This is the most informationally dense material I have written. There is a glossary at the end, should you need to define words, some words have specific "seedy" meanings if something doesn't make sense, check the glossary. If you have questions, use the links at the bottom of this post to ask me directly. I hope you find this helpful and inspiring.
Including the
following articles:
Seed Saving
Cheat Sheet – by David King
Plant Isolation
Table from http://howtosaveseeds.com/
(with lots of other good stuff there too!)
A
Seed Saving Bibliography – by David King, a short list of good bedtime reading
A
Seed Saving Glossary – by David King, basic terms you'll find in
the seed saving world
Seed Saving Cheatsheet – According to Complexity
David
King
Beginner
Bean, Lettuce, Pea, Pepper, Tomato
These vegetables offer the beginning seed saver the best chance for successful seed saving. They produce seed the same season as planted and are mostly self-pollinating, minimizing the need to be mindful of preventing cross-pollination.
These vegetables offer the beginning seed saver the best chance for successful seed saving. They produce seed the same season as planted and are mostly self-pollinating, minimizing the need to be mindful of preventing cross-pollination.
Bean
- Phaseolus vulgaris
PLANT: Although,
ideally, different varieties should be separated by 150 feet or
another crop flowering at the same time, cross-pollination is rare
even when two varieties are grown next to each other.
FLOWER: Beans
produce perfect, self-pollinating flowers. Cross pollination by
insects is possible but rare as pollination occurs before the flower
opens. Because the anthers are pushed up against the stigma,
automatic pollination is assured when the anthers open.
HARVEST: Allow
pods to dry brown before harvesting, about six weeks after eating
stage.
PROCESS: Small
amounts of pods can be opened by hand. Flail larger amounts.
Lettuce
- Lactuca sativa
PLANT: Separate
varieties flowering at the same time by at least 20 feet to ensure
purity.
FLOWER: Lettuce
produces perfect, self-pollinating flowers. Each flower produces one
seed. Flowers are grouped in little heads of 10-25 flowers all of
which open at once for as little as 30 minutes.
HARVEST: Some
outside leaves can be harvested for eating without harming seed
production. Allow seed heads to dry 2-3 weeks after flowering.
Individual heads will ripen at different times making the harvest of
large amounts of seed at one time nearly impossible. Wait until half
the flowers on each plant has gone to seed. Cut entire top of plant
and allow to dry upside down in an open paper bag.
PROCESS: Small
amounts of seed can be shaken daily from individual flowering heads.
Rub with hands to remove remaining seeds. If necessary, separate
seeds from chaff with screens.
Peas
- Pisum sativum
PLANT: Ideally,
different varieties need to be separated 50 feet or with another crop
flowering at the same time..
FLOWER: Peas
produce perfect, self-pollinating flowers. Cross-pollination by
insects is possible but rare because pollination occurs before the
flower opens. Because the stigma does open before pollen is ready
crosses theoretically could occur.
HARVEST: Allow
pods to dry brown before harvesting, about four weeks after eating
stage.
PROCESS: Small
amounts of pods can be opened by hand. Flail larger amounts.
Pepper
- Capsicum annuum
PLANT: Most
home gardeners will get satisfactory results if different varieties
are separated by 50 feet and another tall, flowering crop. New
studies from New Mexico State University show more crossing than was
previously thought. We recommend at least 400 feet between varieties
to ensure absolute purity.
FLOWER: Peppers
produce perfect, mostly self-pollinating flowers. Solitary bees will
pollinate if a more desirable pollen is not available in the area.
HARVEST: Harvest
mature, fully-ripe peppers for seed. (Most bell peppers turn red when
fully mature.)
PROCESS: There
are two methods, dry and wet, to process pepper seeds. The dry method
is adequate for small amounts. Cut the bottom off the fruit and
carefully reach in to strip the seeds surrounding central cone. In
many cases, seeds need no further cleaning. To process the seed from
large amounts of peppers, cut off the tops just under the stem, fill
a blender with peppers and water and carefully blend until good seeds
are separated and sink to bottom. Pepper debris and immature seeds
will float to the top where they can be rinsed away. Spread clean
seeds on paper towel and dry in cool location until seed is dry
enough to break when folded.
