They are called seeds. Types of seeds - how to choose quality ones? So what is more reliable - hybrids or hybrids?
You will learn which plants have seeds from this article.
What plants have seeds?
All plants belonging to the division of Gymnosperms and Angiosperms have seeds. These are legumes, pumpkin, cereals, flowers, conifers, etc.
What are seeds?
Seeds are called embryonic plants. And, as a rule, they have flower plants, and is formed from the ovule. The seed is formed inside the fruit and is attached to its wall by the seed stalk. Signs of a ripened seed are the presence of an embryo, storage tissue and seed coat. Almost all plants have seeds, except ferns and mosses - they have spores.
What is the importance of seeds in plant life?
Seeds are of great importance for plants, because with the help of seeds they spread to different territories and reproduce. Most seeds are carried by the wind, for example, pine, birch and dandelion seeds, others - by wild animals, such as oak and hazel seeds.
In the distribution of angiosperms also great importance a man plays. It transports seeds throughout the planet, helping to expand their range.
Seeds for a long time may remain viable, but not more than 10 years.
What are the advantages of plants with large seeds?
What does quality have to do with it? And despite the fact that only high-quality seeds can guarantee, if not phenomenal, then at least just a good harvest. But good seeds in a specialized store are very expensive, you object. I will even try to agree with you, but...
Before you go to the market for seeds and seedlings (where they are, of course, cheaper), you should think about whether you will find exactly what you want there. Believe me, no one will give a 100% guarantee that the seeds or seedlings you buy actually correspond to the variety declared by the seller. And if suddenly after a couple of months it turns out that instead of a weighty pink giant, your bush was decorated with a bunch of bright red cherry tomatoes, there will be no one to make a claim against. This time.
And second. Experienced gardeners (and flower growers) do not purchase seeds very often - they prefer to use their own, collected from proven varieties. You have to go to the store either for some completely new variety, or for a hybrid. By the way, every person more or less knowledgeable in agronomy knows that all crops are varietal and hybrid. Although not everyone knows the difference between a variety and a hybrid. And even experienced gardeners (not to mention beginners) often have a very vague idea that seeds are divided into categories. Which? It depends on how many stages of reproduction the seeds went through before they hit the store counter.
Types of seeds
So, seeds are divided into three categories:
- original,
- elite (elite seeds),
- reproductive.
The original ones are the seeds of the first stage of propagation. They are the standard of varietal purity, the progenitors of all other generations of seeds of any variety. They used to be called the super elite. Now this term is not officially used in the field of seed production.
Original seeds are produced by the originators or their authorized persons. The originator of a plant variety can be physical or entity, which created, bred or identified a plant variety and ensures its conservation. One or more originators may be registered for a variety. Both a Russian and a foreign person can be registered as the originator of a variety of foreign selection.
Currently, about 1000 originators are registered in Russia. Among them, the lion's share is occupied by research institutions. In addition, the originators are large agricultural firms (including foreign ones) and individuals.
Elite seeds are those obtained from the original ones. The number of their generations is determined by the originator of the variety. Elite generations are designated by the symbol S with a number. For example, S1 is the first generation from the elite, S2 is the generation from S1, etc. The quality of S1 is higher than the quality of S2 generation. Sometimes, but very rarely, elite seeds can be found in retail trade, and for agricultural enterprises and farmers there is no problem purchasing them from the originators. It's all about the price. Elite seeds serve as a source for the production of seeds of the next and last category.
Reproductive seeds are the seeds of subsequent generations after the elite ones. These are the ones we purchase for use on our sites. By the way, hybrid seeds of the first (and, by the way, last) generation are also reproductive. They are designated as F1.
The fact that reproduction seeds belong to the third, lower category does not mean that they retain varietal qualities to a significantly lesser extent than the original and elite ones. There is a difference, of course. Or rather, there is a certain tolerance towards a decrease in the controlled characteristics. Reproduction seeds, as well as original and elite ones, undergo all required types of control and testing for compliance with the original variety.
It all depends on the manufacturer. If he reproduced (copied, reproduced) seeds with varietal and sowing qualities no lower than those of the original or elite ones, then honor and praise to him. Although their category will still remain the same - reproductions. If you “meet” the requirements for reproductions, then this is the norm. But in the case when a batch of seeds did not pass the test due to poor quality, then this is a disaster. Trouble for the manufacturer too. Because he has no right to implement them. And if he did, then it’s a disaster for the loser summer resident, who will have wasted his money, energy and time.
Unfortunately, the experience of many gardeners shows that even the most seemingly serious manufacturing companies (they are different in different regions of our vast country) are not consistent with the issue of seed quality from year to year. It is best to purchase seeds from branded gel-producing stores. Well, if this is not possible, take seeds from different companies to be on the safe side - some will sprout.
With the development of private entrepreneurship, many entrepreneurs who have nothing to do with agricultural production came into the seed business. Therefore, there are often cases when seeds purchased from private individuals turn out to be non-germinating, or instead of some varieties the buyer receives completely different ones. If you do not want to make a mistake when buying seeds, remember the following simple conditions.
Legal and individuals those selling seeds must have:
- patent for the right to produce and sell seeds;
- seed quality certificate with data on germination, purity and other indicators. This document must reflect the name of the manufacturer or sales intermediary, the name of crops, varieties and hybrids, reproduction (generation), year of harvest, germination (%), purity (%), number and date of the quality document, name of the seed inspection that issued quality document.
The bag of seeds must be marked: name and address of the organization, crop, variety, weight of seeds (or number of pieces).
Seed storage
High-quality seeds are the key to a high yield of vegetables. You need to take care of purchasing seeds in advance. But it should be remembered that the duration of storage of vegetable seeds is different: cucumber seeds, if stored at a temperature not lower than 15 degrees, do not lose their viability for up to ten years; for watermelon, melon, and pumpkin seeds, germination does not decrease within 4-6 years; in the 3rd-4th year, the sowing quality of the seeds of eggplant, cabbage, and lettuce deteriorates. Onion seeds remain viable for no more than 2 years, so not all seeds should be purchased for future use.
Seeds should be stored in a dry, well-ventilated, heated room at a temperature of 7-10*. Gauze or cloth bags are best suited for storage; in extreme cases, paper bags. Do not store seeds in plastic bags, as they may suffocate and lose their viability.
Checking the quality of seeds
A preliminary assessment of seed quality can be carried out visually - by external signs: they must be full, not wrinkled (except for peas and corn), and the color must be characteristic of the given crop. In addition, fresh seeds are brightly colored, while old ones are dull.
Seeds may have a certain odor, for example, the seeds of carrots, dill and parsley have a strong specific odor; if it is missing, most likely the seeds are of low quality. Also unsuitable are those seeds that have a putrid odor. Good seeds can be recognized by touch: benign seeds seem cool and slightly moist, old seeds are dry and warm.
When purchasing seeds, you must carefully read the characteristics and characteristics of the variety and the manufacturer’s instructions. Why, say, buy late tomato seeds if you don’t have a greenhouse and the summer in your region is very short? Of course, tomatoes can be ripened, but is their taste comparable to red beauties that have just been picked from the bush?
When you have time, opportunity and desire, you can experiment with different varieties different cultures. But if one of the above is not enough, for example, time, it is better to cultivate one - a proven and reliable variety. The technology of growing one variety is easy to study and bring to perfection, which means you will always have a harvest. And you can experiment with a couple of other varieties.
When proven and reliable varieties appear, there is no need to purchase these same seeds in a store or on the market. With an experienced eye, the gardener notes in advance (and always marks) the best fruits that have all the necessary varietal qualities. And only after these “seeds” have fully matured will it be possible to extract fully ripened seeds from them. This must be done on a dry and sunny day. The seeds are then dried, placed in bags (don't forget to label them!) and stored until spring sowing at a temperature of 10-15 degrees.
Increasingly popular among vegetable growers in Lately buy hybrids. In a store with seeds, you can easily recognize them by the letter F (the initial letter of the Latin word meaning “children”). Standing nearby the number indicates the generation. For hybrids it is the first and only one. Plants marked F1 usually surpass their parent varieties in yield, early maturity, disease resistance, hardiness and other indicators. This phenomenon is called heterosis, and hybrids are called heterosis. It is for them, hybrid, that is, heterotic, that you have to go to the store every year, because it is useless to collect seeds from them at home, because already in the second generation not a trace remains of all the wonderful qualities of the hybrid. During domestic reproduction, splitting into paternal and maternal lines occurs. You will receive a harvest, but the fruit will be different shapes, different colors, different characteristics.
Such seeds are obtained anew each time in breeding research institutions or specialized farms, crossing maternal and paternal varieties or lines. This is a very complex and labor-intensive process, which is why the seeds are more expensive than regular varietal seeds.
So what is more reliable - hybrids or hybrids?
Hybrids have their advantages, but they usually manifest themselves when a special cultivation technology is observed. The varieties are less demanding, resistant to many diseases, grow normally and give a good harvest without film coverings in many regions of the post-Soviet space. You need to choose what suits you best. But most importantly, we must not forget that both varieties and hybrids, in their own way, biological features must be appropriate for the growing area. Try to grow zoned varieties - they are more adapted to local conditions. In “their” area they give best results in terms of yield, fruit quality, regularity of fruiting, disease resistance.
And the last thing (in this chapter, of course) is what you definitely need to know about seedlings. According to the timing of cultivation, seedlings can be divided into groups: early, middle and late. Let me immediately note that the terms acceptable for Middle zone Russia.
Early seedlings (sowing seeds from February 10 to March 10) - pepper, eggplant, tomato for greenhouses, early cabbage and cauliflower, celery root, leek, artichoke and other vegetables. When growing seedlings in such an early, almost still winter, period, it is important to provide the plants with not only optimal temperature, but also light. Early seedlings can be grown on window sills, heated balconies and verandas. Biofuel-powered greenhouses or heated greenhouses are used for this purpose.
Medium seedlings (sowing seeds from March 15 to April 10) - mid-ripening varieties white cabbage, tomato, pepper, eggplant, cucumbers, zucchini, watermelon, melon, onion. broccoli, kohlrabi, red, cauliflower, Beijing, Brussels sprouts, table beets.
