08/26/2026
The Art of Seed Saving
By: Cindy Schnabel- Assistant Horticulturist & Master Gardener
Seed saving has been around for a long time. It wasn’t that long ago that seeds could be bought at every store one can think of. In modern times we have had everything at our finger tips. All you had to do was get in your car, drive to a big box store and there would be a section where you can find seed packets of all kinds. But, think back to the situation we have been in in the last few years because of Covid and supply chain problems. It has be hard to get some of your favorite seeds. I have had this problem as recently as a month ago. The answer to this is to become a good steward of nature and save seeds for next years garden.
In order to begin saving seed, you need to know the kind of plants that you are growing. Hybrid plants are those that are the offspring of two different varieties. Hybrid plants are cross breed to be more disease resistant, have a more uniform shape, better color and store longer, just to name a few. When you plant the seeds from a hybrid plant there is a good chance that you can get plants with the characteristics of the pure parent plants and some of the hybrid plant. The seed may even be sterile and not provide you with any produce. You can never tell exactly what you will get. Hybrid seeds are not the ones you want to save.
The plants that are the easiest to collect are those from beans, lettuce, melons, peas, peppers, tomatoes, and winter squash. These are self-pollinating crops. They require little or no isolation, and only a few plants are needed to reliably produce seeds.
When collecting bean and pea seeds, allow the pods to stay on the vines until the pods dry up and turn brown. A sign that the seeds are dry is if they sound like a baby’s rattle.
For peppers, allow the fruit to stay on the plant until it is fully ripe. The outer shell will look wrinkly. Then, remove the seeds and spread them out to dry.
Collecting the seeds from melons and winter squash couldn’t be easier. The seeds are ready when the fruit is ready to eat. Just cut open the fruit and collect the seed. Lay the seeds out on a paper towel to dry. It is just that easy.
Seeds from carrots, onions, and beets are more challenging. They are considered a biennial. Which means that they will not flower until their second growing season and after it has gone through a cold period.
Lettuce seeds will resemble the dandelion. Allow the plant to continue growing. When the plant bolts it is time to collect the seeds. When the flower heads are fluffy and dry, place a paper bag over the heads and gently shake the plant. Catching the seeds in the bag. This can be done for a number of days in a row to collect all the seeds. Or remove the entire flower stalk, place it in the bag and shake the ripe seeds out.
Tomato seeds are good to collect because the plant is considered a self-pollinator. But there are some tricks to help you out. Allow the fruit to fully ripen on the vine. Cut open the fruit and scoop out the seeds, along with the gel that surrounds them. Place the seeds, gel and all, in a glass of water. Twice a day, stir or swirl the mixture around. This mixture will ferment. The seeds sink to the bottom of the glass in approximately five days. Pour the liquid off, rinse and spread the seeds out on a paper towel. Allow the seeds too dry.
When collecting seeds to save;
-collect the seeds from only healthy plants.
-a sunny day about mid-afternoon is the best time to gather the seeds (never do this after a rain).
-the seeds need to be mature. They should be brown or black in color and the cover or shell should be intact.
-remove debris like sticks, stems or chaff from seeds.
Once the seeds are dry, storing them properly is essential. The seeds need to be in a cool, dry environment. Storage temperature should be between 32-41 degrees Fahrenheit. An old refrigerator is a good place. Place the seeds in an air tight container. Glass containers are best. Paper envelopes can be used too, but place silica-gel with them to absorb any moisture. Place two tablespoons of powdered milk from a freshly open package in cheese cloth to work as a desiccant too. It will last for approximately six months.
Never, never, never store seeds in plastic baggies. Baggies are notorious for trapping moisture.
Moisture will cause seeds to rot and they will no longer be viable.
The last step is to correctly label the containers. Record the name, variety and date that collected on the container. This makes easier for you to know what seeds you have for the next year. For the best germination and vigorous the plants, use the seeds within a year.
Practicing the art of seed saving is environmentally friendly. Farmers, for years, use to practice this. If supply chains are back logged, you still have seeds. You never know what happens one day to the next, but if you save your seed, you are sure to have seeds when you want to start your garden next year.
