6 Tips For How To Save Seeds

27/10/2022, 21:53 How to Save Seeds
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How to Save Seeds

One of my earliest gardening memories is discovering that a dried marigold flower contains
dozens of marigold seeds. I couldn’t believe my luck – free seeds! I planted one of those seeds
and was hooked on gardening. If you learn the basic principles for how to save seeds, I think
you’ll be hooked too.
When a plant produces seeds, that typically completes the plant’s life cycle. Harvesting and
saving seeds from your plants is a simple process, a great way to save money, and very
rewarding.
Learning how to save seeds gives you a nearly-continuous supply of seeds that are adapted to
your area at little or no cost.
Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy for more information.
6 Tips for How to Save Seeds
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1. Learn a little seed terminology before you save seeds

A basic understanding of how seeds are pollinated and produced will help you succeed at seed
saving.
Self-pollinating crops typically pollinate themselves without help from insects or other
plants. Self-pollinating plants, such as beans, peas, and tomatoes, are suitable for first-
time seed-savers.
Open-pollinated plants, such as pumpkins, squash, cucumbers, and corn, will cross-
pollinate, meaning the seeds from one variety can be affected by pollen from a
neighboring plant. If you are growing more than one type of open-pollinated plant
near each other, do not save seeds from the resulting fruit as they may have cross-
pollinated.
Armenian cucumber cross-pollinated with cantaloupe
Hybrid plants – Do not save seeds from hybrid plants. Hybrid plants (F1) are two
varieties that have been cross-pollinated to produce a third variety with desired traits
from the “parents.” Seeds from hybrid plants will not be “true to type.”
Heirloom seeds – Most heirloom varieties are good choices for saving. The seed has
often been handed down for several generations (generally at least 50 years).
2. Save seeds from only the best plants and fruit

Do not save seeds from diseased fruit or plants. When you save seeds, you select which traits
you want to continue. Choose the best tasting and healthiest fruit and plants from which to save
seeds.
Hyacinth Bean Seeds
Luffa Seeds
3. Seeds for saving must be fully developed on the plant or

vine
The perfect time to pick a plant to eat is often not the best time to pick a seed. Seeds need extra
time to develop and become viable. The life cycle of the plant concludes with producing and
developing seeds. Be patient and let the seeds develop and mature on the plant.
Artichoke Seeds
4. Learn how to harvest and dry both “wet” and “dry” seeds
Wet seeds, such as tomato and cucumber seeds, need to be fermented to remove pulp and the
germination-inhibiting sac that surrounds each seed in the fruit.
Cucumber seeds after fermentation. Viable seeds sink to the bottom of the jar.
To ferment wet seeds:
Gather supplies. You’ll need a knife, spoon, glass jar, bucket, sieve, and coffee filter.
Cut the tomato or cucumber in half. Using the spoon, scrape the seeds into a glass
jar and add water to the jar.
As the seeds ferment, the pulp separates from the viable seeds. Stir to prevent mold
forming.
Once the seeds have fermented, add water to the mixture and mix. The viable seeds
will sink to the bottom and the pulp will remain at the surface of the water. Pour off
pulp. Repeat until the water is clear.
Drain into a sieve and rinse with water. Seeds should feel rough, not slippery.
After the coating is removed, rinse seeds and spread them out on coffee filters.
Allow the seeds to completely dry out. Should take 1-2 days to completely dry.
Cucamelon seeds before and after fermentation
Wet seeds that do not need fermentation include melon, eggplant & ground cherry. Remove
seeds from the fruit and wash them under running water.
Hollyhock from bloom to seeds
Saving dry seeds is often simple. Harvest the pods and heads in a brown paper sack. Once the seed
pods are completely dry, shake out or crumble the pods to remove the seeds. Let the seeds continue
to dry in a brown paper sack for a few weeks until completely dried out. Examples of dry seeds:
Sunflower, hollyhock, artichoke.
Artichoke seeds are harvested after the bloom fades
Sunflower seeds
Purple hyacinth vine seeds
Luffa seeds
Nasturtium from bloom to seeds
Sunset cosmos from bloom to seeds
Borage from bloom to seeds
Zinnia from bloom to seeds
Poppies from bloom to seeds (the seeds are inside of the heads)
Chamomile from bloom to seeds
Roselle from calyx to seed harvest
Marigold from bloom to seeds
Dill from bloom to seeds
5. Once seeds are thoroughly dry, store saved seeds correctly

Drying out the seed is an important part of saving seeds. Seeds that haven’t dried properly
often become moldy. Place seeds in paper envelopes, or for longer storage, store them in mason
jars. Be sure to label seeds with the type of seed and the date harvested. Store seeds in a dark,
cool, and dry place.
Sunflower, marigold, and hollyhock seeds
6. Share your saved seeds with others

Set aside some seeds to plant next year, and then share the extras in a seed swap or donate them to
a local seed library. Garden seeds also make great gifts for gardeners.
Seed library at Mesa Public Library
Did you learn something from this article? Please share it with others and begin observing the
plants around you. Also, watch the life cycle of your plants. For instance, how do they make seeds?
Can you save them?
Which seeds do you have success in saving? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
Seeds before planting at local school garden
If this post about how to save seeds was helpful, please share
it:
I partnered with Kellogggarden.com to bring you this article about saving seeds.

6 Tips For How To Save Seeds

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27/10/2022, 21:53 How to Save Seeds

How to Save Seeds

6 Tips for How to Save Seeds

1. Learn a little seed terminology before you save seeds

Armenian cucumber cross-pollinated with cantaloupe

2. Save seeds from only the best plants and fruit

Hyacinth Bean Seeds

3. Seeds for saving must be fully developed on the plant or

To ferment wet seeds:

Cucamelon seeds before and after fermentation

Hollyhock from bloom to seeds

Artichoke seeds are harvested after the bloom fades

Purple hyacinth vine seeds

Nasturtium from bloom to seeds

Sunset cosmos from bloom to seeds

Borage from bloom to seeds

Zinnia from bloom to seeds

Chamomile from bloom to seeds

Roselle from calyx to seed harvest

Marigold from bloom to seeds

Dill from bloom to seeds

5. Once seeds are thoroughly dry, store saved seeds correctly

Sunflower, marigold, and hollyhock seeds

6. Share your saved seeds with others

Seed library at Mesa Public Library

Seeds before planting at local school garden

I partnered with Kellogggarden.com to bring you this article about saving seeds.

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