Posted on 02/03/2010 2:39:18 AM PST by Daisyjane69
Seeds for what's known as open-pollinated cucumbers seem to be most scarce, but carrots, snap peas and onions also could be in short supply.
The problem is primarily due to soggy weather last year that resulted in a disappointing seed crop. European seed growers also had a bad year, leading to a big increase in orders for American seeds.
So, what do you take issue with? That there could be a shortage of some seeds? Or that there was bad weather and increased orders from Europe? Or that European seed growers had a bad year?
There was one variety of zucchini, Romulus, that I loved that was a NY bred variety for this climate, that I couldn't get because of a crop failure. Why is this story not credible?
What's the excuse for your obnoxious reply?
It’s interesting that they still produce, as hybrids are supposed to be sterile.
I have moved to almost exclusively non-hybrid seeds...at least for necessities like veggies. No problem finding them — and at great prices too. Just got a ton off eBay, of all places!
We must live close! Same weather pattern here.
We do plan 1 and 2 as well. Works great unless we have a hurricane. :)
sounds like?
Actually it’s an excellent way to get and store seed for years and years and years......as in 20 when seeds won’t be available.
No problems here. I grow a mix of hybrids and non-hybrids and have everything I need to carry me through fall and into winter. We grow ALL of our vegetables and root crops and the fruits that will grow here. Just started a few things indoors last week.
Nah, most hybrids will sprout just fine. They won’t, however, generally come true. Ie, those ‘better boy’ tomato seeds will probably produce whatever parents or grandparents the better boy had. They’ll also be a mixed bag of disease resistance, timing to production and size. With a small possibility they crossed with the ‘big rainbow’ you had planted right next to them. Course, if you chose the hybrid for disease resistance it won’t do for you to plant seeds that might not be and waste your time/space on plants that just die at a whiff of Fusarium.
Some hybrids will come true at the same rate of OP though. ‘Santa’ grape tomatoes are an example. Since they don’t sell the seed for those anymore (I haven’t found it lately), most people just buy ‘Sweet Santa’ or something similarly named (it has several names depending on the grower) in the grocery store and save those seeds. Santa will come true 99/100 of the time.
2009 Phenology observations:
Fb 10 First Daffodil blossomed. Started lettuce in peat pots
Fb 13 Winter Honeysuckle about to bloom. Started cabbage in pots.
Fb 20 Second daffodil blossomed. Saw tree full of birds, maybe yellow warblers. Started earliest tomatoes in pots.
This year I aim to start my earliest seeds maybe 2 weeks later. But I'll send for the seeds now!
The lore around here (Central Mississippi). This is from a casual meeting with two older Black women who were shopping in the same garden center I was buying transplants. I was picking out some tomatoes and one asked me when I planned on planting them outside. I told her (can't remember what I said now).
She said, You should wait 30 days past the last Thunderstorm in Feb. and then plant your garden.
I get thrown off if I time things by my crazy optimistic jump-the-gun daffodils. They pop up in the middle of the worst freezin-est weather, regardless.
I usually have good luck with the cruciferous veggies, but last year the cabbages were pathetic, the kale was kinda puny, but the collard (an Asian variety called "Zen") was fabulous: it just kept coming and coming and coming. I was afraid it was going to sneak around at night and mug the kudzu!
:o)
It sure is fun, but I'm grateful I don't have to live off of what I grow. I'd starve, or turn green. Hm. A collard person, I am.
They rock. One of the best out there. Order quick though, I imagine they are out of some things by now.
I just ordered one of thier catalogs.
A great young family that has created a thriving growing business. My favorite place to order....and visit.
I was sweating because I was too busy to go thru my seeds and order till mid-January. I got everything I wanted and just a few backorders. Paid thru the nose because I bought in large quantities, however didn’t buy near as many varieties because I barely got half my garden planted with all the rain last year. Saving seeds like crazy this year.
I have my heirlooms tomatoes from last year’s seeds saved as well as a few new packs of the same tomatoes for this year. I also bought some other heirlooms and still want to order a few more things so I’d better get busy.
I started doing that last year. This year I’m looking forward to seeing my seeds grow.
We always wait three weeks after the last snowstorm in May. Even then, most seeds - like corn - are sprouted before they go in the ground, or they won't finish.
Hi and PING!
Already ordered, already received from Park. That, and I keep some in the freezer every year, so I have back ups there.
The Jung’s conglomerate (Jung’s, R.h. Shumways, etc)has a naked-seeded pumpkin, called Snack Jack. Its a hybrid, but this year I’m going to start trying to breed it into an open-pollinated.
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