Topic: What is F1?

[suzylou]

Possibly a very dumb question, but I'm becoming aware of many veg seeds being such-and-such F1.

What does this actually MEAN?

Thanks :)

[jennym]

F1 is the seed type that is obtained when 2 varieties of plants are interbred, and the F1 seed contains aspects of the mother and father plant. It stands for first filial generation I think. The F1 seed is consistent in so far as the nature of the plant that will come from it, and those sold usually are bred for certain "good" characteristics from the mother and father plant. But if you save seeds from an F1 plant, they will probably not come true, and unwanted characteristics may show up in the ensuing plant.

[redimp]

The are cross breed seeds that have to be bred every year especially for the seed packet.  Most were developed for commercial growers and yield and simultaneous readyness seems to be the two priorities.  Also, any seeds obtained from the plants will not grow as the same variety is re-planted but will be a mish mash of the parent plants - thus the need to breed especially.

I grow open pollinated traditional varieties whereever possible in the belief that they were grown before the days of pesticides and fertilizers so are probably best suited to organic gardening.  Also because they tend to be ready at different times, succession is not so important.

[suzylou]

Thank you, that's really interesting...I saved tomato seed today from the "moneymaker F1" tomato I bought in Tescos but I may now well be saving a lot of trouble by not planting it next year ;)

[Roy Bham UK]

This may explain, posted by Palustris and a long lost member Hugh Jones. :(
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php/topic,5672.0.html

[Robert_Brenchley]

They won't come true from seed, and they're intended to force the grower to buy seed every year instead of saving it, among other things. I won't use them unless I'm stuck.