Many types of plants produce seeds that you can save from one year and sow the next. That way, you can easily grow the same varieties in your garden again. Plus you'll often end up with plenty to share with friends and family. And after the new coronavirus led to seed shortages earlier this year, it's just a smart idea to save seeds now in case that happens again next spring. The best plants for saving seeds are heirlooms, old-fashioned varieties, and open-pollinated plants, because the seeds usually grow into plants that look just like their parents. If you save seeds from hybrids, they likely won't grow into the exact same plants next year. But if you want to experiment and see what you get, hybrids can be fun to grow from saved seeds, too.
You can plant most perennial seeds in the garden starting in fall. Start them in a protected spot in loose, well-drained soil. Water them well after planting, and give them a light covering of mulch. They'll wait out the winter and sprout in spring. Or, you can store the seeds and start them indoors in late winter or very early spring. Don't expect them to bloom their first year because the plants will use all their energy to grow roots and leaves; most will bloom the second year. Some of the easiest perennial flowers to collect seeds from include:
Blackberry lily
Black-eyed Susan
Coneflower
False sunflower
Meadow rue
Obedient plant
Perennial sunflower
Perennial sweet pea
Veronica
Directions for Saving Seeds
Perennial seeds are ready to harvest after the flowers are done blooming and the petals have turned brown and/or fallen off. Follow these steps:
Cut flower head with scissors or a knife.
Collect the ripe seeds from the flower head and place on waxed paper.
Allow the seeds to dry for about a week.
Clean the seeds by removing any husks or pods.
Place seeds in an envelope and seal. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark, dry location.
Sow the seeds in spring. You can plant them directly in the garden, or get a jump on the season and start them early indoors.
Just like many perennials, there are lots of annual plants with seeds that are easy to save. Harvest them after the flowers bloom, and follow the same instructions above for saving perennial seeds. Some of the easiest annual flowers to collect seeds from include:
Cleome
Larkspur
Marigold
Morning glory
Nasturtium
Poppy
Snapdragon
Tips for Saving Fruit and Vegetable Seeds
The easiest seeds to save from your garden are cucumbers, beans, peas, peppers, tomatoes, and watermelons, and melons. These fruit and vegetable seeds self-pollinate (instead of requiring pollen from a different flower to do the job) and are low-maintenance when it comes to the storing process.
How to Save Bean Seeds
You'll know it's time to harvest the seeds from your bean plants when the pods are dry, turning brown, and starting to open. Remove dry pods from your plants and allow the seeds to dry for two weeks on waxed paper before shelling. Store shelled seeds in an airtight container until you are ready to plant.
The time to save cucumber seeds is when the fruit on the plant is ripe. While you're harvesting cucumbers to use in your kitchen, set aside a few specifically for harvesting seeds. Remove the pulp with seeds and place them in a container. Then add a small amount of water to the container, enough to cover the number of seeds and pulp you have. Let the mixture ferment for two to four days at room temperature, making sure to stir occasionally. After a couple of days, the dead seeds will float to the top. When the good seeds sink to the bottom, pour out the pulp. Rinse seeds off with water and place them on waxed paper. Leave to dry for a week. Store dry seeds in an airtight container until ready to plant.
How to Save Pea Seeds
Similar to beans, it's time to start collecting pea seeds when they're dry, turning brown, and the pods are starting to split open. And much like beans, remove pods and allow them to dry for two weeks before shelling. Then store the shelled seeds in an airtight container until ready to plant.
How to Save Pepper Seeds
Harvest pepper seeds when the fruit is completely ripe; most varieties will turn red and begin to shrivel. At that point, remove seeds from the fruit and let them dry on waxed paper for two to four days. Then, place dry seeds in an airtight container until ready to plant.
How to Save Tomato Seeds
Save your tomato seeds when the fruit is ripe. You can squeeze or scoop out some of the pulp and seeds and still use the tomato in recipes, or you can set aside a few tomatoes just for saving seeds. Place the pulp with seeds in a container and add water to cover. Let the pulp ferment for two to four days at room temperature, stirring occasionally. After a couple of days, the dead seeds will float to the top. When the good seeds sink to the bottom, pour out the pulp. Rinse seeds with water and place them on waxed paper. Leave to dry for a week, then store in an airtight container until ready to plant.
How to Save Watermelon and Melon Seeds
Harvest seeds when the fruit is ripe. If you want to save watermelon seeds to grow next year, make sure you're growing varieties that produce seeds, not seedless watermelons. When you remove seeds from the fruit, rinse them in a strainer to remove all pulp. Then, spread the seeds on waxed paper and dry for about a week. Turn them once a day until they become completely dry. Place dry seeds in an airtight container until ready to plant.
