There are a few things to know to properly save your seeds for the long term. Below are some tips for beginners. You’ll learn how to store those valuable seeds for planting next year and beyond.
1. Choose Open-Pollinated Varieties
Open-pollinated varieties cross-pollinate with plants of the same variety. These bring forth seeds that produce plants that are very similar to the parent plant [1].
So, by choosing open-pollinated seeds over hybrids, you will have seeds to continuously cultivate that have the same high quality as the parent plant.
Heirloom seeds are open-pollinated varieties that are at least 50 years old. You can preserve these seeds for replanting year after year.
2. Grow Enough Plants
Some plants may not produce as many seeds. So grow enough of your favorite crop variety so you will have enough for food and seed-saving purposes.
3. Collect Mature Seeds
Gather seeds from crops when they are fully mature. The usual time is at the end of the growing season.
Lettuce may begin to bolt, and ripe tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables will be past their best.
Bean seeds should be hard, and their pods should be dry and brittle. Some pods may even start to open on their own.
Also, allow the fruits to ripen fully before scooping out the seeds.
4. Save Seeds from the Best Plants
When saving vegetable seeds for replanting, collect seeds from the best plants. Choose from the healthiest, and do not save any from disease-infested plants.
This is just like a process of natural selection, whereby if you want bigger fruits, collect seeds from the biggest and best of one year’s crop.
Repeat so you keep producing healthy crops year after year.
5. Harvest the Right Way
There are two methods to harvest seeds, depending on the crop: dry-seeded fruits or wet-seeded fruits. Test dry-seeded crops like beans, corn, barley, cauliflower, or bok choy by the condition of the pod, capsule, or seed head.
For peas and beans, if the outer covering is brown and crumbly or ready to pop, then it’s a good bet it’s time to collect the seeds. Allow the pods to dry out completely.
Wet-seeded crops are those that contain the seed within the moist flesh of the fruit. Examples are tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash, pumpkins, and watermelons.
With wet seeds, you’ll need to leave some fruits to overripen. Next, squeeze the seeds or press them from the flesh, wash them off, and dry them.
6. Thoroughly Clean Them
Most dry seeds, which include some vegetables, flowers, herbs, and beans, need only minimal cleaning.
The chaff on grains and flower heads needs to be winnowed by tossing from one container to another to blow away the outer husks. But simply rolling or rubbing the chaff may suffice.
With wet seeds, cut the fruit open and take out the surrounding pulpy gel. Next, extract the seeds and wash them or let them stand in water until the gel comes off naturally.
You’ll then carefully remove the floating gel and the few seeds that float. Pour off the water and keep the seeds that remain at the bottom. Finally, dry them off on paper towels.
7. Dry Before Storing
Ensure the seeds are completely dry before storing. Choose a well-ventilated room and spread the seeds out, leaving some gaps between them so the air can get to each one.
You can place them on paper towels, plates, baking sheets, or anything that will allow enough space for the seeds to spread thinly. However, do not use paper towels if the seeds are wet, as they’ll stick to the paper.
It’s even better if you place them on a screen mesh, as the air will reach both the top and bottom.
To properly dry seeds for next year, let them rest for about a week in the open. Next, gently stir them, then allow them another 2-3 weeks to properly dry for storage.
8. Store Properly
To preserve seeds for planting, they must be properly dried and stored.
Collect the dried seeds and put them in seed packets with identifying labels. Use moisture-absorbing packets if possible.
Next, put the packets in mason jars or sealed containers like Tupperware boxes and store them in a dark, dry, cool place.
You can also use your refrigerator for storage, but most gardeners prefer to keep them in a dry, cool area.
In our opinion, freezing seeds for next year and beyond may be the best way to store them long-term. If done properly, freezing will not kill or harm dry seeds.
Pack the dried seeds in sealed glass jars or airtight containers and freeze them. However, when defrosting, leave the containers to thaw slowly at room temperature for at least a day.
9. Put on Your Labels
Mark the date harvested on the packets. Also, keep the packets in separate, marked boxes or containers with the correct labels so you do not get confused later.
You can buy labels, markers, or a seed-saving kit for this purpose.
10. Test Seeds for Germination Before Planting
Use some kitchen paper towels for this process.
Lightly wet the sheets and loosely wrap as many seeds as possible in them. Leave for about a week. Ensure that you keep it moist and warm during this period.
Germination speed depends on the seed and how warm the environment is. The warmer the area, the faster germination will be.
Germination usually takes about 1 to 2 weeks; however, some seeds may take longer.
Seed Viability
How long seeds last and are still viable will require trial and error.
Generally, it depends on what condition the seeds are in and whether they are stored properly. Most annual flower seeds last 2 to 3 years, and perennials a little longer.
However, it’s best to replace vegetable seeds every 2 years, though some, like tomatoes, cucumbers, Brassicas, and squash, can store successfully for 4 to 5+ years.
Where to Buy Quality Seeds
If you do not wish to go through the DIY process of saving your garden seeds for next season, the best place to buy vegetable seeds is from organic retailers such as SeedsNow. They are one of the best online organic heirloom seed companies.
Takeaway
Collecting and saving vegetable seeds for your organic backyard garden can be a laborious chore. However, the pleasure and money-saving benefits make the effort ultimately rewarding.
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