Open pollination

Generally speaking, the term refers to plants pollinated naturally by birds, insects, wind, or human hands.

This is in contrast to the seeds produced by plants that are the result of a recent cross (such as, but not confined to, an F1 hybrid), which are likely to show a wide variety of differing characteristics.

Based on how broadly the pollen for the plant tends to disperse, it can be controlled to varying degrees by greenhouses, tall wall enclosures, field isolation, or other techniques.

[2] Popular examples of open-pollinated plants include heirloom tomatoes, beans, peas, and many other garden vegetables.

Some plants (such as many crops) are primarily self pollenizing and also breed true, so that even under open pollination conditions the next generation will be (almost) the same.

Detasseling corn ( maize ) plants from one variety in a field where two varieties are planted. The male flowers are removed so that all seeds are hybrids sired from the second variety.