openpollinated

Open-pollinated refers to plant varieties in which seeds produced through natural pollination by wind, insects, or other means tend to produce plants that resemble the parent. Open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) are designed so that, when seeds are saved and replanted, the resulting crop remains true to type under similar growing conditions. The degree of similarity can vary with environmental factors and cross-pollination from nearby varieties.

In reproduction and seed saving, open pollination occurs in the field without human-controlled pollination. For self-pollinating crops, seeds are highly stable; for cross-pollinating crops, the risk of cross-pollination exists, so isolation to maintain purity may be used. Saving seeds involves allowing fruits or seedpods to mature on the plant, harvesting, drying, cleaning, and storing seeds in a cool, dry place to preserve viability.

Open-pollinated seeds are often contrasted with F1 hybrids, which result from crosses between two parent lines. Seeds saved from hybrids do not consistently reproduce the same plant traits, whereas OP seeds tend to. With OP varieties, gardeners can save seeds for future seasons, enabling selection for local conditions and preferences over time.

Advantages include the ability to save seeds, lower cost, and potential adaptation to local environments, as well as maintaining genetic diversity. Limitations include greater potential variation, slower attainment of uniform size and shape, and the need for isolation to prevent unwanted cross-pollination.

Open-pollinated varieties are common in home gardens and among seed savers. They span many crops, including tomatoes, beans, peas, corn, and leafy greens.