Most of the vegetables we grow in our garden produce seeds that, if harvested and stored properly, can provide us with a free harvest. The ideal time to start collecting is the end of summer.
A few notes: Make sure the plants you collect the seeds from are heirlooms or pollinators. These are plants in their original form, the seeds of which produce plants that have the same characteristics as their parents.
On the other hand, hybrids are hybrids of two or more different species that retain the best characteristics of each. Attempting to sow seeds harvested from hybrids will produce disappointing results, as the resulting plants will not have the expected characteristics, only the characteristics of one parent, and there is no way to know which ones they will be. For this reason, it is better not to grow seeds from supermarket products.
Many plants grow in the garden as pollinators, other insects, animals, and wind transfer pollen from one plant to another. In order for the seeds you harvest to grow into plants identical to their parents, different varieties of the same plant must be spaced 100 feet to a mile apart, depending on climate, weather, and other variables. This is often not possible in the home garden, or not possible at all.
To avoid pollination surprises, plant only one type of plant class from which you want to collect seeds. For example, if you want to save on tomato seeds, plant only one type of tomato in your garden.
If this seems too restrictive, keep experimenting, even if it is genetic, knowing that both parents are the traditional varieties you chose and planted. It can be good even if it's not what you expect.
Store all seeds in a closed jar or paper envelope in a cool, dry place, away from overripe fruit that can interfere with seed germination. Temporarily adding a bag of silica gel to the pot will remove any remaining moisture, but remove it after a few days to keep it from drying out too much.
Here's how to collect and store seeds for the most common houseplants.
Salad
At the end of the growing season, the lettuce closes or releases flower stalks that form seed heads that resemble puffs of dandelion. When the puffs dry, remove the entire stem, put it in a paper bag, fold the top and shake it. The seeds separate from the flower and fall to the bottom of the bag.
parsley
Parsley is a biennial plant with a life cycle of two years, producing only edible leaves in the first year and leaves and flowers in the second year. Leave these flowers on second-year plants until they turn brown and brittle. Cut the plant and place it in a paper bag to dry completely for two weeks. When you take them out of the bag, rub the flowers between your fingers to separate the seeds, then blow them out and remove the lightly dry plant.
basil
Basil seeds are small, so separating them from the small petals and straws can be tricky. If you close the plants at the end of winter, leave them out until the flowers are completely gone. Chop them up, put them in a colander or fine strainer, then rub them with your fingers under the strainer.
beets and carrots
These biennial plants do not set seed until the second year of their life, after a period of flowering or refrigerated storage. In areas with cold winters, leave the plants in the ground during the winter months.
In hot climates, create a “winter” at home: at the end of the first season, cut the leaves into 2 cm, carefully pull out the roots and store in the refrigerator or in a cool room for the winter. Plant it outdoors next spring.
When two-year-old turnip leaves turn brown, remove the seed stalk from the top of the plant and place it in a paper bag. Store in a cool, dry place for at least two weeks, then shake the bag well to separate the seeds. Pour them into a dish, then blow on them to separate the straws.
In the second year, let the carrot blossoms dry on the plant, then cut them off and dry them in a paper bag for a week or two. Shake the bag well and pour the seeds into a dish, blowing to separate the husk.
pepper
Pick the sweetest bell peppers from your healthy plant and leave them on the plant until they ripen and wilt. Cut the seeds in half and discard the discolored or unwanted seeds. Spread the seeds out in a single layer on paper towels and let them dry in a warm place out of the sun. Shake the seeds from time to time to make sure they are dry, which should take about a week.
eggplant
Allow the eggplant to over ripen on the plant until the plant becomes hard and shriveled, losing its luster and color. Open it and remove the seeds and put them in a bowl. Stir the water with your hands to separate the seeds from the pulp sticking to the pulp. Drain the seeds, then dry them with a towel and spread them out on a towel or colander to dry and clean daily for a month until they are completely dry.
The smell of beans
Green beans produce consistent crops all season, so enjoy the first or second watering and allow the pods to grow on the same plant until they are completely dry and brown. They know they are ready when they play like maracas. Cut the seeds from the plant and put them in a cool, dark place to dry out more, then remove the seeds. Remove anything that is damaged or looks damaged and spread the rest on a towel for a few days.
Tomatoes
There are two ways to store tomato seeds: correct and simple. Full disclosure: I love it and managed to shorten it. Your results may vary.
First, cut the tomatoes in half, squeeze the seeds and grate them in a plate.
Fermentation improves germination rates and kills some seed-borne pathogens that can cause plant diseases. germination of seeds;
1. Cover the dish with an airtight lid and leave the seeds intact in the juice for three days.
2. Pour a bowl covered with white paper into a large bowl and add at least 3 times as much water to the seeds.
3. Stir the water by hand and drain the liquid. You will find that most of the seeds have sunk to the bottom of the container; These are viable seeds.
Whoever swims is a fool, fill him with juice, cereal and water. Repeat the washing process twice.
To ensure pathogens are killed, soak seeds in 90% water, 10% bleach solution for 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Spread the seeds out on a towel and let them dry for a week, shaking them from time to time.
Or you can let all the seeds and pulp dry in a plate for a week and then scrape out the seeds or extract them.
zucchini
Allow the fruit of your choice to grow, wilt, and dry on the plant. Take it out, open it, and remove the seeds. If desired, follow the above procedure for fermenting tomatoes. In the first step, you need to add some water as there is no juice or pulp in the container.
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