GMO, Hybrid or what?
04:47With planting time approaching, finally, many will be looking to buy new seeds for their gardens. And the question of whether a seed is...
04:47
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??
