So i would like to store seeds, and use them in the meentime on a rotational system much like stockpiled foods. But i have a few questions
Where is the best/cheapest place to get them from? They are so damn expensive online and ive seen them cheaper in stores but they dont say whether they are organic or GM.... when i ask the store workers they dont have a clue
what are good ones to buy for a rookie gardener, i do want to learn first then move onto harder to grow edible plants/veg
How long can you store seeds before they wont germinate?
Thanks for the info, will read that later after work
I've been told that it is wise to stay away from GM seeds as they only work once and the plants don't produce more useable seeds
Seeds are great to store but be careful some of the larger seeds have a short shelf life so check out or rotate your seeds accordingly, i tend to grow and store trees from seed mainly food trees like nuts and berries but also trees for fast growing for timber you would be surprised how easy it is to grow trees from seed and hard wood cuttings.
As ForgeCorvus says you want open pollinated or heirloom seeds not necessarily Organic Seeds. Organic seeds just means that no artificial fertilizers or pesticides were used while the parent plant was growing - it says nothing about the seeds themselves.
What you don't want are F1 Hybrids or GM seeds as they will not breed true if you save the seeds. An F1 Hybrid will always be marked 'F1' on the packet.
As for getting heirloom seeds cheaply - that is pretty easy. Just google up "Seed Swaps UK" and go to one near you. They have tables of people offering seeds on a "have some, leave some - want some - take some" basis. If you don't have any to leave just leave a small donation or even nothing at all - they are pretty good people and will probably understand if you explain you are a bit skint. You will not find any F1 or GM seeds there. They will not be labeled Organic - but mostly they are pretty close - not that it matters much.
Also look up seed circles - this is people swapping seeds via mail. At least one gardening magazine has a forum dedicated to this. I'm sure if you explain to people that you don't have any to offer yet and offer to send them a self addressed stamped envelope you'll get free seeds back.
There is tons of information online about how to save seed for various veggie types. Dig around and you'll soon find out what you need. Suggest peas, french beans, and tomatoes as a first go - you don't have to worry much about out crossing with them and they are annual so you don't have to overwinter the plant for next year and then bring it on into seed (turnips, beets cabbage and lots of others are biennial like that).
I had no clue about all of this, a year ago I thought that seeds were seeds... End of. Yesterday I knew that GM would produce a good crop but couldn't save seeds... Now all these new seed types are popping up.
I grew up in a council estate in battersea, the only plants in the area were the ones growing through the concrete slabs. This stuff interests me though, can't wait to get cracking at it
I will check out these seed exchanges, donations are fine for now, until I can contribute back
Seeds have to grow. You cannot just store them, then hope for the best. Even the international seed banks test germination viability. If it ain't good, they get more or grow those seeds. If you store seeds-do you know what to do with them when needed?
Gardening is very much a learned skill. It takes years to become a proficient vegetable gardener. I have been a gardener for 30 years,and only now do I feel qualified to give advice. Abd don't forget crop failures-and there will be many. If seeds are what you are relying on when the food runs out, forget it. A garden needs to be part of your life NOW. So you can incorporate it into your food storage system now.
Please do not think a few packets of seeds are the answer to food storage.
In three words I can sum up everything I have learned about life: It goes on.
Robert Frost.
Covid 19: After that level of weirdness ,any situation is certainly possible.
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