How to Save Your Garden Seeds2310783
Most severe gardeners save seeds. It is simple, it is sensible, and it will save you some cash. Here are a couple of saving tips:
Packaged Packaged seeds should be saved in their original packages. Merely fold the leading or use a small bit of tape to safe the seeds in the packet. If the outer packet integrated an inner foil packet, shop any leftovers in the foil packet.
Some seeds are considerably much more sensitive to moisture in the air... so, if the seed company took the time to wrap them in foil packets, you ought to, as well.
The very best location to store your packets is in a large jar or coffee can in the refrigerator. Keep them cool and dry, and most will final many seasons. Remember that seeds are meals, and improper storage will invite all sorts of pests to your basement or pantry.
House Harvested You can harvest and save from open-pollinated cultivars but, you cannot save the seeds from hybrids. (Well, you can save from hybrids, but they won't produce the same hybrid plant from which they came... you will generally get one of the parent varieties used to make the hybrid.)
These harvested from open-pollinated varieties of flowers and vegetables can be harvested when the fruits or flowers are mature, or even beyond maturity. They ought to be fairly dry and free from as much plant "litter" as possible. You can rinse tomato and pepper seeds in a colander and dry them for a day or two on paper towels or cookie sheets. Those from beans and most flowers don't need much unique treatment prior to packaging them.
Package in paper envelopes, being cautious to label the envelopes to identify the contents as well as the year of harvest.
Flowers that readily self-seed as annuals, such as plume celosia, are ideal candidates for saving. Simply shake the dried flower heads in a large envelope or can and you will collect hundreds, if not thousands, that can be used in your gardens or shared with friends.
As with commercially packaged seeds, home packaged should be stored in a cool, dry place that is free from insects or rodents. A coffee can in the refrigerator is perfect.
Checking Germination You can't determine if a seed will germinate by looking at it. There are two ways for house gardeners to verify the germination. (Germination means that they will sprout and grow the germination percentage is simply the percentage that are viable.)
1. Merely place 1 or two seeds in every cell of a six pack starter cell pack, and see how numerous germinate. Or, 2. Place ten to 20 seeds between two or more moist paper towels, and see how many germinate. The paper towel technique is utilized by virtually all laboratories but, care should be taken to keep the towels moist and warm. You can use a big plastic bag or cellophane to help maintain the towels moist.
Check germination several weeks prior to the time that you'll need to begin so that you can replace any cultivars that have extremely low or zero germination.
