How about hybrid seeds? What does open pollination mean? the difference between hybrids and open pollination

There are three kinds of seeds: hybrid, open pollination and family heirloom. Stark Bro's only carries non-GM heirloom seeds, all of which are open pollinated. The following are definitions and examples of each seed type to eliminate the common confusion surrounding them.

Hybrid seed

Hybrids occur when two different varieties of a tree or plant are purposefully cross-pollinated to produce a single new variety that reflects the best characteristics of each "parent". These seeds are usually sold in small packages you buy. Garden center and online. Hybrid seeds are often called F1 seeds, which is the genetic term for Filial 1 ("first child"). F1 seed is the product of the first generation of hybridization between two varieties.

Unfortunately, hybrid seeds from offspring (F2 and beyond) will not produce true parents; saving seeds from mixed plants can produce unpredictable results at best. You may get something similar to your parents; or it may be sterile; but it will certainly not be more dynamic than the previous generation. Because you can't keep hybrid seeds, you have to buy new ones every year to harvest them.

The most appropriate adjective to describe a hybrid is "uniformity", which has its advantages. When you plant hybrid seeds, you can expect any disease resistance promised on the package, the product will mature in the number of days indicated on the package, and the plant will be almost the same size and color for each seed. These are the most common varieties you see in supermarkets; commercial growers rely on hybrids because there are few surprises.

Open pollinated seeds

Compared with hybrid seeds, open pollination occurs through "accident": through accidental human contact / transfer, insects, wind, birds or any other natural means.

If you save the seed and plant it next season, you will get the same plant as the previous year. This is an excellent, cost-effective way to choose plants that do well in your garden.

Open pollination seeds do have some drawbacks, but they usually don't have much impact on home gardeners. Plants may be more mature than hybrids, or plant colors may vary from plant to plant. This "diversity" is a clear indicator of open pollination. It is important to note that if you are a seed protector and notice plants that are significantly different from other parts of the line, then the mutant plant should be destroyed because it will cross with any seeds you collect next year and change the strain.

Family heirloom seed

Family heirlooms-usually over 50 or before World War II-are as they sound: they are older, open-pollinated varieties that have been passed on for generations, such as grandma's jewelry. As early as the beginning of the 20th century, plant breeders developed many new open pollination varieties to create more stable genetic lineages and thus produce more uniform yields. These heirloom varieties are open pollination strains that can or may not be changed before the earliest open pollination breeding work.