Best Ornamental Grasses for Containers

Best Ornamental Grasses for Containers | Growing Ornamental Grass

Growing ornamental grasses is fun, you can decorate your house, garden, balcony or patio with them. 

Grasses are not only for lawn or for ground cover. They can add a visual charm at any place if you grow them in containers.

Growing and care for ornamental grasses is relatively easy. You can start to grow them from seeds.

Growing ornamental grasses in containers is a great way to feature grasses without letting them branch out and taking over your whole garden. Container grown grasses are also easier to control and they looks stunning when grown with flowers.

Growing Ornamental Grasses in Pots

Ornamental grasses are excellent way to create privacy in the garden, especially in a patio, balcony or terrace. They are extremely resistant to drought and grows rapidly. Although they can tolerate moisture, but the soil should not be waterlogged.

Growing Position

Decide where you want to grow the ornamental grass. Ornamental grasses generally thrive in a spot that gets at least five to six hours of sunlight daily.

Choosing Right Pot

Choosing right pot is also important for growing ornamental grasses in pots. Pot should have good drainage and must be wide enough to let the grass spread and deep enough to support the root system. 

Requirements

Soil

Use a mix of one part compost, one part top soil and one part perlite for making a good growing medium for grass.

Watering

A general rule is to water your plants only when the top two inch of soil is dry. However, different grass varieties have different needs and some even like to sit in water so make sure to do a good research about the grass variety you’re growing.

Fertilizer

Fertilize annually in spring with slow release 3 – 1 – 2 fertilizer. For tropics, fertilize your plants in winter. Take care not to over fertilize grass.

11 Best Ornamental grasses for containers

1. Bamboo MuhlyBamboo Muhly

Almost fern like but fine in texture, bamboo muhly grass grows easily. It takes its name from its notched stems and feathery foliage. It thrives in the tropical climate, loves sun and heat and grows well in containers.

2. Japanese Sweet Flag

This low growing (12″) ornamental grass is good to grow in containers if you don’t want tall variety of grasses. Japanese sweet flag is low maintenance and grows in moist and soggy soil and in semi shade to full sun.

You can grow this ornamental grass with other moisture loving plants or with aquatic plants.

3. Red Fountain Grass

Beautiful red fountain grass looks stunning, it’s an arching upright plant. Fill the pot with its rich burgundy color of foliage and you’ll see how beautiful it looks.

4. Japanese Forest Grass

Once you see Japanese forest grass, you’re going to want it. This is the plant you can grow in shade, its foliage comes in yellow green stripes and grows in clump. Grow this ornamental grass in a dark ceramic pot for absolute stunning look.

5. Blue Lyme Grass

Blue lyme grass grows aggressively in all kinds of soil. It grows in both tropical and non tropical climate. Its sword like foliage grows up to 3 – 4 feet that fold as they grow tall. It’s bold and spiky and form beige colored flower heads usually in summer.

6. Fiber Optic Grass

Fiber optic grass grows well in tropics, in colder climate you can grow it as annual. It hangs down gently in a curve and creates an unusual effect. It’s one of the best ornamental grasses you would like to grow in containers.

Fiber optic is a low growing, fine texture grass and can be planted in full to partial sun, it loves moist soil.

7. New Zealand flax

New Zealand flax is perennial in frost free areas. You can grow it in containers, it looks beautiful and gives a tropical feel. This grass like beautiful foliage plant comes in colors of green, copper, red and gold.

8. Sedge

Sedge looks like grass but it is different. Grown in containers, its leaves glow in the sun and looks wonderful while the blades rustles in the slightest breeze. Sedge grows well in warm sunny conditions.

9. Miscanthus

One of the most popular ornamental grasses, it grows well in container. Available in many varieties, it looks picturesque in the morning sun.

10. Blue Oat Grass

Grow this cool blue – gray grass in pot with bright flowers to create aesthetic look on your patio, terrace or balcony garden. Blue oat grass is low maintenance and grows well in partial shade.

11. Feather Reed Grass

Feather reed grass can be grown in sun and in partial shade both.

13 Common Flowers that are Poisonous

13 Common Flowers that are Poisonous | Toxic Flowers

Mild to Intense, every gardener should know about these toxic flowers.

Flowers spread the color and joy and compliment the garden. However, there are some flowers that are common and loved by gardeners are toxic.

No one is saying you should remove them or avoid them altogether, but if you have small children and animals, you should know what flowers are poisonous so that you can keep an extra eye and become aware of what the consequences might be, if they ingest something from the following flowers and plants.

