Рет қаралды 2,559
We're talking about a couple of terms that you might have heard before and unpacking why they're pretty important things to know! Let's dive into OPEN-POLLINATED and HYBRID.
0:25 Open-pollinated
These are terms that you will most often see on seed packs, but you might also come across them online, in conversation, etc. so it's important to know what they mean and how it affects your garden.
You can think of "open-pollinated" as being natural. It means the wind, bees, butterflies, or other pollinators are moving the pollen from one flower to another. This opens up the door for cross-pollination.
So why does this matter?
It's especially important when you're saving seeds. As long as your varieties are kept separate, your plants are going to look the same from generation to generation. This is a really big point of emphasis if you're growing cut flowers.
2:32 Hybrid Seeds
Hybrid seeds, on the other hand, are a mix of two varieties that don't typically cross with each other. This is done manually in some way, and the benefit can be hybrid vigor. That first generation of hybrid seeds tends to grow especially well!
However, because they are a cross of two varieties, they won't necessarily be true to type (like open-pollinated would be). It's good to point out that hybrid is NOT the same as GMO. Even from the same seed pack, you might notice differences in your plants.
For most backyard gardeners, this isn't a big deal. It's fun to see genetics play out right in front of you!
6:00 GMO
This means the seeds are genetically-modified. In a lab setting, two varieties are forcefully combined & changed to produce a more desirable crop. The (sorta) good news is that GMO seeds are really only used by large agricultural corporations (because they're so expensive), so you're not going to accidentally buy a pack at your local nursery.
6:43 Choosing Hybrid vs Open-pollinated
So how do you pick what to grow? Well, it can be fun to do both, and I encourage you to experiment!
Open-pollinated varieties will tend to be unique and fun. Hyrbids have been chosen for unique qualities (ex. size or resistance to pests or disease) and are great for homesteaders or commercial growers but still entirely good for hobby gardeners. Just know that if you save hybrid seeds, your next generation may not totally look like the previous one.
7:37 Heirloom
Probably the most popular seed label term is "Heirloom" especially when talking about tomatoes. Heirloom just means they are open-pollinated varieties that have been securely looked after over generations. They have not been crossed with other varieties, so an heirloom variety that you grow might look the same as it did 50 or even 100 years ago.
If you're debating what to plant, I encourage you to plant what's going to work well in your area more than anything. Labels can help you identify that, but don't get too caught up on only buying one thing or another.
KEEP LEARNING
→Want more gardening tips? Head over to the LEARN dropdown: sandiegoseedco...
→Sign up for one of our on-demand classes (go through it at your own speed): "Organic Gardening: Grow Your Own Food" and our famous "Seed Starting Academy" are available at organicgardeni...
GET STOCKED UP:
→Vegetables: sandiegoseedco...
→Flowers: sandiegoseedco...
→Herbs: sandiegoseedco...
→Rare Seeds: sandiegoseedco...
→Tools & Merchandise: sandiegoseedco...
CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
→Instagram: / sandiegoseedcompany
→Facebook: / sandiegoseedcompany
#Gardening