Allotments 4 All

right, ok John, point taken.  :)
i'll retract that statement, my point was more about not growing f1 seeds because i don't feel the need to grow crops in the way commercial growers do. if i lose a few plants to disease, or it's the wrong colour... all the more to put down to experience! i'm a new gardener and tbh, really quite enjoy learning from my mistakes and finding more natural ways to produce a high quality crop.    ;D

Quote from: RosieMcPosie on October 15, 2007, 12:57:19i don't feel the need to grow crops in the way commercial growers do.

I'm with you there ;)

Basically F1 means 'first cross'.  To produce more F1 seeds of the same variety you need to cross the same two varieties - male x female.

If you save seed from an F1 variety, you will end up with an F2 variety.  You may end up with some very good plants, but you may also end up with some crap.

There are also 'heritage' seeds.  These are varieties which will come true to variety from saved seeds.  I think they have been one of the the biggest problems this year, insofar as they have been the most prone to blight.

I think 2007 has been a dreadful growing year.  I feel so sorry for the tomato growers who have started the year with so much optimism, only to have been devastated by blight.

We have had a very good tomato year, but I do feel so very sorry for the blight stricken.

valmarg