Vegetable Seeds. Selection, Storage

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

The required minimum of knowledge on the selection and storage of vegetable seeds

Seed selection

For the best productivity of your garden, with minimal material costs for growing vegetables and minimal physical costs, you need to buy seeds adapted to your area. In each region there are SEMOVOSCH firms specializing in regional seeds.

Seed selection and purchase should be done in seed shops or supermarket departments.

1) Seeds in colorful packages

Beautiful packaging, in a sense, acts as a guarantor of quality seeds, provided:

- if the package itself is glued evenly, without bevels;

- the name of the variety or hybrid

- if the package has a factory inscription: expiration date, quantity (weight) of seeds;

- if the package has no abrasions and obvious damage;

- if GOST compliance is specified;

- the presence of the name of the company, legal and actual address

- additional information on seed treatment with fungicide is possible.

An inscription, indirectly proving that the seeds were treated with fugnicide.

The production of colorful packaging for a company is several times more expensive than the seeds that will be in them.

A self-respecting company that maintains its prestige in the market will not pack substandard seeds in expensive packages.

This is a definite plus for seed buyers and a good minus in their wallets.

2) Seeds by weight

There are firms selling seeds by weight (wholesale supplies). In this case, you can only rely on the honesty of the seller, who packs the seeds into smaller containers.

The seeds are packaged by the seller.

Some seed wholesalers pack them themselves in small packaging bags, which in turn are packaged in larger bags.

Small packages contain leaflets containing general information from the large package. The packaged bags are provided with a firm sticker and are additionally fixed with a stapler.

In such packages, you can visually see the state of the seeds. The changed color of the seeds indicates their treatment with a fungicide. Information on the fungicide is available on the package insert.

Branded packaging of seeds

Fungicide Information

3) Seeds in simple bags

Plain, so-called white bags keep seeds in themselves just as good as in colorful bags.

When buying such packages, you need to take into account:

- that they have machine gluing (pressed);

- complete information about the seeds and the manufacturer's company;

- GOST compliance or barcode is indicated;

- the expiration date and the number (weight) of seeds are indicated

Such seeds have a big advantage in the price range.

4) Seeds from online stores

Roulette 50/50.

5) Own seeds

Only varietal vegetables (not hybrids) are suitable for collecting seeds.

Varietal vegetables are resistant plants fixed over time. Their characteristic features are recognizable and do not change.

Seeds harvested from their own vegetables will never be compared to purchased seeds.

Three indisputable advantages in favor of your own seeds.

- a high-quality ripe vegetable will give high-quality seeds;

- seeds from their vegetables are already adapted seeds for a given area;

- own seeds - this is the preservation of varietal characteristics of a grown and liked vegetable.

Storage of seeds

The quality of seeds is greatly influenced by the way they are stored.

The main factors affecting quality are humidity and temperature.

Additional factors are: the quality of the packaging, the presence of a protective shell on the seeds and the degree of maturity.

Seeds can be stored both at sub-zero and positive temperatures, but at such oppositely polar temperatures, the main thing is to withstand the humidity corresponding to the temperature and prevent temperature changes. Such parameters are maintained in special storages.

We, ordinary gardeners, do not need to maintain the viability of seeds for many years, therefore, seeds must be stored in such a way as to prevent large temperature fluctuations, and with relatively stable humidity - apartment conditions are suitable for this: this is a room temperature of 20 degrees C and room humidity.

Seeds, dried and cleared of substandard and debris, are stored in paper, p / ethylene, metallized, canvas bags. Hermetically sealed jars and boxes are suitable for storing seeds. Store in the dark.