| Author |
Garden Gate:  Getting seed at the grocery store  |
|
|
Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 09:57:00 AM
|
I have a question and perhaps a money saving tip too...
I buy tons of produce at the grocery store and was wondering if it would be worth it to just buy one watermelon, one pumpkin, or one or two big winter squash to get a ton of seeds for planting.
I always save seeds from peppers, eggplant, etc... but usually buy the veggies to eat and save the seeds as a by-product. What I am actually considering is buying the veggies primarily for the seeds and then using the produce itself as the by-product.
Is the produce in the stores irridated or something, so that the seeds aren't any good, or would that work?
I figure that rather than pay a ton of money for only 20 or 30 seeds, I can get twice that many seeds for a lot less money just by buying the vegetables at the store and using the seeds from them. It's not like we won't eat the veggies any way.
We have lots of stores in Dallas that sell weird or imported varieties of veggies - think Latino, Middle Eastern and Asian groceries, as well as the Central Markets and Whole Foods type places. Plus we have a pretty decent farmers market.
Of course this would only work for the types of fruits and veggies that hold their seeds - squash, pumpkins, apples, avocados, melons...
What about dry beans? Would they sprout? I've got tons of varieties up in my cupboard that probably should be used soon. I wonder if they would sprout at all??
Has anyone tried this before?
My husband is buying bird seed to use to plant his "Bee Garden" because he can buy sunflower seeds by the thousands this way. I'm wondering if this would work for growing chicken grains or duck greens in the bird pens too?
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
|
|
|
Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 10:30:25 AM
|
It really would be better to buy seed, grow your own and then save those seeds. Fruit and veggies from grocery stores usually are hybrid and sterile. Though maybe not all. Also lots of time things are sprayed with a growth retardant so things won't sprout in the store. Another reason to really was any produce. Buy organic or grow your own. MB
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
 |
|
|
Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
|
|
kitchensqueen
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
521 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 1:35:25 PM
|
I would agree with with what was said above, if you are looking to try to get all your garden seed that way-- it's likely won't work. But, you can grow some fun stuff from produce leftovers--avocado, lemon grass, pineapple tops, and the like can all be sprouted and make attractive houseplants. There are a lot more you can do also.
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com |
|
|
|
Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 2:48:31 PM
|
oooh, lemon grass! Thanks for reminding me that I definitely want some lemon grass this year. I'd forgotten to put it on my wishlist. And thanks for letting me know it can be sprouted this way!
We already plant sprouted garlic and potatoes from the veg. bins. I have avocados saved, some bell pepper seeds and some citrus to try out in the greenhouse. DH has a green ARM and can usually get seeds to sprout - like the apple seeds or peach pits from his fruit. So I'm still going to try some varieties, esp. in some of the stuff we get from the farmers market. (Like melons and watermelon)
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
|
|
|
|
bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 3:01:01 PM
|
Also don't forget that many of the veggies and fruits you purchase at the market are hybrids and when collecting seed you may get either parent or an unknown genetic "relative". Frequently producing leafy and sterile plants, that's too much work for little and definitely questionable outcome.Also, many foreign grown items are not grown with the same pesticide regulations and you may have some very "loaded" seed as well as produce. (Chile is still allowed to use lead and arsenic on grapes and then sell them to us...yuck!) Grow what you know!
with a happy heart |
Edited by - bramble on Feb 09 2007 3:08:06 PM |
|
|
|
oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 6:49:39 PM
|
I have an old book called Don't Throw It, Grow It It's a book about how to start all sorts of plants from the "trash"! It's a really good book. OLD but good! My copy was printed in 1977. IMO, I'd only use the seed of things that you've bought organically, and not anything straight out of a "regular" supermarket. The book I have says that a lot of things won't produce.
rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
Posted - Feb 10 2007 : 4:57:19 PM
|
It is said that you can not grow patatos from store bought taters....well I have proven that to NOT be true in all cases,,,,I had tossed out old patatos into my compost bin....a few weeks later as I was turning the compost I noticed some "roots & stems" so being intrigued I left the compost bin alone. With in several weeks I had actual mystery plants growing so I left the lid off the bin. After the flowers bloomed & pretty much died off, I dug into the bin to find nearly 2 dozen taters any wheres from 3" to 5' in size...wow & ya know what?, they were delicious!
So have fun, you just never know what you will get to grow. I have even planted 3 year old Sunflower seeds & they grew, not very big but they still grew & looked festive in my yard.
Gardening brings the best out of us!
>^..^< |
|
|
|
Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
Posted - Feb 10 2007 : 6:05:09 PM
|
The reason it is said not to grow spuds from store bought is because they are treated with a growth retardant so the eyes will not sprout in the store. But they will grow. MB
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
|
|
| |
Garden Gate: Getting seed at the grocery store |
|
Getting seed at the grocery store
