Seed saving

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I was thinking about the whole 'self sufficiency' thing the other day.

I've always felt that I'm doing some self sufficiency if I grow something. But then I figured it wasn't that self sufficient if I needed to buy seeds.

I've decided this year to have a go at seed saving and would love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

I've never done it before, but I have been devouring a seed saving book I bought years ago and promptly never read (must have known it would come in useful one day!).

What about you? Do you save seeds? How do you store them? And what success rate do you have when planting them the following year?

Listed In: mrs green , gardening , self sufficient

Created on: 18/05/2009

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Comments about this listing

Cripes Mrs G - it's a great idea and I have an immediate "eek!" reaction, thinking about trying to do it myself ...

My first thoughts are:

- bet it's really fiddly
- where on earth would I dry seeds in a one room house?
- can you "kill" seeds and end up with a bunch that would never grow?

I wonder if someone on here will swoop in to our rescue?

Yours,

Daunted of Elmers End!

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Posted By: Clara
Date Posted: 20/05/2009 11:28

I don't think it's fiddly; you just need to know where to get the seeds from. Broad beans and runner beans are easy; tomato seeds are middle of the road, but where on earth do you FIND carrot or basil seeds LOL!

Also, some things need to be left to 'set' such as leeks, so they take up a year in the ground before you get the seeds - only any good for those with a lot of land.

We could at least try with the simple stuff like runner beans and you wouldn't need much space - only a couple of pods worth of seed.

is it possible to kill the seeds - more than likely! I guess we need to find out more.

What are you growing that has easy-to-find seeds?

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Posted By: Rachelle Strauss
Date Posted: 21/05/2009 07:48

Well tomatoes and broad beans should be ok to do ... As for lettuce?!?!?!?!?!

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Posted By: Clara
Date Posted: 22/05/2009 15:22

I think lettuce are another of those plants that need to be left in the ground until they produce a seed head. I'm sure I remember this happening to mine once when we had a really hot summer :)

Are you growing lettuce this year? I can't remember!

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Posted By: Rachelle Strauss
Date Posted: 23/05/2009 06:59

Yeah - red cos, although the slugs have been having a right old go over the weekend ... Need to put some plastic slopes around them or something ... And I've got blackfly on my broad beans ... Had to cut all the tops off this morning (in the pouring rain!) ... I hope this won't stop them flowering or podding!

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Posted By: Clara
Date Posted: 26/05/2009 09:10

Hi Rachelle

I think this is a great idea! I actually thought this myself today when I was looking at my sweetpeas and thinking "I could keep all those new seeds". However my thought on this is always when do you harvest the seeds - am I right in thinking you have to do it at the right time?

What is the book you have on seed saving?

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Posted By: Maddy
Date Posted: 16/08/2009 20:55

Hi
If you buy seeds initially from The Real Seed Company they supply full instructions on saving the seed. Also they don't sell F1 hybrids - beware saving F1 seed.
You can save bean and pea seeds by leaving a few of the best pods on the plant until they have dried and then hanging them in a dry, cool spot until Spring. Just crack open the pods for your free seed.
Jan

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Posted By: Jan
Date Posted: 31/01/2010 10:42

Check out Seedy Saturday events happening in various locations around the UK and rest of the world. Local growers and gardeners get together in early Spring to swap seeds that they have saved the previous year. A good way also to gain knowledge on seed saving and varieties suited to local conditions. I am helping to organise our local event in Carmarthen, Wales on 27th Feb in St' Peter's Hall, Nott Square. We will have lots of stalls including secondhand gardening and green woodworking/carpentry tools from Tools For Self Reliance. It's a great event so come along if you live near by. I believe there are Seedy Saturdays in Brighton and Macchynleth, Wales. Check internet for possible other venues. Happy days.

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Posted By: toolski
Date Posted: 04/02/2010 08:16

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