Seeds can be expensive. When you save seed you also are saving money.
You can exchange seed with other people who also save seed.
The practice of saving seed is resourceful and sustainable.
Save your vegetable seeds from vegetables you grow. Sometimes, seeds in vegetables you buy may be hybrid and will not germinate true to type. So seed saving good.
I saved seeds from 45 different vegetable plants last season.
God blesses us with seeds abundantly. We just need to put them in an envelope for dry storage. Late summer to early winter is the time to stock-up.
Start saving seed as a family activity.
For a 10 minute Family Home Evening activity, everyone can smear the seeds of an over-ripe tomato onto a newspaper. Let it dry in the sun on a rack. Next season, simply plant the paper. All your seeds will germinate.
Leave two cucumbers to get too ripe, even a bit rotten on the vine. Then the seed will have matured. Smear the seeds on newspaper at Family Home Evening for a 2 minute activity. Dry in the sun. If the seeds are hollow, then you have harvested the fruit before the seed has matured. Wait until it is a little rotten on the vine.
Collect bean seed for a Family Home Evening activity.
First you’ll have to leave a few bean pods to get old on the vine.
When they are crispy brown the seed is mature for storing.
The beans will be soft still. They will still need to harden and dry out in the shade before storing in an old paper envelope.
Involve the whole family in bean seed picking. It’s fun.
Celery and parsley seed form on the umbrella stems.
Above: These are still too green for seed saving.
Enclose the seed heads in a small bag. I use remnants of curtaining from Spotlight.
The bags dry out after rain. The seed will dry and will not rot.
Parsnip seed can be gathered off the seed heads.
Above: These cucumber seeds are not mature. The cucumber was harvested too early. It was yellow but I should have left it to rot a little. Notice how the seed is empty not full. Same for tomato – let them almost rot first.
Pumpkin seed can be taken directly out of any store-bought pumpkin. Wash the seed. Dry it on newspaper. Store in an old envelope. Paper breathes. Moisture can escape. No need for mold inhibitors or funguside. Simply store pumpkin seeds in a dry place.
I keep only the best seed. I keep favorites and plan ahead for the next season. Ask other gardeners to keep a vegetable to go to seed so you can have it.
Saving and sowing seeds are some of the greatest wonders for children and youth. Include them in everything. Make it fun.
Photo Credits
1. Feature photo by Jeannie Fletcher; http://www.flickr.com/photos/41188800@N00/140210611/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Save seeds by drying them
Posted by Hank in Seeds & germination
Seeds can be expensive. When you save seed you also are saving money.
You can exchange seed with other people who also save seed.
The practice of saving seed is resourceful and sustainable.
Save your vegetable seeds from vegetables you grow. Sometimes, seeds in vegetables you buy may be hybrid and will not germinate true to type. So seed saving good.
Kids Save Seeds
I saved seeds from 45 different vegetable plants last season.
God blesses us with seeds abundantly. We just need to put them in an envelope for dry storage. Late summer to early winter is the time to stock-up.
Start saving seed as a family activity.
For a 10 minute Family Home Evening activity, everyone can smear the seeds of an over-ripe tomato onto a newspaper. Let it dry in the sun on a rack. Next season, simply plant the paper. All your seeds will germinate.
Leave two cucumbers to get too ripe, even a bit rotten on the vine. Then the seed will have matured. Smear the seeds on newspaper at Family Home Evening for a 2 minute activity. Dry in the sun. If the seeds are hollow, then you have harvested the fruit before the seed has matured. Wait until it is a little rotten on the vine.
Collect bean seed for a Family Home Evening activity.
First you’ll have to leave a few bean pods to get old on the vine.
When they are crispy brown the seed is mature for storing.
The beans will be soft still. They will still need to harden and dry out in the shade before storing in an old paper envelope.
Involve the whole family in bean seed picking. It’s fun.
Celery and parsley seed form on the umbrella stems.
Above: These are still too green for seed saving.
Enclose the seed heads in a small bag. I use remnants of curtaining from Spotlight.
The bags dry out after rain. The seed will dry and will not rot.
Parsnip seed can be gathered off the seed heads.
Above: These cucumber seeds are not mature. The cucumber was harvested too early. It was yellow but I should have left it to rot a little. Notice how the seed is empty not full. Same for tomato – let them almost rot first.
Pumpkin seed can be taken directly out of any store-bought pumpkin. Wash the seed. Dry it on newspaper. Store in an old envelope. Paper breathes. Moisture can escape. No need for mold inhibitors or funguside. Simply store pumpkin seeds in a dry place.
I keep only the best seed. I keep favorites and plan ahead for the next season. Ask other gardeners to keep a vegetable to go to seed so you can have it.
Saving and sowing seeds are some of the greatest wonders for children and youth. Include them in everything. Make it fun.
Photo Credits
1. Feature photo by Jeannie Fletcher; http://www.flickr.com/photos/41188800@N00/140210611/sizes/m/in/photostream/