Question about seed

[hamptor]

So I've been gardening all my married life - 37 years.   I have a really hard time finding crowder pea seeds in catalogs, but found them in a local hardware store last year.  I planted them, had a great crop that produced for months and my bees loved them.   I dried and saved some of the seeds for planting this year.   My husband is questioning whether I should use the seeds I saved, or get new seeds from the hardware store.   I know some seeds get treated (not sure for what).   This has to be the way seeds have been passed down for years - but is there an advantage to the seeds I grew or the seeds from a seed producer?

[brooksbeefarm]

They should be fine unless they are some kind of hybrid seed witch i doubt.When i save seed i make sure it is completely dry and put it in a zip-lock bag and put it in the freezer till i'm ready to plant it. Jack
PS. they treat it to keep bugs from eating it,keeping it in the freezer will do the same thing.

[hamptor]

I guess there's not really a way to know that except maybe check out the seed the hardware store gets this year and see if it's labeled hybrid.
I've got it in a plastic bag, but not in the frig.   Does it need a cool period before planting?
Thanks, Jack!

[tedh]

I'm not sure this info is beneficial but...  Each year that you grow and save seed, the seed/plants will become more and more acclimated to your particular area/ soil.  If, of course, it wasn't a hybrid to begin with.  If it is there's no telling what you'll end up with!  Ted

[hamptor]

Well that sounds good!   Thanks!

[G3farms]

Jack pretty much nailed that one.

I also keep mine in the freezer after they are dried. I would not put them in the frig., they could sweat in a plastic bag.

Hybrids are usually only good for one season and then start to change back into what ever they were crossed with with each successive planting.

[LazyBkpr]

Jack pretty much nailed that one.

I also keep mine in the freezer after they are dried. I would not put them in the frig., they could sweat in a plastic bag.

Hybrids are usually only good for one season and then start to change back into what ever they were crossed with with each successive planting.

   Ditto...
   i have corn, tomato, pepper, and a few other seeds in the freezer. I just take them out of the freezer the night before I need to plant.

[Ray4852]

I keep my seeds for 3 years. After 3 years I throw them away and buy news ones.

[hamptor]

Very helpful information!   Thanks everyone!

[G3farms]

I keep my seeds for 3 years. After 3 years I throw them away and buy news ones.

I have some bean seed that is over ten years old and comes up every year, this year will deplete that stock though. They were white half runners.

[Slowmodem]

I was under the impression that anymore they were mostly hybrid unless they say heirloom.

[efmesch]

Some marketed seeds are coated with insecticides, some with chemicals that protect the germinating plant from soil borne plant diseases.  That having been said, uncoated seeds can be grown just as successfully as the store-bought seeds.  I've been doing it for years.

[Gypsi]

I refrigerate my seed, generally in paper envelopes rather than plastic bags.  All of my seeds.  Right now the entire refrigerator door and one of the crispers are full.  I do have some vitex seed in the freezer, hoping to get it to germinate somehow or another. I save heirloom seeds from fruit, tomatoes bell peppers and more, but not usually hybrid seeds.  I save flower seeds of many kinds wild and domesticated. I'll try anything once

[tedh]

I'm with Gypsi as far trying anything once.  Got a couple different types of palm trees in the sun room.  Seeds must have fallen in my suitcase while traveling.  Ted

[Slowmodem]

I'm with Gypsi as far trying anything once.  Got a couple different types of palm trees in the sun room.  Seeds must have fallen in my suitcase while traveling.  Ted

I have an avacado tree growing from a seed (pit?) as an experiment.  I really never expected it to grow.

[Gypsi]

I have done the avocado once years ago when I had more time.  I have lotus seeds from a customer's lotus hanging in a net breeder in an aquarium but so far after 2 months no sprout.  They can keep hanging there, they are a large hard seed and aren't molding.

[mamapoppybee]

so its been about two years ago now that I grew this great stand of peas. dident get to some of them to harvest in time and with the Oklahoma sun they dried naturally in the pods. I harvested them for seed( to experiment with) broak my collar bone the fallowing year so planting dident happen. I put those things in the ground this year and they are sprouting up this week.  So I would say nothing ventured nothing gained. Let us know how the crowders do?