will take new farmers years to figure out what is going to take to be successful, reinventing the wheel with things like crop rotation can add even more years to that. I have at least three times had to clean up weed invested failed plots where some neophyte has come in with a little knowledge and determined to do permaculture and still grow regular vegetables. I don't doubt that someone somewhere can do it, but most people will fail at it, and waste a lot of time and energy in the process. If you want to be doing permaculture, then you need to be thinking about fruit and nut trees, berries, and perennials. For instance, instead of celery, grow lovage. > Fukuoko used > the same field for decades without a fallow period. I take > agricultural > extension officers advice with a grain of salt as they are dealing > with very > sick soils. Bare earth agriculture in my opinion is not sustainable. Horizon to horizon monoculture bare soil agriculture is not sustainable. Agreed. that is something different than working up small plots using labor intensive methods. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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