I wrote a wordy article one day, distinguishing between two different ways of using "OP".
I did mention in passing why one meaning of "OP" is the opposite of "hybrid" or "F1".
http://garden.org/ideas/view/R...
Seed catalogs and (I think) most people use "OP" to refer to a variety that has become genetically stable through traditional breeding (select, select, select, and then weed out the rogues for 7 plant generations).
If it has been stable for more than 50-75 years (and maybe there is some nice family story to go along with it), an OP variety can be called an heirloom variety. If people took the trouble to keep it stable for several human generations, SOMEONE thought it was a great variety for SOME climate or taste.
It's true that you can't be sure WHAT you'll get if some cool F1 hybrid [pollinates it self and you save the F2 seeds. "Like Parent1", "like Parent2", "worst traits of both" and a blur of intermediate traits are all possible.
But one person pointed out that at least the F2 generation is more consistent than the F3.
And someone else pointed out that SOME F1 varieties actually come pretty darned true in the F2 generation! You just have to try to find out.
So now I think the best advice for saving F2 seeds from F1 crosses is: "Good luck! Try it and see, then write back and let us know."