1. Hydrangea

Be extra careful when growing hydrangeas, don’t keep them indoors if you have cats and dogs, if in case they might nibble it. Hydrangeas contain small amount of cyanide and can be lethal if ingested heavily. Although they are not dangerous for human, but ingestion of specific amount of leaves or flowers can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy in pets.

2. Clematis

Rather mild but toxic, clematis is poisonous. When touched or consumed, the toxin called anemonin (irritant glycoside) affects the pets and humans both. It can cause dermatitis in some people after contact and mild burning sensation and ulcer in mouth, if eaten. It affects the pets like dogs, cats and horses more and causes nausea and drooling. Fortunately the symptoms subside soon, pets themselves don’t touch clematis because of its bitter taste. *While pruning clematis, care to wear gloves.

3. Calotropis

Calotropis is one of the most common weed grows all across the South Asia, its latex ooze out from the flowers and leaves that contains calotropin, which if contacted to eyes can cause blindness.

4. Oleander

Oleanders are charming, fragrant and loved by home owners, they bloom in white, pink, yellow or red. But be careful if you have children, eating only a meager amount of this toxic flower can be dangerous. All parts of oleander are extremely poisonous if ingested, even the smoke burn from its wood is toxic. Symptoms of poisoning include dehydration, fever, slow heartbeat, tremors and death is also possible.

5. Azalea

Both azaleas and rhododendrons are poisonous for pets. These colorful flower are beautiful to look at and adds color in a garden. Flowers, leaf or stem can lead to nausea, abdominal pain and difficulty in breathing, if eaten.

6. Daffodil (Narcissus)

The bulbs are the toxic part of this popular and familiar flower, so you should probably take extra care when you plant it, if you have a dog that likes to dig in the flower beds. Too much ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, squeeze cases, tremors and heart rhythm disorders.

7. Lantana

Lantana is extremely common flower in tropics and be treated as weed in many countries. Its flowers come in shades of white, yellow, pink, red, violet or orange. This flower is known for its intense fragrance and it also attracts butterflies. All parts of the plant contain liver toxin. Symptoms like depression, vomiting, fatigue and liver failure are possible after ingestion.

8. Foxglove

Foxgloves are used to prepare medicines, still all parts of the plant are mildly poisonous, contains digitalis glycoside, digitoxin and deslanocide and used in heart medicine. However, if you ingest a particular amount of foxgloves it can cause headache, stomach pain and fainting.

9. Lily of the Valley

The lily of the valley is very toxic, flowers, leaves and stem should not be eaten. The plant contains cardiac glycosides, which acts directly on the heart and causes vomiting, illusion, blurriness, slow heart rates and can be fatal in some cases. Fortunately, the poison is slowly absorbed into the body, so that the medical intervention on time after consuming can save from much harm to occur.

10. Morning Glory

Not all species of morning glory are poisonous but there are few, whose seeds are poisonous, if swallowed. Morning glory contain the toxic called lysergic alkaloids, which causes medical signs like diarrhea, in-coordination and liver failure, if large amount of seeds ingested.

 11. Wisteria

The tempting beauty of wisteria is alluring but do you know that it is a mildly poisonous plant, mainly for cats and dogs. Every part of it is poisonous, especially seeds. If only few seeds are ingested they can cause mild abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and depression of the central nervous system.

 12. Periwinkle (Catharanthus rosea, *formely Vinca rosea)

Madagascar Periwinkle is one of the most easy to grow flowers and can be an excellent ground covers in warm climates, but it is mildly poisonous and contains a group of alkaloids. It is used in Ayurveda and Chinese herbal medicines to cure high blood pressure. Its excess consumption causes drop in blood pressure and hypotension. Do not confuse Madagascar periwinkle with Vinca major (greater periwinkle), which is not poisonous.

 13. Calla Lily

Calla lily can be an excellent cut flower and looks beautiful, its leaves are edible after cooking. According to North Carolina state university all parts of calla lily are poisonous and contains calcium oxalate crystals and because of this, eating any part of the plant raw can causes swelling of lips, tongue and throat. Similar symptoms occur to the animals, if they eat it.

Plants that Grow without Sunlight

Plants that Grow without Sunlight | 17 Best Plants to Grow Indoors

There are plants that grow without sunlight, they need indirect exposure, some even thrive in fluorescent light.

