Best Regular Seeds Blog

Seed is the characteristic reproductive organ of flowering plants and of gymnosperms (conifers, cycads). It is a mature ovule containing an embryonic plant with stored food and enclosed in a protective outer covering.

Seeds give a seedling a much faster start than spores. They usually have larger food reserves than spores.

Origin

Seed (from the Latin samen) is the characteristic reproductive body of flowering plants and gymnosperms, consisting of an embryo or miniature undeveloped plant plus food reserves enclosed within a protective coat or coats. Seeds are ideally adapted for many functions, which may not always be directly related: multiplication, perennation (surviving periods of stress such as winter), dormancy and dispersal.

Cecilia and her team are beginning to understand one of the complex gene networks that govern ovule and seed evolution. They are investigating genes affecting the formation of seed-related structures, notably integuments and embryo sacs.

Seeds are the most common way that a plant reproduces, and it is possible to grow a new plant from any seed. If seeds are open pollinated, they will produce the same type of plant as the parent plant. This is called growing true to seed. Seeds are also used in the manufacture of medicine, such as castor oil and the quack cancer drug laetrile.

Functions

Seeds protect and nourish a plant embryo and carry food that supports it as it begins to grow. They also function as a means of reproduction, remixing genetic material and introducing new phenotype variability to the parent species.

They are the source of many important plants and foods including cereals, legumes, nuts, vegetable oils and spices. They are dispersed by birds, mammals, reptiles and fish that consume them and sometimes carry them to new locations where they germinate and grow into seedlings that produce more seeds.

The seed’s ability to withstand environmental conditions and start growing is dependent on the interactions of its three main components: the embryo, the endosperm and the seed coat. The embryo is protected by the outer seed coat, which has different protein-based structures that vary between dicot and monocot seeds. The nutrient supply to the embryo and endosperm is controlled by specialized tissues in the seed coat that direct a flow of assimilates from the vascular system of the mother plant.

Parts

Seeds are a structure that contains the embryo of a flowering plant. When grown under favorable conditions, seeds develop into a full-grown plant. Seeds are found in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.

The seed coat is a protective covering that is hard, thick and brown in color. It is made from the outer layer of the ovule, called the integument. It contains two layers; the outer layer is known as testa and the inner one is called tegmen.

During germination, some parts of the embryo break out of the seed coat. These parts grow downward and become the rudimentary roots, while other parts grow upward and become the stem and leaves. The radicle is a small embryonic root while the cotyledons are specialized seed leaves.

The cotyledons store food in the form of starch and proteins. This stored food provides nourishment to the embryo during seed germination. The embryo is fertilized by sperm and becomes the seedling of the new plant.

Varieties

A variety of a kind of seed has a different set of characteristics from other varieties of that same kind. A variety name is the legal term used to identify a particular kind of seed, and a person who maintains a particular variety can be legally called a “maintainer” for it.

Only pedigreed seed that has been grown, sampled, tested, and graded according to regulations can be labelled, advertised, or sold with a variety name. Seeds that have been genetically modified are referred to as GMO.

Master Gardener volunteers across Minnesota test vegetable and flower varieties each year in their home gardens, seeking out varieties with exceptional taste, productivity, ease of growing, space savings and other qualities. The top performers are referred to as Minnesota Winners and are often available from local retailers or online. Other seed types include open-pollinated, hybrid and heirloom. Seeds of all these types are needed to help sustain agriculture and bring the joy of gardening to more people.

Regular seed is a good choice for intermediate growers. It is less prone to stress throughout the growing process, and it produces both male and female plants.

This means that you will have to spend more time and effort weeding out the male plants. However, this extra work is well worth the investment.

They are cheaper than feminized seeds

Regular cannabis seeds don’t have a guaranteed male-to-female ratio, so they are cheaper than feminized ones. In addition, they don’t require any chemical or genetic modification. For many growers, this is a good thing because it allows them to preserve the original plant’s genetics.

In contrast, feminized plants are bred to produce female flowers 99% of the time, eliminating the need to identify and remove males in the early vegetative stage. However, this process is not without its drawbacks. It can be stressful and wasteful, especially for new growers who have to deal with germinating and vegging a lot of seeds.

Moreover, the process of breeding feminized plants can result in unstable progeny. For this reason, some growers prefer regular seeds. They want to be able to create their own strains, and the genetics of these seeds are more stable. Besides, they offer better stress tolerance and can be grown in a variety of climates.

They are easier to grow

Regular seeds are genetically different from feminized ones in that they contain male (XY) chromosomes as well. This means they can produce both male and female plants, whereas feminized seeds will only produce female specimens. This is a good thing for some growers, who prefer to use their regular strains as mother plants for clones and backcrossing.

A predominately female crop also makes the growing process easier, as you won’t have to worry about sexing your plants and waste time and space on removing male flowers. This can be especially useful for small-scale indoor operations or those who are legally capped at a certain number of plants. It also leads to better yields and overall plant quality. Regular seeds are also less likely to become hermaphrodites under stress, unlike feminized varieties. This is particularly useful when it comes to breeding new strains. This stability also makes them a great choice for keeping as mother plants.

