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The question keeps coming up: How many seeds should be included in a trade?
I keep getting requests, for instance, for five seeds, or being offered that number. Frankly, it just isn't enough most of the time.
If you are just growing that variety for the table, five seeds would work. They should (assuming they are viable) produce at least two strong plants. And that's all many people want---two or three plants, of several varieties.
However, if you are growing for seed, that doesn't work. You have to be concerned with genetic vigor as well. That is, assuring that all the genetic characteristics of that plant are maintained.
How many is that? It varies. With in-bred veggies, such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, etc. can, in theory, save seed from just one plant. Indeed, from just one fruit. I believe that intellectually, but not in my guts. So I like to save seed from at least six plants of in-bred types.
For most standard veggies, ten-15 plants are required to assure genetic vigor.
Outpollinators require 30 plants. Out pollinators are plants that require a male flower to pollinate a female flower on another plant. Most brassicas fall into this category.
Corns are the worst. You must save seed from at least 100 plans with corns.
So, a trade should consist of enough seed to gurantee that the minimum will be reached. You have to take into account non-viable seed (assume a 70% germination rate, and you won't go too far off), and loses to bugs, weather, critters, and other reasons.
Seed Savers Exchange---the largest heirloom preservation group in the U.S.---requires certain minimums for its members. These make sense. They are:
Most seeds: 25
Out-pollinators (Brassicas, seed-propagatged Alliums, carrots, celery, parsnip): 60
Corn: 200
Tubers: Four medium sized tubers.
Garlic: two or three bulbs.
Grafting stock: Two or three 6" or longer scions, each with at least 4 buds.
If your seed packs do not have these numbers, it's a good idea to let your trading partner know ahead of time. Most of the time, for instance, I won't trade with, or for, less than these minimums because I'm concerned with questions of seed purity and genetic vigor. But others might not be. Up-front communication, therefore, is the key to successful seed swapping.
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