The obvious thing that everyone know is the fact that plants need sunlight to grow. They can’t grow or develop properly without the right amount of sunlight.

So what would you do if you have windows in your home or office that are small or directed north or if you want to grow plants in your living room, dining room or bathroom? Luckily there are plants that grow without sunlight and you can grow them indoors.

When you are looking for such plants choose ones that are known for their ability to grow in indirect sunlight. They are ideal shade-loving plants, naturally growing in the indirect sun. These plants adapt well to the smaller amount of light and thrives normally. 

1. Dracaena

Dracaena is a beautiful houseplant that you can grow at home. There are about 50 species of it. It’s really an easy to grow plant.

Occasional pruning and regular watering is important for dracaena. Keep the plant away from direct sun and avoid overwatering.

2. Bromeliads

Bromeliad is a perfect plant to grow indoors, most of the varieties of this plant thrive easily in a container in shade. Indeed, it is a tropical plant but you can grow it anywhere, indoors. It can even grow in luminescent light.

3. Maidenhair Fern

When it comes to ferns that are popular, maidenhair fern is one you should consider. Its dark and glossy leafstalk resembles human hair.

Be sure to water frequently and keep this houseplant in indirect sun.

4. Parlor Palm

Most popular indoor palm variety, it’s an excellent houseplant for almost any situation, it grows even in those dim corners where nothing else will grow. It requires only minimal care and moderate light. It produces clusters of tiny yellow flowers in spring, however, these will not form in low light conditions.

Water only when soil is dry otherwise you’ll kill your plant.

5. Umbrella papyrus

Umbrella palm is an evergreen ornamental plant, best grown indoors or in shady and a boggy spot in the garden. Many houseplant enthusiasts find this plant easy enough to grow and maintain.

It requires constantly moist substrate – pot should be submerged in water. You can place the umbrella palm pot over the tray filled with water.

6. Mother-in-law’s Tongue (Snake Plant)

Mother-in-law’s tongue is a low maintenance plant also called as snake plant. It’s a very durable and popular houseplant. Its ability to tolerate darkness is amazing.

7. Creeping Fig

It’s a slow growing creeper with small, leathery dark green foliage. Vigorous-growing, clinging, dense branches adhere to any surface and looks enchanting.

Be careful not to overwater creeping fig. Let the soil dry out before watering.

8. Philodendron

Philodendron easily adapt to lower-light conditions. They come in both vine and shrub varieties.

Soil must be constantly moist but not wet. It’s best if the soil dries out slightly between watering sessions.

9. Calathea (Peacock Plant)

One of the most beautiful foliage plants you should grow in your home. It grows well in light shade but the plant is demanding, it has specific minimum temperature 55 F (13 C) requirement that should be maintained.

It prefers frequent watering and moist soil.

10. Maranta Leuconeura (Prayer Plant)

Calantheas are tropical plant and difficult to grow in colder climates and so the prayer plant but it is one alternative you can go for, it is comparatively easy to grow plant than calanthea. It grows well in moderate light without direct access to the sun. If the plant is kept in too much light the leaves begin to curl and wither.

Watch out for pests especially spider mites.

11. Sword fern

Sword fern can become a beautiful evergreen houseplant. Like other houseplants don’t place this in direct sunlight.

It grows well in acidic soil. Keep the soil constantly moist but well draining. It loves humid surroundings, so do regular misting to maintain the humidity levels.

12. Peperomia

Peperomia is small striking adorable houseplant that grows up to only 6 inches tall. Due to its thick foliage, it is often considered as succulent, which is not true.

Peperomia likes slightly moist soil and humidity but watering should be reduced in winter. Spraying the plant’s leaves is helpful in maintaining the humidity level.

13. Devil’s Ivy (Golden Pothos/Money Plant)

Commonly known as money plant in South East Asia, it’s widely grown as a houseplant in Asian countries. It’s extremely low maintenance vine that thrives without direct sunlight.

Excellent climber, you can grow it even in bathroom, kitchen or living room. It is known for its ability to clean the Carbon Monoxide from the air.

14. Carex Morrowii (Japanese Sedge)

Japanese sedge is a shade-loving ornamental grass, it grows well indoors.

15. Spider plant

Its graceful green foliage striped with cream color looks beautiful in hanging baskets and pots, it can be kept on windowsills or near the entrance of home as it likes indirect sunlight.

Direct sunlight often causes burning of leaves.

16. Peace Lily

If you often forget to water your houseplants, acquire a peace lily, it is forgiving. Incredibly easy to grow, peace lily flourishes in shady locations. It also cleans up the air.

