SEED SELECTION

SEED SELECTION

The first step to becoming an organic gardener is started by choosing the right seed. Seed selection is the most important in starting an organic garden. If the garden is organic and the seeds used are chemically coated then there is not an organic garden. Most of the gardening beginners do not know the different varieties of seeds that are available in the market. Here we have discussed the varieties of seeds and which one to choose to start an organic garden. 

There are four varieties of seeds:

           1.      Open Pollinated seed

           2.      Heirloom seed

           3.      Hybrid seed

           4.      Genetically modified organism (GMO)

 

In the video, the difference between chemical and open-pollinated seed is shown 

What is the difference between Open Pollinated seed, Heirloom, and Hybrid? 

Open Pollinated seed:
An open-pollinated seed is when pollination occurs 

Open Pollinated seed is when pollination occurs by insect, bird, wind, humans, or other natural mechanisms.

Heirloom Seeds:

An heirloom seed is the seed of a plant that has been carefully cultivated and passed down through many generations. No synthetic fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides are used on these seeds or subject to genetic modification.

Hybrid Seed:

Hybrid seed is a cross between two or more unrelated inbred plants that carry one or more favorable traits. Simply put, hybrid seeds are cross-pollinated with help from humans.

Genetically modified organism (GMO):

GMO seed varieties are cultivated not in farms but in labs using highly complex technology.

For organic gardening, choose open-pollinated seed or heirloom seed. Even if the farming is done in an organic way with hybrid seeds, it cannot be considered as organic as the seed saved from the hybrid yield does not give the same results and hybrid seeds are cultivated with the help of a human. 

GMOs have a lot of opposition from people around the world and organic lovers are against it.

In the picture, Seeds of ladies' finger is given. One is organic and one chemical coated. The heavy chemical coat on the seed is quite evident. Also in the seed package, it is clearly mentioned that the seeds are chemically coated and poisonous.  

As said before, Choose seeds from open-pollinated and heirloom seeds to start organic farming/gardening.

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HAPPY GARDENING!