How to Save Seeds from Your Garden
Have you had the joy of having your own garden? But maybe have yet to save your seeds for the next year? Well, you are in the right spot. Saving seeds from the plants you have grown and loved is such an easy next step.
My introduction to saving seeds was actually an accidental one. Even though I grew up gardening, we never saved seeds and always bought plant starts at the nursery. It was not really something I had heard of.
But sevearl years ago I was growing nasturtiums with my tomatoes. I walked by and realized that the seeds of the spent flowers fell off right under the plant as they dried. I started collecting them to save and plant the next year. There were so many that I actually gave them as Christmas gifts in cute little containers. Such a great addition to the vegetable garden, nasturtiums are an easy place to start with seed saving.
Since then we have saved beans, tomatoes, peppers and other seeds to replant in our garden.
What’s the Point of Saving Seeds?
Usually people buy the seeds or plants that they need each spring, so why even save seeds? There are actually quite a few reasons.
- Saving seeds is cost effective, making it high on the list of reasons to save seeds. If you are frugal like me this is important.
- Saving seeds is a great way to work on becoming self sufficient.
- Like many people this year, when I wanted to order seeds, so many were already sold out. Unfortunately you can’t always get the seeds you are wanting to get. But if you save seeds year after year, you will always have what you want.
- When you save your own seeds, they become perfect for your area as they adjust to your microclimate. This is true when you harvest them from your most robust healthy plants.
- The part that I have found so much fun are the seed exchanges you can have with other people who have saved their seeds. You may not need all of the 500 zinnia seeds you saved. However, trading with others who have other varieties of plants is an easy way to expand your garden. Not to mention cheap! You can try out new plants all for free. I have seen many exchanges on Instagram, and I know that many local libraries have programs too. Seed Savers Exchange also has a program online. Getting my first packet of seeds from an exchange was such a happy mail day for me. Just this fall I have participated in three exchanges.
You can’t save seeds from just any plant
Only certain types of seeds can be saved easily for the home gardener. And it will be important to know which ones you can save. Look on the seed packet you used last time or look up the variety that you bought as a start.
What Types of plants to save from
This season I had bought several starts for tomatoes and peppers. I was happy to see that they were mostly heirloom and open-pollinated. This meant that I was able to save their seeds.
Open-pollinated – this is the best place to start because these plants are pollinated naturally. (Thank you to the wind and insects). When you plant these seeds, they will reproduce true to their parent plant. (i.e. look the same as the plant you saved seeds from.)
Heirloom – All heirlooms are open-pollinated seeds. They have been passed down for many generations and most people say 50+ years equals and heirloom. Others say it needs to be 100 years. Either way, they are great seeds to save because you know they have been doing a great job for a long time and are worth saving for that reason. The history lover in me is happy to think about all those that came before us who used the same seeds.
What Types of plants to Not save from
Hybrid – not these! You will not know what you will get if you plant these since the parent plants were 2 different plants. When seeds are saved from hybrid, you will not get the exact same thing you had last year in your garden as traits from one of the parent plants will emerge. So you can technically save these seeds, but don’t expect to know what you will get!
Most importantly, harvest seeds from some of your most beautiful and robust plants and make sure it is from fully ripe fruit. The fruit should be left on the plant for longer than normal, and picked more ripe than how you would eat it.
This is a great article from The Old Farmer’s Almanac that gives good detail for when the plants are at the best stage for harvesting seeds. It isn’t always going to be the same as when the plants are at their peak for eating. Usually it is later on when they are past their prime for eating.
Self-pollinating or Cross-pollinating
Seeds can be saved from plants that cross-pollinate, (such as squash, cucumbers, and melons) but it is a bit more tricky if you are growing more than one type of these plants. I wouldn’t suggest starting here.
Some seeds are easier to save than others
Which are some easy ones to start with?
Vegetables – peas, beans, peppers
Flowers – Nasturtium, zinnia, sunflowers, poppy
Others that are more tricky, but definitely worth it to save:
Tomato seeds need a special fermenting process (it’s easy, I promise!) Head over here for a tutorial.
Step by Step of how to save seeds for your next year’s garden
- Harvest at their prime: If you haven’t checked out The Old Farmer’s Almanac article linked above to help with when to harvest, do so.
- Make sure the seeds are fully dry – lay them out on a paper towel, waxed/parchment paper, or an old paper bag on the counter. Give them a shake every few days or run your fingers over them to turn. You do not want to package your seeds up before they are good and dry or they will mold and not be any good.
- Package and label them – I’ve used many containers: glass jars, small plastic baggies, envelopes. As long as you label them, you are good to go. Believe me, you will forget. I already have some mystery tomato seeds this year.
- Store for next year in a cool and dry place – All seeds will last longer out of light and heat.
- Keep your eye out for a seed exchange – Do you have an abundance of any seeds? Send some off and hopefully get some that you don’t yet have. I am participating in a flower only one right now. So many new to me flowers coming in and it’s so much fun.
Pin for Later