17. Silver Queen (Aglaonema)

Silver queen is a very beautiful plant. It’s one of the most durable houseplants that thrives in low light, it’s an ideal plant for beginners too. However, the plant is extremely cold sensitive.

Additional Tips

Most of the houseplants require regular watering and moist soil but ensure you don’t overwater them.

Avoid keeping the plant waterlogged all the time.

Fertilize your houseplants with all purpose liquid fertilizer twice a month during the growing season.

Prune your plants regularly to maintain their desired shape and size.

Look out for pests, especially spider mites can be a major problem.

5 Secrets of a High Yield Gardening

5 Secrets of a High Yield Gardening | Vegetable Gardening Tips

Love growing your own vegetables? These 5 high yield gardening secrets will help you to increase the productivity of your garden.

1. Enough Sun

Vegetables grow best in full sun. Provide at least 6 hours of sunlight daily to your plants. Exposure to the sun makes the plant healthy and improve their resistance to pests and diseases.

2. Right Soil pH

Check out what is the right soil pH range for the plants you are growing. Most vegetables grow in soil with a pH close to neutral which is within the range of 6 – 7.4, if your soil is too acidic or too alkaline – adjust the pH level. 

3. Well-drained and Fertile Soil

Plants that are grown in well-drained soil tolerates overwatering and underwatering both. Such type of soil is permeable and airy, which leads to healthy roots.

Similarly, a fertile soil is essential for the growth of plants because a lot of vegetables are very voracious. Scheduled application of organic fertilizers such as well-rotted manure, compost, and mineral fertilizers is helpful.

4. Weed Free Ground

Anyone who has ever grown vegetables knows how constantly emerging weeds impede the growth of the plants. To reduce this, you’ll need to weed regularly, also before planting the vegetables, clean the site well to prevent weeds from growing. Read our weeding tips for help.

5. Correct Spacing

Proper plant spacing is essential for high yield gardening. Never space the plants tightly or in a corner which may thwart the air circulation. Plants grown without proper air flow are susceptible to diseases. Similarly, if you left out too much space between them this will encourage the weeds to grow.

How To Grow Pumpkins In Pots

Growing Pumpkins In Containers | How To Grow Pumpkins In Pots

Learn how to grow pumpkins in pots, growing pumpkins in containers and pots is not difficult though it requires large containers and space. 

Pumpkin is valued for its flavor and decorative appearance. Growing pumpkin in pots is not so difficult and does not require special care and in fact, it is a less demanding vegetable that adapts to any climate.

Planting

You can grow pumpkins from seeds or else buy seedlings from a nursery. Best planting time for growing pumpkins is when the temperature exceeds above 65 F. In cooler climates it can be planted from April to late May. Whereas, in much warmer climates, it can be done until July. Moreover, if you live in a frost-free subtropical or tropical climate, you can grow it almost all the year.

Choosing a pot

Choose a large pot that is 10 gallons in size (for small pumpkin varieties), if you’re growing pumpkins in pots. For large cultivars, the bigger the pot the better, a 15-25-gallon pot that is 20-24 inches deep and wide is required. Also, ensure there is adequate drainage available to your pumpkin plants.

Small Pumpkin Varieties

Small pumpkin varieties like ‘Jack be little’, ‘Wee be little’, ‘Baby boo’, ‘Munchkin’, Pumpkin Hooligan’, ‘Mini-jack’, ‘Lil pump ke mon’ are most suitable for container gardening. However, you can also grow giant pumpkin varieties.

Requirements for Growing Pumpkins in Pots

Position

Place it in the sunniest location possible; remember that even the smallest pumpkin varieties need lots of sunlight to grow. Your plant should receive at least six hours of sunlight per day. The shadow will slow their growth and moisture will remain on the plant, thus resulting the mildew.

Also, pumpkin needs a warm climate and plenty of room for growth. Still, you can even try growing dwarf pumpkins on a balcony or roof garden. Even if growing in a limited space, provide proper air circulation around the plant.

Soil

In cold climates, pumpkins grow best in a soil that heats up easily. Potting mix you use must be well-draining, have high humus content and slight water retaining capacity, too. Also, pumpkins require a lot of compost or manure, so additionally at the time of planting, you can add a lot of organic content. The ideal soil pH for growing pumpkins should be around 6 – 7.2.

Watering

Like all the gourds and melons, pumpkins require plenty of water and moist soil, so deep and regular watering is essential. Always, at the time of watering, avoid wetting the foliage.