Tomato
- Lycopersicon esculentum
FLOWER: Tomatoes
produce perfect, self-pollinating flowers. Anthers are fused together
into a little cone that rarely opens until pollen has been shed and
the stigma pollinated. (Older varieties with wild tomatoes or L.
pimpinellifolium in their genetic ancestry may have stigmas that
stick out beyond the cone containing the anthers. Varieties with this
trait can be identified by looking closely at mature flowers and need
to be treated accordingly.)
HARVEST: If
possible, allow tomatoes to completely ripen before harvesting for
seed production. Seeds from green, unripe fruits will be most viable
if extracted after allowing the fruits to turn color.
PROCESS: Cut
the tomato into halves at its equator, opening the vertical cavities
that contain the seeds. Gently squeeze out from the cavities the
jelly-like substance that contains the seeds. If done carefully, the
tomato itself can still be eaten or saved for canning, sun-drying or
dehydrating.
Place
the jelly and seeds into a small jar or glass. (Add a little water if
you are processing only one or two small tomatoes.) Loosely cover the
container and place in a warm location, 60-75° F. for about three
days. Stir once a day.
A
layer of fungus will begin to appear on the top of the mixture after
a couple of days. This fungus not only eats the gelatinous coat that
surrounds each seed and prevents germination, it also produces
antibiotics that help to control seed-borne diseases like bacterial
spot, canker and speck.
After
three days fill the seed container with warm water. Let the contents
settle and begin pouring out the water along with pieces of tomato
pulp and immature seeds floating on top. Note: Viable seeds are
heavier and settle to the bottom of the jar. Repeat this process
until water being poured out is almost clear and clean seeds line the
bottom of the container. Pour these clean seeds into a strainer that
has holes smaller than the seeds. Let the excess water drip out and
invert the strainer onto paper towel or piece of newspaper. Allow the
seeds to dry completely (usually a day or two). Break up the clumps
into individual seeds, label and store in a packet or plastic bag.
Experienced
Corn, Cucumber, Muskmelon, Radish, Spinach, Squash/Pumpkin.
The experienced seed saver's vegetables produce seed the season they are planted but require separation to keep unwanted cross-pollination from taking place
The experienced seed saver's vegetables produce seed the season they are planted but require separation to keep unwanted cross-pollination from taking place
PLANT: Female
corn flowers are pollinated predominately by the wind, rarely by
insects. Pollen is light and can be carried great distances. For
purity, separate two varieties pollinating at the same time by at
least 1 mile. Reasonable results are obtained with separation of 1000
feet.
FLOWER: Corn
is monecious, producing separate male and female flowers on each
plant. Male flowers appear as tassels on the top of corn stalks and
female flowers are pollinated via the silk emerging from each ear.
INBREEDING
DEPRESSION: Corn is susceptible to intense inbreeding
depression. If seed is saved from too few plants, subsequent plants
may be short, mature late and produce few ears. Grow at least 200
plants and save the seeds from at least 100 of the best.
HARVEST: Corn
seed is usually ready to be harvested 4-6 weeks after eating stage.
PROCESS: Process
all but very large amounts of seed by gripping dried ears by hand and
twisting allowing kernels to fall into container. Any remaining silk
and chaff can be winnowed.
(All
cucumbers except Armenian cucumbers which are Cucumis melo)
PLANT: Separate
two different cucumber varieties by at least 1/2 mile, or segregate
by time to ensure purity. Experienced, home, seed savers can grow
more than one variety at a time in a single garden by using hand
pollinating techniques.
FLOWER: Cucumbers
are mostly monoecious with separate male and female flowers on each
plant. Female flowers can be identified by locating the ovary (a
small looking cucumber) at the base of the flower. Cucumber vines
will produce the greatest amount of female flowers when day length
shortens to approximately 11 hours per day. Fruits will be aborted
during dry spells and very hot weather.
INBREEDING
DEPRESSION: Although inbreeding depression is not usually
noticeable in cucumbers, seeds should be saved from at least 6
cucumbers on 6 different plants.
HARVEST: Cucumbers
raised for seed cannot be eaten. They should be left to ripen at
least 5 weeks after eating stage until they have turned a golden
color.
