I wasn’t always someone who saved seed. I know, crazy, right?
I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t get into seed saving until about 10 years ago. And, considering the fact that I have grown food since I was a little girl with my mom, that’s pretty embarrassing!
I believe it just comes down to laziness (as so much really does!) — and who can deny the fact that buying seeds is a VERY exciting experience! #seednerd
Why saving seeds is important
Saving seeds is the practice of collecting seeds from plants in order to plant them again the following year. It is a sustainable and rewarding practice that can benefit both the gardener and the environment! Seed saving is also critically important because it involves issues like income, consumerism, and even politics when we get into the area of genetically modified organisms (GMO) and saving heirloom seeds!
The biggest point I would make here is to focus on heirloom seeds and AVOID GMO seeds! You’d be amazed how many are out there! Heirloom seeds may be more of a challenge at times, but it is worth it to me because I trust where the seeds are coming from, I know that I am a wee part of the continuation of an ancient and hardy seed, and my dollars aren’t going towards #bigag and therefore I maintain control over my own food production.
Here are some of the reasons why saving seeds is important:
- To preserve genetic diversity. When you save seeds from your own plants, you are helping to preserve the genetic diversity of the food supply. This is important because it helps to ensure that we will have access to a wide variety of crops in the future, even in the face of climate change and other challenges.
- To increase your self-reliance. When you save seeds, you are less dependent on commercial seed companies. This can be beneficial in times of economic hardship or supply chain disruption.
- To save money. Saving seeds can save you money on the cost of buying new seeds each year.
- To develop plants that are adapted to your local conditions. When you save seeds from plants that have thrived in your garden, you are developing a strain of plants that is well-suited to your local climate and soil conditions! #win-win
- To connect with nature. Saving seeds is a way to connect with the natural world and learn more about how plants grow and reproduce.
How to save seeds…
Saving seeds is relatively easy to do. Here are the basic steps:
- Choose healthy, productive plants to save seeds from.
- Allow the seeds to mature fully before harvesting them (this will often involve bolting)
- Harvest the seeds at the appropriate time for the type of plant.
- Clean and dry the seeds thoroughly (very important!)
- Store the seeds in a cool, dry place.
If you are new to seed saving, there are many resources available to help you get started. There are books, websites, and even classes on the topic. You can also find many helpful tips from other gardeners online and in your local community! Some towns hold annual seed swaps!
Save garden seeds from good growing seasons, from healthy plants. Remember, readers: you are trying to create your own personal #seedbank, here! There’s no point in saving unhealthy seeds or plants!
Harvest seeds from plants before rainfalls and frosts. Seeds that have dried on the plant may absorb moisture during rains and will then swell and crack. All of this hydrating and drying is damaging to the outer seed coatings that prevent seeds from germinating and to the embryo inside!
So…..just where ARE the seeds?
This is the most frequently asked question by new gardeners wanting to learn about saving flower and vegetable seeds! Locating the seeds on the plant can be difficult if you do not know what you are looking for. Ideally, a gardener should learn the basic flower and veggie shapes in order to be able to identify where the seeds will develop.
Basics for flowers:
Compositae (Asteraceae) are the largest family of flowering plants. These include common garden annuals like asters, sunflowers, Black-eyed Susans, rudbeckias, daisies, gazanias, calendula, and zinnias. Being the largest family of flowering plants the Compositae family is most likely the plant family you are collecting seeds from in your garden. If the flower has a green, yellow, brown, or black “eye” in the center it is likely a member of the Compositae family. This eye is made up of lots of tiny flowers which each produce a seed.
The seeds will develop in that “eye” forming a seed head. Oftentimes the “eye” looks like a button and sometimes it can look a bit like a cone-like in purple coneflowers and rudbeckias. Some Compositae flowers, like those of marigolds, have tight bunches of petals, with no “eye,” but the seeds develop right in the center. When sowing these seeds the easiest method is to break apart the cone or button and sow the seeds directly in the ground.
