Heirlooms...seed to seed

[Smiles Jr.]

Thanks Marshal. I'm a non-sleeper so maybe when I wrote that question I had already had three cups and my head was buzzing. Sometimes the buzzing gets so loud that I can't hear what I'm reading.

 

[baymule]

In the January issue of Acres magazine, (got mine at Tractor Supply) the main theme is about seeds. It had a very good article that pointed out that many seeds are viable for several years if stored properly. It further stated that allowed the seed saver to grow several varieties at one time, harvest the other varieties and allow only one of those varieties to go to seed. Thus the farmer/gardener would get a good supply of seeds that were pure and last for several years. I had one of those DUH moments, then the light went on in the furtherest reaches of my mind and I had a OOHHHHHHH............ so THAT'S how you do it!

 

[897tgigvib]

Hay Bay Dontcha just love those birds and bees discovery moments? :bee

 

[baymule]

Hay Bay Dontcha just love those birds and bees discovery moments? :bee

Buzzz Buzzzzz Tweet Tweety Tweet

 

[Jared77]

Plus you'd be able to see what varieties did better over the long haul so you can make adjustments to what your growing or techniques to improve things overall. Makes perfect sense

 

[HunkieDorie23]

Very good advice Marshall.

I cant leave anything in the ground here. Even though I live in West Virginia, we normally get sub-zero temps in the winter. I live in the Northern panhandle, so to understand my weather think Pittsburgh, PA which is only 40 miles east of me or Indianapolis, IN which is 300 miles due west.

Monty, I disagree. I have been reading a book about year round gardening and my guess is you are zone 5 which is where I am. I live in one of those micro climates that also has cooler temps mostly because of elevation. You will need to take some measures to insulate your veggies that you are keeping over winter (ie a hoop house, cold frames and mulch) but if being self sufficent is easy, everyone would be doing it. Carrots and cabbage both are cool weather veggies and will tolerate the cold if sheltered. I am also planning on saving my seeds this year and am going with all heirlooms. I was thinking about whimping out and not saving anything that I would have to wait a year for but with Marshall's awesome instruction I may reconsider.

The book that I am reading is " The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener" by Niki Jabbour and she is also in Zone 5. If you want to take a look at it too see if you would be interested in it check with your local library. It has a lot of really good information in it. Lots of color picture which really helps me. I know there are other books on the subject and your library may have something else that suits you better. Good luck.

 

[Smart Red]

A thing to remember about Carrots. They all cross and self pollinate at random with each other. If you have a rare or hard to get variety try to keep them pure by only saving seeds from those and none others, and check to see if any neighbors may be letting their carrots flower. . .QUEEN ANNE'S LACE will pollinate them also

The best way to avoid cross pollination AND let the insects do your work for you is to get the carrots flowering before other carrot family members are ready. I harvest my carrots and then start them growing early spring in the sun room. Once the weather is carrot planting time, I put them outside. They tend to flower before the carrot seeds I have planted get much of a start and well before QAL is flowering.

Love, Smart Red

 

[897tgigvib]

Smart Red, You're SMART! :bouquet

See? Why didn't I think of that? Well, at least this ole Neanderthal can learn from others!

:rose