PROCESS: Slice
fruit lengthwise and scrape seeds out with spoon. Allow seeds and
jelly-like liquid to sit in jar at room temperature for 3 or 4 days.
Fungus will start to form on top. Stir daily. Jelly will dissolve and
good seeds will sink to bottom while remaining debris and immature
seeds can be rinsed away. Spread seeds on a paper towel or screen
until dry. (See instructions for tomato.)
Divided
below into seven separate groups because of similar features. All C.
melos varieties in all groups will cross with each other. They
will not cross with watermelons which are Citrullus
vulgaris.
Indorus: honeydew, crenshaw, casaba
Conomon: Asian, pickling melons
Dundaim: pocket melon
Cantalupensis: true cantelopes (without netted skin)
Flexuosus: Armenian cucumbers
Reticulatus: Persian melons, muskmelons with netted skin and orange flesh
Chito: orange melon, garden lemon melon
Indorus: honeydew, crenshaw, casaba
Conomon: Asian, pickling melons
Dundaim: pocket melon
Cantalupensis: true cantelopes (without netted skin)
Flexuosus: Armenian cucumbers
Reticulatus: Persian melons, muskmelons with netted skin and orange flesh
Chito: orange melon, garden lemon melon
PLANT: Separate
two different muskmelons by at least 1/2 mile or separate by time to
ensure purity. Experienced, home, seed savers grow more than one
variety at a time in a single garden by using hand pollinating
techniques. Muskmelon flowers are small and relatively difficult to
hand pollinate.
FLOWER: Muskmelons
are mostly monoecious with separate male and female flowers on each
plant. Female flowers can be identified by locating the ovary (a
small looking melon) at the base of the flower. The early flowers are
the most likely to be successfully pollinated and eventually produce
seeds.
INBREEDING
DEPRESSION: Not usually a problem with muskmelons.
HARVEST: Muskmelon
seed is mature and can be harvested from ripe and ready to eat
muskmelons.
PROCESS: Simply
rinse seeds clean, dry with towel and spread on board or cookie sheet
to complete drying.
PLANT: Separate
different varieties being grown for seed at the same time by at least
1/2 mile to ensure purity. Satisfactory results for home gardeners
require no more that 250 feet of separation. As radishes cannot
self-pollinate, pollen must be carried by insects from plant to
plant.
FLOWER: Radishes
produce annual flowers which require pollination by insects,
primarily bees.
HARVEST: Harvest
3' tall stalks containing seeds pods when pods have dried brown. Pull
entire plant and hang in cool, dry place if all pods are not dried at
the end of the growing season.
PROCESS: Open
pods by hand for small amounts of seed. Pods that do not open when
rubbed between hands can be pounded with hammer or mallet. Winnow to
remove remaining chaff.
PLANT: It
is probably best to grow seeds for only one variety of spinach at a
time. Remove plants which bolt first, and thin remaining plants to 8"
for seed production. Leave one male plant for each two females to
ensure pollination.
FLOWER: Spinach
is "dioecious", with male and female flowers on separate
plants. Flowers are wind pollinated by spinach's dust-like, powdery
pollen which can be carried for miles..
HARVEST: Some
outside leaves can be harvested for eating without harming seed
production. If possible, wait until all plants have dried brown. Pull
entire plant and hang in cool, dry place if necessary at the end of
the growing season.
PROCESS: Strip
seeds in upward motion and let them fall into container. Chaff can be
winnowed. Use gloves for prickly-seeded types.
Cucurbita
maxima varieties with large, hairy leaves, long vines and
soft, hairy stems and include: banana squashes, buttercups, hubbards
and marrows
Cucurbita
mixta varieties with large, hairy leaves, long vines and
hard, hairy stems and include the cushaws
Cucurbita
moschata varieties similar to C. mixta with
flaring stems at the fruit and large, green sepals surrounding the
flowers and include: butternuts
Cucurbita
pepo varieties with prickly stems and leaves with a hard,
five-angled stem and include: acorn squashes, cocozelles, pumpkins,
crooknecks, scallops, spaghetti squashes and zucchinis
PLANT: Squashes
from different species (see above) can be grown next to each other.
