Vegetables us a number of different pollination methods which may or may not involve cross pollination with other plants. The less cross pollination a plant requires to produce fertile seeds the easier it is for the gardener to collect those seeds.
Below is a general pollination grouping chart. The links on the left give you charts with the pollination characteristics of individual plants. All three charts are to help you work out which seeds are the easiest to collect.
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GENERAL SEED POLLINATION CHART |
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VERY EASY
Self pollinated |
These plants are the easiest to collect seeds from as the seeds will always grow exactly like the parent plant. Plants in this group include : Bean, Runner Bean, Endive, Lettuce, Okra Pea, Tomato. |
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EASY
Vegetatively |
These plants only propagate vegetatively, meaning that
to grow new plants you plant cuttings , roots or bulbs
(depending on the type of plant).
Plants in this group include : Garlic, Lemongrass,
Potato, Tarragon, Tree Onion, Water Chestnut . |
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EASY
Vegetatively & self pollinated |
Propagates by a cutting and root and will also produce
self pollinated seeds.
Plants in this category are : Water Spinach, Watercress. |
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EASY
Vegetatively & cross pollinated by Insect |
Propagates by a cutting, root or bulb (depending on the
plant) and will also produce cross pollinated seeds.
The best way to propagate these plants is vegetatively.
Plants in this group include :
Asparagus, Chives, Garlic Chives, Jerusalem, Artichoke,
Leek, Marjoram, Mint, New Zealand, Spinach, Rhubarb, & Spring
Onion |
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MODERATE
Cross pollinated by wind |
Cross pollinated by wind only, so only cross pollinates
with plants of the same variety that are in the immediate area.
Plants in this group include : Corn & Spinach, |
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HARD
Cross pollinated by |
Cross pollinated by wind and by insect.
Plants in this group include : Beetroot, |
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HARD
Self pollinated and cross pollinated by insect |
Self pollinated and cross pollinated by insect.
Plants in this group include : Broad Bean, Capsicum,
Chilli & Eggplant, |
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VERY HARD
Cross pollinated by insect |
These are the hardest types of seeds to collect as they
can easily cross pollinate other types of plants of the same
species.
Plants in this group include : Basil, Broccoli, Cabbage,
Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Cucumber, Fennel, Kale, Kohlrabi,
Mizuna, Mustard, Onion, Parsley, Parsnip, Pumpkin, Radish,
Rocket, Rockmelon, Silverbeet, Sunflower, Turnip, Watermelon &
Zucchini |