How to Collect and Save Vegetable Seeds for Next Year

Many vegetables grown in our gardens produce seeds, which if harvested and stored properly can become plants.

As Associated Press horticulturist Jessica Damiano reports, late summer  is that the  perfect time to start collecting them. She warns  beforehand  about the importance of the fruit you choose for the seed.

Make sure the seeds are from plants that are of the inherited, or open-pollinated, type. These are plants in their original form. Their seeds will produce plants with similar properties to their parents.

Hybridized plants usually produce vegetables sold in large food stores.  they're  created by breeding two or more different types of plants to capture the best qualities of each. However, attempting to grow seed from hybrids  won't  result in a good harvest.

The resulting plant  won't  have the expected traits, but will only have the genes  of 1  of its parents. And, it's impossible  to spot  which parent he would be. For this reason,  it's  best not to grow seeds from store-bought food.

Many plants  within the  garden are cross-pollinated. Pollen grains, other insects, animals  and therefore the  wind spread pollen from one plant to another.  to form  sure the seeds you collect will grow into plants that match their parents, place them! When planting a home garden, keep  differing types  of the same crop as far apart as possible.

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To avoid cross-pollination surprises, plant  just one  type of each vegetable from which to harvest the seed.  for instance , if  you would like  to save tomato seeds, grow  just one  type of tomato in your garden.

If that seems too limiting,  plow ahead  and experiment. Choose heirloom plants  to attenuate  the risk of cross-pollination. The plants  are going to be  fine,  whether or not  they are not quite as you expected.

Store the seeds  during a  glass jar or paper envelope in a cool, dry place  faraway from  ripening fruits. Temporarily adding a drying element to the jar will remove any remaining wetness. But remove it after  some  days to avoid over drying.

Here's  the way to  collect and save seeds from some common household crops.

salad leaves

At  the top  of the growing season, lettuce plants will grow a flower  which will  develop a seed head.  the method  is called bolting and the seed heads are called puffs.

When the puff is dry, remove the stalk. Place the puff  during a  paper bag, close the bag, and shake. The seeds will drop from the flower to  the underside  of the bag.

basil

Basil seeds are tiny, so separating them from  the small  flower is a slow and careful process. When the plants bolt at  the top  of the season, allow the flowers  to stay  until they are completely wilted. Cut them and keep them  during a  sieve. Then use your fingers to push them towards  the underside  of the strainer.

Beet and Carrot

Beet and carrot plants produce seeds only in their second year, after a period of cold storage. In areas with cold winters, simply leave the plants  within the  ground over the winter.

In warmer climates,  you will need  to "winter" indoors: at the end of the first season, cut the plants back  to five  cm.  obtain  the roots carefully, and store them  within the  refrigerator or other cool place. Replant them outside  the subsequent  spring.

When the leaves of a second-year beet plant turn brown, remove the seed stalk from  the highest  of the plant and place it in a paper bag. Store  during a  cool, dry place for  a minimum of  two weeks, then shake the bag well to separate the seeds. Take them  call at  a plate and blow on them to separate the husks.

Allow second-year carrot flowers to dry on the plant, cut them off and dry  during a  paper bag for a week or two. Then treat them like beets.

Black pepper

Choose  the simplest  looking pepper from your healthiest plant and allow it to remain on the plant until it becomes more mature and wrinkled. Cut it in half  and take away  the seeds. Throw away anything that has discolored or is otherwise undesirable. Spread the seeds evenly on thick paper and  allow them to  dry in a warm place.  don't  keep them in direct sunlight. Stir the seeds from time to time  to make sure  drying.  the method  should take about a week.

Eggplant

Allow the eggplant to ripen on the plant until it becomes hard and wrinkled and loses its luster and color. Cut it open,  remove  its seeds and pour water in a bowl. Stir the water  to scrub  off anything that may stick. Then use a cloth  to softly  dry the seeds. Leave the seeds on  a bit  of cloth, shaking them  a touch  every day, until completely dry.  this might  take several weeks.

green beans

Green beans can produce  plenty  during the season.  to get  seeds, leave the beans on a plant until they dry completely  and switch  brown. Next, cut the pods off the plant and store them  during a  cool, dark place for further drying.  then  take out the seeds and spread them on the cloth.  allow them to  harden there for a few days.