BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine

What are F1 seeds?

-

If you buy seed with the term ‘F1’ on the packet, your expectatio­ns should be high – the seeds are developed to produce vigorous and uniform plants that may also offer disease resistance, a heavy crop yield and a desirable habit. F1 seeds are produced by breeding two different parental lines of plants over several years, with the aim of gaining stable characteri­stics. The lines are then crossed (bred together), with breeders knowing exactly what the result will be. The process is difficult, as breeders must prevent self-pollinatio­n, which is also a costly process. That’s why F1 seeds are more expensive, which can put off some gardeners. If you are hoping to maximise an investment in F1 seed by harvesting and sowing its plants’ seed, and getting the same results, be wary – F1 offspring can vary as much as with regular seed. But that variabilit­y can be good in the garden – do you really want all of your flowers looking identical or your veg to mature at the same time? Part of the joy of nature can be its capricious whimsy!

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom