This is the seventh installment of our new weekly feature entitled the "Emergency Preparedness Guide." Remember that we will post a new article each Wednesday from this guide.

Sowing the Seeds of Survival


Storing and planting garden seeds is a great way to reap the benefits of gardening now, and in the future!

I decided we would take a small detour on our journey to preparedness to talk about something that is probably on many minds this time of year, gardening. I know what you are thinking-what does gardening have to do with preparedness? When land is available, one of the best ways to keep fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet during an emergency is by growing them in your own garden. A garden adds nutrition and variety to your food storage.

Let’s talk a little about storing and planting garden seeds and you’ll see!

Storing Garden Seeds
Non-hybrid, open pollinating seeds are the best type to store when purchasing storage seeds. These types of seeds can be planted and their seeds can be collected at the end of the season for a future garden. Most seeds purchased today are hybrid seeds and cannot produce more plants. That is why choosing “non-hybrid” seed is so important. Remember the old adage, “You can count the seeds in an apple, but you cannot count the apples in a seed”.

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3 comments

Red Icculus

Red Icculus

"most home gardeners don't have the space to waste on seeds of uncertain genetics." -Jenny

Pick 2 of your favorite plants. Put them right next to each other or pollinate them with a paintbrush. Chances are that most of the offspring will be like the parents. It's simple Mendel Genetics.

I don't get this stupid ignorant hippie rhetoric that hybrids are bad. Selective hybrids have been done since the beginning of agriculture and have lead to a lot of our modern agricultural industry. Stop the groupthink and actually do it yourself. It works great.

Jennie

Jennie

Yes, hybrid seeds do make viable seeds, (unless you get some of the Monsanto terminator genes) but most home gardeners don't have the space to waste on seeds of uncertain genetics.
With OP seeds you have a much better idea of what will sprout when you plant it.
One thing I might add to this post is preparedness doesn't mean just storing seeds. If you don't have practice growing and harvesting, those skills might hold you back in an emergency situation. Practice now, grow stuff you don't even need just to practice growing it.

Red Icculus

Red Icculus

Hybrid seeds absolutely can make more seeds, they will just have more variation than an heirloom variety that has been open-pollinated over the years. Hybrid vigor can even get rid of some negative traits found in heirloom varieties.

I don't know why this false information keeps on getting regurgitated on the internet.

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