Support

You’ll need to install a strong and big trellis to support pumpkins vines. An A-shape trellis is good one. Make sure to keep the trellis away from the wall to avoid diseases. As the pumpkin vine begins to grow, train it to climb on the structure by carefully moving it through it.

Pumpkin Plant Care

Mulching

Do mulching, once your plants are grown a few inches tall. Mulching will reduce the amount of water evaporate and helps in retaining the soil moisture.

Fertilizer

Pumpkin plants are heavy feeders, they require a lot of fertilization. First of all, it’s important to have rich and fertile soil to get bigger and more meaty pumpkins. Best to use 10-10-10 balanced fertilizer in the early stage of growth. Later, the amount of nitrogen to be applied must be reduced. Switching to a low nitrogen fertilizer that is rich in potassium and phosphorus like 5-15-15 fertilizer in every other week (when the plant has grown and big enough to produce flowers) is a good idea.

Pests and Diseases

Pumpkin is a robust plant still it suffers from a few diseases, especially powdery mildew. In pests, you should keep eyes on common garden pests like aphids, flea beetles, and worms.

Harvesting

Pumpkins are ready for harvest within 90-120 days after planting (depending on the varieties and growing conditions). Green and unripe pumpkins are also picked to use in recipes and in many cuisines. But to pick matured pumpkins, see if it hardens and takes on a uniform and intense color (orange for most common varieties). Press the pumpkin with your thumb; If the bark is hard and it sounds hollow, it is the time to pick the fruit. The bark should also resist the nail pressure. Roughly speaking, one must count about 100 days between planting pumpkin and harvest at full maturity.

To pick the pumpkin, remove it carefully from the branch using pruning shears or a sharp knife. Do not cut too close to the fruit, however; to extend the shelf life, leave a long stem (about 10 cm). Store your pumpkin in a dry, cool and dark area.

A Few Tips

It is better if you’ll plant pumpkins directly in pots. If sowing seeds indoors, choose biodegradable pots, this way you’ll be able to transplant the seedlings without disturbing the roots.

Male flowers start to bloom first, they attract pollinators and last one day. After that female flowers open, these have a small swelling at the base of the bloom.

If there are no bees or other pollinators, to allow the plant to set fruits and to get the ample harvest, you may need to hand pollinate the male and female flowers.

Don’t allow the plant to set too many fruits.

As the fruits are heavy you’ll need to support them from netting or old stockings.

Vegetable Seed Varieties and Products

Vegetable Seed Varieties and Products

A Guide to Heirloom, Hybrid & Genetically Modified Seeds

Three different seed products... usually evokes three answers...

1. Heirloom Seeds: "This, my friends, is what you call a real vegetable”.

2. Hybrid Seeds: "If they're so good, how come everybody isn't beating a path to grow them?"

3. Genetically Modified Seeds: "Would you and your kin really eat this stuff?"

What's the difference and what's best for YOU to grow?

1. Heirloom Seeds (Heritage Seeds)

All Heirloom seeds are open pollenated (OP). Whatever the birds, bees or wind does, these seeds are stable, in that they produce the same plant characteristics as the parent plants, year after year. Heirloom vegetables have been grown and passed down through farmers and gardeners for hundreds or thousands of years.

Open pollenated seeds can also be relied on to produce true, or within a hair's breathe to their parents, but they can't all be called heirlooms until they have proved their pureness for many generations.

Why choose Heirloom Seeds

You really do get some exceptional tasty vegetables with heirloom seeds. Tomatoes that with each bite you need to check your pulse!

If you're not going to load your cart and hitch up Neddy to go off to the market at the other end of the country, then you don't need to grow tough, cardboardy, boring fruits and vegetables.

Grow what you like to eat and give away, or sell locally. Grow tender, sweet, tasty dudes that dribble down your chin, or snap with nuttiness, or ooze with tangy delight... and are good for you.

You can safely save the seeds of heirlooms because they are all open pollinated, so this will save you money.

You can also localize your heirloom seeds because of their well-known adaptability. That means each year you select the best plants to save seeds from, and over time the slight variations will produce a slight strain difference that has adapted perfectly to your particular climate and conditions.

Heirloom seeds give you huge choices, different ripening times and lots of fun experimenting with all their quirky shapes, colours and characteristics.

2. Hybrid Seeds

Some 10,000 years ago, agriculture began when hunter gatherer type people, purposely poked a few seeds in a patch of ground, tended them, and then ate the harvest. 

