Are you tired of buying seeds every season? Well, I’ve got a secret to share with you that’ll save you some serious money and keep your garden green. Imagine growing your own herbs like Dill, flowers like zinnias, marigolds, sunflowers, nasturtium, calendula, and all the cool vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, green beans, peas without spending a dime on seeds. Yes, you heard me right! I’m about to spill the beans on how to save and store your own seeds straight from the garden. Get ready to become a seed-saving pro and enjoy a never-ending supply of your favorite plants. Let’s dive in together!
Understanding Your Plants
One of the critical factors in seed-saving success is understanding the type of plant you’re growing. Plants can be categorized into two main types: open-pollinated heirloom varieties and hybrid varieties.
- Open-pollinated heirloom varieties: Look for seeds labeled as heirloom or open-pollinated. Companies like MIGardener and Baker’s Creek specialize in heirloom seeds. These seeds produce plants true to their parent, making them ideal for seed saving.
- Hybrid varieties: Hybrid seeds result from crossing two different plants, and the seeds of the hybrid plant won’t produce identical plants. Saving seeds from hybrids may lead to unpredictable results, making heirlooms a more desirable choice for seed saving.
Seed Saving Process: Step by Step
Now, let’s explore the seed-saving process for specific plants:
1. Sweet Alyssum
Sweet Alyssum seeds are easy to spot, growing along the stem of the plant. Wait for the seeds to change from green to brown and simply pick them off for seed-saving.
2. Marigolds
Wait for the marigold flower head to dry completely. Once dry, peel off the outer layer of the flower to reveal the well-known marigold seeds.
3. Chijimisai (Mustard or Chinese Cabbage)
Let the plant go to seed by allowing it to get tall and produce flowers. Once the pods under the flowers are brown and completely dry, break them off. Separate the seeds from the pods and store them in a seed-saving envelope.
4. Nasturtium
Nasturtium seeds drop underneath the flowers of the plant. They are easy to spot as they are about the size of a pea. Lift the plant, find the round seed pods laying on the ground under the plant then allow them dry. Make sure to allow the seed to dry completly before storing them.
5. Cucumbers
Allow a cucumber to become overripe on the vine. Once it turns yellow and gets soft and squishy, open it up to reveal plump seeds. Separate the seeds from the fruit and ferment them in water for a few days. The water might get funky but no worries. This helps to separate the membrane from the seed. Drain the water, discard the membranes, and let the seeds dry on a paper towel.
6. Everglade Tomato
Cut an Everglade tomato, separate the seeds, and ferment them for 2-3 days to remove membranes just like with the cucumbers. Rinse, drain, and dry the seeds on a paper towel.
7. Calendula
Let calendula flowers dry on the plant. As the flower head dies, break it apart to find the unique half-moon-shaped seeds. These don’t look like traditional seeds so don’t accidentally dispose of them.
8. Dill
Let dill fronds continue to grow until they resemble a dandelion head. Once dried, the seeds on the tips of the plants will dry well. Rub the seeds off onto a plate for seed saving.
9. Zinnias
When zinnias begin to look rough, cut them from the plant and let them dry for a week. Pull the petals off the edge of the flower to reveal attached seeds. Separate the seeds from the petals.
10. Sunflowers
Massage the center of the sunflower bud to release the seeds. Remove the chaff and continue working on the bud until all seeds fall out. Collect the seeds for storage.
Tips for Successful Seed Saving
- Label your seed-saving packages with the plant type and the year to keep track of their freshness.
- Pick plants in your garden that produced the best or had the highest heat tolerance or disease resistance to save seed from.
- Save seeds from the most ripe fruits for better germination.
- Allow some overripe fruit to drop into your garden bed for volunteer plants in the next season.
- Consider the viability of seeds – green, thin or bendy seeds may not be mature enough for successful germination.
Thanks so much for joining me on this seed-saving journey. I hope you found these tips helpful for growing your garden for free. Happy gardening!
