Seed Packaging Labels – What They Mean and What to Look Out For

20.02.2023 17:21

Seed producers are forced to share information about their product with consumers as fully as possible, but packaging options are limited.

To make things easier, various codes of numbers and letters are used in this regard. Let's try to figure out what these designations can mean.

For some summer residents, these are just letters, since they choose seeds by name, having read good reviews about the variety, while for others, a beautiful picture is enough.

But if you learn to read these codes, you can avoid an unpleasant situation.

Letters and numbers

F1 is a well-known designation of a hybrid. This crop will demonstrate all its best qualities only once. The second harvest will be worthless.

Seeds
Photo: © Belnovosti

Hybrids are obtained by crossing different varieties, sometimes two or more.

These can also be plants that are resistant to diseases, bad weather or pests.

S is a designation used for elite cucumber seeds.

Seeing this letter on the packaging, you can be sure that these are seeds obtained from a specific variety.

Numbers. Everything is simple here: 1 is the first generation, 2 is the brood from the seeds of the first generation.

So, if you want to buy varietal seeds, you need to look for packaging with the letter S. This product is of a higher rank than that marked with the letter F.

If you have the numbers, you definitely won't regret buying S1 seeds.

Igor Zur Author: Igor Zur Internet resource editor