With planting time approaching, finally, many will be looking to buy new seeds for their gardens. And the question of whether a seed is GMO or a hybrid will probably bother some. We all, or at least most of us, grow our own to get some benefit, such as organic and home grown produce, and the last thing we want is to harm oursleves and our loved ones. We have all heard the term GMO and want to avoid it at all costs. But we have also heard the term hybrid, and open pollinated and heirloom. So what are they and how are they the same and how are they different.
Let me start by telling you that seeds you buy at a garden center or a supermarket are safe.
Let me start by telling you that seeds you buy at a garden center or a supermarket are safe.
So how are they the same? They're all seeds. And how are they different? Read on to find out.
GMO stands for "genetically modified organism". These seeds have a DNA from another organism
artificially implanted into them. We want to stay away from these and luckily it's easy to do because they are usually available to farmers only. We also shouldn't worry about supermarket produce being grown from GMO seeds as not all crops are grown from GMO seeds. Why I personally want to avoid non-organic supermarket produce is because of all the chemicals used to grow, transport, and store them. Most common crops grown from GMO seeds are: sugar beats (for sugar), corn, soya beans, cotton (for use as oil), papaya, squash and canola (for oil). Alfa alfa for animal feed can also be grown from GMO seeds. Does that mean that all of these crops are grown from GMO seeds? Well most probably not. Are you likely to end up growing them? Most likely not.
artificially implanted into them. We want to stay away from these and luckily it's easy to do because they are usually available to farmers only. We also shouldn't worry about supermarket produce being grown from GMO seeds as not all crops are grown from GMO seeds. Why I personally want to avoid non-organic supermarket produce is because of all the chemicals used to grow, transport, and store them. Most common crops grown from GMO seeds are: sugar beats (for sugar), corn, soya beans, cotton (for use as oil), papaya, squash and canola (for oil). Alfa alfa for animal feed can also be grown from GMO seeds. Does that mean that all of these crops are grown from GMO seeds? Well most probably not. Are you likely to end up growing them? Most likely not.
Then come the hybrid seeds. Are they the same as GMO? The answer is NO, they're not. Hybrids are seeds that are a result of cross pollinating different plant varieties to create a variety thay has desirable characteristics of the parent varieties. It's 100 natural and safe to use. Some people prefer to grow them because they have desirable characterisitcs (for example they could be resistance to some pests or disease that attack that particular area). You don't want to save seeds from hybrids because you don't know what you end up with. The seed can revert and you may end up with parent variety which could be something you don't want to grow.
Next comes the OP or open pollinated varieties. These are hybrids that have stabilized and you can save seeds from them to grow your next year's crop from. Most of the seeds you buy from garden centers and supermarkets are OP.
And finally we come to heirloom seeds. These are OP seeds that have been around for a very long time. Some people prefer to grow them exclusively.
What you decide to grow is upto you. I prefer OP and heirlooms but will not mind a hybrid if it gives me better taste and healthier crop.
So what are you growing this season?? Do you have any favorites you want to share??
Next comes the OP or open pollinated varieties. These are hybrids that have stabilized and you can save seeds from them to grow your next year's crop from. Most of the seeds you buy from garden centers and supermarkets are OP.
And finally we come to heirloom seeds. These are OP seeds that have been around for a very long time. Some people prefer to grow them exclusively.
What you decide to grow is upto you. I prefer OP and heirlooms but will not mind a hybrid if it gives me better taste and healthier crop.
So what are you growing this season?? Do you have any favorites you want to share??
That was a wonderful post, Yana.. We recently moved into a new apartment in Sharjah close to the University City where there is a nice balcony and I am just going to start a balcony garden.. Can you tell me where to buy a plant from? Preferably vegetable plants..
ReplyDeleteHello Faiza, I'm glad you found the post useful. Let me tell you that it's much cheaper to start vegetable plants from seeds. Another advantage is that you can get more varieties if you grow from seeds. The only advantage of store bought plants I see is for plants that are hard to start from seed such as Rosemary. If you're in Sharjah there's a plant souk opposite the fish market. Many shops also carry seeds. There's also plant markets somewhere in the industrial areas. If you like you can join our seed exchange facebook group, https://m.facebook.com/groups/290214677768856 where you can exchange seeds with other gardeners. I think we could also organize a little seed exchange event where people can come and exchange plants and seeds. These happen in Dubai but are usually held far away.
ReplyDeleteRead our page for planting calendar here http://mylittlegardenindubai.blogspot.ae/p/useful.html?m=1 (first link on this page, other sites are nice too)
Also read this page on where to get the plants, seeds, soil and other gardening notions http://mylittlegardenindubai.blogspot.ae/p/blog-page.html?m=1
Let me know if you have anymore questions.
Hello Yana. I wrote a comment before under anonymous. I garden here in Abu Dhabi, this will be my second year. Tomatoes on the roof. I also compost and grow spices and flowers. I mentioned blight/disease on tomatoes in my previous comment. You did have some if you look in your Dec pictures. Yellow, then brown leaves. It Takes over the whole plant. Your garden is walled in so it might strike your plants later than mine. Thank you for telling me the site on facebook of the garden group but I am not on facebook. If you would like to exchange emails I would enjoy that. nancym840 at hot mail dot com I also quilt, crochet and embroider.
ReplyDeleteHi I sent you an email.
ReplyDelete