au!

[Guest guest]

> They say: Vegetable seeds did not always come in glossy packets. Gardeners

> used to save seeds themselves - keeping the best varieties from year to

> year, giving them to other gardeners, and passing them on from generation

> to generation. It is a practise that has almost died out.

 

I still remember my grandfather who kept tomatoes, salad and other

vegetables on the field until they were over ripe and then collected the

seeds to plant them next year. I guess very few people still do it this way.

 

Ys Ud

[Guest guest]

> > They say: Vegetable seeds did not always come in glossy packets.

> > Gardeners used to save seeds themselves - keeping the best varieties

> > from year to year, giving them to other gardeners, and passing them on

> > from generation to generation. It is a practise that has almost died

> > out.

>

> I still remember my grandfather who kept tomatoes, salad and other

> vegetables on the field until they were over ripe and then collected the

> seeds to plant them next year. I guess very few people still do it this

> way.

>

> Ys Ud

 

Why collect the seeds, we leave them to self seed. Less work

 

Ys Gokula das

[Guest guest]

> > They say: Vegetable seeds did not always come in glossy packets.

> > Gardeners used to save seeds themselves - keeping the best varieties

> > from year to year, giving them to other gardeners, and passing them on

> > from generation to generation. It is a practise that has almost died

> > out.

>

> I still remember my grandfather who kept tomatoes, salad and other

> vegetables on the field until they were over ripe and then collected the

> seeds to plant them next year. I guess very few people still do it this

> way.

>

> Ys Ud

 

My father in law here in Mauritius still does it. One agricultural officer

here told me that nowadays though the farmers sell all the best vegetables

at a high price and keep the rejects for seed. This of course will convince

them, when the strains weaken, to eventualy buy seed from the companies, as

they will surmise that science knows best.

[Guest guest]

>

>

> I still remember my grandfather who kept tomatoes, salad and other

> vegetables on the field until they were over ripe and then collected the

> seeds to plant them next year. I guess very few people still do it this way.

>

> Ys Ud

 

I do save some, but the reason I don't do more is because it is another one of

those economically unviable practices. It is just much cheaper to buy the

seeds

than spending the time to save them yourself. Sad but true. Saving seeds of

some vegetables is actually quite difficult. For instance, carrots cross

pollinate up to 1/2 mile and craoos with Queen Anne's Lace. So to save true

seed, it is necessary to control all Queen Anne's Lace within that distance,

which is virtually impossible. Some things, like tomatoes and peas, are

pretty easy, squash, beans, peppers. Still, anyone thinking of doing it

should get a book as cross pollination is a real factor so separation by

distance or time is essential. That may be 10 feet for tomatoes or 1 mile for

gourds, so you need to know.

[Guest guest]

>I still remember my grandfather who kept tomatoes, salad and other

>vegetables on the field until they were over ripe and then collected the

>seeds to plant them next year. I guess very few people still do it this

>way.

 

>Ys Ud

 

It would seem so. The Heritage seed library in the UK sends seeds all over

the world, to it's members. Otherwise it is illegal. You only get about 6-20

seeds per variety, once a year. So those interested should create plots to

save and preserve these gems of long ago.

[Guest guest]

> Still, anyone thinking of doing it

>should get a book as cross pollination is a real factor so separation by

>distance or time is essential. That may be 10 feet for tomatoes or 1 mile

>for gourds, so you need to know.

 

The UK Heritage Seed Library sell a book on seed collection: The Seed

Saveers' Handbook.

ISBN 1-899233-01-6 price 12.95 sterling.

 

or their address is:

 

The Heritage Seed Library,

HDRA.,

P.O.Box 527,

Coventry,

CV8 3ZT.

United Kingdom.

 

'Without dedicated home gardeners, the seeds of our staple foods could not

exist. Such seed resources are only safe in the hands of people who grow

them and eat their bounty. I beleive this book to be essential for all

caring gardeners, farmers, cooks and parents.' (Bill Mollison - founder of

Permaculture)