Month: June 2023

Seed is the characteristic reproductive body of both angiosperms (flowering plants) and gymnosperms (conifers, cycads, and ginkgoes). A fully developed seed contains a miniature plant embryo with stored food reserves, all enclosed in a protective coat.

Each seed type has specific germination requirements. Seeds are a major source of food for animals and humans. They are also used in plant breeding and landscaping.

They are the reproductive organs of plants

Seeds are fertilized mature ovules that contain an embryo or miniature undeveloped plant and food reserves, all enclosed in a protective shell. They are a characteristic feature of angiosperms, flowering plants. They differ from gymnosperms, such as conifers and cycads, which have no seeds or are naked-seeded. Seeds may be characterized by their morphological and chromatic variety. They often exhibit minute surface characters that, when viewed under a microscope, reveal surprising textures.

Seeds make negligible demands on their environment and are eminently adaptable. They are able to wait long periods of time for conditions to become favorable for growth, a phenomenon known as dormancy. They also have many mechanisms to disperse themselves, including fleshy appendages that attract animal dispersers and wings for wind dispersal.

They are an important source of food

Seeds are a rich source of food for people and animals. They are highly concentrated sources of starches, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. They also provide oils for cooking, margarine, painting and lubrication from such seeds as linseed, flax, rapeseed, soybeans and sunflower.

They are nutritious powerhouses, chock-full of heart-, bone-, muscle-, and brain-supporting nutrients, many of which we aren’t getting enough of. They are also a source of fibre, which is important to reduce the risk of heart disease, bowel cancer and Type-2 diabetes.

They are an important part of plant breeding

Seeds are the products of plant reproduction. They contain the DNA of a pollen grain (male parent) and an ovule (female parent). Seeds also have stored food to sustain them until they are able to produce their own roots and leaves. The food is in the form of a nutrient tissue called endosperm and may be inside or outside the seed. Seeds are protected by a seed coat and remain viable for long periods of time.

In plant breeding, seeds are used to create new varieties of plants with desirable traits. The seeds are produced from basic seed, which has been screened to meet specific standards for purity and germination. Then, the seed is mixed with pre-basic seed and planted. The resulting seeds are then sold to farmers for planting.

They are a valuable resource for farmers and gardeners

Seed saving is an increasingly popular practice for farmers and gardeners. Many growers want to avoid the expense of purchasing seeds from a commercial company, and they prefer to have more control over their crops. Seed saving is an essential part of the sustainable agriculture movement, and it is easy to get started.

Seeds contain living embryonic tissue and a store of food reserves wrapped in a protective seed coat. They need the correct environmental conditions to “wake up” and germinate. In natural populations, the germination process is often staggered to protect the seeds from extreme weather or herbivores.

In addition to the correct moisture, seeds need oxygen to initiate internal processes that lead to germination. They also produce carbon dioxide, which needs to be able to dissipate. This can be a problem in seedbeds that are overwatered or compacted, as the CO2 will prevent seed-to-soil contact and they may suffocate.

They are a source of investment

Seed money is the initial funding for a new business. It is primarily equity-based and investors usually take a small percentage of the company in return for their investment. This early monetary support is vital for startup businesses, and not having enough capital reserves is one of the most common reasons startups fail.

Tech giants like Apple, Google and Intel regularly back startups with seed money. These companies view startups as a future source of profit, intellectual property or talent and that’s the primary motivation for their investments.

Bootstrapping is another popular way to raise seed funding. This involves entrepreneurs investing their own personal wealth into the startup to avoid taking on debt or giving away equity. However, this approach can be costly and requires careful planning.

Regular seeds are the natural offspring of pollinated female cannabis plants. They grow into either male or female plants, depending on environmental conditions.

They’re popular with growers who enjoy breeding their own strains of marijuana. The process involves crossing different specimens to produce offspring with desirable traits like terpene content, flavour profile and colour.

Breeding

If you’re interested in creating your own strains, regular seeds are the way to go. They work how nature intended and have a 50% chance of germinating as male or female plants, providing the breeder with the perfect plants to create their desired cultivar.

Regular seeds also have a higher potential for potency compared to feminized seeds, which can be less stable due to the genetic modification process.

The ability to create strains from regular seeds also allows the grower to produce a predominately female crop, which makes it easier for them to manage and produces better quality buds. With a predominately female crop, there are no male plants to pollinate and ruin the harvest which also improves yield. For these reasons, many growers prefer using regular seeds. They also tend to be cheaper than feminized seeds. However, be sure to keep your seeds dry and secure – moisture is the enemy. Use silica gel packets in your seed storage bags to help absorb excess moisture.

Cloning

Cloning is an easy way for growers to replicate a particular strain. A healthy mother plant is key for a successful clone. Look for limp leaves, a weak root system and signs of disease like powdery mildew.

Cleanliness is also important, as clones are susceptible to diseases and hitchhikers that travel with them from dispensaries and markets into clean grow rooms. Make sure the clone you’re taking comes from a plant that has been well-maintained, and disinfect your scissors or razor before cutting.

