Summer, Work, Life ...

It has been a while since I have last posted. Sorry! Life has gotten in the way of my reading and work on this course. From farming to research to kitchen managing to beginning a permaculture course things have been quite hectic.

I am working hard to catch up and my posts and assignments will be completed soon.

Loving the course, lessons and instructors! Great talk with Patrick, Camelia, Carolyn and Kayla via the webinar yesterday.

Be Well

Isolation Requirements for my Seed Crops

Specific Questions from the Seed Production Certificate Course by Canadian Organic Growers 

Blog Post # 5, Week 9

• What are the genus/species/cultivar names of each of these crops?

Common Name: Fava Bean

Family: Fabaceae 

Genus: Vicia 

Species: Vicia faba 

Cultivar: Vroma

Common Name: Garden Pea

Family: Fabaceae 

Genus: Pisum

Species: Pisum sativum 

Cultivar: Maxigolt 

Common Name: Romaine Lettuce

Family: Asteraceae 

Genus: Lactuca

Species: Lactuca Sativa

Cultivar: Coastal Star*

*Coastal Star is a "Plant Variety Protected" cultivar by Johnny's Selected Seeds. Therefore, this romaine will only be grown to save seed for my personal use next year.

• What are the recommended isolation distances for  the crop?

Vroma Fava Bean - 100ft from any other legume in the Vicia faba species 

Maxigolt Garden Pea - 100ft from any other legume in the Pisum sativum species 

Coastal Star Romaine Lettuce - 50ft from any other lettuce in the Latuca Sativa species

• What is the likelihood of cross-pollination with this crop?

Vroma Fava Bean - Fava beans of this species are capable of cross-pollination but must be within a 100ft of another fava bean to cross. 

Maxigolt Garden Pea - Primarily Self pollinating, cross pollination is unlikely. 

Coastal Star Romaine Lettuce - Self pollinating. Cross pollination highly unlikely. 

• Can you provide these isolation distances? 

Yes! 

My Vroma variety will be 100ft from any perimeter of the farm and I wont be growing any other variety of fava bean. 

The pea is described as primarily selfing which indicates some chance of cross pollinating so a 100ft isolation distance will be provided, and I can provide this. 

Lettuce needs 50ft from any other lettuce variety with Lactuca sativa, which is most of the common lettuces we eat. To be safe no common lettuces will be grown within 100ft of the seed crop. 

• What natural or artificial barriers exist that may reduce the isolation distance required? By how much?

The house, hedges and sheds can reduce the amount of isolation distances between crops. The 100ft distances with still be maintained from the perimeter of the property and structures will provide a purity safety net for my seeds. 

• What is growing nearby that might cross-pollinate with the crop?

The neighbours grow a variety of crops so we certainly want to keep the seed crops away from the perimeters of our farm land. It is somewhat possible that the seed crops could cross with a wild ancestor, but would need to be in the exact same species as the crop. I don't know of any wild Vicia faba or Lactuca Sativa in the Lower Mainland or anywhere else. Pisum sativum has a wild pea version but I have not seen any in the South Burnaby area. 

• What artificial/natural isolation methods will be used for  the seed crop? Explain and elaborate on how you will achieve this.

No additional isolation methods will be required other than what I mentioned above. The crops will be 100ft away from perimeter of the land and the hedges, house and sheds will provide extra protection from crossing.