Seeds
- Subject: [sibrob] Seeds
- From: \*
- Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 23:19:20 EDT
Al and others-
I'd like to offer another perspective on growing from seeds. I basically see myself as a conservator-growing mostly historic and species.I am a seed-aholic. I am very concerned that species will be lost with climate and habitat change and so when I can get species plants and or seeds I grow them. While they basically breed true, even with species there is variation and my grandmother,who was also a seed-saver taught me to select the earliest,latest,stockiest and tallest plants to save seeds from: not just the earliest and biggest as different characteristics are advantageous in different seasons. I think this applies to all plants.If a species SELECTION does well in rainy seasons, a drought can wipe out a species. I recall Ellen mentioning her Darwinian selection and have been interested in comments about the introductions which do or don't do well for certain people. Whether or not you choose to hybridize or grow species, some selections must be
made.
Another reason I grow seeds(for instance from the IDSON) is that I can explore micro-climates from the many progeny until I figure out the necessary requirements here without the cost of killing many plants in my experimenting stage.
A third reason I grow from seed is to get large numbers of plants, for instance versicolors to flood plain of the farmwhere they were once native, but killed out by herbicides many years ago.
For whatever reason one chooses, growing from seeds is a really exciting project, but it requires a certain discipline and clear goals, and patience. Five years ago I set out about 2000 three year old I.versicolor seedlings. About half were washed away or drowned by floods three month later. Of the remaining half only about 30 plants survived three years of drought and were still growing last summer. I haven't checked this year.
By the way, if you grow a species from a named clone your plants do not take the name of the clone, but are referred to as "from Kobana".
For whatever reason, growing a few seeds will give you a new perspective and a lot of respect for hybridizers.
Good luck
Caroline,where rain continues(I am not complaining),grass and weeds along with cherished plants flourish in NW corner of VA
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Free $5 Love Reading
Risk Free!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/3PCXaC/PfREAA/Ey.GAA/2gGylB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
To post to Sibrob: sibrob@yahoogroups.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
