do the following cross with different varieties of themselves
tomatoes
french type beans
cow peas
peas
thank you
lbb
oh and i have assumed that chili's, peppers, aubergines, runners do
commercially, many different types of tomato are often grown in same greenhouse
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yes but.. they dont save seeds , i need to
lbb
don't grow f1's then!
I'm not growing F1's
i understand that the commercial guys grow them all together, but as i said they dont save seeds, soo
do they cross with each other? can i grow different non F1 plants next to each other and still get pure seed?
lbb
Real Seeds is probably the best place to go for this info.
http://www.realseeds.co.uk/
They have seed saving instructions for most things.
Tomatoes are self pollinating but can cross pollinate. They are more likely to cross pollinate where the flowers have a protruding style and/or there is physical proximity and/or high levels of insect activity.
If you want to be over 90% sure of avoiding cross-pollination the varieties need to be at least 10 ft apart, probably more. Physical barriers (fine net) would be be more effective.
If you can time the sowing of the different varieties so that they flower at different times, this should avoid cross pollination.
A bit of reading .....
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/tomato/2005025852004159.html (http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/tomato/2005025852004159.html)
http://www.southernexposure.com/isolation-distance-tomatoes.p.html (http://www.southernexposure.com/isolation-distance-tomatoes.p.html)
http://www.kokopelli-seed-foundation.com/tomatoes.html (http://www.kokopelli-seed-foundation.com/tomatoes.html)
You are quite right LBB in your list of what do. Peas and French Beans don't so can be safely grown close together. Tomatoes don't, as a rule, but some of the older ones do. I grow heritage varieties and can have up to ten in an 8x6' greenhouse. I've only lost one variety "Red Peach" to cross pollination, it lost it's furry skin... :-X
PS don't know about Cow Peas... ::)
I believe cowpeas are predominantly self-polinating although minimal crossing (mostly by bumble bees) can occur. Artificial cross pollination normally produces less seeds per pod, again indicating self pollination as the norm.
I read a recommendation to harvest pods before they are fully ripe (as seeds often split when fully ripe), finish drying in a well ventilated spot.
Well that is what I'm banking on, but as this will be my first year (attempting) growing them, anything could happen!
saddad as always thank you.
Jayb, thankyou, i have only grown one variety before and as you know i have a few this year!
lbb
Yes me too Thanks ;D