Separate different squash varieties in the same species by at least
1/2 mile to ensure purity. (Some crossing between C. mixta and C.
moschata has been reported recently.) Experienced,
home, seed savers grow more than one variety in a single garden by
using hand pollinating techniques. Squash flowers are large and
relatively easy to hand pollinate.
FLOWER: Squashes
are monoecious with male flowers and female flowers on each plant.
Female flowers can be identified by locating the ovary (a small
looking squash) at the base of the flower. (Some female flowers have
stamens.)
INBREEDING
DEPRESSION: Not usually noticed in squash and pumpkins.
HARVEST: Squash
must be fully mature before harvested for seed production. This means
that summer squashes must be left on the vine until outer shell
hardens. Allow to cure 3-4 additional weeks after harvest to
encourage further seed ripening.
PROCESS: Chop
open hard-shelled fruits and scoop out seeds. Rinse clean in wire
strainer with warm, running water. Dry with towel and spread on board
or cookie sheet to complete drying
Expert
Beet/Swiss
Chard, Cabbage Family, Carrot, Escarole/Frissee, Onion, Radicchio/Endive, Turnip/Chinese Cabbage.
PLANT: Grow
seed for only one variety of beet or Swiss chard at any one time.
FLOWER: Beets
and Swiss chard produce perfect flowers. Pollen is light and can be
carried for miles by the wind.
INBREEDING
DEPRESSION: Save seed from at least 6 different beets to ensure
genetic diversity and vigor.
HARVEST: Cut
4' tall tops just above the root when majority flowering clusters
have turned brown. Tops can be stored in cool, dry locations for 2-3
weeks to encourage further seed ripening.
PROCESS: Small
quantities of seed can be stripped by hand as seed matures. Large
numbers of tops can be put into a cloth bag and stomped or pounded.
Chaff can be winnowed.
Includes
broccoli, brussels sprout, cauliflower, cabbage and kale.
PLANT: All
vegetables and varieties in this large species will cross with each
other. Separate different varieties at least 1000 feet for
satisfactory results or at least 1 mile for purity. Caging with
introduced pollinators or alternate day caging is also recommended in
small gardens.
FLOWER: Flowers
are perfect, most of which cannot be self-pollinated. Necessary
cross-pollination is performed by bees. The stigma becomes receptive
before the flower opens, and pollen is shed hours after the flower
opens.
INBREEDING
DEPRESSION: Plant at least 6 different plants to protect vigor
and ensure a reasonable amount of genetic diversity.
HARVEST: Broccoli,
cauliflower, cabbage and kohlrabi heads grown for seed should not be
trimmed for consumption. Brussels sprouts, collards and kale can be
lightly trimmed for eating without affecting quality seed production.
If small amounts of seeds are wanted, allow individual pods to dry to
a light brown color before picking and opening by hand. Lower pods
dry first followed by those progressively higher on the plant. For
larger amounts of seeds pull entire plant after a majority of pods
have dried. Green pods rarely produce viable seeds even if allowed to
dry after the plant is pulled.
PROCESS: Smash
unopened pods in cloth bag with mallet or by walking on them. Chaff
can be winnowed.
PLANT: Separate
different varieties at least 1/2 mile to ensure purity. (Queen Anne's
Lace or wild carrot will cross with garden carrot.) Alternate day
caging or caging with introduced pollinators allows two or more
varieties to be grown for seed in small gardens.
FLOWER: Carrots
produce perfect flowers that are cross-pollinated by a number of
insects. Flowers are arranged in round, flat groups called umbels.
INBREEDING
DEPRESSION: Carrots can exhibit severe inbreeding depression.
Save and mix seed from as many different carrots as possible.
HARVEST: For
small amounts, hand pick each umbel as it dries brown. Large amounts
of seed can be harvested by cutting entire flowering top as umbels
begin to dry. Allow to mature in cool, dry location for an additional
2-3 weeks.
PROCESS: Clean
small amounts by rubbing between hands. Larger amounts can be beaten
from stalks and umbels. Screen and winnow to clean. Carrot seed is
naturally hairy or "bearded". Debearding in the cleaning
process does not affect germination.
