It's time to stock up on several years of garden seeds BEFORE the stampede!!!

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

The headline speaks for itself!

-- smitty (smitty@sandiego.com), April 15, 1999

Answers

also make certain that the folks who are part of your contingency / fall back plans also have enough seeds in case you show up without yours.

got Plan B?

Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), April 15, 1999.


Not all seed endure storage well. The germination rate may be unacceptably low after long storage. A better idea is to use only open-pollinated seeds, which reproduce true, so you'll be able to grow your own seed. You can't depend on second generation plants from hybrid seeds to have the same characteristics as their hybrid parents.

Some sources:

http://www.virtualseeds.com/heirloom.html

http://st4.yahoo.com/seedsofchange/ournetoffamf.html

http://www.seedsave.org/Seeds_Trust.html

Here's a longish discussion on the relative merits of hybrid vs. open-pollinated seeds-- SEEDS FOR A RAINY DAY

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), April 16, 1999.


I am new here. Please tell me why we can't just go to the stores, nursury and buy their vegetable seeds to grow in our backyards? They are so cheap. Are the seeds sold in nurseries, supermarkets terminator seeds? I read that these seeds only have one life or something like that. What kind and where can I buy the good seeds at the wholesale price? My son has a food business which can order them wholesale. I live in northern California, what fruits and vegetables will grow best here? Do we keep them in the freezer till Y2K to grow them postY2K? Sorry, this is an area I am uninformed. I find that many friends who are preparing also don't understand this area. Thank you ahead of time.

-- Alex (Alex@abc.com), April 16, 1999.

Good question. Generally there is nothing wrong with the seeds from the grocery or garden center. Typically they are hybrids, so if you plan to save seeds, getting plants true to the parent is a problem. However, the seeds are cheap and available. Plus stored in a cool dark place, will generally have maintain good germination for at least a couple years. (I've gotten respectable germination from seeds left in the garage for a year.)

The argument for old time open pollinated has 2 main elements. Seed saving is one. The other is taste. Some of the parameters for modern hybids include disease resistances, bruise resistance, storage. So the potential 'down side' of some of the old timey seeds could be disease, loss due to damage, and shorter shelf life.

If you currently garden, I'd consider sticking what you are comfortable with and that you know works for you. If you are worried about seeds for next year, buy some extra.. You can add an experimental plot or two if you want to try something different...

Good Luck jh

-- john hebert (jt_hebert@hotmail.com), April 16, 1999.


Some seeds are still available folks. Try picking some extra packets up when you're in the store. They're going fast.

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), June 10, 1999.


I planted some seeds that were laying around for about 5 years just to see if they would grow. They did. Beans and peas.

Viable seeds were found in the tombs of the ancient Egyptians.

-- GeeGee (GeeGee@madtown.com), June 10, 1999.


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