After about two weeks, the seeds should be fully dry. During this process, the good seeds sink to the bottom of the jar while the detritus floats to the top. Choose Wisely! However, seed saving requires a little planning if you want to make sure that your open-pollinated seeds remain pure, since zinnias can be cross-pollinated by insects from different varieties. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. You can also dry saved seeds on paper towels. This article has been viewed 20,633 times. When you buy seeds or seedlings for your garden, you’ll likely find that they’re either hybrids or heirlooms. You can also use small tins and prescription bottles to save seeds. For good pollination, allow at least 6 plants to go to seed. Be sure to label seeds with the type of seed and the date harvested. Once you save and replant one season, future seasons will be a lot easier to accommodate, making this activity something you can look forward to year after year. Saving seeds from fleshy crops entails three main steps: Scoop seeds out of the pulpy flesh. When you buy seeds or seedlings for your garden, you’ll likely find that they’re either hybrids or heirlooms. Be sure to download the KidsGardening resource, Seed Saving: Easy Annual Vegetables and Flowers, for advice on when and how to save seeds from your garden. If you have a lot of space--like a farm--plant one variety per half-mile. For good pollination, allow at least 6 plants to go to seed. One can probably save Tomato seeds by normal cleaning and drying process. Saving seeds can help gardeners save money, grow better crops and become more self-reliant. Learning how to save seeds gives you a nearly-continuous supply of seeds that are adapted to your area at little or no cost. If unsure then try planting the seed and see what you get. Seeds may absorb moisture, swell and crack, which damages the ability to properly germinate. Seeds Aren’t Viable Until Fully Ripe. But the method I am going to share is more reliable, though it takes slightly more effort. Saving my pumpkin seeds means next year I will have access to the same great genetics of my beautiful pet pumpkin. Hybrid Plants. In the spring when I plant these, I could have hundreds of my favorite pumpkins. You may be allergic to some or some plants are dangerous. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. How to save seeds from fleshy fruits and vegetables. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Don’t dry seeds in or on plastic because it can promote the growth of mold or fungus. Other seeds, like bean seeds, though, are very simple to prepare because you only need to remove them from the shells and they don’t even need to be rinsed or cleaned. Clean and dry the seeds. For example, if you are storing jalapeño seeds, you’ll want to choose a bright red pepper rather than a younger, green pepper. I’ve partnered with Kellogggarden.com to bring you this article about saving seeds. To start saving melon seeds, cut open the fruit lengthwise and scoop out the seed masses into a jar. Heirloom Plants vs. By using our site, you agree to our. See my disclosure policy for more information. Many viruses, including the prevalent mosaic virus, can be seed borne. How to Save Seeds for Next Year . Drying the seeds is especially important to … To save seeds, start by harvesting them in the late summer, when the flowers start to fade and the seeds look plump and mature. One of my earliest gardening memories is discovering that a dried marigold flower contains dozens of marigold seeds. But seed saving has to start somewhere. Always make sure you have proper permission or permitting to collect seeds. Desiccants such as silica gel can help maintain as little moisture as possible in your seed bank. How Many Beets to Save for Seed . Never save seeds from a diseased plant. There is a … She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. How to Save Seeds for Next Year Step 1: Plan . How to Save Tomato Seeds. Growing plants from seeds saved from your own garden, will, over the years, result in plants uniquely adapted to your garden. We’ll also go over methods of saving tomato seeds without fermenting as well as fermenting tomato seeds, how to dry them properly, and more. Other seeds, like bean seeds, though, are very simple to prepare because you only need to remove them from the shells and they don’t even need to be rinsed or cleaned. You might like the resulting flower better! Saving seeds from fully ripe peppers increases germination rates when you are planting them next season. Beginning with your garden plan, this article will take you through the basics of how to save seeds for next year in just 4 easy steps! Clean any clinging pulp from the seeds. Hybrid Plants. A good seed collecting kit will have a small pair of scissors or pocketknife to nip the plants; paper envelopes, paper bags, or small plastic bags in which to put the plant or seeds; and a pen or marker to label the seeds as you gather them. You can extend the life of your seeds by keeping them in a cool and dry place. Finally, transfer the seeds into small envelopes or containers and keep them in a cool, dry place. You want to make sure to have enough liquid so that the seeds to not dry out before the fermentation process is complete. Saving seeds from your own garden plants is a great old-fashioned way to save money in your garden, but the process of saving seeds from some vegetables isn’t always quite as simple as harvesting the plants at the end of the season and gathering the seeds. Seed saving involves selecting suitable plants from which to save seed, harvesting seeds at the right time and storing them properly over the winter. Only save seeds from open-pollinated and/or heirloom plants. Though one of our main reasons for saving seeds is to save money from year to year, there’s also a great deal of comfort that comes from knowing that if times get hard, I can still have as many zinnias as I’d like. Choose self-pollinating plants if you’re just getting started or want to keep things simple. Spreading out the seeds on sheets of paper or paper plates for a few days is the best way to dry them for storage. % of people told us that this article helped them. Of course, you’re going to. Garden seeds also make great gifts for gardeners. References. Ideally, save seeds from 20 or more plants to keep your variety from getting inbred. And the first step of that is harvesting tomato seeds. 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