Seed Saving
Introduction:
Learning how to harvest and save your own garden seed is a
step towards self-sufficiency. Upon completion of this class
students will learn the importance of saving seed from their
gardens. They will take home the techniques for proper
collecting, drying and storing vegetable seed. A demonstration
and list of common inexpensive seed saving tools will be given
to the student.
After this lecture the student will be able to:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
List four advantages for saving your own garden seed
Identify four seed saving essentials
List five basic seed collecting practices
Understand the simple concept of seed storage
Understand two seed storage practices
Source for small cloth draw string bags:
Grainger Industrial Parts / www.grainger.com
Box of 100, part no. 3KB45
Seed Saving – Tal Blankenship 2015, e-mail: [email protected]
Page 1 of 7
Recommended Reading:
1. Seed to Seed Suzanne Ashworth, Seed Saver Publications 1991
ISBN 0-9613977-7-2
2. Saving Seeds Marc Rogers, Storey Publishing 1991 ISBN 088266-634-7
3. The Heirloom Gardener Carolyn Jabs, Sierra Club Books 1984
ISBN 0-87156-803-9
4. Taylor’s Guide to Heirloom Vegetables Benjamin Watson,
Houghton Mifflin Company 1996 ISBN 0-395-70818-4
5. Shattering Food, Politics, And The Loss Of Genetic Diversity
Cary Fowler and Pat Mooney
6. Seed Sowing and Saving Carole B. Turner, Storey Publishing
1998 ISBN 1-58017-002-1
Recommended Websites:
1. www.seedsavers.org
2. www.theseedsite.co.uk/harvesting.html
Source for Indicating silica gel:
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
P.O. Box 460
Mineral, VA 23117
540-894-9481
www.southernexposure.com
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Page 2 of 7
A. Four advantages for saving your own garden seed
1.___________________________________
2.___________________________________
3.___________________________________
4.___________________________________
B. Four seed saving essentials are
1.___________________________________
2.___________________________________
3.___________________________________
4.___________________________________
C. Five basic seed collecting practices
1.____________________________________
2.____________________________________
3.____________________________________
4.____________________________________
5.____________________________________
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Page 3 of 7
D. Simple concept of seed storage
1. ______________________________
2. ______________________________
E. Two seed storage practices
1.____________________________________
2.____________________________________
Suggested supplies:










Small cloth bags
Small paper bags
Jar with a screw lid
Rubber seal for the lid
Paper ‘junk mail’ envelopes
Tissue
Twist ties
Powdered milk
Silica-Gel
Pen of pencil
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Short Term Storage ( 1 year )
Steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Place seed packets in a screw lid* jar
Put in several sachets of powdered milk
Secure the lid tightly
Place jar in a cool location with no temperature fluctuations. A
refrigerator is best, but not necessary.
* For a good sealing lid, replace the cardboard insert with a rubber
gasket. A cutout tire tube works well.
Long Term Storage ( 2-5+ years )
Steps:
1. Get the total weight of all the packaged seed and place in jar with
a screw lid.
2. Weigh loose silica gel equal to the total weight of your packaged
seed and pour in the same jar with the package seed
3. Secure the lid tightly
4. Place jar at room temperature for 7 days.
5. On the 7th day quickly remove the seed packets and place them
in another empty sealed jar.
6. The jar can now be placed in a deep freezer, ideally.
Extracting Seed From Storage
In both storage techniques, the intent is to keep moisture and
humidity from the seeds. During extraction, be sure to let the jars
stand at room temperature overnight before opening the jars. This
reduces the possibility of condensation forming on the seeds if they
are still cool. Replace the lids quickly and do not allow the jars to
stay open without their lids too long. Allow the extracted seed to
stay at room temp for two days before planting.
Seed Saving – Tal Blankenship 2015, e-mail: [email protected]
Page 5 of 7
Recommended Reading:
1. Seed to Seed Suzanne Ashworth, Seed Saver Publications 1991
ISBN 0-9613977-7-2
2. Saving Seeds Marc Rogers, Storey Publishing 1991 ISBN 088266-634-7
3. The Heirloom Gardener Carolyn Jabs, Sierra Club Books 1984
ISBN 0-87156-803-9
4. Taylor’s Guide to Heirloom Vegetables Benjamin Watson,
Houghton Mifflin Company 1996 ISBN 0-395-70818-4
5. Shattering Food, Politics, And The Loss Of Genetic Diversity
Cary Fowler and Pat Mooney
6. Seed Sowing and Saving Carole B. Turner, Storey Publishing
1998 ISBN 1-58017-002-1
Recommended Websites:
1. www.seedsavers.org
2. www.theseedsite.co.uk/harvesting.html
How to avoid GMO Seed:
1. council for responsible genetics FAQ
2. http://www.garden-of-eatin.com/how-to-avoid-monsanto/
Seed Saving – Tal Blankenship 2015, e-mail: [email protected]
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Seed Companies That Offer Open Pollinated Heirloom Seed
1.
Territorial Seed Company
Cottage Grove, Oregon
www.territorial-seed.com
2.
Nichols Garden Nursery
Albany, Oregon
www.gardennursery.com
3.
Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Albion, Maine
www.johnnyseeds.com
Sources for Seed Saving and Gardening
1.
Seed Savers Exchange
Decorah, Iowa
www.seedsavers.org
2.
National Gardening Association
Burlington, Vermont
www.garden.org/home
Seed Saving – Tal Blankenship 2015, e-mail: [email protected]
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