The first step to breeding a new variety is to create a cross, a hybrid of the plants that have the desired traits. If the traits show up in the first cross, that hybrid seed (F1) is what goes on sale. An F1 hybrid will tend to be pretty uniform, so the breeder only has to collect seeds from as few as one plant, or many with the same cross. Assuming that the F1 doesn't have a breeding incompatability, you should be able to collect seed from your hybrids, and plant them out and select from the wide variety of F2 plants (second year), F3 plants (third year), and so on until you have an open-pollinated variety that closely resembles the F1 that you found desireable in the first place. You may even create a variety you like better. By always selecting the best plants and rouging out (tossing or eating) the undesireables before they flower and pollinate your more desireable plants, you'll be close to a stable variety in 5 years. It may take longer before your seed never throws an off plant, but it can be a fun experiment. The nice thing about breeding your own vegetables is that you get to eat the failures as well as the successes. Carol Deppe's book, Breeding Your Own Vegetable Varieties, is a good primer on the subject. Borrow it from a library and see if you want to get hooked on a new hobby. ;-) Catherine

The seed pods at least need to start changing to yellow. Completely dry is the best way to insure seed viablity. But full grown seeds if dried properly should be ok. When the pods are green they have not not fully developed.

Hi Violet I don't know if I received hybrid seeds. They were given to me by an ex-neighbour. So far it appears the seeds are producing the plants I'm expecting ie. choy sum and baby bok choy (with the greenish not whitish stems). It's my first time growing Chinese vegies so don't know a great deal about them. I have noticed that the seeds are producing two species of choy sum, I think: one has fine furry hairs on the leaves (top and underside) which are rather prickly. The other is the one with the yellow flowers that is commonly sold. I've been discarding the first species as I wasn't keen on eating prickly leaves. Thanks for the links. The info is very useful! Assuming that the few mature seeds (brown not green) that I've planted develop into seedlings, I'll find out then if they are hybrids of some sort. Cheers Joseph

1) I would like to ask, for germinating Bok Choy Seeds, is it better to have the dome cover dark (not letting any lights in) or clear (light can enter the dome)? For sure humid environment is good for germinating. (Some recommend Venting the dome for 2 hrs daily) Any recommendations? 2) Also, any recommendations on effective organically home made pesticides against bugs? (my crop got devastated by caterpillar)