Comments on: Garden Tips: Saving Seeds and Starting a Seed Exchange

By: Thelma

Thelma — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:23:22 +0000

I have been able to grow and save my own seeds from my TickleMe Plants. If you want a growing experience you will never forget plant this easy to grow plant that moves like an animal when tickled. Even in winter, my students will run to class to tickle their plants and watch how the leaves close and the branches droop down. I always have my children bring a TickleMe Plant to school for extra credit. I just found a Buy one kit and get another FREE special, online at TickleMePlant.com To order go to the site and see the cool video as well. The special may just be for today…but you can save your own seeds for next year

By: deRuiter

deRuiter — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:03:49 +0000

If you don’t have them in your garden, you can buy a butternut or acorn squash, scrape out the seeds onto a paper towel, spread them out to dry, save for the spring to plant, AND COOK AND EAT THE SQUASH. If you find a tomato you like in the market, or a zucchini, same thing, buy, save the seeds, and eat the veggie. Ditto watermelons, sweet or hot peppers. You can also save an avocado pit, put toothpicks in it half way up, suspend bottom in water, and make an interesting house plant for free, same with sweet potato vines, and sprouting lemon, orange and grapefruti seeds into house plants. This can be a fun project for children.

By: prodgod

prodgod — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 17:58:41 +0000

I’ve been very negligent in my gardening this year, but have been quite pleasantly surprised by the many “volunteer” plants that have popped-up as a result of fruit & vegetable seeds from previous compost piles. For instance, we have NEVER planted pumpkins, but have a huge patch growing this year, almost ready for harvest. I guess I was saving seeds and didn’t realize it!

By: Kate in WV

Kate in WV — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:42:34 +0000

Mr. Hamm:
I should have added, in comment #8:

“Save seeds both from the plant that produces first, and the plant that produces *the most good-quality* vegetables or fruit.”

By: Kate in WV

Kate in WV — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:13:21 +0000

A tip passed down from my late grandmother, who always grew enormous gardens, and always saved seeds: Save seeds both from the plant that produces first, and the plant that produces the most vegetables or fruit. In that way, through the years you will find that your garden has produce a little earlier than others’ and produces more abundantly.

By: littlepitcher

littlepitcher — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 12:53:08 +0000

Save seeds from more than one fruit, just in case something got cross-pollinated with another variety.

Also try ordering open-pollinated varieties of exotic seeds. Some may work for you, others will not, but do it for the adventure. I found some amazing varieties of veggies through Oriental seedsmen on eBay.

By: 8sml

8sml — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 11:12:28 +0000

Another advantage with seeking out and saving seeds from heirloom plants is their suitability for your growing conditions. The seeds from the grocery stores and most garden centres here on the east coast are the same ones they sell in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, despite the vastly different growing conditions in those regions. But when I can find seeds from plant strains that have been selected for generations to grow in my province, they are more likely to thrive in the conditions here and require less watering and other care.

I also love the idea that I’m connected through history to the food people ate here many years ago.

By: Suzi

Suzi — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 09:38:00 +0000

What unusual cherry tomatoes you have in America! Here in the UK we call those red things on your plate “strawberries”.
Oops.

By: John

John — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:17:36 +0000

I’ve never tried saving seeds. However, I will mention heirloom plants have advantages besides the ability to save the seeds: the produce usually tastes better, and there is no risk of Mad Scientist stuff like GMOs which might or might pose real health problems over the years. Not of much practical value, but fun, is the fact that heirloom plants and their produce are often more interesting than modern plants (interesting shapes, colors, etc). Plus, it’s a piece of history–one can feel connected to past generations by growing what Grandma always grew. For those who’ve never tried heirloom plants, try some next year…even if only a few plants “in addition to” your regular choices.

One thought I’ve had with seeds that I should try is getting together with others to buy certain seeds to share. Some seeds will easily get used up, but others might not. For example, all I need is ONE zucchini seed–actually, 1/4 of plant is probably all I really need! While I guess seeds are cheap, the frugal side of me hates wasting anything. Waste not, want not..even with a cheap pack of seeds.

By: bethh

bethh — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:22:30 +0000

I bought an amazing heirloom tomato at a farmer’s market last year, researched how to save the seeds, and have successfully grown four ENORMOUS plants from the purchase of one tomato last summer.

By: Deb

Deb — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:22:17 +0000

If you buy seed packets and have some seeds leftover after planting, put the seed packet in a zip lock bag and stick it in the freezer. By doing this, you can plant the seeds again next year and won’t waste seeds. It will save money too! I have planted green bean seeds from the same packet for 3 years in a row and they come up beautifully–no problems with germination.

By: Mary W

Mary W — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:00:42 +0000

When buying seeds with an eye toward saving seeds from the resulting plants, look for those labeled as “open pollination” “OP” or “heirloom”. Don’t buy those which are “F1″ which means its a hybrid that won’t breed true.

Another source for seeds is the 99 cent store. Mind had seed packets 9 for 99 cents last spring. Good if you just want basic varities.

By: valleycat1

valleycat1 — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:47:28 +0000

SeedSavers is great & they have a huge range of seeds available. We have family that live in the area & visit the farm & store every time we go there!

Unfortunately we don’t know enough people who garden with non-hybrids to be able to swap.

By: Todd

Todd — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:40:45 +0000

Just make sure Monsanto doesn’t find out you are saving your seeds, they will send men in black suits to your house to burn down your barn.