Saving Flower Seeds

[macmex]

Several years ago I had to purchase bedding plants for my place of work, as one of my responsibilities is to make the outdoor gardens look nice. I remember getting French marigolds, but not finding exactly what I wanted in terms of color. Both varieties I purchased were hybrid. One, in my opinion, had nicer color, being closer to the classic burnt orange, which I prefer. The other, which I purchased only because I couldn't get enough of the first, had a darker, "bluer cast" to it. It was alright and I suppose some folk would have been excited about it, as it seemed more exotic, but I really like that burnt orange color. I planted the nicer of the two varieties in one garden and the other, "exotic" one in a separate planter. Both performed well. 

The following spring I was pleased when that planter came alive with hundreds of marigold seedlings. Nothing appeared in the other garden. When those seedlings started to bloom I was happy to find that all of them (all F2 generation) had reverted to the classic burnt orange color which I so love!



There was variability in them, but they were all of the color tone I love and I thought it was simply wonderful!




I believe this year will make four seasons that I've been growing from that original purchase. Each year that planter has provided an abundance of seedlings. I take some and let the others remain. The faculty in the closest building love them. I see no way that I would want to improve on this mix. That original "exotic" color tone has not re-emerged, not even once. I've saved handfuls of seed and have now started some in a tray to use at home.




Last year I purchased some zinnia plants for work. They were two varieties from the Profusion series: Double Hot Cherry and Double Fire. It's a kind that stays bushy, with smaller flowers. I thought they were beautiful.




I saved a lot of seed and started some in a tray. These may not be exactly the same as last year's generation, but I suspect they'll be plenty nice, and they'll save the school money, as I don't have to purchase more this year.



Buying transplants is okay but I wish more new gardeners would experiment with starting from seed. It opens up a world of possibilities and saves a lot of money!

Link: How to Grow Zinnias from Seed by John Denson

[heavyhitterokra]

Back when I still worked for the State, one of my favorite tasks working maintenance was in collecting seeds from their flowerbeds in Autumn, to save for their next year's flowerbeds. My shop used to have a corner dedicated to storing several hundred cannas bulbs. We'd collect seeds from all sorts of things and raise them in our widow sills at work, just waiting for the day to come for replanting. Sometimes, I'd stop and think to myself, "I'm actually getting paid to do this." We also had a two-acre kitchen garden for a while, until Ms. Fritzie retired. I enjoyed that part of my job there.

[macmex]

Sounds like good times, back then. I don't think they save much of anything now, but maybe I simply haven't seen it.

I am encouraged as folks at Optometry (where I work) like what I'm doing and say so.

[heavyhitterokra]

Most of what I did seed-wise, while working for the State was for my own well-being. We were working at a State Prison and there was not much nice to look at there unless you created it yourself. We'd plant flowerbeds from flowers we bought ourselves, and save seeds out of necessity. The State government is not known for making things look nice. You just kind of have to do that yourself.

It gladdens my heart to read about the things you do there to brighten that old place up. It looks a lot better now than it did back when my oldest son was born there. It's really hard to imagine now, but that place used to be the Main Hospital for all the Indians in Cherokee County.