Varieties
within each onion species will cross with each other. Crosses between
species although not common, are possible.
Allium schoenoprasum: Common chives
Allium tuberosum: Garlic chives
Allium fistulosum: Japanese bunching onions (Occasional crossing between A. fistulosum and A. cepa has been observed.)
Allium cepa comprised of three groups: Aggregatum includes shallots, multiplier onions and potato onions; Cepa our biennial, common storage and slicing onions; Proliferum includes the Egyptian or walking onions.
Allium schoenoprasum: Common chives
Allium tuberosum: Garlic chives
Allium fistulosum: Japanese bunching onions (Occasional crossing between A. fistulosum and A. cepa has been observed.)
Allium cepa comprised of three groups: Aggregatum includes shallots, multiplier onions and potato onions; Cepa our biennial, common storage and slicing onions; Proliferum includes the Egyptian or walking onions.
PLANT: Separate
from other flowering Alliums of the same species at least
1000 feet for satisfactory results or at least 1 mile for purity.
Caging with introduced pollinators or alternate day caging is also
recommended in small gardens.
FLOWER: The Alliums produce
perfect flowers, most of which are cross-pollinated because stigmas
in each flower become receptive only after pollen in that flower is
shed. Flowers in an individual umbel open and shed pollen at
different times so crosses can and do occur on the same plant.
Cross-pollination is performed mostly by bees.
INBREEDING
DEPRESSION: Onions display a fair amount of inbreeding
depression after two or three generations of self-pollination. Save
and mix the seeds from at least two different plants.
HARVEST: Clip
umbels as soon as majority of flowers have dried. Seeds will start
dropping from some flowers at this time so check often. Allow to dry
in cool, dry location for up to 2-3 weeks.
PROCESS: Fully
dried flowers will drop clean seeds naturally. For small amounts, rub
remaining flowers to free seeds. For larger amounts, rub heads over
screens. Winnow to remove remaining debris.
Plant
Isolation Distances Table
Chart
is from http://howtosaveseeds.com/
Please
note, these distances have been formulated for rural environments –
no one has data applicable to urban growing, but the suspicion, and
the experience of most SLOLA members, indicate that the distances
will vary from these, and sometimes by quite a bit. In the final
analysis, one needs to learn one's own growing situation and note air
flow and insect activity. These charts also do not account for
'organic' methods which almost invariably means more insects
interacting with the plants and create further variances from the
figures below.
Plant
|
Isolation
Distance
(Ashworth)* |
Isolation
Distance
(USDA) |
Pollinator
|
Amaranth
|
¼
to 2 miles 1
|
—
|
wind,
insects
|
Arugula |
½
mile (2640')
|
660
feet 7
|
insects
|
Basil |
150
feet
|
—
|
insects
|
Bean,
Common
|
0
to 1 mile 4
|
0 5,
4
|
self 2
|
Bean, Fava |
0
to 1 mile 4
|
0 5,
4
|
self 2
|
Bean, Lima |
0
to 1 mile 4
|
0 5,
7, 4
|
self 2
|
Bean, Tepary |
0
to 1 mile 4
|
0 5,
7, 4
|
self 2
|
Beet
|
5
miles
|
—
|
wind
|
Broccoli |
1
mile
|
660
feet 7
|
insects
|
Broomcorn |
—
|
660
feet 7
|
self 2
|
Brussels Sprouts |
1
mile
|
660
feet 7
|
insects
|
Cabbage
|
1
mile
|
660
feet 7
|
insects
|
Cantaloupe |
½
mile
|
¼
mile 7
|
insects
|
Carrot |
½
mile
|
—
|
insects
|
Cauliflower |
1
mile
|
660
feet 7
|
insects
|
Celery
|
1
mile
|
—
|
insects
|
Chinese Cabbage |
1
mile
|
660
feet 7
|
insects
|
Chinese Mustard |
1
mile
|
660
feet 7
|
insects
|
Chives |
1
mile
|
¼
mile 7
|
insects
|
Collards
|
1
mile
|
660
feet 7
|
insects
|
Cilantro |
½
mile
|
—
|
insects
|
Corn |
2
miles
|
660