The lower, fresher branch is the most desirable one for a clone because it has the newest stem cells. It’s best to cut at a 45-degree angle from the stem to increase surface area and promote quicker rooting. Once your clones are ready to transplant, put them in a quarantine room for a few days or a week. This prevents them from spreading germs to the rest of your garden. In addition, it gives them a chance to get accustomed to the light in their new home before they are introduced to your main crop.

Preserving Old-School Genetics

Before feminized seeds came on the market growers used to cultivate regular marijuana plants that produce male and female buds. On average half of the seeds you plant will yield bud-producing plants.

If you’re a grower who appreciates the integrity of organic cannabis or prefers to avoid feminization and other genetic tampering, you will want to select regular seeds. These are also the best option if you are looking to grow specific strains that are not available as clones.

The good news is that growing regular seeds is very similar to the way you would grow feminized seeds, with one exception: you’ll need to remove male plants early on in the process to ensure your females have an uninterrupted opportunity to develop into robust adults. You could always cross your females to create new cultivars with different attributes like flavor, potency, flowering time or other traits. Breeding has been a part of the cultivation of cannabis since the beginning, after all, and crossing different varieties of marijuana is an essential process for cultivating superior weed.

Creating Your Own Strains

To many breeders, regular seeds are the only true way to create strains of cannabis. They offer more flexibility and a wider gene pool for creating new, unique phenotypes than feminized plants.

This is especially important to some growers, who prefer working with natural strains that produce a higher percentage of male plants when flowering. Feminized seeds aren’t suitable for this purpose, as they are designed to produce only female specimens and can cause a mix of male and female plants when breeding.

With regular seeds, growers have the ability to create hybrids using their own male and female plants, which they can then use to cultivate the next generation of buds. This allows them to get closer to creating their dream strain, with a high level of control over the genetics and a more tailored growing experience. With a bit of experimentation, you can eventually find a strain that produces the exact terpenes, high, and flowers you’re after.

Regular seed offers a pure, untampered growing experience. They operate exactly how nature intended, germinating at an equal rate of male and female plants and requiring growers to remove any male plants to prevent them pollinating the females.

Regular seeds are ideal for seasoned growers and newbies alike. They’re also the best choice for anyone who wants to breed their own cultivars or take cuttings from a mother plant.

Stable Genetics

Genetic stability is a desirable trait in cannabis. Breeders seek to create stable parent lines over many generations in order to impart specific desired traits into their strains. This can be a time consuming process with up to 12 generations sometimes being required for robust genetic stability.

Regular seeds operate as nature intended and have a 50% chance of germinating into male or female plants. They allow breeders to create new cultivars and produce superior clones.

The SSSC regular seed collection contains some of our finest original 1980’s strains including Karel’s Haze, Creamy Kees and Frosty Friday! These varieties will give you a ratio of about 50-50 for female and male offspring, although you may occasionally get more males. This is a great way to experiment with different phenotypes of your favourite strain and create your own special cultivar. This also means that you don’t have to worry about male plants producing pollen and competing with your desired feminized plants in a garden.

Easy to Breed

Since regular seeds are the natural offspring of a cannabis plant, they’re highly valued by cultivators who breed their own strains. They are the most stable choice for those looking to keep mother plants for taking cuttings (clones).

Regular seeds produce a healthy proportion of male and female plants, making it easier to select one for breeding. Cultivators who take this route can easily breed a strain that will display the qualities they’re after, like terpene profile, potency, flowering time and color.

Feminized seeds, on the other hand, undergo a significant amount of genetic tampering and are far more unstable. This makes feminized varieties more difficult to clone and work with.

Easy to Clone

The first step in cloning is to select a healthy mother plant. The ideal mother plant is one that has been grown in a vegetative state for at least 4 weeks and has 4-6 nodes, the points at which you take cuttings from.

The next step is to dip the cuttings in a rooting hormone powder or solution. This is done to stimulate the clone to produce roots quickly. The cloned plants should be placed in a container with a small amount of soil. They are then given half a day of partial light to help them develop their roots.

Clones are easy to work with because they are exactly duplicates of the original parent. However, they can also introduce diseases and pests into your grow. To minimize this, you should always quarantine clones from outside sources. It is especially important to quarantine clones from unknown sources because viruses and disease can be transmitted by unknowing clone sources.

Affordability

As mentioned earlier, regular seed is less expensive to produce than feminized seeds. As such, many growers find them to be a cost-effective way of working with their favorite cultivars.

Feminized seeds are more expensive because the process used to create them requires extensive breeding. This is time consuming and expensive, which translates into higher retail prices for the finished product.

Unlike feminized seeds, regular marijuana seeds can produce both male and female plants. It’s important to recognize and remove any male plants that appear in your garden so they don’t pollinate your female crops.

Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to identify a male plant when growing weed at home. Just look for minuscule sprouts on the stem that resemble hairs, which are called stigma. These sprouts contain pollen, and when exposed to female clones, they will fertilize them. Therefore, removing male plants from your crop can help you achieve more consistent yields.