|
|
| |  | |
| Plan now for saving seed (Spring 2006) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you’d like to save seeds next fall, you’ll want to adjust your garden layout this spring - maybe. “Tomatoes, peppers, peas, and beans are self pollinating,” explains Bob Westerfield, consumer vegetable specialist with the University of Georgia Extension. “You can plant different varieties near each other without worrying about crossbreeding. Most vine crops, however, will cross-pollinate. In addition, some squash varieties will cross-pollinate with other members of the same family such as pumpkins. This cross-pollination won’t affect this year’s fruit, but the seed you save may give you strange and undesirable traits.”
Limit the seeds you save
Westerfield suggests you limit seed-saving to special, old-time varieties that are family heirlooms or tough to find. “Hybrid varieties such as ‘Big Boy’ or ‘Early Girl’ tomatoes will not breed true, even if they do self-pollinate,” he notes. “Of course, some people like to find out what results when they plant a spaghetti squash next to a ‘Jack O’ Lantern’ pumpkin.”
For more information, search the Web for “harvesting and saving garden seeds.”
|
|
|
|
