Do I need to grow heirloom plants if I want to save my seed? Aren't hybrid seeds just another form of GMOs?
While growing your own plants from seeds can be immensely satisfying, knowing which seeds to choose can be confusing. Here's what you need to know to feel confident selecting seeds.

Plants are pollinated by insects, bees, birds, wind, or other natural means. Open pollinated plants are more genetically diverse, which allows plants to adapt to local growing conditions. Seeds will continue to produce new generations of same plant as long as pollen is not shared with members of same species.

You can save seeds to plant from any open pollinated plant. They do not have to be from heirloom seeds.

Hybrid varieties are created when humans "assist" nature by intentionally crossing the pollens of different varieties within the same species.

While hybridization can occur naturally, the seed you see in stores labeled "hybrid" or FM1 is deliberately produced to achieve a desired trait, like disease resistance.

Drawback: if you save and sow seed from a hybrid you will most likely get a plant with random traits from earlier generations.

The genetics of hybrids are not stable enough to allow the seeds to be self-sustaining.

"Heirloom" is simply a descriptive term that implies a history of 50 years or more. Heirloom plants are open pollinated varieties that have been passed from generation to generation and often have a cultural significance.

Heirlooms are usually the result of natural adaptation to their particular bioregions.

While all heirloom seeds are open pollinated, not all open pollinated seeds are heirloom.

A GMO (genetically modified organism) is the result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal.

You will find GMO seeds in commodity crops such as field corn, soybeans, rapeseed (source of canola oil) and sugar beets.

There are currently no genetically modified garden seeds available for sale to the general public.

It's a common misconception.

Hybrid seeds come from pollen exchange within the same species, directed by human hands.

GMO seeds are developed through direct modification of genes from unrelated species in a laboratory.

Seeds labeled as organic must be grown and processed in accordance with the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP), which prohibits use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, genetically engineered seeds and materials, sewage sludge (biosolids), and fresh manure.

Organic growers and the seeds they produce must be certified as organic by an inspection agency accredited by the USDA.

Lake Valley Seed is a full line garden seed company that specializes in supporting local independent retail stores. For 30 years we've been a trusted resource to passionate home and community gardeners for untreated non-GMO herb, vegetable and flower seeds.