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Open-pollinated varieties of seeds will reproduce true to the original parent traits the following season if prevented from cross-pollinating. Even better, if we save seeds from our best specimens, those that have fought through the pests and diseases and droughts and floods and STILL performed beautifully, then we are passing those resilient traits on to the next generation of plant. Do this repeatedly and we get a landrace - a varietal that has adapted to a specific region and climate and growing challenges that area typically faces. It’s a great way to create a more climate resilient garden and to rely less on outside sources for our seeds!
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For more info on this topic, visit my website to find all the podcast episodes and articles all about seed saving.