Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

can someone who knows give me the basics on what can, does and does not happen with cross pollination?

If i wanted to keep 4 varieties of sage would there be a risk of seeds collected from each variety not being true to its parent?

If there cross when having sex , anything could happen:)

Back to seriousness , I'm not sure with sage , but I can tell you about Basil.

I was growing 4 different types of basil and one ( Thai Royal Basil ) has an EXTREMELY strong liquorice smell.
The seeds from my normal sweet basil , the following year , had a VERY strong Liquorice smell.

I've been keeping them apart since then.

Liquorice smelling Lasange just doesn't seem right.

http://www.gardenersnet.com/atoz/pollen.htm

gives a good explanation.

I know cross pollination is a concern when planting sweet corn (the kind you eat) in the same field with field corn (ethanol, etc.). The sweet corn ends up not so sweet.

I have that arrangement in a field now. I am hoping the different maturity dates will eliminate the cross pollination. I will let you know.

Steve, I would think that there would be a high risk that the seed would not be true to its parent. But, on the other hand the new seed may produce something you like better. Thats basically how the plant breeders do it.

so if its that easy for things to be cross pollinated how can we still have such distinct or 'true' species? just trying to get my head around it.

Cross pollination within a genus/specie is a pretty natural process Steve.... doesn't mean that they not a "true" species as such....

Some plants will "cross" pollinate easier than others..... and it does depend on proximity to a large extent....

Bees in a natural environment aren't that selective when they go from flower to flower...

I'd consider it a bonus in some ways.... get some traits, like growth, taste etc.... and keep the seeds.... if not just don't let them seed or biff them....

If you really want to maintain a "distinct" strain then you may have to keep some degree of seperation between the plantings.... or plant types that flower/seed at different times... often the case anyway....

i've done it with hairloom tomatoes by cutting up stockings and rubber banding them over the flower stemsbefore they open. then hand pollenating them.

am more concerned with medicinal herbs. differing species of the same plant have differing properties.

Sage has 800-900 species, a quick look at 3 of them........

you can see why you may not want the first and last one cross pollinating............................

Salvia officinalis
treats: indigestion, gas, liver complaints, excessive lactation, excessive perspiration, excessive salivation, anxiety, depression, female sterility, menopausal problems.

Salvia miltiorrhiza
Results from animal and human studies support these uses of danshen to some extent because danshen is known to decrease the blood's ability to clot in at least two ways. First, it limits the stickiness of blood components known as platelets. It also decreases the production of fibrin--threads of protein that trap blood cells to form clots. Both these effects help to improve blood circulation. In addition, chemicals in danshen may relax and widen blood vessels, especially those around the heart

Salvia divinorum:
* Uncontrollable laughter
* Past memories, such as revisiting places from childhood memory
* Sensations of motion, or being pulled or twisted by forces
* Visions of membranes, films and various two-dimensional surfaces
* Merging with or becoming objects
* Overlapping realities, such as the perception of being in several locations at once

TGA quietly took care of this one in 2002. schedule 9 drug now.

all that from sage?
i'm a little bit skeptical, whats the active compound that creates the tripping effect and how much of it is actually in the plant?
sounds like it'd go well in a pork sausage!

edit - a quick google reveals all. i'm shocked its actually reasonably strong. If you are concerned just don't use the seed and propagate via cuttings, sage is easy to do this with.

o ye of little faith................


good idea with the cuttings

not that i'd have the problem with the last one anyway, cant get it here anymore.....................

i'm sure some peep would still have living samples though...............

Salvia divinorum:
* Uncontrollable laughter
* Past memories, such as revisiting places from childhood memory
* Sensations of motion, or being pulled or twisted by forces
* Visions of membranes, films and various two-dimensional surfaces
* Merging with or becoming objects
* Overlapping realities, such as the perception of being in several locations at once


Gees i have all that and i thought it was the beer doing it

Found a place that supplies...

http://www.salvia-divinorum.com/salvia- ... -seets.htm

But then found this

http://www.salvia-divinorum.com/is-salvia-legal.htm

thats what i was saying, rope, TGA pushed through a schedule 9 rating in 2002

I can buy Salvia divinorum cuttings Don't know how well they ship though :/