Gardening Bytes

Archive for the ‘Saving Seeds’ Category

You can save tomato seeds from plants you have grown this year in the garden. Heirloom tomatoes in particular are harder to come by and are worth saving seeds for next year’s garden. The process is fairly simple overall. You will want to choose tomatoes that are not overly ripe, without disease, and in their prime. If possible used tomatoes from the same variety from a few different plants for best success. Scoop out the seeds from tomatoes and save the rest of the tomato for eating. The tomato seeds are contained in a gelatin-like pocket. You can choose to separate the seeds out on a paper towel to dry or ferment your seeds first before drying on the towel. Fermenting the seeds helps the seeds separate from the gel and decreases the chance of disease.

To ferment your tomato seeds add half a cup of water to a plastic cup then add the seeds, labeling the cup with the variety name. Leave the cup for 3 to 5 days. Fermenting can become smelly so you may want to place your cups in a greenhouse or garage. After 3 to 5 days remove the top layer of film and mold, add more water and stir. Viable tomato seeds will sink to the bottom of the cup. Strain off the pulp and water and keep adding more water until the pulp is gone and the water is clear. Drain the seeds well on a paper towel or through a coffee filter. Spread the seeds in a single layer on a paper towel or filter to dry, within 24 hours the tomato seeds should be dry and ready to package in an envelope for next season’s planting. Tomato seeds are viable for a number of years, storing in room temperature works as well as the fridge or freezer for extra protection.

When you collect flower seeds from your garden, wait until the seed is fully dry. Any moisture in your storage package can ruin your seed. Take dry seed, add it to a paper envelope and seal with tape to assure no moisture gets into the envelope. Write the date and year the seed was taken, all pertinent info about the growing of the plant, area you plant the seeds in your garden, and any other notes you need to keep on the plant. Store seeds in a cool area, a shoe box with small envelopes holding your seeds will be easy to sift through when it comes time for planting. Another method for storing is storing dried seed in the refrigerator in small, airtight baggies. The vegetable crisper works well, you want it cool but not freezing cold. You can use plastic envelopes from a craft store or Tupperware containers. If a refrigerator is not available a cool dark drawer or cupboard works best. Vegetable and annual seed may be stored up to 2 to 3 years in a cool area.

Annuals can be an excellent choice for filling in and brightening your garden in spring and summer months. Annuals are plants that grow from seed and bloom in a few weeks time, then dying off by the end of their seasonal life. Annuals can take some extra work to plant and maintain each season, making sure the ground is prepared well is important for optimum growth of these fast growing plants. Annuals that reseed readily are a good choice to include in your garden, thereby cutting back on your time spent planting every year. Using annuals in your garden design allows you to create a different look in your garden every year. Extend the bloom season of your annuals by deadheading regularly so the plants do not set seed and die. Annuals may need more attention with water and fertilizer than perennials in your garden since their lifespan is short and their growth pattern is vigorous.

Try these annuals for plants that reseed readily in your garden:

Alyssum
Bachelor Buttons
Calendula
Candytuft
Columbine
Cosmos
Forget-Me-Nots
Four O’Clocks
Larkspur
Lobelia
Lupine
Marigolds
Nasturtiums
Nicotiana
Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella)
Poppies
Sunflowers
Sweet pea

Nasturtiums are one of those plants that are easy to grow and produce a great deal of seed once established in your garden. After flowering has finished the nasturtium leaves a green pea sized seed that you can harvest the seed by picking it off the flower vine. Sometimes seeds fall to the ground and dry, you may find brown seeds below the nasturtium vine. Generally I dry mine out in a greenhouse or warm location, sitting the seeds in a big wide container. When the seeds turn brown and wrinkle they are ready to plant. Once the nasturstiums are established in an area they will self-seed readily, keeping your garden filled with colorful flowers.