Registration is Open for the 2023 Citizen Seed Trial!

Posted on Tuesday, 6 December 2022 under Stories

The Citizen Seed Trial, or CST, is a citizen science program that engages gardeners in the process of vegetable variety trialing and seed breeding with the hope of growing BC’s seed-saving community!

We offer participants seeds for trialing, growing guidance, and trial updates through our CST Facebook Group and regular newsletters. Gardeners are welcome to try to select and save seed or enjoy the fruits of their labour when it comes time to harvest. In return, we ask for participants to share their observations with us through Seedlinked. As the CST is a citizen science program, we are not looking for perfection; we expect real results from real people.

The theme we have chosen for the 2023 CST is: Early Season Crops! The varieties will be evaluated across several categories including a crop-specific comparison. Three varieties of radish will be compared for bolt resistance, two varieties of peas will be compared for earlierness, and an open-pollinated variety of salad turnip will be compared against a tested and true hybrid. Participants are welcome to sign up for one, two, or all three trials.

We are hoping this year’s crop selection will mean that more school gardens can participate in the trials! If you are interested in more information about resources for school gardens or signing your school garden up for the Citizen Seed Trial please email lmseedcoordinator@farmfolkcityfolk.ca

Register Here