Question about offering seed

gryffin · February 20, 2011

Last summer, I saved some seed from farm stand tomatos: Black Seaman and Tiffen Mennonite. I've germination tested them, but I have not grown them out to see if they produce true to type.

Is it appropriate to offer them to members of the forum? I hate for them to go to waste, but I'm not that interested in growing these varieties myself right now (though I think I am going to pot up the Black Seaman's from my germination test to see how long I can grow them out under lights).

habitat_gardener · February 21, 2011

A couple years ago I saved seeds from a couple farmer's market tomatoes and grew them. Then, since they produced what I expected, I offered seed from them (along with lots of others) last year, and I identified the seed source as farmer's market tomatoes.

But no, I would not offer saved seed from fruit I had not grown myself.

On the other hand, if someone is desperate to grow these varieties and wants to take a chance, they might want the seeds. But it's a lot of work to grow a seed into a fruit, and a disappointment if you spend all that time watching the plant grow and then end up with something that's not what you expected.

I've saved lots of seed that I haven't grown and wouldn't offer to anyone else for one reason or another -- fruit from a tomato tasting, seeds where I didn't know the variety name, etc.

**Mischka** · February 21, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by gryffin

Is it appropriate to offer them to members of the forum?

Yes it is, as long as you cite your source.

shlacm · February 21, 2011

I'd say, if you want to, then go ahead and offer them in the Available forum... just say what you did above; that you haven't grown them out yourself.

February 20, 2011	#1
gryffin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 229	Question about offering seed Last summer, I saved some seed from farm stand tomatos: Black Seaman and Tiffen Mennonite. I've germination tested them, but I have not grown them out to see if they produce true to type. Is it appropriate to offer them to members of the forum? I hate for them to go to waste, but I'm not that interested in growing these varieties myself right now (though I think I am going to pot up the Black Seaman's from my germination test to see how long I can grow them out under lights).

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February 21, 2011	#2
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	A couple years ago I saved seeds from a couple farmer's market tomatoes and grew them. Then, since they produced what I expected, I offered seed from them (along with lots of others) last year, and I identified the seed source as farmer's market tomatoes. But no, I would not offer saved seed from fruit I had not grown myself. On the other hand, if someone is desperate to grow these varieties and wants to take a chance, they might want the seeds. But it's a lot of work to grow a seed into a fruit, and a disappointment if you spend all that time watching the plant grow and then end up with something that's not what you expected. I've saved lots of seed that I haven't grown and wouldn't offer to anyone else for one reason or another -- fruit from a tomato tasting, seeds where I didn't know the variety name, etc.

February 21, 2011	#4
shlacm Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central VA Posts: 436	I'd say, if you want to, then go ahead and offer them in the Available forum... just say what you did above; that you haven't grown them out yourself.