- PraticalGardener
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- Posts: 97
- Joined: Sun Feb 11, 2018 1:02 pm
- Location: Potomac Highlands region, West Virginia, USA (Zone 6a?)
How many gourd plants when saving seeds?
How many gourd plants are recommended when a gardener wants to save their seeds? Otherwise, how many gourd plants have you grown in practice to save seeds from? I'm curious about maintaining genetic diversity in seeds and to see what has worked for other gardeners.
- applestar
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- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
How much space do you have? I don’t think in terms of genetic diversity in my saved seeds of a single variety mostly because I only have a small space which I pack to grow limited number of everything, so I don’t see how I could grow in meaningful number to make a difference.
What I DO is grow 2-3 plants of a single variety —but whether those three have different genetic make-up isalready a question mark. When I’m trying to save seeds, I will try to save seeds from at least one fruit from each plant.
BUT, when you are talking cucurbits like gourds, unless you are hand pollinating, there is just as much chance that they were pollinated with pollen from male blossom of the same plant... in fact that is quite likely if you are only growing limited number of plants and they are blooming at different timing. ...on the other hand... IF you are you are growing more than one variety of same species and NOT hand pollinating and guarding against cross-contamination, you could end up with _unwanted_ genetic diversity as well.
What I DO is grow 2-3 plants of a single variety —but whether those three have different genetic make-up isalready a question mark. When I’m trying to save seeds, I will try to save seeds from at least one fruit from each plant.
BUT, when you are talking cucurbits like gourds, unless you are hand pollinating, there is just as much chance that they were pollinated with pollen from male blossom of the same plant... in fact that is quite likely if you are only growing limited number of plants and they are blooming at different timing. ...on the other hand... IF you are you are growing more than one variety of same species and NOT hand pollinating and guarding against cross-contamination, you could end up with _unwanted_ genetic diversity as well.
- PraticalGardener
- Cool Member
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Sun Feb 11, 2018 1:02 pm
- Location: Potomac Highlands region, West Virginia, USA (Zone 6a?)
Thank-you applestar, you have several good points. I have a 39ft long row to start from, but the row can become a 9foot wide plot if need be.
My current trellis system are 2 very sturdy 'cattle panels' that are 3ft 3inches tall by 16ft long, tied to metal t-posts. I have plenty of space, but I prefer to avoid excessively crowded vines; in order to make it relatively easy to weed, watch, and harvest.
I will plan to hand-pollinate the gourds.
My current trellis system are 2 very sturdy 'cattle panels' that are 3ft 3inches tall by 16ft long, tied to metal t-posts. I have plenty of space, but I prefer to avoid excessively crowded vines; in order to make it relatively easy to weed, watch, and harvest.
I will plan to hand-pollinate the gourds.