Here at Dirt Works we believe everyone can have a bountiful garden. First, start with healthy, living soil. Then, choose the right seeds. In this article we share the basics of variety selection, seed quality, and plant breeding.
Selective plant breeding involves cross-pollinating plants to combine desirable traits. Careful attention to variety selection and seed quality will help set you up for success in the garden.
Selecting the Best Varieties for Your Garden
Are your summers long and hot? Be sure to choose cool season crops that are specifically developed to be heat tolerant. Most cool season plants will bolt (go to seed) quickly or turn bitter in the heat. Ask your favorite search engine for "heat tolerant broccoli" or "summer lettuce varieties".
Are your summers short and cool? Warm season crops may need extra protection. Select varieties that mature early and can tolerate cooler temperatures. Do not be discouraged! There are several seed companies that specialize in vegetable seed for cool, northern climates. Ask your favorite search engine for "short season tomatoes" or "melons for cool climates".
Looking for more clarification on warm and cool season crops? Start here.
Weather variation year to year can also have a big impact on which crops thrive. Don’t give up the first year if you don’t have great success!
Pest and Disease Resistance: Many vegetable varieties have been bred for disease and pest resistance. You may want to choose varieties with some genetic resistance to common issues in your area (for example, powdery mildew or mosaic virus).
Purpose: Think about how you will use the flowers and vegetables you grow, and when you want to harvest. Consider planting varieties that mature at different times to provide a more steady supply of food. There are so many choices! For every type of vegetable there are varieties that are best for processing or storage, and those that are best for fresh eating (that do not store as well).
Here are a few examples:
Bush beans will have a shorter harvest window than pole beans. This is helpful if you are preserving the beans and want them all at once.
Some potatoes are "dry" and best for baking, while others are "waxy" and best for mashing or roasting. You can plant a combination of early, mid and late season varieties to extend the harvest period.
Some winter squash will be good to eat right off the vine, and some will store (and the flavor will improve) for up to 6 months.
Yellow onions generally store longer than white onions.
Softneck garlic varieties will store longer than hardneck garlic varieties.
Some tomato varieties are best for making sauce while others are best for sandwiches.
Plant a summer variety of cabbage that matures quickly in the spring (for a summer harvest) and then choose a different variety that can be planted in the summer for a late fall harvest.
These details and more can be found in seed catalogs and websites of seed companies. Carefully review descriptions of each variety, including growing requirements, harvest periods, and performance traits. Ask other gardeners, and local community and school gardens, for variety recommendations.
The Generous Roots Garden Company was created to support the Worland Community Garden and is dedicated to providing high-quality, regionally adapted seeds for gardeners of all levels. They offer a carefully curated selection of vegetable and flower seeds, selected to thrive in Wyoming's Big Horn Basin.
Types of Seeds
Heirloom is generally used to mean a variety that is over 50 years old, although there is no official definition. All heirloom varieties are open-pollinated, but not all open-pollinated varieties are heirlooms.
Hybrid seeds are a result of cross-pollinating two different varieties to produce offspring with specific traits such as disease resistance, uniform growth, or higher yields. Hybrid seeds are often denoted by an “F1” in the name or description.
The result is reliable performance, predictable traits, and often more vigorous plants. However, seeds that are saved from hybrid plants will not produce true-to-type offspring, meaning the next generation may not retain the parent plant’s desirable traits. Hybrid seeds are also more expensive to produce. Most of the vegetables grown commercially in the United States are grown from hybrid seed.
Open-pollinated seeds result from natural pollination by wind and insects. Some may be "heirloom" or newer varieties developed using modern selective breeding methods. If appropriate isolation distances are maintained, open-pollinated seeds can be saved from year to year and maintain the same characteristics. They often produce plants with rich genetic diversity but have a lower yield, and are more susceptible to disease than hybrids.
GMO or Bioengineered varieties have been altered in a laboratory to introduce specific genetic traits, such as pest resistance or herbicide tolerance. GMO seeds are typically not available to home gardeners and are primarily used in commercial agriculture. A list of engineered crops is available here.
Certified Organic seed meets the standards set by the USDA for the National Organic Program. This excludes the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Some varieties have been specifically developed to thrive in organic (ie. lower input) growing conditions.
Click below to download a longer version of this article that includes information on seed storage and testing.
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