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Can you grow F1 and non-F1 seeds 'together?'

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  • Can you grow F1 and non-F1 seeds 'together?'

    Morning all,

    I am soon to be venturing out and buying some vegetable seeds for my first experience of 'serious' (as defined as researching the best growing conditions and preparing the ground before putting the seeds in as opposed to simply putting the seeds in the ground and seeing what happens!) vegetable growing and I was just wondering if it is wise to sow F1 & non F1 seeds in close (close being defined here as within the same allotment patch) proximity?

    I've read about both the 'advantages' and 'disadvantages' of each and I find the degree of independence growing crops which I can collect the seeds to grow another crop very appealing. I also find sowing F1 varities which may show more resistance to certain conditions also very appealing.

    Thanks for your time and help,

    Samuel

  • #2
    Whatever you decide Samuel, it won't stop your neighbours on their allotments growing whatever they like - so you can't prevent cross-pollination without netting the plants that you want to save seeds from - and then you risk them not being pollinated at all!

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    • #3
      Originally posted by Samuel1988 View Post
      I was just wondering if it is wise to sow F1 & non F1 seeds in close (close being defined here as within the same allotment patch) proximity?

      I've read about both the 'advantages' and 'disadvantages' of each and I find the degree of independence growing crops which I can collect the seeds to grow another crop very appealing. I also find sowing F1 varities which may show more resistance to certain conditions also very appealing.
      Do you mean F1 and non F2 varieties of the same crop?

      F1 seeds are produced by crossing specific parent plants, so any seed saved from F1 plants will not produce plants that are identical to the ones you grew in the first place.

      Regarding saving your own seeds, this is an excellent site with a comprehensive guide to seed saving Great Vegetable Seeds from The Real Seed Catalogue

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      • #4
        In most cases it's absolutely fine to grow things side by side although sweetcorn can be iffy if you grow the standard and supersweet varieties next to one another - that said, as mentioned above you still have no control over what your neighbours are growing. If you are intending to save seeds the issue is different, you can't guarantee that seeds saved from any F1s you grow will come true to type (in fact it's unlikely) however that's not your question. Some types of plants (eg courgettes) are very promiscious and will cross with one another (F1 or not) unless they are isolated, whereas other plants, like peas, are very difficult to cross but this is the same if you grow two different F1s together, 2 open pollinated plants or a combination of the above. Except in rare cases (eg the sweetcorn mentioned above), this will make no difference to the vegetable you eat so don't panic.

        Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

        Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Alison View Post
          If you are intending to save seeds the issue is different, you can't guarantee that seeds saved from any F1s you grow will come true to type (in fact it's unlikely) however that's not your question.
          Actually Alison, it was part of the original poster's question. "I've read about both the 'advantages' and 'disadvantages' of each and I find the degree of independence growing crops which I can collect the seeds to grow another crop very appealing."

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Samuel1988 View Post
            growing crops which I can collect the seeds to grow another crop
            You need to sow "open pollinated" (non-F1) seeds if you are going to collect seed for future sowing.

            How To Save Your Own Seed at Home
            All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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