Saving and Organizing Seeds

Saving seeds is easy and cost effective. Every year we try to save seeds from our garden. As I set down with kids for their Homesteading class, I asked them what are some reasons that a person might want to save seeds. This is what they came up with:

• To save money; buying seeds can get expensive quickly.

• To ensure availability for future gardens

• To provide a supply of seeds to neighbors and friends

• keeping certain characteristics in regard to heirloom seeds

There are few simple steps in the process of saving seeds.

1. Extract seeds from vegetables/fruit/flower.

2. If extracting seeds from vegetable/fruit, place seeds in wire strainer and run water over seeds to clean off. Clean off as good as possible. Any vegetable/fruit material left on the seed can cause mold. If collecting herb or flower seeds make sure the plant material is completely dried before storing or mold will grow.

3. Allow to fully dry on a cloth or paper towel.

4. Once seeds are fully dried store in a labeled bag or paper packet ( label with name of seed, date collected, and any other important planting information).

This is my seed organizer that cost me little to nothing.

For this organizer I used a small storage box from dollar tree, paper letter envelopes (cut in half and taped), and card board as dividers.

Seed Preparation

There are a few general processes to get acquainted with if you intended on starting your own seeds. Most annual flowers, herbs, and vegetables do not need any special treatment when it comes to preparation but its good to know these processes anyway:

• Stratification

• Scarification

• soaking

For further explanation you can check out my Blog post titled:

Seeds and Germination: Stratifying Milkweed