Anyone save seeds?

**KeithBC** · 09-13-2009, 08:19 PM

Does anyone here save their own seeds?

I just attended a one-day workshop on seed saving. It was interesting to learn how much individuals, and especially a community of seed-saving people, could do to ensure the survival of a diverse range of heritage varieties. It is one of those lost arts that may need to be revived in times to come.

If you save your own seeds, do you breed for specific characteristics or do you aim for diversity?

**mauimagic** · 09-13-2009, 10:49 PM

I am too much of a newbie to gardening to enter into seeds of that category. However, we are saving the seeds for our mini sunflower plants and are going to plant them around our bike path later on. Small steps - have to start somewhere!!

**madhen** · 09-13-2009, 10:54 PM

I grow heirloom tomatoes and peas, so I save seeds from those. I typically try to sacrifice a couple of the best fruits in the hopes that they will produce fruit of similar quality the following season. To be honest, however, with the peas, I am not nearly as discriminating. Basically, if the pod forms and is not deformed, it is a candidate for shelling and seed-saving.

I also save seeds from some of my herb plants, but just for propagation, not to save a particular characteristic.

If you get into it, there is a good book called The New Seed Starter's Handbook that is a great starting point for a reference library.

**frugalfranny** · 09-13-2009, 11:59 PM

I save lots of seeds.......but mainly just from my perennials, for propagation purposes only.

Did save some seeds from a pepper (white) this year to see if I could get it back next year......liked it and don't anticipate that it will be 'a normal' plant in the shops.

I, too, like the book that MH mentioned and I also like "From Seed to Bloom" by Eileen Powell. This has some herbs in it, no veggie info, but really good for perennial info.

**vickilynn** · 09-14-2009, 07:25 AM

I'm saving marigold seeds and morning glories......plan to plant in tiny cups and give to the neighbors in hopes of prettying up our street. Of course, my grandchildren will be involved in this project. Gotta start them into the make the world a better place!

**redmaples** · 09-14-2009, 11:59 AM

Sounds like a great workshop!
I do save some seeds...peppers, tomatoes, lots of beans, flowers, herbs 'n such.

**Contrary Housewife** · 09-14-2009, 12:28 PM

I have such lousy luck getting anything to grow from seed that I don't know why I bother. But I did save some pepper seeds and I need to get some from the heirloom tomato I tried this year, even though I was not overly impressed with it.

**laura-n-sasha** · 09-14-2009, 06:29 PM

So far I have not, but I still have some tomatoes and peppers growing, so maybe....

**RetiredVeryEarly** · 09-30-2009, 01:10 AM

I save seeds mainly so that I don't have to buy them and so I have organic seeds. I also save several varieties of heirloom tomatoes, although currently they are easy to buy as small plants in my area. I especially let the lettuce, arugula, and cilantro go to seed just so that it comes up first thing each spring before I get my garden in gear.

The only thing I really "breed" is sunflowers. I have learned that if you grow big tall ones in different colors and then let them go to seed you will get huge, multiflowered, multicolored sunflowers the next year. (Multiflowering in in their genes, but bred out in favor of large single flowers.) I also save marigolds, batchelor buttons (I have 3 or 4 colors), cosmos, zinnias, black eyed susans, morning glories, lots of wildflowers, etc. in the flower family.

Saves a lot of money, and I also give seeds to a lot of my friends and acquaintances. Gardeners should share. :-)

**RetiredVeryEarly** · 09-30-2009, 01:15 AM

Forgot to say, the most "important" saving I do is potatoes. Seeds like peas and beans keep for some time. However, potatoes must be grown each year or they rot. So I am helping a guy who manages the preservation of hundreds or ? potato species. I am growing two of his plus 3 other types.

**redmaples** · 09-30-2009, 09:27 AM

The potato project sounds fun & interesting.

Yep, it is gardeners code to share! Our 90 yr old gardening neighbor gives us a lot of seed & produce. We have been trying to give back to him things that he doesn't grow...garlic & eggs are the 2 he likes receiving the best. He is an awesome potato grower & got us into trying potatoes this year by giving us a bunch of his seed. We got quite a few lbs from just one row.

I wanted to save more sunflower seed this year, but the little birds have eaten most of them.