Whats your opinion about garden seed ? Heirloom or Hybird ? Which is best and why ? I have noticed that some of the seed I buy at the feed store dosen't seem to come up as fast or grow as well as some I have got elsewhere .

Allen,according to Steve Solomon, an author who writes books about gardening in the Pacific Northwest (founder of Territorial Seed) most garden seed these days is pretty much the sweepings off the floor of the seed companies. In other words, packaged garden seed is at the bottom of the quality scale. A lot of hybridized seed is created for commercial growing conditions. But then again, certain varieties thrive in one location, and may fail next door. Perhaps the best plan is to seed heavily, thin heavily, try lots of varieties and keep notes. AND buy from sources that sell the highest quality seed. Many of the old time mail order houses now belong to large seed companies who simply maintain the facade of the familiar old catalog formats.

Barb

If you buy the cheap seed at wally World or the Dollar Store you get just what you paid for. If you go with a high quality seedsman you get it too. I've had real good luck, exceptional luck actually, with Johnnys out of Maine. But it costs.

As far as hybrid vs open pollinated, my heart says OP but my practical side says some hybrids are much better producers. Some hybrids are publicly owned, might have the term wrong, and there's no Monsanto type Dr Evil behind the seed waiting to pounce on unsuspecting backyard gardeners.

Shurmway used to advertize that they contracted from the farmers and sold seed to many of the other labels. I do know that most seeds are grown in rather small lots. Point Roberts used to grow more than half the worlds cabbage seed. A couple of rows of carrots or turnips make enough seed of a varity for a season.
I'm waiting for the seed catalogs to come. we can't raise much of a garden here but we do a lot of dreaming.

Heirlooms are better lovers. :-)

I don't think hybrids are the spawn of Satan or anything. We just don't grow much that we from which can't save seed. Sweet corn for market is about it. But we're avid seed savers. Without that interest, any good unmolested seed from a reliable source is as good as any other, I guess.

Selling started plants of heirloom strains is big for us in the Spring. Saving seed allows us to start almost unlimited numbers, without buying seed.

Thanks for input . I have been planning for my spring garden . We usually plant by March 15 or 20 th here in central Texas . I am just trying to get all info I can . It gets so hot and dry here we try to get as much production as possible by July 1 st .

I have been buying heirloom seeds for my garden from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company http://www.rareseeds.com and have been very pleased. I start a lot of my seed in an unheated greenhouse and can attest to a very high germination rate with Baker Creek. Another company I recommend highly is Seed Savers http://www.seedsavers.org near Deborah, Iowa. I have grown their heirloom corn, climbing beans and squash, directly seeded, and been pleased.

I went down to Baker Creek's seed store last Spring to do a show for our RFD-TV program and was impressed with their facility, people and philosophy. You can see my interview with the seed company founder here.

Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company from Rural Heritage on Vimeo.

Joe

Dale Wagner...We harvested 16 pounds of fresh tomatoes out of the hoop house on November 4, here in Oregon City! That thing is worth its weight in tomarties!

Barb

We buy our seed from several companies, among them Baker Creek Heirloom, Johnny's, Hummert International. Buying in bulk is a necessity for us, since the little packages would be too expensive in the quantities we need.
We also contract some of our seedling raising out to other small growers , which relieves us from some of the work and gives them some income, too.
Heirlooms usually are tastier, but hybrids often have advantages, too, namely being more resistant to diseases. When it comes to tomatoes, heirlooms sell better to restaurants , while the average consumer around here prefers what we call big, red and round. Taste seems less important to many people than looks.