Why growing from seed preserves diversity and teaches you life lessons

Lately, I have been fascinated by seeds. Have you ever heard of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault? It’s a seed bank in Spitsbergen, North of Norway. Seeds are stored at low moisture and -18°C  in the ice. If one day we are struck by a meteorite, and the world is covered in smoke for months, and most of the plants will die, we will still be able to restore some diversity. A gene pool -underneath the ice- containing thousands of species. 

Why growing from seed preserves biodiversity and robustness

In contrast to animals, plants have developed different ways of propagation. Next to propagating sexually through seeds, they have developed strategies through cuttings, bulbs, and other forms of vegetative propagation. While vegetative propagation is easier and faster, it requires some caution. If the genetic material of the offspring is identical to the parent, a so-called clone, the susceptibility to disease is the same. For example, the Romans introduced the English elm to the UK using just a few clones from Italy, and reproduced new plants by suckers. Consequently, large numbers of genetically uniform trees succumbed to Dutch elm disease in the 1970s. If the elms had reproduced sexually from seed, they may have retained sufficient genetic diversity to produce disease-resistant individuals. It’s a general principle. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, spread risk. Diversity is key. Thus, by growing from seed you preserve biodiversity and robustness. 

For those interested in more: Once you know the main principle of collecting and growing from seed, you can try to make a new species by crossing two other species -they should be from the same genus-. This process is called hybridisation and is frequently used by nurseries. Keep in mind that hybrids are selected for features such as color, strength and not necessarily propagation. That’s also why plants purchased from nurseries are often difficult—sometimes even impossible—to grow from seed.

Why growing from seed is good for your wallet and teaches you life lessons 

I have to admit, it can be daunting to put so much effort and patience into growing seed, especially if it takes more than a couple of years for a tree. But isn't it great too? Today we are so used to having everything right away. Gardening brings us back to our roots. It teaches patience and long term reward. In addition, it will save you money. In gardening, the rule is the bigger the plant, the more you pay. Also, once you have two successful plants, you will have a wealth of seed supply. Also considerably less fuel is consumed when transported, as you can send them by mail. 

I think it’s amazing to know that it only takes one seed, some love and luck, to develop a whole tree. For most of the plants, it does require some expertise but the fun part is to learn along the way. 

Why growing seed is contagious

Last year, I discovered the world of seed swapping. There are many initiatives and communities. In Belgium, for example, you can sign up for free seed from Heemzaden.be in order to preserve old and local, nearly extinct vegetable varieties. Or immerse yourself in the seed swapping community on instagram. Of course something which is growing well in your friend’s garden, will not necessarily grow well at your place. The secret is to keep experimenting, learning and sharing.