What are Hybrid seeds?

In garden terms, hybrid seeds are the result of human manipulated pollination between two distinct varieties. Each parent variety will be inbred to promote a particular trait, one may be high yield the other disease resistance.

The hybrid offspring will combine the benefits of each parent. The term often used is F1, short for filial one, or the first generation of offspring resulting from a cross. The advantage of hybrids is uniformity – all F1s in a variety are identical to each other. The phenomenon of “hybrid vigour” can result in high yields and resilience.

The problem for the seed saver and the bonus for the seed company is hybrids are not true-to-type they are either sterile or their offspring highly variable. Hybridisation is expensive and specialised beyond the scope of the individual. Hybrids place the power of the seed firmly in the hands of large seed companies. The farmer no longer sets aside a portion of his crop for seed each year but must rely on the seed company; the primary producer becoming consumer.

Most hybrids are bred for a food industry concerned with uniformity, long shelf life, transportability and appearance. The home producers concern with flavour, freshness and are often not considered. These problems lie in the intent of the breeders and not in the nature of hybrids themselves, they are not inherently sinister.

Several F1 hybrids are included in the Diggers seed range. Honey and Cream sweet corn, Sweet White and Dwarf sweet corn are all bred with the home grower in mind; the result is super sweet corn. Be alert not alarmed by hybrid seeds, if you are not worried about seed saving, and you pick a variety bred with flavour and vigour in mind, not company profits, you can discover some treasures.