“Promiscuous Pollination” Produces Amazing New Garden Varieties

2018 - Volume #42, Issue #3, Page #39

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Joseph Lofthouse practices “promiscuous pollination” to develop new varieties of vegetables and fruit.
    “I send seed all over the country and have even shipped to friends and family overseas,” says Lofthouse of Paradise, Utah. “The popularity of some of my seeds in the southern U.S. really surprised me. But these varieties grow fast and furious so they have already produced a crop before it gets hot. I get good reviews from northern areas as well.”
    While others keep heritage plant varieties separated to produce genetically “pure” seed, Lofthouse does the opposite. He may plant 100 varieties together so they will pollinate each other, merging genetics.
“They will create all kinds of new combinations that are selected for this environment,” says Lofthouse. “I’m interested in the on-going web of life. People say that we may lose 1,000 varieties of sweet corn this year, but I create new varieties every year.”
    If you order seeds from a variety that he has selected, a lot of the genetic mix is still there. Plant them and save seed. In 2 to 3 years, they’ll have adapted to your area.
    Lofthouse has only a few guidelines for the varieties he develops. They have to be short season and grow fast. He also selects for plants that do well without fertilizer, mulch or even compost, as well as without much weeding.
    “When they get to a garden with a lot of fertility and care, they can really thrive,” says Lofthouse.
    However, the key attribute Lofthouse selects for is taste. “That makes it a joyful process for me,” he says.
    Lofthouse has found a lot of varieties that meet his requirements. He currently offers seed for about 40 different varieties and is working on about 85 in total. A full list is available on his web page, with orders processed between January 1 and April 30.
    Customers ordering seed are encouraged to send a pre-1964 silver dime or a $5 bill for each seed packet ordered. Seeds per packet vary. He also requests $4 per shipment to cover postage, and a bubble-padded envelope. In return, they will get a small packet of seed to plant, and hopefully they will save seed for replanting in future years.
    For Lofthouse, selling seed is less about business and more about interacting with other people. It is why you can’t buy his seed on the internet or make a digital order.
    In fact, Lofthouse has operated under a vow of poverty for the past 17 years. Seed sales, as well as sales of fruit and vegetables at a local farmers market, help support a food pantry he operates for the local community.
    While Lofthouse doesn’t require it, he appreciates those customers who replant their own seed and then eventually send back samples.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Joseph Lofthouse, P.O. Box 538, Paradise, Utah 84328 (ph 435 363-5119; garden@lofthouse.com; http://garden.lofthouse.com).

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“Promiscuous Pollination” Produces Amazing New Garden Varieties CROPS Miscellaneous Joseph Lofthouse practices “promiscuous pollination” to develop new varieties of vegetables and fruit “I send seed all over the country and have even shipped to friends and family overseas ” says Lofthouse of Paradise Utah “The popularity of some of my seeds in the southern U S really surprised me But these varieties grow fast and furious so they have already produced a crop before it gets hot I get good reviews from northern areas as well ” While others keep heritage plant varieties separated to produce genetically “pure” seed Lofthouse does the opposite He may plant 100 varieties together so they will pollinate each other merging genetics “They will create all kinds of new combinations that are selected for this environment ” says Lofthouse “I’m interested in the on-going web of life People say that we may lose 1 000 varieties of sweet corn this year but I create new varieties every year ” If you order seeds from a variety that he has selected a lot of the genetic mix is still there Plant them and save seed In 2 to 3 years they’ll have adapted to your area Lofthouse has only a few guidelines for the varieties he develops They have to be short season and grow fast He also selects for plants that do well without fertilizer mulch or even compost as well as without much weeding “When they get to a garden with a lot of fertility and care they can really thrive ” says Lofthouse However the key attribute Lofthouse selects for is taste “That makes it a joyful process for me ” he says Lofthouse has found a lot of varieties that meet his requirements He currently offers seed for about 40 different varieties and is working on about 85 in total A full list is available on his web page with orders processed between January 1 and April 30 Customers ordering seed are encouraged to send a pre-1964 silver dime or a $5 bill for each seed packet ordered Seeds per packet vary He also requests $4 per shipment to cover postage and a bubble-padded envelope In return they will get a small packet of seed to plant and hopefully they will save seed for replanting in future years For Lofthouse selling seed is less about business and more about interacting with other people It is why you can’t buy his seed on the internet or make a digital order In fact Lofthouse has operated under a vow of poverty for the past 17 years Seed sales as well as sales of fruit and vegetables at a local farmers market help support a food pantry he operates for the local community While Lofthouse doesn’t require it he appreciates those customers who replant their own seed and then eventually send back samples Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Joseph Lofthouse P O Box 538 Paradise Utah 84328 ph 435 363-5119; garden@lofthouse com; http://garden lofthouse com