Average seedlings are grown in film greenhouses with emergency heating, which allows maintaining optimal temperature at night and on some cold days. You can use film greenhouses or shelters using biofuel (manure with straw and other organic materials) to heat the soil. But when the air temperature drops, these structures require additional covering with burlap or other heat-saving materials.
Late seedlings (sowing seeds from April 25 to May 20) - late-ripening varieties of white cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, pumpkins, asparagus, rhubarb and other crops.
Late seedlings are grown in film greenhouses and greenhouses. To grow seedlings of cabbage, asparagus, and rhubarb, you can use cold nurseries, that is, plots of land well protected from northern winds and with fertile soil.
Quite by accident, but at the same time very symbolically, the first chapter ended with words about fertile soil. For the next chapter will be devoted specifically to the soil.
Every plant starts with a seed. This small lump contains the entire life of one plant, which will grow, develop and produce offspring. But nature has concluded that not all seeds are capable of producing a sprout, which will then turn into a flower or some kind of flower.
In markets and stores you can now find many seeds that differ in the color of the packages, names and varieties. Among this variety, it is easy to fall for low-quality goods, which scammers slip onto the shelves just as cleverly as other goods. But they often give themselves away, quite attentively, to what is written on it.
Unfamiliar seed names
Complex and incomprehensible names should prompt you to quickly search in books or on the Internet. Fortunately, there is no shortage of it now. Fraudsters often closely monitor demand in markets and understand what is best to offer and what to call it in order to attract a buyer. The result is that some plant beautiful name does not exist in nature at all and has never been bred. The seeds in such bags belong to an unknown plant and often simply do not hatch.
It's always easy to check the name. There is a special State Register that contains all breeding achievements. Before a plant is listed there, it will be tested for two years in all corners of our country, after which it will be included in the list. So if you haven’t found a name in the State Register, it means it simply doesn’t exist, and this is an illegal product.
The name of the manufacturing company is also of great importance. If you have never heard a name on the packaging, again we look at the State Register and check the presence of this company in it. In the end, you can search for a company on the Internet and find out what its history is and whether it is responsible for its products. And does it even exist?
Attention to numbers
It often happens that the number of seeds sealed in a bag, the batch number and the expiration date are printed on the packaging. In this case, feel free to refuse the purchase - this is a fake. On legal products, all these numbers are applied only with a stamp. Everything is logical - when making packaging, no one will write down the sell-by date, the number of seeds and the batch number in advance. All this is stamped directly during the filling process into the package using a stamp. Fraudulent companies do not have special equipment for packing seeds, and therefore they print all information only using the printing method.
The rustling sound coming from the bag while shaking should put you in a positive mood. If it is not there, most likely the seeds have stuck together and lost their ability to germinate or have become damp and rotten. High-quality seeds always spill easily and rattle like a rattle.
It happens that when high-quality packaging defects are still found inside. It is not at all necessary to plant a test batch of seeds, but you will still have to break the integrity of the bag.
When opening the package, you will need to include all your senses. Smell, listen and peer. It is clear that no smell of dampness or rot should come from fresh seeds. They should have a characteristic aroma for a given plant, which gradually disappears as it approaches the very deadline for sale. Larvae, in principle, cannot serve as an excuse for bad things. appearance seeds like this should not exist at all. Of course, there should also be no cracks or irregularities in shape. Usually their presence indicates that the seeds were picked immature or had time to get wet. Or maybe they are even infected.
Turn on the sense of touch
It is also easy to identify high-quality and low-quality seeds by touch. Fresh seeds are slightly cool, while old seeds are slightly warm. If there are only a few bad seeds, you can simply remove them, and along with them the samples that are hollow inside.
There are a couple of ways to check the germination of seeds. One of them is to electrify an object, at least by rubbing it on your hair, and then bring it to the seeds. Hollow samples will immediately stick to it, while solid ones, capable of sprouting, will remain in place. This method only works with small seeds. Large ones just need to be filled with water and see how they behave for five minutes. Hollow seeds will float, but whole ones will remain at the bottom.
Big promises (Video “How to choose seeds”)
Sometimes scammers promise an unprecedented harvest on the packaging, which is difficult to imagine if you have some experience in growing plants. This is a reason to think about the legality of products. It is unlikely that these seeds will give the same result declared by the manufacturer. If at all it turns out to be exactly the plant indicated on the package.
Interestingly, some manufacturers have adopted the experience foreign colleagues and began to color the seeds different colors. This is a real sign of quality, which can serve as a good guarantee that you will receive a good harvest on time (see the video for information on what other reliable indicators can be found on products).
In general, speaking objectively, it is difficult to expel scammers from the market of goods and services - they have taken root there too well and the law that should protect gardeners is too weak. However, representatives of any local Rosselkhoznadzor are your defenders and should come to the rescue on the first call. But still, the buyer and gardener must first of all rely on their attentiveness and literacy. Study all the tricks of scammers, stay up to date with the latest events, and your savvy and awareness in this topic will definitely help out at the right time.