Organic seeds: explanation and benefits

In retail, one is increasingly confronted with the choice between organic plant seeds and conventionally produced seeds. In this article, we explain why organic seeds are usually the better choice and what needs to be considered when growing them.

Seed packs offered as organic seeds are often found right next to those without an organic designation. But what exactly is organic seed, what should you pay attention to when buying it and what is the difference to conventional seed? We will get to the bottom of these questions in the following article.

What is organic seed?

Organic seeds are seeds produced and certified at least according to the EU organic seal. Certain restrictions apply to cultivation, processing, storage and transport - as well as to seed, in particular fertilization, crop protection and seed treatment. In organic cultivation, for example, mineral

nitrogen fertilizer be waived. Numerous pesticides are also prohibited, for example for weed control. Here the seed multiplier uses more mechanical weed removers such as weeder, hoe or manual work. The price for organic seeds is therefore often higher than that for conventionally produced seeds because of the increased workload and Using machines costs more money and is less effective than using mineral fertilizers or crop protection products.

Tip: There is a difference between organic seed breeding and seed propagation. With the former, new varieties are created, with seed propagation these are then cultivated and the seeds harvested for distribution. For decades, varieties were bred for conventional cultivation, so that the first organic nurseries and farmers with Variants that depend on mineral fertilizers and the use of crop protection and thus very high yields had to be avoided deliver. On the other hand, these varieties do poorly against diseases and on less fertilized soils. Organic breeding is still a young endeavor. It focuses on the selection of all-round robust and healthy varieties that thrive without the use of pesticides, provide sufficient yields and are therefore particularly suitable for organic farming.

What is Demeter seed? In organic farming there are various farming associations with additional, own seals. The best known in Germany are Naturland, Bioland and Demeter. Compared to the EU organic seal, these farming associations prescribe even stricter guidelines for farmers: animals must be given significantly more space are to be provided, regionally adapted breeds and plant varieties are to be used, soil protection and soil fertility are becoming special promoted. Demeter is considered to be the strictest of all cultivation associations: The biodynamic cultivation method, which is as natural as possible, is completely subject to the idea of ​​a closed cycle. For this reason, only seed-solid, i.e. self-propagating seed that has been produced under Demeter guidelines, may be cultivated. Demeter seeds are also available for home gardeners.

What are the advantages of organic seeds?

Organic seeds have numerous advantages for people and nature that justify the higher price compared to conventionally produced seeds. The seed propagation itself is also carried out under the conditions of the organic association and therefore already makes a contribution to more environmentally friendly crop cultivation. Further advantages in detail are:

• Protection of the groundwater: renunciation of mineral nitrogen fertilizers
• Protection of the environment and insects: no use of numerous pesticides
• No unnatural breeding methods such as cell fusion or genetic engineering allowed
• Promoting biodiversity and soil fertility through species-rich crop rotations
• Organic breeding with a focus on disease tolerance, hardiness, nutrient efficiency rather than high yield and uniformity, thereby avoiding pesticides and high nutrient inputs
• Varieties as a common cultural asset: No patenting of plants or seeds
• Usually self-propagating thanks to seed-resistant varieties

In our Plantura seed sets contains only organic seeds. Depending on the set, different varieties or species for the balcony, vegetable garden or herb bed are combined in it. The organic vegetable seeds and organic herb seeds are all seed-proof and can be propagated with the right technology.

Should you use organic or conventional seeds?

In principle, the hobby gardener is of course free to choose which seeds to use - regardless of whether they are flower, vegetable or herb seeds. Not all varieties and species are available as organic seeds, but breeders are constantly bringing out new, seed-resistant varieties for organic cultivation, so the selection is already very large. Anyone who values ​​biological cultivation outside of their own garden and the further development of ecological seed breeding supports this with the purchase of organic flower seeds as well as vegetable seeds Organic certification.

Are organic seeds always firm?

In connection with organic seeds, one often reads the term "seed-proof". at firm seed it is possible to propagate a strain from its seeds so that the offspring will show the same appearance and characteristics of their parent generation. However, organic seeds do not have to be seed-firm, as this is about the cultivation and treatment of the seeds with dressing or germ-promoting agents, but not about the breeding method in general. However, with some growing associations such as Demeter, the use of open-pollinated seeds is prescribed and numerous ecologically working seed propagators mainly offer solid seeds organic seeds.

Also hybrid seed can be produced using organic methods, but is in conflict with the closed-loop concept of many cultivation associations. You can read about how hybrids are created and what advantages and disadvantages they have.