feet
|
wind
|
Cotton |
—
|
¼
mile 6
|
self,
insects
|
Cowpea
|
0
to 1 mile 2
|
0
|
self 2
|
Cucumber |
½
mile
|
¼
mile 7
|
insects
|
Dill |
1
mile
|
—
|
insects
|
Eggplant |
50
feet
|
—
|
self 2
|
Fennel
|
½
mile
|
—
|
insects
|
Garlic |
1
mile
|
¼
mile 7
|
insects
|
Garlic Chives |
1
mile
|
¼
mile 7
|
insects
|
Gourds |
½
mile
|
¼
mile 7
|
insects
|
Kale
|
½
mile
|
660
feet 7
|
insects
|
Lamb's Quarters |
5
miles
|
—
|
wind
|
Lettuce |
25
feet
|
—
|
self 2
|
Melon, Honeydew |
½
mile
|
¼
mile 7
|
insects
|
Melon,
Musk
|
½
mile
|
¼
mile 7
|
insects
|
Mustard |
½
mile
|
660
feet
|
insects
|
Okra |
1
mile
|
825
feet
|
self,
insects
|
Onion |
1
mile
|
¼
mile
|
insects
|
Parsley
|
1
mile
|
—
|
insects
|
Pea |
50
feet
|
0 2
|
self 2
|
Pepper |
500
feet
|
30
feet
|
self,
insects
|
Potato |
30
feet 3
|
30
feet 3
|
self,
insects 3
|
Pumpkin
|
½
mile
|
¼
mile 7
|
insects
|
Radish |
½
mile
|
660
feet 7
|
insects
|
Sorghum |
—
|
660
feet
|
self 2
|
Spinach |
5
miles
|
—
|
wind
|
Squash
|
½
mile
|
¼
mile 7
|
insects
|
Sunflower |
½
to 3 miles
|
½
mile
|
insects
|
Swiss Chard |
5
miles
|
—
|
wind
|
Tomatillo |
0 4
|
30
feet 7
|
self 2
|
Tomato
|
0 4
|
30
feet
|
self 2
|
Turnip |
1
mile
|
660
feet 7
|
insects
|
Watermelon
|
½
mile
|
¼
mile
|
insect
|
Footnotes:
- Green amaranths may need only ¼ mile, grain amaranths up to 2 miles.
- See paragraph on Self Pollination in Distance Isolation in the article on Saving Seeds True-to-Type.
- Potatoes are not commonly reproduced from seed.
- "Distance adequate to prevent mechanical mixture is necessary".
- Isolation distances for cotton vary from 100' between similar varieties, to ¼ mile between 'upland' and 'Egyptian' types ('foundation' or 'preservation' grade).
- Extrapolated from similar species.
A Seed Saving Glossary
David
King
This is not a comprehensive glossary, but should define most terms you will find in this literature.
alternate-day caging - A technique that allows two different flowering varieties to be pollinated by insects without being cross-pollinated. Cages constructed of wood, wire, or plastic frames are covered with fine screen. One variety is covered with cages one day, allowing the other to be visited and pollinated by insects; the cages are switched each day to allow insect access to the previously caged variety.
anther - Organ where pollen is produced.
chaff - Broken pieces of dried seed capsules, stems, leaves and other debris mixed in with seeds.
characteristics - General features caused by unidentified complexes of genes including but not limited to freeze tolerance, cold tolerance, regional adaptability, winter hardiness, early maturation, and flavor.
cleaning screen - Screens with different-sized openings are used to separate seeds from chaff. The screen number denotes the number of openings that will cover a one inch line. A screen is selected with openings just large enough to let seeds drop through without the chaff or as in the case of larger seeds, a screen selected to allow the chaff to drop through without the seeds. (See page 36.)
cross-pollination - When pollen is exchanged between different flowers from the same or different plants.
dehiscent - A seed capsule opened to discharge seeds is dehiscent. Seeds must be harvested before this process takes place and the seeds are lost. In some varieties, the seed capsules literally explode.
dioecious - A species with male flowers and female flowers on separate plants as opposed to monoecious.
dominant trait - The variation of a specific, identifiable gene that results in obserable traits. For example, tall is a dominant trait in pea plant growth. Crosses with bush varieties will usually result in tall varieties. See "trait."
