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A guide to different types of seed labels

Thinking of purchasing seeds either for bedding out plants or the garden? It can be confusing with the different labels: GMO, hybridized, F1, F2, heirloom and organic.
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Thinking of purchasing seeds either for bedding out plants or the garden? It can be confusing with the different labels: GMO, hybridized, F1, F2, heirloom and organic.

GMO seeds are genetically modified organisms.

The parent plants have had their DNA modified. Specific genes from one plant are inserted into another plant in hope of improving the offspring.

GMO seeds are available for large-scale growers but not through seed packages.

The Monsanto website states “that the seeds are not available for the home gardener.”

This does not stop seed companies from advertising that they are selling non-GMO seeds.

Creating hybridized seeds involves plants that are chosen for specific characteristics and cross pollinated. Seeds from these plants grow to produce a mass of plants that have similar characteristics: height, growth habits and disease resistance. Seed saved from hybridized plants will not have the same characteristics as the parent plants.

F1 hybrids are derived when the plants are selected and bred back into the same selection until all the seeds produce uniform plants, with desired characteristics.

At this point, they are then crossed with another plant that has gone through the same process, resulting in uniform plants that display the characteristics that the scientists were striving for.

It can take up to 10 generations before a plant reaches the stage to be cross pollinated.

F1 seeds produce a uniform crop that is ready to harvest at one time.

F1 hybrid seed costs more as it is labour intensive to produce the seed. The plants have to be hand pollinated to insure they have the correct DNA.

F2 hybrids are F1 plants bred back to each other.

The seed tends to be less uniform than F1 but the procedure is less labour intensive and the are less expensive to purchase than F1 plants.

Open pollinated seed is pollinated by insects or the wind and rain. Plants grown from this seed will be varied in size, disease resistance, and with flower and fruit production. Seed that is collected from the home garden is openly pollinated.

Hardier plants survive and thrive. Strains that are weaker will slowly fade away.

Not all people agree on the exact definition of heirloom seed but they do agree that the seed must never been part of the intense hybridization programs that started in the 1950s.

Heirloom seed is all openly pollinated and, as a result, the genetics will change over time depending what other plants are in the vicinity. Plants that perform poorly are weeded out either by nature or by the seed savers as the seed from the best plants are saved for the next year’s planting.

The varieties of heirloom plants available are staggering but not all varieties of seed are readily available. Many of the seeds come in limited numbers.

Heirloom seeds are readily available through different seed houses as well as through exchanges.

Seeds from heirloom varieties can be saved with the knowledge that the seeds will produce plants similar to the parent plants.

Organic seed was produced on land that is certified as organic.

The parent seed was organic.

It was grown without the aid of chemical fertilizers or herbicides. Only approved natural fertilizers and pesticides can be used.

Once the seed is harvested, it is not treated with a fungicide.

Organic seeds must be packaged by equipment and stored in an area that only deals with organic seed.

There are many choices when it comes to seeds. The choice is yours.

Linda Tomlinson is a horticulturalist who lives near Rocky Mountain House. She can be reached at www.igardencanada.com or your_garden@hotmail.com.