Save seed heads to increase plant stock
But saving a stock of favourites isn’t always plain sailing
Saving seed from plants that perform well for you, is one way of building up a stock of favourites with minimal financial outlay. This is something that’s certainly worth trying but don’t assume that it’s all plain sailing. Whereas vegetative or clonal propagation, which is the rooting of living plant tissue, a stem, leaf, etc. results in a specimen identical to the parent, not all seeds reproduce true to form.
The seeds in a packet of F1
(first filial generation) hybrids can be relied upon to produce plants matching the description on the packet. This is because the plants used to develop F1’s are from “pure lines” developed through in-breeding. However, any seed saved from the resultant plants are termed F2 (second filial generation) and will display a variety of genetic traits.
Best approach then is to start with known performers that have a high germination rate and closely replicate the parent, then experiment with others to broaden your horizon.
I save certain flower and vegetable seeds from summer into deepest autumn, and this began last month with cowslips (Primula veris). They reproduce true to parent form because they are species plants. This is recognised by the two-word Latin name, the second beginning with a lower- case letter “v.” An established group either side of the driveway increases year-on-year through self-setting so there’s no need to fuss over tray sowing and germination requirements. Simply collect seed and distribute it on a chosen site and leave the rest to nature.
Woad (Isatis tinctoria), teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and Poppy (Papaver somniferum) seeds are also collected because they too are species. In keeping with cowslip, the seed is broadcast where we wish a patch of the plant to develop.
Seed capsules of Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri) are currently ripening, and they perpetuate a link with our medieval past. Some are grown in a drystone wall. The seed is mixed with soil and water in a container and the resultant mud is pushed into the wall crevices.
The seed germinates and gives rise to plants. A messy business but it works!
Certain vegetables grown from strong lines reproduce close to form, as I have discovered through trials over time. Pods of runner bean and garden pea are allowed to dry on the plant before storage. Courgette seeds are rescued from marrows before they’re cooked, and those in over-ripe tomatoes are extracted, dried, and saved.