Washburn's Community Seed Bank
@ the Washburn Public Library
Sponsored by: the Seed Savers Alliance
Mostly self-infertile, bee-pollinated members of the Cabbage Family (Brassicaceae) require up to a mile for distance isolation. Members of the same species in the Cabbage Family will cross-pollinate, which presents a problem in species with many members. For instance collards, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, kohlrabi and kale (except Siberian kale) are all Brassica oleracea and will cross each other. Brassica rapa includes all the turnips, Chinese mustards and Chinese cabbages. Different species within the Cabbage Family will not cross.
Brassicas are mostly biennial—they grow and mature in the first season, then over-winter before setting seed in spring of their second year. In colder areas where Brassicas don't make it through the winter (they're very hardy), they can be over-wintered in pots in the greenhouse and then transplanted into the garden in early spring to flower and produce seeds.Since most Brassica seeds remain viable for four or more years, four varieties of a single species can be grown at a time and seed stocks maintained if only one variety is allowed to flower and set seed each year.
Alternate-day caging is another option for isolating two or three crossable varieties at a time (the cages must be removed periodically to allow bees to pollinate the flowers).
Brassica seeds will not continue to ripen after harvesting, so allow them to mature and dry completely before removing them from the parent plants—but don't tarry, either. In many Brassicas the seed pods shatter and release their seeds just days after they have matured and dried, especially in hot, dry weather.
The Cabbage Family:
Waltham 29 Broccoli
A great variety for the home garden or direct markets that favor bunched side shoots. A standard for open-pollinated broccoli with a good size main dome and lots of side shoots. Sturdy 20” plants support 5-6” dark blue-green heads with medium to large beads and long stalks (hard to find with modern hybrids.) Developed to withstand increasing cold of fall maturity. Spring plantings do well but heads are smaller in size and sensitive to intense summer heat. (Brassica italica)
Seed Planting Depth: 1/4-1/2 inch
Seed Spacing: 4 inches
Days to Germination: 3-4
Plant Spacing After Thinning: 12-18 inches
Plant Height: 18-30 inches
Days to Maturity: 65
Seed Saving Difficulty: Advanced
Red Giant Mustard Greens
Our most popular mustard for salad mixes! Baby greens have bright green leaves with deep purple veins. Full size plants are incredibly beautiful with a full whorl of stunning burgundy leaves. Spiciness increases with maturity. Use full size leaves for stir-fry, soups and pickling. (Brassica juncea)
Seed Planting Depth: 1/4 inch
Seed Spacing: 1 inch
Days to Germination: 4-10
Plant Spacing After Thinning: 6 inches
Plant Height: 12 inches
Days to Maturity: 23/45
Seed Saving Difficulty: Advanced
Spring Broccoli Raab
A traditional Italian specialty; mild mustard flavor and broccoli-like florets. Easy to grow, loaded with folic acid and vitamins. Plant early spring to midsummer; over-winter in mild climates. Large plants grow to 30” tall. (Brassica rapa var. ruvo)
Seed Planting Depth: 1/2 inch
Seed Spacing: 10-12 seeds/ft
Days to Germination: 3-4
Plant Spacing After Thinning: 18-24 inches
Plant Height: 18-30 inches
Days to Maturity: 45
Seed Saving Difficulty: Advanced
Seed Saving Tips
Quoted from the online Guide to Saving Vegetable Seeds
Broccoli
Insect-pollinated, biennial broccoli will cross, and must be isolated from, all other members of B. oleracea by one mile for reliable distance isolation (see above). Since broccoli plants are mostly self-infertile, they should be planted in groups of at least 10 or more plants to maintain a decent genetic base and seed viability.
Harvest central heads and some secondary shoots for eating, then leave a healthy side shoot or two on each plant to over-winter and flower for seeds.
Harvest seed pods before the pods split open naturally, but after they have fully matured and dried on the stalks—the seeds will not continue ripening after the plants or stems are cut. Finish drying upside-down in paper bags or hanging in bundles over a tarp. When the plants are completely dry, any seeds that haven't naturally fallen out of their seed pods are easily removed by crumbling the pods.
Broccoli seeds will last for 5 years if properly stored.
Mustard
Varieties of mustard within the same species will cross each other, but there is no crossing between varieties of different species. This means you can safely grow one variety of mustard greens (B. juncea), one Black mustard (B. nigra) and one Chinese mustard (B. rapa) without danger of crossing—if your neighbors aren't growing them.
Separate varieties from the same species by ½ mile for reliable distance isolation—this includes wild members of the species, however. Since mustards have escaped cultivation and become rampant in most parts of the world, caging would in many (if not most) cases be needed to ensure absolute purity for important varieties.
Let seed pods dry fully on the plants before you pick them, but watch closely as the pods may shatter quickly.
Mustard seeds will last for 4 or more years if properly stored.