Purchasing Seed and Saving Your Own.

[Stringfellow]

One of the local garden centres sells off masses of seed, from the season just passed, dirt cheap from around the end of September. I wonder if some of this seed is past its best and might be a false economy? Parsnip, I would guess, is a particular gamble.

Following on from this, is there an optimum time to purchase seed for next season i.e. when companies are selling their best and freshest? I had some trouble germinating parsnip and salad onion this last year.

Charles, as a long-term venture, would investing time in seed saving be a good use of ones time? I like the idea of it but know that you use many F1’s – these recommendations in your books have certainly helped me to get some great harvests this year!

Hope everyone is enjoying eating those runner beans…

[charles]

 I have been thinking similarly and do not like using F1’s more than necessary. But the focus of breeding is on them, and they are more profitable for seed companies, so the old fashioned varieties are now less well bred – for example Brussels which don’t firm up on older varieties.

Yes I would make more effort, it is indeed a question of finding time. Also of weather, for example this summer has been easy for lettuce seed outdoors, where last year was hopeless. Lots of useful info at http://www.realseeds.co.uk.

As for sell-offs now, I would be careful except for tomatoes and brassicas at least, which keep a long time. Certainly avoid parsnip, alliums too as you say (I had some non-appearing spring onion too…) and lettuce.

 

I just potted on some Sungold sideshoots to see if I can overwinter them in the conservatory. Not simple, just possibly a way to propagate without buying seed, really don’t know how it may go.

[Stringfellow]

Saving seed will not only save some cash but it does feel right, on a range of different levels. I’m only just getting to grips with growing tho, so I’ll take it steady and maybe start by saving some parsnip seed this next year, from some Tender & True or similar. Although I have been reading alot of info on the real seeds site, it looks like a seed saving book is on the Xmas list!

The Sungold idea sounds potentially fantastic; fingers x’ed.

Back in November (26th?) last year you sowed some broad bean amongst grass clippings and stemmy prunings – how did they do?

[charles]

 failed! and I think it was due to … old seed. Saved my own this tear.

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