Non-reproductive Seeds?

I was wondering if it is common that when you purchase seeds from vendors, the resulting plants are non-reproductive or if this is a consequence of the particular strain that the plant is?

The main reason I chose to grow morning glories is to get some seeds from them but I did not purchase the popular "heavenly blues" strain but some flying saucer ones.

However, the vine is now on its last legs after a good run and some lovely flowers but I have not seen any seed pod production. I saw what may have been immature seed pods but they seem to fall off prematurely.

So do you think the plants that resulted from the seeds I bought was designed to be non-reproductive or was it the strain? Or could my plant have not been in the right conditions for seed production being a central American plant growing in North West England?

 

Some years there's a good crop of saved seeds, other years there can be little or nothing.

That's why (every year) I always try and save enough for at least another 3 years, so if saved seeds from saved seeds fail, I still have some from another year.

 

I'm thinking your last idea is probably the correct one.

Dont think I've ever had seed from my morning glories

Its probably to do with pollination, did you try hand pollinating with a brush?
Often these kinds of plant have their own specific pollinators, south American plants are often pollinated by hummingbirds, how many did you see this summer?
Only joking.

Sometimes they just need cross pollination,ie. from one plant to another as they are not self fertile.
Lots of reasons for no seed, are possible.

Often when a plant sets seed it stops flowering, so seed setting is not always good thing.

 

In my experience Ipomea purpurea produces seed freely with I.quamoclit producing less and I.tricolor has never set seed for me. 'Flying Saucers' is an I.tricolor variety so my guess is that we lack the correct pollinator in this country.

 

I have self seeding Ipomea - they have kept reseeding in my polytunnel for the last 3 years and attempting to strangle my tomato plants. Though they are less blue than the original - they are now more purple.

 

I've sent you a PM?

 

Thanks for the logical answers.

Some of you say about lacking the correct pollinators, but I saw bees, butterflies, wasps, hoverflies and other weird little bugs that I don't often see, all going between the flowers - no hummingbirds though =p

However @longk, you speak with experience and I would be inclined to believe you. Maybe I should have just gone for heavenly blues as most people vouch for. I'll probably buy some of them for next year then and hope they give me seeds.

Not sure what to do with the tricolour seeds then, maybe I'll sprinkle them around the neighbourhood and watch the ecological disaster take place =p

 

I grow a lot of Salvia species. Many never set seed here because they depend on hummingbirds to pollinate them and insects just don't touch the right bits!

Heavenly Blue is a selection of I.tricolor and has never set seed for me.

 

Oh I see! Ok I'll have to have a look at the available I. purpurea strains then, thanks for the advice!

 

I'm curious why you want to produce your own seed.
I dont think it is all that expensive to buy.

 

Well, I'm new to gardening so I like the idea of gaining experience through growing plants from seed. The seeds produced by my own plants are therefore my own produce and so I suppose it's a way of demonstrating my new learned skill.

It's like if I were a blacksmith, I could just buy a new hammer right, it's pretty cheap? But I'm a blacksmith, I should make my own tools if I had any confidence in my skills.

Plus, the seeds for growing morning glories are usually covered in pesticides and fungicides and stuff so if I did decide I wanted to consume them for the psychotropic effects, I would rather it be seeds that are not treated in anyway. Just to avoid the off chance of developing IBS or something!

Also, there's something more "spiritual" I guess about the consumption or use of the materials from the plants you grew yourself. Maybe I'm just a bit of a purist =p

 

I'm not sure that is such a good idea. Cramps, muscle pains, nausea, vomitting and acute stomach pains are common. All that for what is generally likened to low dose LSD - stick to Acid. Not that I'm advocating the use of LSD or anything, but if you must...................

 

Well its news to me, I didn't know that ipomea seed had such effects or uses.

 

Oh yes I am aware of that, I had the experience with baby Hawaiin Woodrose seeds back when you could buy them online for consumption. Both have the same active molecule - LSA and trace amounts of cyanide in them that cause the stomach cramps and stuff.

But like I said, it's if I decide to consume them. I probably won't, it's not my intent on doing it for the purposes of getting wrecked and I wouldn't want to get LSD for that reason but also that I wouldn't trust the seller.

I know other ways if I wanted to go that route but I wouldn't want to advocate anything on here. I like this forum I don't want to get banned. This isn't bluelight =p

@pete They're native to Central America and Mexico and I think native and folk Catholic rites make use of their effects.

When you shop for the seeds on Amazon people write reviews such as "great seeds, they made my garden really chilled out and dreamy with vivid colours" and things like that lol!

Either way its a beautiful plant with such lovely vines I'm just disappointed it bore no seeds :/

 

I remember reading that many years ago in 'The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on The Tibetan Book of the Dead', but can't remember much else from those times.