How to Save Your Garden Seeds3925348
Most severe gardeners save seeds. It is easy, it is practical, and it will save you some money. Right here are a couple of saving suggestions:
Packaged Packaged seeds should be saved in their original packages. Merely fold the top or use a little bit of tape to secure the seeds in the packet. If the outer packet integrated an inner foil packet, shop any leftovers in the foil packet.
Some seeds are significantly more sensitive to moisture in the air... so, if the seed business took the time to wrap them in foil packets, you ought to, too.
The very best place to shop your packets is in a large jar or coffee can in the refrigerator. Maintain them cool and dry, and most will last numerous seasons. Keep in mind 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 can't save the seeds from hybrids. (Well, you can save from hybrids, but they will not create 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 relatively dry and free from as a lot 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. These from beans and most flowers don't require a lot special treatment before packaging them.
Package in paper envelopes, being cautious to label the envelopes to determine the contents as well as the year of harvest.
Flowers that readily self-seed as annuals, such as plume celosia, are perfect candidates for saving. Merely shake the dried flower heads in a big envelope or can and you'll gather hundreds, if not thousands, that can be utilized in your gardens or shared with buddies.
As with commercially packaged seeds, house packaged ought to be stored in a cool, dry location that is free from insects or rodents. A coffee can in the refrigerator is ideal.
Checking Germination You cannot determine if a seed will germinate by looking at it. There are two methods for house gardeners to check the germination. (Germination means that they will sprout and grow the germination percentage is simply the percentage that are viable.)
1. Merely place one or two seeds in each cell of a six pack starter cell pack, and see how numerous germinate. Or, 2. Location 10 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 must be taken to keep the towels moist and warm. You can use a large plastic bag or cellophane to assist keep the towels moist.
Verify germination several weeks prior to the time that you'll require to start so that you can replace any cultivars that have very low or zero germination.
