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Re: Tall peas, save seed

On Tue 05 May, Meconella wrote:
> In a message dated 5/1/98 10:28:56 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> Rebecca.Neason@foxinternet.net writes:
> 
> <<  I save about a liter of each of the three varieties I
>  raise, for seed.  >>
> 
> Hi Steve,
> 
> You say you save some peas for seed.  If you grow several varieties,  do they
> self pollinate so the seed breeds true?  How do you dry the seed?  On the
> vine?  Or will very mature but not yet dry pods yeild viable seed?  I am
> interested in saving some pea seeds as well from vines I currently have
> growing.
> 
> Thanks for any info.   Janet.
> 
> 
 I quote from Dr. Stefan Buczacki, a leading expert over here.
 "Plants such as peas that naturally are self-pollinating will almost
 invariably, in gardening parlance, 'come true' - there is no chance
 that stray pollen from another plant will interfere to affect the
 purity."

From experience, I would say that it also works OK with tomatoes amd
seakale beet.  But don't try it with any member of the cabbage family,
the carrots or celery family who are bound to have relatives in the wild
nearby, or the marrow, cucumber, pumpkin, melon family unless you can
isolate them or can cover them 100% with fleece/micromesh as they are
all promiscuous.
However in gardening always watch out for the odd freak, you never know,
you might find a winner!
To dry seeds remove as much pulp and rubbish as possible, then spread
them out on newspaper of kitchen towel and leave them to dry naturally.
Don't worry if the towel sticks to tomato etc. seeds, you can tear it up
when you sow them.
Keep them in paper bags, old envelopes, not plastic bags or glass or
metal.
-- 
Allan Day  Hereford HR2 7AU allan@crwys.demon.co.uk
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