berry

Fruit with soft flesh surrounding one or more seeds. 

biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the diversity, or variety, of plants and other living things in an ecosystem.

biennial

A plant that completes its life cycle in two years. Generally, in the first year, growth occurs followed by flowering, fruiting and seed production in the second year. 

blanch

The process of excluding light so as to make the plant material lighter in color and more tender. 

bolt

A plant prematurely producing seed. 

characteristics - General features of the plant caused by unidentified complexes of genes including morphological and physiological attributes.

cultivar

A variety of plant that has been produced and maintained through cultivation. 

Damping-off

A disease of young seedlings caused by fungi that causes the developing plant to be killed. It appears as a ring around the stem of young plants touching the soil.

Determinate

determinate refers to the growing habit of plants that are bushy, whose fruit ripen over a 3 - 4 week period, and generally do not need staking. Caging is usually recommended. 

F1

'Filial 1' or first generation offspring resulting from the mating of two parents. 

F1 Hybrid

First generation hybrid resulting from a crossing of distinctly different parental types. 

Foundation Seed

Primary source of seed of a genetically identified variety from which all increases are made. 

fruit

A fruit is a ripened ovary of a plant along with any attached parts that developed with it from the flower. 

gene

A group of base pairs in the DNA molecule that determines one or more hereditary characters. 

genetic engineering

Genetic engineering involves artificial laboratory techniques to alter the DNA of living organisms. 

heirloom seed

A variety that has been assessed, tested and handed along from generation to generation. 

hybrid 

A plant resulting from the cross mating of distinctly different parents.

indehiscent

Not splitting open when ripe. 

Indeterminate 

Indeterminate plants continue to grow, set fruit, and ripen continuously.

loam

Loam soil is rich and fertile and is whose moisture retention capacity is balanced. 

open-pollinated seed

A seed which produces plants similar to the parent plants. 

perennial

A plant that lives from year to year and typically involves many reproductive cycles. 

The seed bearing organ of the flower composed of stigma, style, and ovary. 

pollen

Small powder like granules that are borne in the anthers of the flower

pest resistance

The ability of plants to suppress the activities of a specific pathogen.

rhizome

Rhizomes are underground, horizontal stems that produce shoots and roots. 

rogue - The process of removing or destroying plants with unwanted characteristics or traits. 

selection - The process of saving seeds from plants that exhibit desirable characteristics and traits. 

stamen - A flower's male reproductive organ consisting of the filament, anther, and pollen. 

susceptibility

The inability of plants to restrict the activities of a specifi pathogen. 

tolerance:

The ability of plants to endure a specified pest, pathogen, or environmental factor.

trait - A specific feature traced to an identifiable gene or group of genes. 

viable - A viable seed is one that will germinate and produce a vigorous plant. 

vigor - Strong, vibrant germination and growth.