Tuesday 13 January 2009

Open Pollination and Natural Hybrids

One of the great things about growing your own food is being able to by-pass the hybrids produced by multi-national agribusinesses and use open pollinated varieties. This enables us to save our own seed, but sometimes the results are a bit interesting.

Exhibit One
In one of my garden beds I planted kale seed purchased from a supplier of open pollinated seeds. The result is shown at left LOL!

It's hard to see it in this picture, but the actual colour of the kale-cauli is a soft lemon-lime green and there are small leaves in between the florets. Not quite what I expected, but I'm sure it will be good eating.

Exhibit Two
Last year I saved an assortment of zucchini and squash seeds. On this bush, we have a cute little stripey button squash and on the same bush, there is the regular light green button squash. Go figure!

Exhibit Three
Local rumour has it that this is a natural hybrid occurring between a cougar and a domestic cat. Hmmm . . .

Now to a completely different subject - the carrot seeds I sowed in the peat moss have sprouted! The trick obviously works. But I might take up Stewart's suggestion and try seed raising mix in the furrow next time.

love and light
naturewitch

6 comments:

Cheryl said...

I love the look of the veggies....so wholesome and fresh......

Cute cat to....

Got my book today (tissue salts)....can't wait for bedtime to have a browse......tks for recommending.....

River said...

I've bought seeds from the diggers club in hopes of saving seed to plant next season. Hubby thinks I'm crazy and says why not just save the seed from the local nursery seedlings. I cannot get through to him that those seeds are bred to be sterile to keep customers coming back for new seedlings year after year. He reckons the plants set seed so they must be okay.

Wendy said...

This is fun. I like it when things turn out unexpectedly. Cute cat too!

naturewitch said...

Hi Cheryl
Hope you enjoy the book. It's really interesting to be able in people's faces what minerals they might be short of. xx

Hey River
Don't get me started about what the multinationals are doing to our food supply. Good on you for going open pollinated and managing your own destiny. xx

Hi Wendy
Yes, it is fun when they turn out to be a bit different. Interestingly, those button squash start out light green then develop stripes as they age. I must try to save some seeds and see what happens with them next year. xx

Shirl said...

Hi, just found your blog. That's a very interesting kale/cauli. Isn't nature a wonderful thing? ... :0)

naturewitch said...

Hi Shirl
Welcome! Yes, nature is a wonderful thing. Will drop by and see you. xx