Best Regular Seeds Blog

In botany, a seed is the characteristic reproductive body of flowering plants (angiosperms) and gymnosperms. It contains a miniature undeveloped plant (the embryo) and stored food reserves, enclosed within a protective coat.

Most seeds “wake up” and grow into new plants when they are exposed to conditions favorable for germination. Such conditions include:

Embryonic structure

A seed develops as a package inside which is an embryo and stored food. Its outside coating, known as the seed coat, forms from sporophyte tissues of its parent plant.

Embryonic development of seeds is complex. A specialized region of the outer layer, called the ectoderm, gives rise to the skin and nervous system. A groove in the center of the embryo encloses the neural tube, which will eventually become the brain and spinal cord. Tissues at the edges of this groove migrate throughout the embryo and give rise to peripheral nervous system (PNS) structures as well as non-nervous tissue.

A key feature of seed plants is that they undergo double fertilization during embryogenesis. This results in a food reserve, or endosperm, which feeds the embryo during germination. This feature differs from gymnosperms, such as conifers, which have no endosperm. During the germination process, an embryo grows down through the hypocotyl and epicotyle into the cotyledons or seed leaves of a monocot or dicot plant.

Nutrients

Seeds contain the starting materials for complex plants, and as such are dense in nutrients. They are high in protein, healthy fats and dietary fibre as well as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They support optimal immune, hormonal and cardiovascular health.

Seeds are also a great source of plant lignans, which help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers. They can be eaten whole or ground into a powder to add to your favourite foods.

Often overlooked for their more glamorous cousins nuts, seeds are packed with powerful nutrients and deserve to be included in everyone’s diet. They are a good source of protein, healthy fats and dietary fibre for omnivores, paleo and low FODMAP diets. They are also a good source of vitamin E and folate.

Dormancy

Seeds undergo a period of dormancy in order to survive in harsh conditions. The depth of the dormancy is determined by morphological and physiological properties. Marianna Nikolaeva developed a dormancy classification system which includes five classes; physiological (PD), morphological dormancy (MD), physical dormancy (PY) and combinational dormancy (PY + PD).

Physiological dormancy is induced by hormonal interactions between abscisic acid and gibberellins. Physical seed dormancy is mainly caused by water-impermeable seed or fruit coats and by phenolic compounds that inhibit germination. This type of dormancy is phylogenetically restricted and is probably an adaptation to specialized life strategies or habitats.

The germination of seeds is dependent on the balance between genetic and environmental factors that control this process. Genetically manipulated seeds can be used to identify the genes that promote or reduce germination. However, these mutants have pleiotropic effects on other processes which makes it difficult to distinguish the specific role of individual genes. Ongoing studies should allow a better insight into the regulation of these genes.

Dispersal

Getting the seeds to another place away from the parent plant is a crucial step. Seeds and fruits employ a variety of strategies to disperse themselves.

Many fruit-producing plants rely on animals to hitch a ride on the backs of their seeds. Animals, referred to as frugivores, are attracted by the attractive colors and scents of a plant’s fruits. They then eat them and either pass the seeds through their digestive tracts or drop them somewhere else (depending on the behavior of the animal).

Some plants produce fruits that float in water. When water currents carry the seeds, they may be transported far distances to new locations where they are able to grow. Water lilies are an example of this type of dispersal. Likewise, the seeds of the coco de mer palm tree float, allowing them to travel between remote islands in the Indian Ocean. Some seeds have hooks or barbs, which allow them to attach themselves to animals’ fur or feathers. If you’ve ever been on a hike and found a seed stuck to your coat, this is an example of animal-aided seed dispersal.

Unlike feminized seeds that produce only female plants, regular cannabis seeds have a 50/50 chance of producing male and female plants. Consequently, growers will need to eliminate male plants or breed them with female plants.

Breeding allows growers to select the best plants for morphology and colour, or to create new strains with exceptional potency, flavour profiles or colours. Without regular seed, growers cannot do this.

Stable Genetics

Stable strains offer growers consistency in terms of the final product. To stabilize a strain, breeders must undergo a process of backcrossing over generations, selecting and fixing specific traits that are desirable for their particular strain. This takes a lot of time, effort and patience, but it is a critical process that can provide consistent cannabis.

To stabilise a strain, breeders select a stable mother and father and then cross them to produce hybrid offspring. Depending on the stability of the parent, Mendelian inheritance dictates that offspring will express three phenotypes: 50% will resemble the mother, 25% will resemble the father and 10% will be a combination of both.

To ensure that only desirable phenotypes are expressed, breeders will backcross these F1 hybrids, producing S1, S2, S3 and so on. This helps prevent inbreeding depression, which can happen more quickly when you are crossing plants with very similar genetics. This is why stable seeds are highly valued by breeders.

Cheaper to Buy

When it comes to choosing a seed variety, many cultivators are confronted with options like autoflower, feminized, and photoperiod (regular). While each offers advantages to specific cultivation situations, regular seeds offer some great benefits for growers on a budget.

While the number of male plants in a normal pack may vary, you can expect a higher percentage of females with each plant grown from regular seed. This means you won’t have to spend time and space culling males, making them ideal for small-scale indoor operations or growers capped by legal plant counts.

