Best Regular Seeds Blog

The Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) is a non-profit organization saving heirloom garden seeds from extinction. Their members grow varieties from around the world, including those brought to America by family immigrants and traditional varieties grown by Amish and Mennonites.

A seed is a mature ovule containing a miniature undeveloped plant embryo and food reserves enclosed in a protective coat (testa). Seeds “wake up” and grow when environmental conditions are right for them.

What is a seed?

A seed is a fertilized, mature ovule that contains an embryo or miniature undeveloped plant plus stored food materials. It is enclosed within a protective covering (the seed coat). A seed is the biological way that flowering plants reproduce. Seeds develop from the ovary of a flower after pollination. In gymnosperms, seeds form on scales of cones and in angiosperms they ripen into a fruit such as a pome or nut.

A plant’s capacity to produce seeds varies from year to year in response to weather variables and internal cycles. A good seed crop is essential for forest regeneration and for the production of quality timber. In natural plant populations, seeds are dispersed by wind, birds and animals. Some seeds, such as those of dandelion or acorn, have wings to help them fly and many—including Brazil nut seeds and sea-beans—have buoyant parts that allow them to float far from their parent plant, where they can land at a place and time favorable for germination.

What happens inside a seed?

Seeds come pre-packaged with an embryo, food reserves and vital genetic information to become a plant like its parents. Inside, the embryo is surrounded by a hard seed coat and nutrient-rich endosperm. The seed monitors the environment for ideal conditions specific to that species and remains dormant until it finds them. When the seed is soaked in water, a process called imbibition, enzymes begin to hydrate and the outer seed coat swells and breaks open. Cells start respiring and metabolizing the food stored within the seeds.

Seeds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, some have fleshy appendages to entice animal dispersers to eat them; others have hooks or barbs to attach to fur or feathers; still more float on water or are spread by wind. Some seeds are even equipped with wings or fins to help them fly away on a current. Then, when they find their way to the soil, they start growing! The first sign of growth is the radicle, a tiny root that emerges from the embryo.

How do seeds grow?

Seeds require a suitable environment, water and oxygen to begin growing. Unlike spores, which can germinate in many different conditions, seeds remain dormant until conditions are ideal to grow.

To initiate germination seeds must be scarified, which allows water and air to penetrate the hard or impermeable seed coat. Seeds may be scarified naturally by rodents chewing on them, rubbing against rocks or other surfaces, freezing and thawing of surface water or even passing through an animal’s digestive system.

Seeds come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Some are round (like beans), ellipsoid, or globose. Others are long and pointed (like larkspur seeds). Some have wings to help them travel on the wind. The seed coats can be smooth or rough (like conkers), shiny or dull, and striped with parallel lines or ridges. Some seeds are dispersed by birds, mammals and insects. Some are adapted to catch on hair or fur so they can be carried away for miles and then dropped in a new place where they can grow.

What are seeds used for?

Seeds are packed with a wealth of nutrients and health benefits, many of which can reduce the risk of certain health conditions. From chia seeds to flaxseeds, sunflower seeds to sesame seeds, each variety brings its own unique blend of nourishing properties.

Whether sprinkled over soups, salads and grain bowls or used in homemade breads and cookies, they provide plant-based iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc and a range of vitamins and minerals. They also have gut-friendly soluble fibre and plant-based omega-3 fats, plus they’re an excellent source of protein, calcium and antioxidant polyphenols.

Seeds are classified into groups based on their botanical families; grains (cereals) and legumes (pulses) belong to the Poaceae and Fabaceae families, respectively, while nuts, pseudocereals and spices (cumin, coriander, cinnamon, fennel, mustard, nutmeg, etc.) are part of the Fabaceae family. Many cooking oils are made from seeds, too. These include olive, rapeseed (used to make canola oil) and peanut. Seeds are also a key ingredient in many tahini pastes and spreads.

If you are looking for a more natural and organic experience, regular seed is the way to go. These seeds are not altered by human hands and produce a proportion of female and male plants. This is how cannabis has been grown for centuries.

This type of seed is also ideal for breeders who want a specific ratio of female to male plants. They are also more vigorous than feminized seeds and better tolerate stress.

They are 100% unaltered

Regular seeds are not genetically modified, and are a great choice for growers who want to preserve traditional cannabis strains. They can also be more resilient than feminized seeds and are better equipped to handle stress. However, they do have a higher chance of producing hermaphrodite plants (developing male and female flowers), which can lead to pollination and reduced yields. To avoid this, careful monitoring is required during the flowering stage.

Creating new strains and phenotypes with regular seed requires patience and cultivation experience. To achieve desirable traits, select the best male and female plants and crossbreed them. It is also important to provide the best possible growing conditions to encourage bud sites to develop. In addition, it is important to switch to a 12/12 light cycle at the beginning of the flowering phase. This will help your plants to develop dense, potent buds. Despite their challenges, regular seeds offer the potential for a wide variety of high-quality cultivars.

They are a great way to go back in time

When you purchase a regular seed, you are buying a direct link to the plant’s genetics. This is important for some growers, as they want to preserve the original phenotypes of their favourite strains. This type of seed is also ideal for breeders who want to create new genetics by crossing different varieties.

When it comes to germination, it’s best to use a fridge or some other storage place with a stable temperature. This is because seeds are wired to only sprout when their soil temperature reaches a certain range. So, if the environment changes too much, they will do the Goldilocks thing and just stay there, waiting for it to get warm enough to germinate.

