So therefore, it is easy to reproduce the same hybrid as long as the parents are not hybrids themselves? And this process can be repeated again and again, easily, so that the same hybrid plant will be produced and the sale of these seeds are guaranteed? And this is how it is done? Wow! Obviously now my question is how do they go about hybridizing. No one needs to answer this for me, I see that this question has been asked and there is a wealth of information about it. It is all a mystery to me, very fascinating! I was just curious of whether or not it is a difficult process to mass produce these seeds. Now, the next question is: when a plant, any kind of plant, is "improved" hasnt some form of hybridizing occured in order to make the improvement? It seems that I am finding decriptions of certain plants that say "improved version of such and such........" yet the plant was not called a hybrid to begin with. I wish I had a source to show an example of this, but I would have to look something up (it is late). Are there many plants offered that are hybrids but it does not specify in the description? It seems that being a hybrid would be something important to know, and at the same time it would seem necessary to mention, as someone out there produced that hybrid and deserves recognition for it. Once something is hybridized, does the person who developed it have to "patent" it so that no one else can claim it, or does this not happen when it comes to plants?? Obviously, I need to do some research on this, but you guys make it so easy to get a "quickie" lesson when I get curious about something!

Fact is, the original question is "why do you SAVE seeds," not why you don't trade seeds. If you don't want to trade, don't. Who cares? Just don't talk down to those of us who enjoy trading and growing traded seed. ***** Bill, since I was the first here to say I don't trade seeds I'm going to attempt to answer you. First, I was in no way talking down to anyone, and you know me well enough to know that. The question indeed was why do you save seeds. And I discussed the various reasons as to why I did save seeds, and I saw nothing at all wrong in saying that I didn't trade seeds other than with three other SSE members. And yes, all the reasons you gave for dealing with wrong varieties are absolutely true. I think perhaps you've forgotten that there are many here, usually lurkers trying to learn, that really don't know how to ID wrong varieties. Over the years, and I started posting at AOL back in about 1989, long before you or Keith or Trudi or others did, I've seen post after post about that and it's primarily b'c they grow varieties without knowing what to expect as to plant habit, leaf form, fruit shape, size and color. So trading seeds for them I think introduces an additional risk factor that they may not be aware of. The other issue I've spoken to before and will here again, is that I like to see folks buy at least some of their seeds, b'c the sources with the most varieties to offer are also those small companies that are so very dependent on tomato seed sales. Finally, I may not trade seeds with lots of folks but what I have done is to offer seeds for close to 350 varieties here and elsewhere. And you'll remember that each time I make a point of saying that I cannot vouch for absolute seed purity. I say the same thing for my SSE listings. If I process 20 fruits of variety X for seed and only one of them has been X pollinated, those F1 hybrid seeds may take a very long time to show up in someones garden. There are varieties that I thought were pure that subsequently were shown to have a few F1 seeds. So I am not talking down to anyone who trades seeds, but I do feel that there's nothing wrong with pointing out the possible pitfalls of doing so, especially for folks new to the game. Several who have posted in this thread will often look forward to wrong stuff b'c sometimes the wrong stuff turns out to be good stuff, but not all who read and post here would feel at all comfortable doing that, Carolyn

I think the bad reviews on Reimer Seeds are mostly old. My experience with them in the past two years has been at least as good as most other seed companies, and everything has been true to type that I grew. Shipping is kind of expensive, but other than that, I'm satisfied. However, they do package the seeds rather well (so the more expensive shipping may be worth it over some companies in some cases, if you're worried about them getting damaged in the mail). The only bad thing I've noticed that comes to mind is that my peanut seeds didn't grow (but I direct-seeded them in soil that some types of seeds don't germinate well in—e.g. okra—so, it may not be the seeds' fault). Were I to try peanut seeds from them again, I would start them in my miniature unheated greenhouse. If you're buying F1 hybrids, you probably don't have to worry about Reimer Seeds' reputation (good or bad) much, since they would need to get them from another company, except for varieties they make themselves (but I don't think they breed any hybrids at this time).

Tonight is the last predicted night under 40... so tomorrow I finally get to pot up the peppers into their containers to put out in the solarium for a week or two to establish before they go outside. The solarium is usually a good 10 degrees warmer than overnight temps. Unfortunately, I used up the last 8 seed of the Farmers jalapeno in a second planting round and none of them sprouted. I only got 1 out of the first 5 seed I planted. Last year I tried growing them and that seed batch failed too. I think I got a bum seed packet. I got it from Tradewinds along with a few other peppers, and all the rest of the seed from them germinated great last year and this year. Also from them I'm trying Trinidad Perfume again- last years peppers were so flaming hot I wasn't sure if the packet was mis-labeled or if it was due to plant stress, so I'm trying them again this year. And I do mean flaming- I was expecting something a bit milder than a jalapeno or hot cherry, and instead they were about as hot as my peach habaneros. Anywho. I had a cat-strophe, so now I'm down to 24 plants total. Still a few more than my original plans of 15-18, but not too many. I have the pots and potting soil for it, and the space- though it maxes out my container space.