Still can't get my head around seed saving (open polinated, none hybrids)...

[Two_Sheds]

Does a self pollinating plant need insects/wind to pollinate

No, it can pollinate itself Although with things like broad beans, yields are greatly increased when insects "help"

[chris]

Ok thanks... so self fertile? At a guess, it doesn't need another type near it - I take it that's just relevant to fruit trees?

[Two_Sheds]

Ok thanks... so self fertile?

Fertilises itself: "fertile by means of its own pollen"

[rustylady]

Ok thanks... so self fertile? At a guess, it doesn't need another type near it - I take it that's just relevant to fruit trees?

And tomatoes, and chillies.

[Flummery]

And tomatoes, and chillies.

.. and peas!

[taff]

my head has already exploded...thanks chris

[coreopsis]

my head has already exploded...

Mine as well.If toms are self pollinating why I was told to brush the flowers?

[King Carrot]

Mine as well.If toms are self pollinating why I was told to brush the flowers?

As tom flowers have both male and female parts, perhaps to move the pollen between them - not something I've done though, they seem to pretty much sort it out themselves in the end.

[Flummery]

Mine as well.If toms are self pollinating why I was told to brush the flowers?

You just need to shake the stems a bit, so the pollen falls on the girlie bit.

[OllieMartin]

Next question:
So if variety is marked as "Open Pollination", does that mean that the father (pollen source) is unknown or is there anything else that could be interpreted as. E.g that the plant is able to be pollinated by others (e.g. not sterile).

And also:
What's an "heirloom" variety then? Is that just a variety that's been used for a long time or are there specific criteria to being heirloom?

Ta x

[Two_Sheds]

What's an "heirloom" variety then?

One that's been going at least a century?
Also possibly it's not commercially available, but only through seedbanks (though I stand to be corrected on that one, I'm just burbling now)

[Two_Sheds]

"Open Pollination", ...?

means pollinated by natural means, ie wind, insect