5 posts were split to a new topic: Ginger
Bundle flower (Desmanthus illinoensis) would be a good candidate. Seeds compare well with soybeans in nutritive value. Desmanthus illinoensis - Wikipedia
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Squash with different color flowers than yellow.
There are thousands of varieties of Ginger, and I know for certain that some of them produce seeds. While living in Hawaii I had to deal with a couple of highly invasive varieties, which are also taking over the native rainforest. These do make seed, and that’s part of why they are such a problem there.
A horseradish landrace seems like it might actually be impossible. As far as I know, the plant has lost the ability to produce seeds.
I’m hoping one day there can be a nettle without any stinging hairs at all!
Hawaii has a “nettle-less nettle” called Mamaki. It evolved over time to lose this defense mechanism. It is a native used for medicinal tea. It does look much different than the stinging nettle. Mamaki grows into a small tree. In Taiwan there are also quite a few plants in the nettle family, including the very popular “Ramie”, which is used primarily for fibre.
The nettle family Urticaceae has thousands of species. I wonder which ones already naturally exist in your area that might have similar properties to the stinging nettle, but without the sting? This might be a good place to start?
Not to distract from the idea of land racing the stinging nettle. Thats definitely a fun idea too. I wonder how easily this species can cross with others in the nettle family…
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I see seeds for sale periodically, but I understand that germination is spotty. My roots should be established this year so I’ll keep an eye on them.
14 posts were split to a new topic: Papaya-- Annual Landrace?
Everything I grow I try to landrace. I’m especially loving maxima squash and dry bush beans. I like how you worded that you thought you couldn’t garden because you couldn’t do it the way it was supposed to be done. You put exactly how I felt into words. Landracing has opened up so many possibilities and so much potential! I collected so many seeds last year and can’t wait to see how they grow this year. Plus I’m adding melons to my list which seem impossible in my area, but I’m determined to grow them and adapt them to my climate in western Canada.
Does anyone else remember powering a lightbulb with a potato when they were a kid? What if there was a landrace of some kind of tuber that would collect and store energy from the sun all day, then we could tap into it to power our homes.
Solar panels and lithium batteries are great but also super toxic and hard to recycle. Not to mention the toll the mining for all those minerals does to the earth. What if we could recreate these principles in an organic way? Then alls you would need is some seeds or tubers to plant near your home. And maybe some type of copper rod you stick into the ground and it connects to a mycelial network which connects to the tubers. Connect the rod to a charge controller/inverter to get the right voltage.
I know it sounds pretty out there and maybe it wouldn’t be nearly enough power but something to think about. The best part is, when you’re done with the system it just decomposes in place.
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I don’t see why it’s not possible. Humans have selected for every other trait, why not power generation?
Not sure about the mycelium thing, but maybe start by getting half a dozen potatoes of the same size but different varieties, and test them all?
I know it’s also done with citrus (the equivalent of an acid battery). It’s worth a try.
I suspect it would also help a lot to need fewer watts of power. Get more energy efficient, that sort of thing.
My preschooler is starting on a purple dragonfruit mango. She’s started the page in her research notebook with an appropriate drawing of her desired end product.
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Um… I didn’t know I wanted that, but now I want that too! 
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Hee hee! Yes, that sounds great!
A broad bean with minimal or no skin, so it can be single-podded and then simply cooked and eaten. Has anyone worked on this? Might not be impossible actually.
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I have an Urtica dioica subsp. galeopsifolia with far less stinging hairs, so it should be possible to breed it further away. It is difficult here because it will cross pollinate with the native Urtica dioica that has stinging hairs.
Other known nettles with less stinging hairs
Urtica dioica subsp. gracilis
Urtica dioica var. holoserica
Urtica dioica subsp. sondenii
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