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  • #1

    How to save seeds.

    Hi,
    I was wondering about the best way to save seeds for next year.
    I am wanting to save broad beans, runner beans and peas.
    Do you need to wait until the pods are a certain size, or the seeds inside a certain size or the month?
    I was also thinking of parsnip and tomatoes but again don't know when or how.
    I have read up on it but am afraid I need it in basic lay mans terms.
    I'm sure other new shoots will find any advice helpful as I will.
    Thanks
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  • #2
    Some seeds are much easier than others. Tomatoes and beans are the easiest. Parsnips are bi annual and won't set seed until next summer so they need to be on your plot for a long time.
    The real seed leaflet is the easiest to understand
    Although look through the seed threads where you I'll find loads of easy to understand info
    http://www.realseeds.co.uk/seedsavinginfo.html

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    • #3
      Peas and beans are easy. Just leave the pods on the plant until they go dry and crispy and you can hear the seeds rattling inside them.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by rustylady View Post
        Peas and beans are easy. Just leave the pods on the plant until they go dry and crispy and you can hear the seeds rattling inside them.
        Although runner beans and broad beans will cross with different types so unless you isolate you can't be sure the plants next year will be as you expect. French beans are much less likely to cross and peas almost never cross.


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        Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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        • #5
          Note that once you leave a seed-head / Pea/Bean pod / etc. on a plant, to mature for seed-saving, the plant will think it has "done its job" and stop producing many/any new pods. So may be best to leave pods on towards the end of the cropping season, and on only a few plants (choose the best / biggest / healthiest / tastiest plants, as the seed is more likely to grow like its parent.)
          K's Garden blog the story of the creation of our garden

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          • #6
            I bought seeds from Real Seeds specifically this year so that I could save seed, as RS' varieties are ones that will grow properly from saved seed. F1 varieties don't work like that, nor will supermarket veg that you decide to plant up because they're sprouting (potatoes and herbs, IME).

            For each set of seeds I bought from RS I got a couple of paragraphs of information, and there's info on their site. I'd say it's a really good place to start.
            Is there anything that isn't made better by half an hour pottering in the veg patch?

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            • #7
              Originally posted by MrsCordial View Post
              I bought seeds from Real Seeds specifically this year so that I could save seed, as RS' varieties are ones that will grow properly from saved seed. F1 varieties don't work like that, nor will supermarket veg that you decide to plant up because they're sprouting (potatoes and herbs, IME).

              For each set of seeds I bought from RS I got a couple of paragraphs of information, and there's info on their site. I'd say it's a really good place to start.
              There is this booklet you can download --FREE - from their site which is really useful and easy to read.
              Last edited by marchogaeth; 26-04-2014, 11:47 AM. Reason: It is free!
              "A life lived in fear is a life half lived."

              PS. I just don't have enough time to say hello to everyone as they join so please take this as a delighted to see you here!

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              • #8
                Last year I waited till mine went brown n dry (think someone told me on here) some people take stems in and put them in brown paper bags hung upside down, and for the likes of toms strawberries and the like I have picked mine out put them on a plate and let them dry out naturally.

                Last year I stored mine in brown paper bags or envelopes but this year I'm going to try the rice in a jar method. seed drying and storage


                Wonder how others store theirs??
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                Simply look around and view it.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by noviceveggrower View Post
                  I was also thinking of parsnip
                  Super easy: leave a few plants in the ground to throw up a flower stalk (actually, it's several) and leave until dry and crispy.
                  The plants will get to over 6ft tall and take up a fair bit of room, so it's not for everyone. It's the only way I can successfully get parsnips though, in our long dry springs over here in East Angular.
                  I'm now pulling up the excess finger-length seedlings, roasting them in spices & freezing. I'll leave the biggest ones to get, well, bigger
                  All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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