I know it's a bit early to think about seed saving but I just want to check before I arrange my greenhouse!
I'm growing 4 GD toms & I also have an Alicante. If I want to save the GD seeds from the fruit for next year will I have to put the Alicante outside instead of in the greenhouse?
Thanks v much.
no you won't
they will come true to type ;)
The only toms that will cross (relatively easily) are wild types like yellow currant or potato leaf types... so don't grow them in the same greenhouse or poly. :)
Does that mean you should grow a minimum of each variety to get good pollination??
No need, the flowers are "botanically perfect" : have male and female parts and self fertilise usually befor the flower opens so just one plant will do the business, if it hasn't worked you get a tomato without seeds... like rocking horse droppings... :)
Saddad can you save the seed of F1 shirley if thats all you have in the GH?
You can, they will grow, but your next generation plants are unlikely to be anywhere near as good as the originals. :-X
So what you are saying that its not really worth the trouble.
Not unless you're planning a serious breeding program. I'm sure it would be possible to breed, say, an open pollinated supersweet corn, but only an amateur would be likely to try.
You can get an open pollinated sweet corn from Real Seeds hoping to give saving the seeds of it a try.
Quote from: Digeroo on April 30, 2009, 20:14:35
You can get an open pollinated sweet corn from Real Seeds hoping to give saving the seeds of it a try.
I've got a packet of both varieties from them, can't remember their names (Ashford?), but there's an instruction sheet in each bag that you get - whatever type of seed - and the ones in the sweetcorn say that you need at least 200 plants to get good enough seed to save.
Sorta negates the point of buying from them a little for me. :-\
PS Double Standard and Ashworth, just looked.
Oh dear only got 56 seeds and growing those in batches. Also there will be other varieties blowing in the wind
That's great - thanks folks. Will give the seed saving a try this year. Should get a good crop seeing as we're supposed to be having a long, hot summer according to the "experts"! ;)
Quote from: Digeroo on April 30, 2009, 20:14:35
You can get an open pollinated sweet corn from Real Seeds hoping to give saving the seeds of it a try.
Yes, but it's a traditional variety, not a supersweet or anything like that! If someone owas prepared to devote a plot to corn for a number of years, they could potentially do it.