Author Topic: Organic seeds  (Read 4436 times)

squeezyjohn

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Re: Organic seeds
« Reply #20 on: January 13, 2018, 19:41:34 »
Organic or not, I too have nothing but praise for the seeds sold by real seeds ... they have some great varieties for UK climates, their seed is always fresh and have a much better germination rate than some of the branded ones for me - and unless it is one of their rare seeds they always give plenty in the packet which makes them good value.

Vinlander

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Re: Organic seeds
« Reply #21 on: January 14, 2018, 09:58:38 »
Goodness! I had no idea that my question could create such a debate!  🥒🍅🥕🌽🌶🍏 Good gardening everyone!

Well, I think the fairest reply to that is "well done"...

The common phrase used for many subjects is that  "this is a minefield" - you can take it further in that the mines are usually in 'no mans land' and organic seeds represent one such subject between the established views.

It's a bit like a marriage where you agree about most things but there are a few flashpoints surrounded by barbed wire. I think that realistically this is healthy.

However I'm convinced that any ideology or dogma creates unnecessary conflict - the distinction between 'chemicals' and everything else is (as many have already said) - completely imaginary. 

On the other hand the difference between people who want easy money and those who want to improve the world couldn't be more real.

First, do no harm. I'd add - especially long term harm, especially insidious harm.

There's also a real difference between on one side: a minority who want clear rules, absolute truth (and ideally the belief that they don't need to listen to anyone else),  and on the other hand a minority who accept that life is messy and millions of years have made life so used to it that it won't work properly without messy (so they don't need to listen to anyone else). We are all between these two extremes.

I've just gone well past the battlefield metaphor and I don't want to go back - so I'd hate to see armed camps emerge like in politics etc.

I regard myself as a passionate moderate - but moderation is a delicious paradox - if you have too much moderation it becomes immoderate.

Still, somebody has to do it: The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity
 (though that's the only bit of Yeats' doomy rhyme that I agree with).

Organic growers in the 70s were too concerned with finding a safer way to grow to be bothered about the completely imaginary concept of "completely safe".

You'd be surprised how many "scare" deaths are safer than an adult than catching a peanut in their mouth.

This was a US researcher quoted in 80s (?) New Scientist and now appears to be completely lost, but despite being a tiny fraction of choking deaths I think it turned out to be more dangerous than lightning strikes and shark attack etc.

Once you've avoided the obvious pitfalls above, then and only then, you might be able to get away with saying What works, works.

Cheers.
« Last Edit: January 14, 2018, 10:01:09 by Vinlander »
With a microholding you always get too much or bugger-all. (I'm fed up calling it an allotment garden - it just encourages the tidy-police).

The simple/complex split is more & more important: Simple fertilisers Poor, complex ones Good. Simple (old) poisons predictable, others (new) the opposite.

Deb P

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Re: Organic seeds
« Reply #22 on: January 14, 2018, 14:47:56 »
Ooh I love a good debate!
My tuppenceworth, I feel the whole organic movement has gone the way of the vegetarian/vegan movement. What started out as a simple personal choice has turned into a regulated mess with dubious rigid definitions based on whatever 'facts ' or data you care to look at.

Personally I choose to concentrate my growing efforts on feeding the soil and protecting crops so don't need to use any sprays, I did use a contact weedkiller on the couch grass after spending ten years digging the stuff out of my paths, but have now invested in some hard paving so I don't have to bother again. Like many others I save my favourite seeds where possible for economies sake, but am a sucker for new seed porn, I don't care if they are certified organic or not it's how I grow them that counts!
If it's not pouring with rain, I'm either in the garden or at the lottie! Probably still there in the rain as well TBH....🥴

http://www.littleoverlaneallotments.org.uk

DrJohnH

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Re: Organic seeds
« Reply #23 on: January 14, 2018, 15:29:33 »
I was thinking about this topic today and remembered this article: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/aug/06/get-high-quality-seed-tailored-to-your-plot-for-free

I'm interested in the idea of saving seed from the best plants you have then (unless the plants are accidentally crossed with something else) you are then selecting for the traits best suited for the particular site etc.  Real Seeds Company is big on this e.g. http://www.realseeds.co.uk/whyseedsave.html

Just a thought.

Deb P

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Re: Organic seeds
« Reply #24 on: January 15, 2018, 15:21:15 »
Yes I was impressed when I first purchased some seeds from Real Seeds that they arrived with a leaflet basically telling you how to save your own seeds, the easiest varieties to do and the more technically taxing varieties requiring isolation to come true to type. Refreshing from a seed company!
I had particular success with some large leeks that I grew on from pips and seeds, I will have to save some more this year as I'm running low on saved seeds now.
If it's not pouring with rain, I'm either in the garden or at the lottie! Probably still there in the rain as well TBH....🥴

http://www.littleoverlaneallotments.org.uk

 

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