Plants in the Lamiaceae (mint) family may produce many tiny flowers among a stem. Basil is a good example of this flowering pattern. An inflorescence (group of flowers) is a flower shape you will come across in the mint family. Anise hyssop is an example of an inflorescence. What looks like a flower is actually comprised of lots of tiny flowers, which produce very, very small seeds!
Collect these seeds by shaking them inside a paper envelope. Cutting off the stalks and hanging them upside down also helps release the seeds inside. Don’t crowd too many plant stems or seed heads into a small envelope when you’re harvesting seeds.
Celosias and amaranths produce inflorescences that resemble plumes and you can harvest these seeds the same way as described above.
Flowering bulbs like alliums also produce seeds that can be collected.
Basics for edibles:
Seeds from vegetables and fruits like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are found inside the flesh.
Some fruits like strawberries have seeds on that develop on the surface of the fruit.
You can also let your herbs or veggie plants bolt — which basically means just let them flower. The advantage is that some veggie flowers are absolutely stunning! You can easily collect the seeds from the flowers — just be sure to be good about labeling! I have learned that lesson the hard way…
An easy way of locating where the seeds are developing is to look at the flower petals. The petals are usually in front of or surround the ovary. As flowers are pollinated, the petals fall away after doing their job of attracting pollinators. At this point the seedpod or capsule begins to swell and inside of these is where you will find the seeds. But you can see how the seeds have developed behind them. Some plants like nasturtiums and Bells of Ireland do not develop seedpods or seed heads (the seeds actually hang off the plant) — but as long as you know the seeds develop where the petals were, you will be able to find the seeds on the plant! It’s important to use your intuition here, too!
An aside….
Ferns are among a group of plants that do not grow flowers or produce seeds, ferns reproduce by spores.
So, just how DO I save seeds?
Create a seed-saving kit that you can keep it in a cool, dry place. I store my seeds inside my garden shed. You will need a small pair of scissors, paper envelopes (junk mail envelopes work great), or paper bags., and a pen or marker to label the seeds as you gather them from the garden.
Don’t rely on your memory: trust me, you WON’T remember what they were!
Besides, labeling your saved seeds contains very valuable information you may need later if you swap seeds! Recycle small containers such as small tins to save seeds, prescription bottles, and teeny-tiny canisters for very small seeds. Bamboo skewers help you dislodge seeds or collect seeds that are tacky and may stick to your hands or fingers. You can keep these items inside of a larger Ziploc bag.
How to dry your saved seeds:
Air circulation is very important in drying seeds before storing them!
You certainly don’t need fancy equipment or tools to dry seeds. Simply spread out the seeds on sheets of paper (or paper plates) and allow them to air dry for a few days. Do not place seeds on or in plastic to dry: this can create a breeding ground for mold and fungus. Small seeds that develop inside of a pod, like poppy seeds, should be poured out of their pods to dry.
Place stems from the Compositae and Lamiaceae families upside down in large paper bags and envelopes to allow their pods and seeds to dry out. Remove as much plant material (stems and leaves) as possible if you’re drying seeds in paper bags or envelopes to speed up the drying process. Move seeds around so the seeds don’t clump together and they dry out evenly.
Harvest Seeds For Our Future Generations…
Saving seeds is an important practice that can benefit both the gardener and the environment!
It is a way to preserve genetic diversity, increase self-reliance, save money, develop plants that are adapted to local conditions, and connect with nature. If you are not already saving seeds, I encourage you to give it a try! It is a truly rewarding experience that can benefit you — and, most importantly, future generations!
Whether you are interested in saving seeds for next year because you are a frugal gardener who likes to save a few, or you are saving seeds because you want to preserve the biodiversity of heirloom seeds — seed saving is easy for the beginner gardener! Don’t be intimidated! Examine flowers up close and tear them apart to inspect each of the parts that it is comprised of, and do the same with the seeds of a plant. Hey, if my Kindergarten students in my garden classes can do it, so can you!
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