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?
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.
Hi Carla - this is a thorough analysis and summary of the isolation requirements and plans for your seed crops! You have selected crops that are largely self-pollinating and then you have exceeded the normal isolation distances. This is so refreshing! I really appreciate your commitment to ensuring varietal purity through proper isolation. This is one of the keys to being a successful commercial seed producer of high quality seed crops.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Mary
Hi Carla;
ReplyDeleteI agee with Mary, it's so important to follow recommended isolation distances, and you have more than done that. This will be a big part of ensuring a good seed crop as you don't need to worry about potential crossing. There is a common garden weed called wild lettuce, and it's common around BC. You may have some growing near your lettuce seed crops, and it is good practice to hoe these down or pull them out as there is theoretically a chance that they can cross with your lettuce seed crop. Wild lettuce (Lactuca serriola) is easy to find pictures of online, or in Suzanne Ashworth's book Seed to Seed. It may be in Navazio's book too. Get familiar with how it looks, and if you see it in your garden, ensure you weed it out if growing in the vicinity of your lettuce seed crop.
Your peas and fava do not have wildy weedy relatives they can cross with so you're all good on that front.
Congratulations on a good isolation distance plan!