Seed Germination
July 12th 2008
Raising your own vegetables from heirloom seed is easy, it really is!
Why?
* You can save money
* You can grow what you want and when you want them
* You can use traditional, open pollinated organic seeds
* You can save seeds to plant the next generation
Heirloom seeds will generally grow 'true to type', save the seeds and you can grow similar plants.
Hybrid seeds, sold by the big companies, usually won't grow true to type if you save the seeds and grow them again. The seeds could grow any one of the 'inputs'.
With a small amount of effort, seeds can easily be encouraged to grow. I have found that, possibly because I am doing this on a small scale, that the seedlings are healthier than those seen at a commercial nursery, especially the tomatoes.
It could, also be, as others have suggested, that traditional varieties, that have survived problems over the years, are more resistant to viruses etc that are now seen with the commercial, hybrid seed varieties. Full circle I say, in that yes, mass produced vegetables can be engineered to look good but they rarely taste great! There will be more evidence, I'm sure, to come from the scientific community that shows organic, locally produced vegetables are much higher in nutrients, some evidence exists already.
Here's the Seedhouse I am using. It was bought ($35)at one of the large retailers beginning with B. It's a powder coated modular frame, with 4 powder coated wire trays. It's topped off with a thick, clear PVC cover. This features a zipper to allow access. It's not Australian made, unlike the 'Little Nursery' featured below! I find that once the seedlings have popped up, you can't leave them under the plastic too much longer as they 'go leggy'. Time to move them either into the raised beds or into pots.
The small plastic seed propagators that you can see inside are made by a company called BMW Marketing, they are called 'Little Nursery', Australian Made, the company also makes a similar product that's a small worm house.
www.bmwplastics.com.au These are only $7.60 and are worth searching out. They come with the re usable seed punnets. I have used Jiffy pots with water added to the base for a 'capillary effect'. I'm now trying the plastic punnets just to compare. The 'Little Nursery' propagators feature a great carry handle that folds down and the top features holes for ventilation. It COULD NOT BE BETTER DESIGNED I believe!!!
Currently doing well from Edens Seeds are : Beetroot (Bulls Blood), Squash (Table Queen), Tomato (Mortgage Lifter), Siberian Kale, Broccoli (Green Sprouting Calabrese), Tomato (Walter and Roma)
The 'Little Nursery' seed propagator with the top off. It's not featured on the 'BMW Marketing' website but hopefully you can see the details below!
Growing here are some Squash (Table Queen) and some Tomatoes (Walter)
Here is the 'Little Nursery' from the side.
I bought three more today in preparation for a second seedhouse as the first is now full of seedlings in pots!
Here is a top view. I feel like one of those people that endorse products for money but hey, at $7.28, they are Australian made, what little, at least stays here and pays Australians!
Every seed propagator should have some of these!
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