I noticed at the store that some seeds are marked organic and are more expensive than seed packets that aren't.
Question is, how could a seed possibly not be organic? It came from a plant not a test tube right? IT would bve awefully hard to synthetically reproduce seeds, no?
What are the differences in organic vs not organic seeds? Advantages? Worth the extra money at all?
- rainbowgardener
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 25279
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
- Location: TN/GA 7b
Non-organic seeds are of course still seeds, grown from plants. But not only may the plants they come from be grown with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, etc, the seeds may be "treated" with various preservatives, growth enhancers, pesticides, etc. They may also be from GMO's, genetically modified organisms and do not have to be labeled as such.
Is it worth the money difference? Depends on your philosophy and only you can decide that, but IMO even organic seeds are still a big bargain. I get a lot of my seeds from Park Seed organics. Depending on seeds of what, you get a packet of any where from 30 to 200 seeds for between $2 and $4. So what if you could save a quarter somewhere?
Is it worth the money difference? Depends on your philosophy and only you can decide that, but IMO even organic seeds are still a big bargain. I get a lot of my seeds from Park Seed organics. Depending on seeds of what, you get a packet of any where from 30 to 200 seeds for between $2 and $4. So what if you could save a quarter somewhere?
- applestar
- Mod
- Posts: 30541
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
Rainbowgardener didn't specifically mention it, but seeds are very frequently fumigated with chemical fungicide as well. I guess this falls under "preservatives" now that I think about it.
Sometimes, you see seeds offered as "UNTREATED" but not labeled "ORGANIC". I'm guessing "untreated" seeds fall somewhere between "UNLABELED" and "ORGANIC".
I've always understood "ORGANIC" seeds to be from organically grown, non-GMO plants in addition to not being treated. I seem to remember that seeds are embryos and embryonic cells concentrate toxins as wells propagate them in the process of cell division.
Sometimes, you see seeds offered as "UNTREATED" but not labeled "ORGANIC". I'm guessing "untreated" seeds fall somewhere between "UNLABELED" and "ORGANIC".
I've always understood "ORGANIC" seeds to be from organically grown, non-GMO plants in addition to not being treated. I seem to remember that seeds are embryos and embryonic cells concentrate toxins as wells propagate them in the process of cell division.
-
- Mod
- Posts: 7491
- Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 9:17 pm
- Location: Colchester, CT
But the seed itself is a vehicle for germ plasm for the most part, right? SO if we start with a seed grown chemically and raise a plant grown organically, what part of the plant is actually non-organic? The first few cells?
I am of course playing devil's advocate so I will switch my hat back around and contend that to buy the organic seed is to support a company that does not pollute with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, is dedicated to healthy species no matter which ones they are, and is certainly worth the 25 to 30% more they are asking.
Personally I am a neutral on this topic (as my wishy-washy switch hitting answer might allude to); I feel it is best to grow from organic stock but do not fault people who are trying to do it cheaper. THAT said, if we do not support right-thinking with right-spending, there will always be a premium to right-doing. We will only get our cheaper organics by spending now and developing demand, where supply will follow. Catch 22, eh?
HG
I am of course playing devil's advocate so I will switch my hat back around and contend that to buy the organic seed is to support a company that does not pollute with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, is dedicated to healthy species no matter which ones they are, and is certainly worth the 25 to 30% more they are asking.
Personally I am a neutral on this topic (as my wishy-washy switch hitting answer might allude to); I feel it is best to grow from organic stock but do not fault people who are trying to do it cheaper. THAT said, if we do not support right-thinking with right-spending, there will always be a premium to right-doing. We will only get our cheaper organics by spending now and developing demand, where supply will follow. Catch 22, eh?
HG
-
- Mod
- Posts: 7491
- Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 9:17 pm
- Location: Colchester, CT
- rainbowgardener
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 25279
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
- Location: TN/GA 7b
Re the collect your own seedS: I do collect a lot of seeds, have a bunch of envelopes full of them on my kitchen table right now. However, not everything is easy to collect seeds from and if you grow hybrids, they don't necessarily come true from seeds. And I always like to try new things that I haven't grown before . So even though I harvest seeds, I also buy them and when I do, I buy organic!