Store seeds in tightly sealed glass containers. You can store different kinds of seeds in individual paper packets in one large container. Keep seeds dry and cool. A temperature between 32° and 41°F is ideal, so your refrigerator can be a good place to store seeds.
Spread the seeds on newspapers, in a cardboard box, or in an old telephone directory, and allow them to dry between one and three weeks. Often seeds need to be separated from the chaff (the seed casings and debris).
One of the more practical methods for storing small quantities is to place leftover seed in sealable jars or other airtight containers and store in a cool, dark area such as the refrigerator (not the freezer). A layer of powdered milk or uncooked rice at the bottom of the container will absorb excess moisture.
Store the seed in a cool, dry place such as a corner shelf in the garage, basem*nt, closet or in the back of a refrigerator. The ideal temperature for storing seeds is between 32°F and 50°F. The rule of thumb for storing seeds is that the temperature and the humidity levels should add up to less than 100%.
Freezer storage is an option and a good one if you have seeds that you know will be in there for longer than a season. The freezer will ensure that your seed remains dormant but can be risky if you lose power or plan to take them out often for inventory or planting.
Freeze seeds for 48 hours before germinating to stratify them. This is not necessary for all seeds, but we have used this technique for over 30 years with great success. When finished, seal and leave any extra seed in your freezer – they will keep better.
Soaking can accelerate germination and increase the proportion of seeds that successfully germinate. Seeds have evolved a protective coating around the embryo so the embryo can survive being dispersed by some means. The coating protects the seeds until they find themselves in a suitable place to grow into a new plant.
Seeds need to be sun-dried before storing as it allows to reduce moisture from them and hence prevent bacteria growth which increases their lifespan otherwise they lose the capacity of germination and we are not able to grow them or keep them for the next harvesting season.
For seeds contained in a pod, like Cardinal Climber or beans, let seedpods dry on plants and harvest individual pods as they dry. If freezing weather or heavy rains arrive as seedpods are ripening, gather pods for drying indoors. For many plants, it's easiest to collect entire seed heads or pods.
Collect the seed in autumn, clean it, then store in a cool, dark spot until you're ready to sow them. It's a good idea to 'clean' the seeds before you store them. This involves removing the chaff, which may harbour pests and diseases and could turn mouldy or rot.
Store your seeds in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight. Exposure to temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit will greatly decrease the viability of your seed for future planting seasons. Seeds can be stored in sealed containers, plastic bags, and wax or paper envelopes.
That leads to condensation on all surfaces in the garage, including on your seeds. When they absorb the moisture, the seeds can lose some dormancy, but worse, they can be damaged if that moisture freezes.
It is essential to keep seeds dry and cool so that they will remain viable until the next spring. Ideally, they should be stored in tightly sealed glass containers. Individual varieties or different types of seeds can be placed inside of paper packets and then packed together inside of a larger glass container.
Beans, lettuce, peas, tomatoes, and peppers are great vegetables for beginning seed savers. Flowers great for seed saving include, marigold, zinnia, morning glory, cleome, nasturtium, poppy, snapdragon, and sunflower.
Seeds need three basic conditions to dry naturally: low humidity, a moderately warm temperature, and ideally a little airflow. If your local climate is suitable, seeds can happily dry simply scattered over newspaper, hung in paper bags, or placed on a wire mesh.
Keep seeds out of direct sunlight in a cool spot that maintains a fairly consistent temperature. Consider a cold closet, a basem*nt, or a room on the north side of your home that remains cool year round. Freezing isn't necessary for short-term storage, but you can refrigerate seeds, provided they are sufficiently dry.
Legality. While saving seed and even exchanging seed with other farmers for biodiversity purposes has been a traditional practice, these practices have become illegal for the plant varieties that are patented or otherwise owned by some entity (often a corporation).
Vegetable and flower seeds may be kept for one year without appreciable decrease in germination. Storage may be extended to 10 or more years under proper conditions. Seed moisture and storage temperature are the most important factors in determining how long seed can be stored.
Vacuum sealing seeds is an effective way to extend their viability, for two main reasons. First, maintaining seeds under a vacuum keeps humidity out of the storage container, which is very important in areas where humidity is high during at least part of the year (e.g. during rainy season).
Introduction: My name is Dr. Pierre Goyette, I am a enchanting, powerful, jolly, rich, graceful, colorful, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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