Limited edition seeds (L.E.S.) are those that have been bred specifically for a limited time, generally one month. Limited Edition Seeds are very popular worldwide; in fact, they are sought after by many connoisseurs of culinary art and botany. These types of seeds are feminized, meaning they have had asex reassignment, to reproduce like female plants. In cooking, limited edition seeds are also referred to as “hardy” or “indestic”, because they are able to tolerate many different environments and grow well in all kinds of conditions.
feminization is sometimes done by cross-breeding male plants with female plants. Sometimes the cross-breeding is completed using specific micro-organisms that insert the desired genders on the female plants. Sometimes the process is complete by using a piece of a female plant along with a piece of a male plant or even a piece of a zoon, which is a sort of clump of male plants. Most commonly, however, limited edition seeds are obtained from hybrid seed sources, that is to say species that are members of a class of plants, such as roses or tulips, and have had some genetic variation in their makeup between generations.
The flowering period in limited edition seeds is quite short – typically no more than four weeks. Typically, this flowering period is from late summer to early fall, although it can occur at any time of the year. Flower buds open up first as a result of an increase in temperature, and then the leaves and petals rise to form the head of the flower. This head has two sets of stigma flowers, which have stamens and pistils that open up on the top of the stigma flowers. The entire flower blooms for only a short time.
While there are some plants that are known to bloom for six or more weeks each year, the majority of them will only produce blossoms for three weeks each year. The two types of plants known to flower for more than three weeks are the black-eyed susanthus and the black-eyed kudzu. These two plants are not part of the Sativa family, and are part of a different genus altogether.
The black-eyed kudzu and black-eyed susanthus are known to be the most productive specimens of this cultivar, which produces large amounts of blooms. The majority of the seeds produced by these plants are extremely large and robust, with many being able to bear fruit. In order for a seed to bear fruit, it must be able to withstand the rigorous conditions that are associated with the mother plant, which includes extreme cold temperatures, high acid levels and poor soil fertility. Seeds from a black-eyed kudzu or a black-eyed susanthus often turn orange when they are exposed to light, which is why you will see a large variety of orange seeds on offer in cultivation today.
Some female plants may bear fruit for up to ten weeks during the year, but these rarely survive to flower a second time. Some flowers will flower profusely throughout the year, while others may bloom profusely during one season and then disappear for the next. If a flower begins to bloom again after ten weeks it is considered to be “resinous.” Flowering stems often break off and grow into the ground, creating a new growth pattern known as “dung” or “sprouts.” If a flower has not flowered for ten weeks there is no chance that it will ever flower again.
The limited edition lines that have been crossed with Sativa strains to create feminized seeds (both male and female plants) are not as successful. For example, the elite line of seeds is the result of crossing Sativa with a flower with the female characteristic of nectar. This will result in nectar-only flowers, which will lack the aroma that is produced by the male counterpart. Similarly, the elite lines may flower later, but with no resin-produced oil to make the flower linger. While the resin-producing glands are present in the male plants, they are much smaller than those found in females.
Limited Edition Seeds has become popular among collectors and breeders who have limited space available for growing their own plants. It has also been used as a means for propagating restricted plantings. Hybrid seed mixes allow the gardener to cross pollinate their favorite flowers with other less-popular or even foreign species, increasing the chances of having a successful crop. Flowering periods are typically longer than that of conventional hybrids. Some are even categorized as perennials, so they may bloom year-round for the gardener who likes to see new flowers appear all-year-round. Many feminized seeds (both male and female plants) can tolerate extra light and are extremely versatile in the landscape.