How to Save Your Garden Seeds7947251
Most serious gardeners save seeds. It is easy, it is practical, and it will save you some money. Right here are a few saving suggestions:
Packaged Packaged seeds ought to be saved in their original packages. Simply fold the top or use a little 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 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, as well.
The very best place to shop your packets is in a big jar or coffee can in the refrigerator. Maintain them cool and dry, and most will final many 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 cannot save the seeds from hybrids. (Nicely, you can save from hybrids, but they will not create the same hybrid plant from which they came... you will usually get 1 of the parent varieties utilized 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 should be relatively 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 a lot special treatment before packaging them.
Package in paper envelopes, being careful 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 gather hundreds, if not thousands, that can be utilized in your gardens or shared with buddies.
As with commercially packaged seeds, home 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 can't determine if a seed will germinate by looking at it. There are two methods for home gardeners to verify the germination. (Germination indicates that they'll sprout and develop the germination percentage is merely the percentage that are viable.)
1. Merely location 1 or two seeds in every cell of a six pack starter cell pack, and see how numerous germinate. Or, two. Location ten to 20 seeds between two or more moist paper towels, and see how numerous germinate. The paper towel method is used by practically all laboratories but, care should be taken to keep the towels moist and warm. You can use a large plastic bag or cellophane to help keep the towels moist.
Verify germination a number of weeks prior to the time that you will need to start so that you can replace any cultivars that have very low or zero germination.
