A Beginner’s Guide to Saving Seeds

Saving seeds may seem complicated, but the process is surprisingly straightforward. This article will show you which are the best kinds of seeds to save as well as the steps to get started for optimal results.

One of the best ways to improve your self-sufficiency as a gardener is to learn how to save seeds. Not only does this save money every growing season, but it gives you complete control over the garden crop. You can even select the traits that are most important to you, ensuring a nearly perfect crop year after year.

To start saving seeds, you will need to know which seeds to save as well as when and how to save them. The process of saving seeds might seem overwhelming to start, but with a bit of practice, you’ll soon be a pro. Here’s is everything you need to know about saving seeds.

Three Questions for Choosing Which Seeds to Save

Before you can start saving seeds, you need to understand what kinds of plants you’re working with. It’s important to understand the pollination methods of your plants as well as when they will produce seeds. This will help you figure out which seeds are the best for saving. Here are three questions to ask when deciding on which seeds to save.

How Does it Pollinate?

Plants differ in their pollination methods. Some species, such as tomatoes, are self-fertile, meaning that they produce seeds solo. They don’t need another plant to pollinate them, as every individual has all the necessary reproductive parts.

Other crops, such as corn, require pollen from another individual. Therefore, the same crops need to be planted nearby each other to ensure successful pollination. These crops must also be isolated from other varieties to prevent any cross-contamination.

As you probably guessed, self-pollinating plants are much better for saving seeds than cross-pollinated crops. Fewer plants are required and there is less work involved. There is also a reduced risk of cross-contamination, so you know exactly what variety will be produced.

Will the Seeds Grow Similar to the Parents?

Most garden plants fall under two categories: open-pollinated and hybrid. Open-pollinated crops will retain their distinct characteristics so long as an individual of the same variety pollinates them. Therefore, you can predict the characteristics of every future plant from the saved seed.

Hybrids work differently. They are made by crossing plants from two different varieties or species. The seeds from hybrid plants won’t grow true to the parent variety, even when pollinated by the same variety.

As you can tell, open-pollinated crops are much easier to work with than hybrids, as you know exactly what variety will sprout from the seeds you save.

When Will the Plant Produce Seeds?

Plants are categorized as annuals, biennials, or perennials, depending on when they flower and seed. Annuals will grow, flower, produce seeds, then die all in a single season. Biennials have a life cycle that is two years long, meaning they will not produce flowers, fruit, or seeds until their second year. Perennials produce seeds for multiple years in a row but may take longer to get established.

The easiest plants to save seeds from tend to be annuals since they produce seeds in their first season and don’t take a long time to establish. Once you become a pro at saving seeds, you can save the seeds of biennials and perennials as well.

Eight Steps to Save Seeds

The process of savings seeds can be quite intimidating. However, we’ve compiled some tips and steps to help you succeed. Here are eight steps to successfully save your seeds.

1. Make Your Goals Manageable

If you’re new to seed saving, it’s best to start small. Choose a few easy crops, like peas, beans, tomatoes, or lettuce. Each is a self-pollinating annual that produces plenty of seeds per plant. Going any bigger your first year may overwhelm you.

2. Keep Open Pollinated Varieties Apart

If you’re growing several varieties of a single type of plant, it’s crucial to put space between them to prevent unwanted cross-pollination. These requirements can vary by species. Some, like lettuce, only need a few meters between them. Others, like corn, may require larger isolation distances or other pollination barriers.

3. Plant Enough for Both Food and Seed Production

A beginner seed saving mistake is not planting enough to make the process worth your effort. Some plants only produce a few seeds each, and many open-pollinated varieties require a large population size to ensure there’s a good mix of genetic diversity. Therefore, a large crop is required to harvest enough seeds to save for next year.

Keep in mind you often can’t eat the plants you’re saving seeds from. For example, lettuce only produces flowers once it’s bolted and turned bitter. Therefore, you should grow more plants than you need so that you can save a few for their seeds.

4. Let the Fruit “Over Ripen”

Growing vegetables for their seeds is a different process than for food, as the seeds aren’t always ready when the fruit is. For example, tomatoes, squash, green beans, and cucumbers are all eaten when the seeds are still immature, and harvesting them at this time means they won’t germinate. In these cases, you’ll need to wait for the plant to fully mature before taking it off the vine.

5. Harvest Only from the Best Plants

When it comes to saving seeds, you only want to use the best plants you grow. That way, you’re passing on their superior genetic material. So, if you always save seeds from the biggest, earliest, or most disease-resistant tomatoes, you’ll be selecting those traits so that they become more common over time.

6. Extract the Seeds: Dry vs Wet

Plants will produce seeds in either wet or dry fruit, and the harvesting strategy differs between them. Seeds from dry fruit can be collected as soon as they mature. Thresh, winnow or otherwise process them to remove any casings.

The process can be more complicated for wet fruited varieties. Wait until the seeds are fully mature (research the specifics for each type) and extract the seeds from the flesh. The wet extraction process differs based on the species.

7. Dry the Seeds to Prevent Mold

Now it’s time to thoroughly dry the seeds to ensure that they won’t become moldy. Keep the seeds spread in a single layer on a tray that gets natural light for a few days, or use a dehydrator at its lowest heat setting. Test whether a seed is dried by pushing a fingernail into it. If it gives, it needs more time.

8. Store the Seeds for Next Season

After drying, store the seeds in envelopes or glass containers and keep them in a cool, dark, dry place. Closets and basements both work well. Include labels that display the variety and year harvested to keep things organized, and you’ll be ready for planting once the weather warms.

So long as you store seeds correctly, they should stay viable for many growing seasons. You can perform a germination test in the spring before planting by adding a few seeds to a wet paper towel and monitoring them for a few days to see how many sprout.

Save Your Own Seeds for a Superior Garden

Saving seeds takes some time upfront, but the process is well worth it for saving money and selecting the traits that matter to you. Start saving seeds this season, and you’ll be grateful for the effort next spring.