I want as many opinions on this as possible. What are your experiences with Feminized seeds? I've read they have a higher male/hermi rate...
I have personally never had a fem seed go hermie on me - photo or Auto. In order to make a fem seed, you have to force the mother to become a hermie. Its ability to do that is in the genetics. Once you try to force a female to hermi, you will see that some just do not respond to the stress, and some do. Now we are breeding with the ones that have a hermie gene, but a good breeder will only seed the mother that was the hardest to make into a hermie - or the most resistant to hermie. The offspring will, at most, have the same ability to go hermie. In theory if the breeder chooses a difficult plant to hermie, then the offspring will be difficult to hermie. Moral of the story, if your fem seed hermies, you must have stressed it to hell and back as no breeder in their right mind would throw their name on a plant that hermies easily (with an exception of some sativa dom strains where the only amazing genetics was stuck with a hermie gene, and that can always be worked out further - meaning the breeder is most likely bringing a new strain out early to compete with someone else). So if you get a hermie - look in the mirror. I'd be willing to bet money if its an indoor grow your temps are to balme.
I have also read this is just a way for the Breeders to ensure their genetics/work aren't stolen or copied. I can understand that but, I also agree with TBM as he thinks Fem seeds should then be offered at a lower price than regular seeds!
Fem seeds are a good way to "copyright" your genetics, especially if you bred for a very hermie resistant plant - so it will be next to impossible to strees it to make pollen and copy. A good breeder does this, and does this well. Hence why the hermie hype is just that - hype, for a respected breeder.
As far as pricing goes - we all would want cheaper beans, but the fact of it all is that people worked hard to make what they did, and they want to get some return on their investment. I for one, don't mind paying more for Fem seeds, as I know that I don't have to waste space on males every grow, and that savings brings value to me, so I will pay more for that value. I, however; would like for breeders to release their genetics in reg format after a given amount of time. Besides, their genetics (if they are that good) will most likely be crossed with very quickly - so it would be in their best interest to release originals of the strain to keep it alive. If not, it will fade away into genetics land and the name may continue if they are lucky. But a Fem only strain will be bastardized quickly.
Since you can copy regular beans you would think they WOULD charge more to discourage that! LOL but, they charge more for fem... I think TBM makes more sense!
TBM always makes more sence, but just ask every pharmacutical company why they copyright their drugs. People will steal and try to make a profit while riding on the coat tails of the hard workers. Its just a part of business and a fact of life. I would love for Fem seeds to be cheaper - but I also want world peace and a cure for cancer.
I say put yourself in their shoes. You spend years and countless $$ perfecting "your" strain. Don't you want a little credit for it? Also - these breeders do it for a living and their livelyhood depends on it. The rest of us do it for fun to make our own medicine or as a hobby, as a consensus, we don't mind sharing genetics - but we aren't running a business on it. The old school pureists will sell in reg format only and charge a high price. The business breeders will make Fem only strains and still charge a high price; if not higher. There is a balance of how good the genetics are vs the price and reg availability.
I have no problems with Fem seeds - I don't think it will contaminate the gene pool. People also say Autos will ruin the future of the genetics - I don't buy that either. Thats why we have seed collectors - to keep the original genetics alive.
On a side note, have you checked out the e-store here? Reg seeds abound! Go get some, make your own crosses and help out the community!