Over the years they tinkered with the genetic makeup of various plants, and watched as nature inadvertently did similar cross pollination by wind, birds, beasts and insects. 

They noticed that sometimes a bigger and sweeter fruit would appear and soon learned to select the seeds of these better varieties to plant again.

In the 19th century, a European monk called Gregor Mendel, unravelled the genetic code of plants, starting with peas. Mendel's code pertains to many life forms and answers question as to why two blue-eyed humans can produce a brown-eyed baby. 

Hybridization of plants has greatly expanded our choices. Hybridists and common-or-garden yokels are constantly producing new hybrids, seemingly better than before. These are done under closed pollination conditions to keep away birds, bees and wind. 

For example, we can take a strawberry plant which produces luscious strawberries, but sadly averages only two fruits per plant. But if we take the seeds of those strawberries and cross pollinate them with the seeds of a strawberry plant that has abundant fruit, but with average lusciousness. Then we have a new hybrid strawberry plant... with abundant, luscious fruit. 

Ah, would it be so easy! It can take up to many thousands and more attempts to get the characteristics we desire. Over generations of experiments, finally it can pay off, and a new hybrid is produced. Or, maybe not, because this grand new hybrid somehow is too disease prone to stand up to general commercial conditions... so back to the greenhouse to go down another gene line. 

Features such as fast growth, high yields, delicious taste, pest and disease resistant, frost proof and so on, have changed original wild plants into unrecognisable descendants that we rely on today to feed us. 

Corn is a good example. From little finger sized wild corn found in North and South America, we now have hundreds of varieties that feed livestock and humans — some larger than a foot! 

And desirable characteristics have been bred into other plants that provide us with superior building materials, clothing fibre, beauty, and flood, desert or erosion control.

Hybridization - hybrid seeds, chillis

Other benefits of Seed Hybridization:

Higher yields

Improved fruit setting

Reduced pest and disease problems due to stronger vigour

Extended growing season

Earlier maturity

Withstands adversities, such as weather stresses

Known outcomes in terms of uniformity

But in truth, most of the seed saving gardeners I know, don't concern themselves about the odd maverick vegetable and just love saving seeds. 

The odds are more in our favour for pure reproduction. There's always the possibility of a super duper hybrid appearing! 

Disadvantage of Hybrids:

Very sadly the progress made with our edible plants, coupled with our food and buying habits has resulted in many cases in us, the public, having less choice! 

Hybrids now fill up supermarket shelves. They are routinely bred with tough skins to stop damage; same shape and size for easy packing; less sweetness to repel insect, bird and animal damage: capable of being picked green and ripened in storage with gas... so we end up with less taste, less softness, less nutrition, and less choice of varieties and sizes. 

With the newer hybrids, seeds saved will generally not breed true and revert to the parents' traits. You may be lucky and depending on the variety, you could save the seeds for another year or so and they will still be like your original seeds. But eventually you will have to buy new seeds if you want the same results — or with some plants you can propagate them from cuttings or from division. 

What are New Hybrid or F1 & F2 hybrids?

F1 (First filial generation) and F2 hybrid seeds produce vigorous, uniform plants. These hybrids are produced after extensive inbreeding to arrive at plants with totally predictable characteristics. 

Pure genetic lines have been crossed and re-crossed with each other over many generations, and at obviously great expense. 

The pure gene lines of these new hybrids need to be constantly maintained, so that the same F1 & F2 hybrid seeds are produced each year. This is done in controlled conditions by hand. 

You can see why F1 & F2 seeds cost an arm and a leg.

3. Genetically modified seeds (GMO – Genetically modified Organisms)

Genetic modification means introducing the DNA of one species, say animals into another species, in this case, plants. This is done in laboratories, and involves combining genes from one species into a completely different one (think fish and corn) — something that is impossible for nature to do. The risks are enormous and the outcomes for the future are unknown and feared dangerous.

Home garden vegetables are so far not genetically modified. Many major crops like corn, soybeans and wheat are now grown with GMO seed, bred to resist certain chemicals such as herbicides.

Most GMO crops have been designed to produce sterile seeds by inserting what they call a gene terminator. This means farmers have to re-purchase new seeds each year from the corporations that own the patent rights to these seeds.

History will show just who is playing fast and loose with the truth on genetic modification of our food. We need to know soon whether GMO is good progress... or a very fast disaster in the making, for all life on earth.