saving seeds

[Dobby]

I wont to save seeds for next year just wonderd how do you save yours
and next year wont to try and not buy F1 types

[muckdiva]

Hi Dobby
I'm planning to save more seed this year too. I've always done french beans and peas as they are easy, but this year I've let a few khol rabi plants from last year run to seed. This will be tricky because of cross pollination - I'll probably end up with an oil seed rape hybrid or something weird, but we shall see. I've found the book Back Garden Seed Saving by Sue Stickland very helpful on the basics, and I think there are some other books out there too.

I'm growing your dobby leeks this year, and they are doing very well indeed - strong little plants so far, so will let you l get on at harvest time I've also let a few parsnip plants go to seed on the new lottie as I will want some fresh seed for next season. Of course I will be trying to save some seed also from Pigletwillie's banana shallots in due course, and this year I have 12 Crimson Flowered Broad Beans growing and doing very well. They are really beautiful deep red flowers, so I am planning to save seed from these with a view to having enough to share with other grapes in the future. Meantime, because I am growing these, I can't plant any other broadies down here in the garden cos the plants apparently cross pollinate very easily, so doubt we shall have many for eating this year, sigh.

[Flummery]

I always save seed from by Green Zebra tomatoes and so far they have always come true and germinated well. Like you Dobby, I hope to go down the road of more open pollinated varieties and more saved seed. As I only have a garden veg plot however, I don't feel I have room to let a lot of things go to seed but one or two plants of selected produce? Maybe!

[Two_Sheds]

Last year I let lettuce and carrots go to seed, but nothing has come up. Got parsley, chives, fennel and nasturtiums everywhere tho

[Snadger]

The only thing I self seeded last year were purple podded peas. This year I have an open pollinated brussel sprout which was the best I had (so I'm being selective) Its now 8 foot high with wonderful yellow flowers and if it doesn't get blown down or attacked by some toerag with a stick, I should get quite a bit of seed off it. I have also been selective with my biggest leek which is throwing up a seed head as well. The majority of my plants are open pollinated heritage varieties this year so it should be interesting collecting seed from them!

[Paulottie]

Always wondered how they got tom seeds clean. I've use paper towel method and just lay it on the tray sometimes-cover it in vermiculite -presto. seem to germinate fine. Although i have had some cross pollination in the past-most have been true to type (kids swapping labels could not be completely ruled out!)

[Earthbabe]

I successfully saved Giant Red Mustard Seed last year, It is extremely viable and has come true. It has also managed to set seed in all sorts of random places much to my amusement and my husband's bewilerment.

I also saved lettuce seed last year which has germinated and come true. I'm trying Nero di Toscana at the mo as there may be some true seed as no other brassicas were in flower at the same time for most of its flowering period, but I only had 5 plants so fingers crossed. I've always got random self seeded Bronze Fennel, Clary Sage and Borage seedlings and plenty of seed generally even if I do loose the odd packet. I'm also growing saved parsnip seed this year.

[Snadger]

Luckily my sole leek and sole brussel sprout I am seeding are at least 1 mile away from the nearest veg garden or lottie!

[Dobby]

we have only ever saved pumpkin seeds and leak
the pumpkin I just washed the seeds and put them on kitchen roll to dry

[Splinter]

Hi Dobby,

I was recommened by nearby the chilli farm to store chilli seeds in the freezer. Not tried it yet, but will do this winter.

Take care

Splinter

[shirlthegirl43]

Was hoping to save sweetcorn seed this year but growing a few different types and probably won't be able to. I am growing a blue sweetcorn and F1 Swift. Can keep those apart by 90 foot or so - would that be enough? Also hoping that minipop and bloody butcher will germinate - nothing yet though. Guess if they come through I lose my chance of keeping anything for seed?

[Flummery]

Hi Paul - I save toms like you do - just on kitchen paper. I have even read that they NEED to be fermented to clean off the goo before they are viable but I know this not to be true. I'm sure if you were in a seed swap and people wanted seeds that looked like shop ones you'd need to cover them with water and soak for 3 days then strain off the goo as suggested. For my own use though, I'm happy picking them off the paper!

[Paulottie]

Oh dear...I sent some off to cutecumber on paper! I dont even bother picking them off now... space them on paper and plant next year.

[nick the grief]

Hi Dobby,

waht you need is the book Back Garden Seed Saving by Sue Stickland.

It covers type by type and tells you what isolation is needed (if any).

http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/6...en+seed+saving

[Dobby]

Oh dear...I sent some off to cutecumber on paper! I dont even bother picking them off now... space them on paper and plant next year.

what a brilent ider when i saved the pumpkin seeds i put them on kitchen paper then after about a week puled them of and put them in a dark jar now i will put um on paper then just plant it