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Post by mnjrutherford on Jun 3, 2009 21:21:08 GMT -5
Can anyone please recommend a good tome on the basics of seed saving? Seed Saving 101 or the like? I know I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed next to you guys and all the genetic stuff, but I'm working on it! ;D
I'd like to get some basics down so I'm not quite so far behind. Thanks!
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Post by stratcat on Jun 3, 2009 22:33:11 GMT -5
I've enjoyed using Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth.
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Post by canadamike on Jun 4, 2009 1:15:37 GMT -5
Total agreement here..  |
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Post by PatrickW on Jun 4, 2009 3:12:28 GMT -5
I agree too. I have this book and like it very much.
The other book people like (including me) is Carol Deppe's Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties
The Gardener's and Farmer's Guide to Plant Breeding and Seed Saving.
Don't buy both books, because they cover similar material. Ashworth's book is a great reference, well organized, and easy to find specific things in it.
Deppe's book on the other hand goes into a lot more detail in general and in particular about how different genes express themselves, something I think is very important to have a basic understanding of when seed saving. The material covered in this book can be very thick, but Deppe has a really good writing style and way to explain things so ordinary people can understand it.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jun 4, 2009 9:07:38 GMT -5
Seed to Seed is by far the most comprehensive book I've ever read on the subject.
But another one that I own and I feel is a good book on the Basics would be
Saving Seeds, the Gardener's Guide to Growing and Storing Vegetable and Flower Seeds by Marc Rogers. It is a Storey Publishing book from 1990.
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Post by silverseeds on Jul 9, 2009 9:38:27 GMT -5
I love seed to seed, but it gets confusing for me sometimes, because I dont seem to fit into any of the regions they have in it, so I cnt use the part showing when to plant, the rest is all good though. I also think every seed saver who likes reading should get a copy of carol deppes book, breed your ow vegetable varieties. Parts you might skip it gets pretty technical, but the basics of plant breeding,and understanding how pollination happens, and how your rogueing and selection are in fact part of breeding. So the basics of plant breeding I feel are important for anyone saving seed. www.seedambassadors.org/pdfs/seed%20saving%20zine%202%20for%20printing.pdf I did not read this page, but someone at IDIG listed it as another FREE source of much of this info. I guess it is public doman and you can print it. But Im not sure hats just what somone on the other ofurm said. |
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Post by silverseeds on Jul 9, 2009 9:48:20 GMT -5
I didnt read patricks post before. I do actually think having both books is good, but they are expensive, now that I have both I would say carol deppes book is the one I would choose. Because of the ramifications, of choosing which seed to save. Of course if that seed saving source I just gave a link to, and get deppes book. I personally think deppes book is much more important. Alot of things in seed to seed, really are obvious in a way. But while reading deppes book I truly understood, seed saving, and how to make sure I had good pollination. and the importance of roguing, and the basics of plant breeding seem easy, and the possibilities profound.
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Post by stratcat on Jul 9, 2009 15:00:10 GMT -5
Found my Carol Deppe's book in January after it was MIA for a few years. I highly recommend that one for seed saving info, as well. I use Seed to Seed and Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties for seed saving references. I refer to my Crockett's Victory Garden for great gardening information with pictures. I acquired Seed to Seed for its great seed saving info. Still haven't looked at the regions section of the book yet after 7 years.  |
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Post by galina on Aug 5, 2010 16:53:13 GMT -5
For UK conditions:
Sue Stickland
'Back Garden Seed Saving: Keeping Our Vegetable Heritage Alive'
also:
'Seed Savers' Handbook'
Jeremy Cherfas, Michael and Jude Fanton (1997)
In German - by Seed Saving Organisations Arche Noah in Austria and Pro Specie Rara in Switzerland:
Andrea Heistinger
'Handbuch Samengärtnerei: Sorten erhalten, Vielfalt vermehren, Gemüse genießen'
All are excellent.
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Post by ottawagardener on Aug 5, 2010 18:20:09 GMT -5
I'm going to be boring and re-recommend those two books: Seed to Seed and Breed your Own Vegetables.
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Post by raymondo on Sept 1, 2010 4:19:27 GMT -5
If I had to choose just one, I'd go for Carol Deppe's book. I do have Ashworth's book too but it was Deppe's book that really set things up for me.
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