The price of a regular pack is also much cheaper than the prices of feminized or autoflower options, giving growers an excellent return on investment for their purchase. You can also find deals on multiple packs of regular seeds on Seedsman, including popular strains like Larry Lemon and Fuel D.OG.

More Resistant

As you peruse the seed catalogs, look for varieties with resistance to diseases that have plagued your vegetable garden in the past. It is important to remember that resistant varieties are not immune to disease, and that tasks such as crop rotation, weeding and judicious use of sprays will still be needed to protect your plants and avoid productivity loss.

Plant breeders use disease-resistant varieties for several reasons. The most important is the fact that these varieties produce higher yields than susceptible varieties, even with the same management practices.

The European seed companies have established a network, MATREF, to harmonize reference material (controls, differential hosts and pathogens) used for testing resistance in variety registration trials of vegetable crops such as brassicas/root vegetables, cucurbits, large-seeded and leafy vegetables and solanaceae. Naktuinbouw has contributed to the collection with disease isolates for use in testing resistance against fungi, viruses and bacteria. The MATREF reference collection is available in GRIN and can be ordered by plant pathologists.

Easier to Breed

Whether it’s extreme potency, a specific flavour profile or a unique morphology that appeals to you, breeding is the key. Regular seed is ideal for those interested in cannabis breeding, as it allows you to select male plants that display exceptional traits and collect their pollen for cloning.

This is the same process that feminised seeds undergo, but with the added benefit that you don’t need to use synthetic chemicals or colloidal silver to create female plants. Many growers that breed choose to work with regular seeds as it makes the process a lot easier and avoids wasting growing space, nutrients and light on male plants.

Tropic Thunder regular: Sit back and relax with this mellow indica that offers fruity tones reminiscent of a cocktail at sunset. It’s a strain more suitable for veteran cultivators as it grows tall and requires experienced training. Flowering lasts for around ten weeks, delivering a harvest of up to 35 oz in October.

Cannabis seeds are rich in essential nutrients like Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. They are also a great source of plant-based protein and can boost your weight loss efforts.

Many beginner growers ask if you can tell the sex of a seed by its appearance. Sadly, this is not true.

How do they work?

Cannabis seeds are extremely nutritious and can be incorporated into many different diets. They contain a ton of protein, minerals, and healthy fats. They are popular with athletes and bodybuilders because of their high nutritional value and ease to digest. They are also a great source of Omegas 3 and 6 which help boost cognitive function, lower blood pressure, and reduce inflammation.

After germinating, seedlings will enter the vegetative stage of growth where the plant will focus on leaf production and not produce flowers. The vegetative phase can last up to 16 weeks. The plant will need plenty of water and the nutrients nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and magnesium to grow well.

At this point, the plants will be ready to enter the flowering phase. The plant will be triggered to begin producing flowers by lowering the hours of light it receives each day. If growing outdoors, this is done naturally by the change in seasons, but when growing indoors, this can be triggered at any time.

How long do they last?

Cannabis seeds remain viable for a long time, even decades, if they are stored in dry, dark, and cool conditions. They can also be preserved by freezing or airing out. Viable seeds are firm, have an external dark coloring and a waxy coating, and they should not crumble when gently squeezed.

Seeds should never be exposed to direct sunlight as the sun’s UV rays will cause them to dry out and spoil. They are best kept in a dark container, such as a cupboard or drawer.

Cannabis seeds can also be stored in a peat pellet that will help them germinate and grow. When the seed sprouts, it will grow right out of the peat pellet, and you can then directly transfer it into a pot. Never take the size or shape of a seed into consideration as a sign of its quality. Even the same strain will produce seeds of different sizes and shapes.

How do they germinate?

Cannabis seeds require water, heat, and air to break dormancy and germinate. Strong, viable seeds typically sprout within 2 to 7 days. During germination, the seed’s outer shell splits and a white sprout (the radicle) pops out. The radicle grows a stem and tiny leaves, known as cotyledons.

The cotyledons are the seed’s first attempt at growing roots and foliage, and they are incredibly fragile during this stage of growth. Disturbing them or trying to reposition them can damage them and slow down the plant’s development.

To germinate your seeds, place them on or between a paper towel that’s moistened with water. Ensure the soaked paper towel doesn’t dry out, and keep it at room temperature. Then, a few times a day, mist the paper towel with water to keep it evenly moist. Over-watering can suffocate the delicate sprout and delay growth. Do not use hydrogen peroxide for this purpose as it can kill the seed.

How do they grow?

Cannabis seeds require the perfect environmental conditions to germinate. Storing them properly, keeping them wet and exposing them to the right light is the key to success.

They are ovular in shape and have a ridge on one side, which opens up during germination. A seed’s color is usually light to dark brown and can be shiny or matte.

Seeds contain a high percentage of magnesium which aids in muscle relaxation and widening the blood vessels to allow easy flow. They are also rich in Omega- 3 fatty acids which reduce the risk of heart diseases.

If you’re growing from seed, it’s important to get feminized seeds because only female plants produce buds. You’ll need male plants to pollinate them and this can be tricky. Feminized seeds will ensure that you’re getting all-female plants and avoid waste of resources like fertilizers and space. This is why most growers opt to buy feminized marijuana seeds instead of regular ones.