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Post by daylilydude on Apr 4, 2014 12:05:50 GMT -5
I have always just bought seeds for my greens and want to try and save seed this year, and have no idea how, any tips?
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Apr 4, 2014 13:21:32 GMT -5
Here's a link to instructions: howtosaveseeds.com/seedsavingdetails.php#cabbagefamilyUnfortunately, it sounds like you need a long isolation distance to be safe, since these are bee-pollinated plants. (Bees love brassicas, too. Whenever I have bolting brassicas in the garden the bees are on them constantly.) If you have no close neighbors letting their greens bolt, you could try isolating by time - only allow one variety of green to bolt per year. The seeds are good for 4 or 5 years, so this would be feasible if you are only growing a few varieties. Or you could try alternate-day caging (instructions at that link) to save seeds from two or three varieties per year. If you have close neighbors letting their greens flower, or if there are wild mustards flowering at the same time, I'm not sure what you do. Maybe cage and try hand-pollinating with a small, soft brush? In any case, you want 10 or more plants flowering at the same time, because many brassicas are self-infertile. Good luck!
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Post by pepperhead212 on Apr 5, 2014 23:23:11 GMT -5
With all of the greens I grow, I never try to save seeds, either. The brassicas cross so easily, plus they are so cheap to buy (getting so many seeds in a packet), why bother? The only thing I would save seeds for would be mustard seeds, for the spice, but, again, why bother, since it is so cheap?
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Post by spacecase0 on Apr 5, 2014 23:32:17 GMT -5
I just let them cross and save what ever it grows, it is all greens, so why should I care what they look like, it is all food maybe I am not picky, but I am not going to buy seeds, or put that much effort into it, most of the time the plants look just like they did the last year should I send you some of the lettuce seeds I have that are not pure to start with, that way you don't have to worry about them crossing ?
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Post by daylilydude on Apr 18, 2014 8:13:52 GMT -5
Here's a link to instructions: howtosaveseeds.com/seedsavingdetails.php#cabbagefamilyUnfortunately, it sounds like you need a long isolation distance to be safe, since these are bee-pollinated plants. (Bees love brassicas, too. Whenever I have bolting brassicas in the garden the bees are on them constantly.) If you have no close neighbors letting their greens bolt, you could try isolating by time - only allow one variety of green to bolt per year. The seeds are good for 4 or 5 years, so this would be feasible if you are only growing a few varieties. Or you could try alternate-day caging (instructions at that link) to save seeds from two or three varieties per year. If you have close neighbors letting their greens flower, or if there are wild mustards flowering at the same time, I'm not sure what you do. Maybe cage and try hand-pollinating with a small, soft brush? In any case, you want 10 or more plants flowering at the same time, because many brassicas are self-infertile. Good luck! Laura_in_FL ,thank you for that link, it is a great one for for saving seeds from all over the veggie garden... now I have another question for anyone that can help? I have one collard plant out there that is already sending up the flower stalk, so apparently it was stressed, don't know how, the other 8 are looking fine, but anyhow, will that seed be viable?
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