Science > Gardening

Experimental seed planting

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wanderer:

--- Quote from: Shijing on November 22, 2009, 10:17:40 PM ---Gourds were especially easy, but I also got apple and pear trees started. 

--- End quote ---

Hi Shijing,

Apples are not grown from seed, they're propagated from cuttings, traditionally, and grafted on to root stock. The apples you grow from seed won't grow true. Pears are probably the same, but I don't really know. Most of the fruits and vegetables you buy at the grocery are hybrids whose seeds won't produce the same quality plant as the parent, if that's what you're hoping for. You can check out Seed Savers Exchange http://www.seedsavers.org/ as a source for open pollinated heirloom seeds.

I used to grow hundreds of seedlings, mostly flowers, every year under lights in my basement. It was such a joy to see those beautiful little seedlings popping up in February when it was cold and nasty outside.

Shijing:

--- Quote from: wanderer on January 07, 2010, 07:38:52 AM ---Apples are not grown from seed, they're propagated from cuttings, traditionally, and grafted on to root stock. The apples you grow from seed won't grow true. Pears are probably the same, but I don't really know. Most of the fruits and vegetables you buy at the grocery are hybrids whose seeds won't produce the same quality plant as the parent, if that's what you're hoping for.

--- End quote ---

I didn't know that.  Thanks for the tip, wanderer -- I guess I thought I would be able to grow identical trees to the parents, although I never set my hopes on getting any fruit out of them per se since it would have taken years for the seedlings to get big enough and I don't know what will happen in that time.  Its still fun to start the trees, but I will also take a look at the link you provided -- it would be fun to grow trees expected to eventually fruit!

Potamus:
It's an interesting side note on American culture.  This "Johnny Appleseed" character that we were taught to idolize as an important part of the American Spirit headed Westward - he was held up to us as a man throwing seed from a bag for the good of America.  As stated above, these had to have been "Spitter" Apples as he did not stick around for the grafting phase...  Good for horses, but only grafted Apple trees produce what we call grocery store apples.  I heard another take on Johnny Appleseed, on National Public Radio years back, wherein an author looked it all up, and found that in fact Johnny Appleseed was a major gangster, planting apples everywhere to further their use in the 'other' role Apples play (distillation to make Applejack, a popular booze in that era).  Not the first American hero that was really a thug?

Johnno:
Another tip I've picked up for growing chilli seeds.

Fold a white napkin in half, put the chilli seeds on one side and fold over the top.

Wet the napkin with some water or tea, put in a ziplok bag and put it somewhere warm. I use the drip tray under my fridge which is perfect.

After about 5-10 days they will be sprouting. I then throw them in some seed raising mix.

Amelopsis:
I'm looking forward to starting seeds next week destined for my spring and summer feeding!  The experimental part is the weather, and the fact that this only the second year I've been in this garden.  Getting accustomed to the microclimate, my soil, etc..  It's sort of a 'getting to know you' stage with my garden. 
Last year the tomato plan did not go well...blight struck.
This year I'm adjusting some of the planting locations, making different selections of vegetables too; while I'd leaned to an almost entirely heirloom and organic untreated seed supply, this year I'll stick with organic and untreated seeds, but not necessarily the heirloom varieties; some of them simply don't have the same resistance to disease & viruses that others do.

It's a never-ending experiment that I'm happy to undertake.

Anyone else growing much of their own food?

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