They are more stable

Regular seeds operate the way nature intended and produce male and female plants at an equal rate. They are photoperiod and will need to experience transitions in their light schedule to grow, while feminized seeds do not. These differences can be a big deal for growers who value stability and the vigour that comes with growing regular cannabis.

Feminized seeds undergo a lot of genetic tampering, which makes them more unstable than their natural counterparts. This instability makes feminized seeds less able to produce robust descendants.

In addition, feminized plants have a greater chance of becoming hermaphrodites, producing both male and female flowers at the same time. This happens because of stressors like topping, fimming, lollypopping and defoliation. This can be a big problem for breeders, because hermaphrodite plants will not produce sexy buds. This is why growers should always plant a few more seeds than they want to use for their breeding program, just in case they need to cull some males.

They are easier to breed

Regular seed produces male and female plants, which means you’ll have a greater variety of phenotypes to choose from. This makes it easier to breed new strains and maintain a stable crop. It’s also great for beginners because it’s less expensive than feminized seeds.

Feminized seeds are ideal for commercial growers who want a consistent crop of female plants. However, sexing plants can be time-consuming and difficult. This is especially true when using feminized seeds that don’t produce any male plants by themselves.

Growing a predominately female crop also makes it easier to manage, since there’s no need to worry about male plants pollinating your buds. Moreover, you can enjoy higher yields and better quality buds with a feminized crop. Nevertheless, brewers who are looking to create novel strains must use regular seeds. This is because they provide the flexibility to breed a wide range of phenotypes that exhibit unique and desirable traits. Whether you’re after extreme potency or a specific flavor profile, breeding regular seeds can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

Cannabis seeds have an incredible amount of potential once they’re ready for germination. During this period, the seed will start to develop roots and two small embryonic leaves called cotyledons.

These first leaves are a telltale sign that the seed is good to go. There are several boxes that growers can tick to ensure premium seeds, from visual assessment to simple DIY tests.

Male or Female?

Many growers prefer to work with female plants, as they produce buds. Some seed companies offer both male and female seeds, while others focus solely on producing only females, which are referred to as feminized seeds.

Feminized seeds are produced through a process known as feminizing, which removes the plant’s male chromosomes. This allows for a greater percentage of females in a crop and reduces the risk of cross-pollination, which can drastically reduce yields.

However, it’s important to know that there is no way to tell a seeds sex simply by looking at it. There are no other indicators, such as weight or coloration, that can help determine the sex of a seed.

Size or Shape?

Cannabis seeds are oval-shaped and can vary in size. They have a delicate outer shell that protects the immature embryo inside. Some strains have a heavier or lighter shell, but this is not an indicator of their quality.

It’s also possible for a seed to show minor differences in shape, such as one of the extremities being rounded while the other is pointed. This is natural and has nothing to do with its germination potential.

A good way to test a seed is to squeeze it. Quality seeds are firm, and they should not crumble or bend under pressure. Any that are pliable or squishy should not be planted as they may not survive the process of germination.

Do I Need a Male Plant?

Feminized cannabis seeds are best for beginner growers because they eliminate the need to determine a plant’s gender. This process involves selecting the best female plants and using them as’mothers’ to produce clones, which are exact genetic copies of their mother.

Male plants merely produce pollen, which is needed for the females to naturally reproduce and create seeds. The male weed plants will develop ‘balls’ that open up and release pollen, making it easy to tell them apart from the females, which have flowering buds full of seeds.

The simplest way to determine a plant’s sex is to examine the calyx. A matured flower will appear a different color than an immature calyx, as well as have two white hairs sticking out from the buds that are known as stigma.

Can I Test Seeds?

Due to cannabis’ criminalisation, the industry lags far behind other mainstream agricultural sectors in terms of quality control. Thankfully, seed companies are working hard to close the gap and offer seeds of the same high vigour and quality found in commercial crops.

One cost-effective and simple trick is to test a batch of seeds by placing them in a glass of lukewarm water. Good-quality seeds should sink to the bottom of the glass while low-grade seeds will float on the surface. This method can take a few hours to give results, so be patient! This also applies to stored seeds. Make sure they’re stored in a dark place to avoid light and heat degradation.

Do I Need to Germinate Seeds?

Cannabis seeds are quite fragile and require a lot of care. It is recommended that you germinate your seeds before planting them. Germinating seeds is simple and can be done in a number of ways. Most online seed sellers have guides on their websites, and there are also plenty of grower communities that you can join for more tips and advice.

Germination involves allowing your seeds to soak in water for 24 to 72 hours. The process triggers hormones that encourage the embryonic plant to sprout and begin growing. The sprouted seed will develop a stem and the first set of tiny leaves (cotyledons). You can then transplant it into its desired growing medium.

How to Test Seeds

If you are a hobby home grower, it might be worth your while to invest the time in testing each seed. If you are cultivating for profit, you might not have the time to take on such a risky project.

One simple way to test seeds is to simply float them in water. A healthy seed should sink to the bottom of the glass or jar while seeds that float are likely not viable. The float test takes patience, however, as you will have to wait a few hours before you can confirm results. A quick alternative to this test is to crush the seeds between your index finger and thumb. If the seeds crack, they are likely not viable.