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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] pepper seed germination

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  • From: "Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] pepper seed germination
  • Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2006 11:35:32 -0600

The environment of the seed's origin has a critical impact on the quality of the seeds. It won't change the variety at all because the genetics of the plant are not impacted by environment, except for random mutations, which don't happen often. But the quality of the seeds can be impacted by the health of the mother plant, by exposure to bacterial disease, by the quality of the growing season, by the quality of crop management (including specific growing practices). Also, quality of care and handling of the seeds can be critical to the quality of the seed at planting. I think every organic or sustainable grower should read "Seed to Seed", by Suzanne Ashworth, to understand this process.

Saving seed on the farm can be risky for those who don't understand the process, but for those who do, there is an opportunity for ensuring quality. But it takes determined work and care to do it well. For many growers it probably has some limits. Buying seed may not always be the worst choice.

Bill Shoemaker, Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
University of Illinois - St Charles Horticulture Research Center
www.nres.uiuc.edu/faculty/directory/shoemaker_wh.html




I agree that high germination standards and freshness are important, but
doesn't the environment of the seeds origin play an important role?
Isn't part of the seeds genetic expression factored by some parental
environmental information? I've always considered seed saved and
produced on the farm to be more vigorous.

sean albiston






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