In Australia . The agricultural seed companies introduced hybrid F1s many years ago . Means buying new seed every season . I think Nevil looked to them for inspiration . lol .
Thanks for sharin
EB .
In planning for the approximately 3 square meters of garden I'd decided to use for broccoli, I scoured the internet for the appropriate genetics. After much research I decided on a heritage pure strain of broccoli, one of the foundation varieties used in modern hybrids. It made me feel important, giving meaning to those 3 square meters. A noble pursuit, saviour of the broccoli universe, Broccoli Man! I bought the seeds.
I terraformed the garden changed it from a sand pit to an earth worm orgy. I planted my precious heritage seeds. The growth was impressive (am I a genius?)
beautiful dark green leaves, this is going to be great. Finally the broccoli heads start forming. What do I get?
Perfectly healthy primitive broccoli. Smallish, open heads with coarse flowers.
A perfect representative of the strain. People come to admire the work of the master. Hmmph, a bit small, are you sure it's broccoli? (I feel my penis getting smaller). Yeah but,.... it's a pure strain....I'm saving the universe you know... I'm broccoli man.
What can I do to save the day? Maybe I can find some EGO BOOSTING HORMONE and inject the bloody things.
What I really wanted was ego boosting genetics. The mega hybrid, something that fizzed, a huge head the size of a basket ball. I can imagine the compliments. Gee, that's big and so hard. (I'm feeling better already). This is what most people want, I worked that out 25 years ago.
Breeding seeds for the grower is primarily about finding out which hybrids give the most "bang for your buck". It's not as easy as it sounds. You have to find the right combinations and constantly refine your pure lines to give new improved versions of the super hybrids. People will accuse you of being a hack, "only" selling hybrids. Pay no attention, they really want the big sticky mega buds.
Next year I'm growing hybrid broccoli.