Seeds help us save money because saving seed is cheaper than buying seeds. We can grow different types of plants, adding more interest to our garden, and we can share plants grown by seed with others.
(Courtesy of Nicole Pinson)
You can save seeds from many common plants, such as marigolds, salvias, herbs and vegetables. Save seeds of the plants and vegetables you like and that do well in your garden.
Many native plants produce seeds that support pollinators such as bees, wasps and flies. The plants and their seeds promote biodiversity and food security. Seed banks throughout the world save and protect plant seeds in climate-controlled vaults so we have access to them in case of an emergency or environmental disaster.
Seeds are diverse.
We use them to grow new plants, we eat them, and we use them in cooking.
It’s easier to grow plants from heirloom seeds than it to grow plants from hybrid seeds. Heirloom plants are open-pollinated. Hybrid plants are cross-pollinated between two different species or varieties for specific, desired traits. When hybrid plants produce seed, the next generation may not have the same characteristics as the parent plant. You can experiment and save seeds from a hybrid plant, but you don’t know what the offspring will look like.
Seeds are amazing!
They have everything they need to survive in their own containers, and they wait for the right conditions to sprout. Seeds can be dry or wet. Dry seeds include acorns and marigold seeds. Wet seeds include eggplant and tomato seeds.
Seeds need time to dry. If you pick them too early, they may mildew. This is especially common with bean pods picked too early.
Basil is an example of an easy-to-grow dry seed. Let a few old flower heads go to seed. Once dry, cut off the flower heads and shake out the seeds. Store them in a container until ready to plant. I start them under a glass cloche in starter pots. The glass cloche acts like a mini terrarium, and keeps the seeds moist and protected.
Some people use blossom bags to save seeds. You can also use mesh bags out of the laundry section or muslin bags from a local brewery. Place the bag over the blossom to protect the seeds and to allow them to dry out. The bag collects the seeds as they dry, protecting them from birds and wildlife, wind or rain.
Harvest wet seeds, such as eggplants, when beyond market maturity. Market maturity is when vegetables are ready to be eaten. However, when saving these seeds, you want to make sure the vegetables are little “past their prime.” For example, if you open an eggplant ready to use in a recipe, you can try to save the seeds, but the seeds are tiny and not quite mature. You would want to “sacrifice” two vegetables, and let them mature before you save the seeds. Otherwise, you’ll harvest too early and the seed won’t germinate. Eggplants are very easy to grow from seed.
Clean the seeds saved from wet fruit like tomatoes and squash. These seeds have a coating or fleshy fruit that encloses them and keeps them from sprouting on their own until favorable growing conditions or when ready to be eaten by an animal in a brightly colored fruit.
Place wet seeds in a bowl of water. Wipe off the pulp and fleshy parts. Dry them completely on parchment paper, fine mesh screen or a paper towel. If you use a paper towel, the seeds will stick. However, Master Gardener Nancy Ham stores the entire paper towel in a large zip-top bag, and cuts the seeds out and plants them, along with the paper towel, when needed.
There are three main types of plants: annuals, biennials and perennials. This will help you learn when to save seeds. Annuals (like marigolds) grow and set seed in one year or growing season. Biennials grow in the first year and then set seed the following year. Parsley is an example of a biennial plant. Other examples are collards, kale, onions, garlic, radishes and carrots.
Perennial plants, and many ornamentals, live year after year. Examples of perennial landscape plants include blackberry lily, with a blackberry-like seedpod, chives, and sage.
You don’t need to spend money on a fancy container to store your seeds. You can use (and recycle) old prescription bottles, return mail envelopes, spice jars and glass jars. Always be sure to save your original seed packet so you have your reference information.
Seeds need three conditions for storage: dry, dark and cool. Good examples include a linen closet or refrigerator.
Proper labeling is essential.
Seeds are living organisms, and they have a lifespan. You’ll want to note the species or common name, variety, source and year harvested.
Remember, seeds can preserve our food diversity, both for humans and wildlife, and save us money. Look around your garden and see what “free” seeds you can find. Try saving seed from one plant or vegetable so you can grow new plants or share them with friends.
For additional information, email , or call (813) 744-5519, ext. 54145.
References:
Heirloom Vegetable Varieties for Florida. (2016). EDIS. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_heirloom_vegetables.
Park Brown, S., D. Treadwell, J.M. Stephens, and S. Webb. (2016). Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide. IFAS Publication Number SP 103. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/VH/VH02100.pdf.
Thralls, E., S.P. Brown, and E. Paulson. (2015). Seed Sources for Florida Homegrown Vegetables. IFAS Publication Number ENH1225. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/EP/EP48600.pdf.
Nicole Pinson is the Urban Horticulture Agent in Hillsborough County. She gratefully acknowledges Master Gardener Nancy Ham for contributing to this article.
Published April 12, 2017