F1 hybrid - The "F" in F1 hybrid stands for filial or offspring. F1 means the first generation offspring after cross-pollination. The majority of F1 hybrids are sterile or produce offspring unlike themselves. See "hybrid."
F2 hybrid – The second generation offspring and so on.
filament - Tube that supports the anther where pollen is produced.
flail - The process of fracturing or crushing seedpods in order to free the seeds. This can take the form of everything from simply rubbing broccoli pods between your hands to driving over bean vines with a car or bribing high school students to jump up and down on seeds.
flower - The part of a plant where reproduction takes place and seeds are produced.
hybrid - Varieties resulting from natural or artificial pollination between genetically distinct parents. Commercially, the parents used to produce hybrids are usually inbred for specific characteristics.
inbred – reproduction of plants using parents that are significantly similar over time. In some plants this is not a problem (tomatoes and lettuce, for example) as they have flowers with both male and female and are typically fertilized within the flower before it even opens (see 'selfing'); other plants, needing a wide variety of genetic information to remain healthy cannot last long with such a limited gene pool.
inbreeding depression - A loss of vigor because of inbreeding. Inbreeding is the result of self-pollination or pollination between two close relatives.
insect pollination - Pollen is carried from one flower to another by insects.
monoecious - A species is monoecious if it produces single plants with separate male flowers and female flowers on the same plant.
open-pollinated - Open-pollinated varieties are stable varieties resulting from the pollination between the same or genetically similar parents. Not hybrid.
ovary - The female part of a flower that contains the ovules. Fertilized ovules develop into mature seeds.
perfect flowers - Individual flowers that contain both stamens and pistils, that is to say, both male and female parts.
pistil - The female reproductive organ in a flower made up of the stigma, style, and ovary.
pollen - Equivalent of sperm in plants. Pollen grain fertilizes plant ovules.
pollination - The process of sexual fertilization in plants. The male chromosomes contained in pollen are combined with the female chromosomes contained in the ovules; pollination can be done by insects, wind, water, birds or bats. In most vegetable crops pollination is carried out by wind or insects.
recessive trait - The variation of a specific, identifiable gene that results in observable traits only if the dominant trait is not present. For example, wrinkled pea seeds result only in varieties where the dominant smooth-seed trait is missing.
rogue - The process of removing or destroying plants with unwanted characteristics or traits.
selection - The process of saving the seeds from plants that exhibit desirable characteristics and traits. To identify desirable characteristics, plant the same variety in different environmental conditions, or plant different varieties in the same environ mental conditions.
self-pollination (selfing) - When pollination takes place within a single flower, usually before it opens. Other flowers or plants are not needed. Self-pollinating flowers are called "perfect flowers" because they contain the stamens that produce pollen and the pistil that receives the pollen. Isolation distance to prevent cross-pollination is not necessary unless insects are known to invade the flowers before pollination is complete.
silique - Long, tube-like seedpod that splits in half.
stamen - A flower's male reproductive organ consisting of the filament, anther, and pollen.
stigma - The opening in the pistil through which the pollen passes to the ovary.
style - Contains the pollen tube between the stigma and the ovary through which the pollen is carried.
thresh - A term used by growers and seed savers to describe the process of separating seeds from chaff; they can be separating for grain to eat or for seeds to save, the term is ubiquitous.
trait - A specific feature traced to an identifiable gene or group of genes. Pea traits traceable to single genes include vine growth (bush or tall), seed texture (smooth or wrinkled) and disease resistance (fusarium, enation mosaic, and powdery mildew).
viable - A viable seed is one that will germinate and produce a vigorous plant. Seeds must not be harvested before they have matured enough to be viable. There is wide variation in the point of maturity at which a seed can be harvested and the time passing when the seed will still be viable. Seeds have been known to remain viable for hundreds of years, but in practice, many seeds are no longer viable even after five years.
vigor - Strong, vibrant germination and growth. A desirable characteristic.
wind pollination - When pollen is carried from one flower to another by the wind.
winnow
– A seed cleaning technique still used from ancient times to clean
seeds by moving air from a fan or breeze to separate heavier seeds
from lighter chaff.
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