While feminized seeds offer an easier way to get good harvests, regular seeds have their own special charm. With their breeding potential and phenotype variation, they open the door to endless possibilities for any grower. Just remember that they require sexing and can be susceptible to hermaphroditis, so it’s best to only grow them in the right conditions.

They are a great way to create your own strains

Regular seeds are a great way to create your own strains, as they can produce both male and female plants. They are the preferred seeds by breeders because they can be used to create a large variety of hybrids. The seeds are also cheaper, which makes them a popular choice for first-time growers. They are more tolerant to stress throughout the growing process than feminised cannabis seeds, making them easier for novices to work with.

In addition, a grower can cross a phenotype that they like with another specimen to create a new strain with their favourite traits, such as terpenes, flavour, yield, and flowering time. They can then use clones to reproduce this strain. Clones have the exact same genetics as their mother plant, which means they will have all of the desirable characteristics that you want in a strain. This is called selective breeding and is a vital part of creating your own cannabis varieties.

They are a great way to go organic

Go organic to treat your crops more responsibly and protect the planet. Commercial food crops are largely built on a chemical foundation, including chemical sprays for pest and disease issues and chemical fertilizers. Organic farmers can help to reduce the amount of chemicals used in production by growing their own seed.

Regular seeds will produce both male and female plants, so they are great for growers who want to experiment with crossing different varieties to create new genetics. However, they are not ideal for beginners as they can be more difficult to manage and may take longer to flower than feminized or autoflowering seeds.

When feminized seeds are produced, they are created by choosing a specific phenotype and using its “reversed” pollen to preserve it. When growing regular seeds, a variety of phenotypes will emerge and each plant will have its own unique traits in terms of growth pattern, development of the leaves and stems, scent, yield, insect resistance, terpene profile, THC/CBD ratio, and more. The grower can choose which phenotypes to keep in vegetative growth as mother plants and which ones to take clones from to retain the characteristics they like the most.

A quality cannabis seed is the foundation of a successful grow. While a number of factors affect the health and yield potential of your plants, starting with top-shelf genetics is key.

A good seed store will offer a variety of strains, including feminized and regular seeds. They will also provide advice on storage conditions and temperature to help ensure your seeds are viable.

Weight Management

Hemp seeds are a great source of protein and can be added to almost any meal. They have numerous health benefits and can be used to reduce symptoms of arthritis, promote heart and digestive health, and even treat skin conditions.

The appetite suppressing cannabinoid THCV has been linked to weight loss and could be an important addition to the fight against diabetes. This was the reason why Dutch Passion created a feminized seed strain with elevated levels of THCV.

Feminized cannabis seeds are a popular choice among beginner growers. This is because these seeds will only produce female plants, eliminating the risk of male plants pollinating the entire crop. They also offer higher yields than regular seeds. Getting quality seeds is the first step to growing healthy, high-yielding crops.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Women who struggle with PMS have long used cannabis in hopes of easing the symptoms. While the scientific research on this subject is lacking, many users report a positive subjective effect.

PMS is a group of emotional and physical symptoms that show up about one to two weeks before the start of your menstrual cycle. It happens when your progesterone and estrogen levels drop during the luteal phase.

CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory that may help relieve pain related to PMS. It may also reduce anxiety, a common symptom associated with the condition. A combination of THC and CBD may offer even more relief through the Entourage Effect, where the effects of each compound are increased when ingested together. Additionally, the terpenes in cannabis like myrcene, linalool, limonene, and beta-caryophyllene provide mood-boosting benefits.

Heart Disease

Cannabis seeds, also known as hemp hearts, are a nutty-tasting superfood that is rich in healthy fats, protein and minerals. They contain only trace amounts of THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana.

Research is investigating whether cannabis can lower blood pressure. However, it’s important to remember that correlation does not equal causation.

Cannabis seeds naturally look different and the appearance of a seed can be impacted by humidity, temperature and light exposure. They are available in regular, feminized and autoflowering varieties. Feminized seeds produce only female plants and are a great option for beginner growers as they can avoid the issue of male pollination. They can also expect high yields from these seeds. All of these cannabis strains can help with heart disease by providing essential polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Digestive Issues

Although cannabis does not cause digestive issues on its own, some people report that it helps to ease symptoms. This is because cannabis and its derivatives have anti-emetic properties.

A gastrointestinal disorder can be triggered by many different factors, including diet, stress, and certain medications. Cannabis seeds and its oils can reduce GI inflammation and soothe nausea.

Seeds don’t have the psychoactive components needed to get high, so crushing and smoking them will not produce any effects. However, you may be able to use lingering stems and seeds for other purposes. The fatty acids found in hemp seed, like linoleic acid and a-linolenic acid, are known for their health benefits. These can help to improve heart health and even prevent cancer. In addition, the protein found in hemp seeds can provide essential nutrients to the body.

Proteins

Cannabis seeds are a nutritional powerhouse. They contain a wealth of amino acids, vitamins and minerals. They also provide healthy, fatty acid-rich oils.

Seeds come in a variety of sizes and shapes. They usually have a hard outer shell that can vary in color and texture, depending on the strain. However, the size of the seed and the color of the outer shell does not dictate its maturity or ability to germinate.

Seeds also need a high level of oxygen to thrive. Low oxygen levels during storage can damage the embryo inside the seed, preventing it from sprouting or growing. This is why it’s important to store your seeds properly. In addition, you should avoid oversaturating your soil with water. Too much moisture can cause your seeds to rot or mold.