How to Save Vegetable Seeds
Why Save Seeds?
With the recent increase in industrial agriculture many old varieties
of seeds have disappeared. In the past four years, over 950 food
plant varieties have become “extinct” as small seed
companies go out of business and farmers increasingly purchase seed
from a limited number of large distributors. Many of the remaining
varieties are endangered. Just as biodiversity is important for
the health of the global environment, so is food plant diversity.
Having many varieties suited to local environments ensures that
if drought, disease or pest problems strike, some plants will be
resistant, and we will be able to continue using them to feed our
population.
Back yard and community gardeners, and small farmers, play an important
role in preserving our food plant diversity. These growers often
choose unique and unusual plants that are not readily available
on the supermarket shelves. Valuing the interesting look, flavour
and history of these varieties, saving the seeds and sharing them
with other gardeners, these growers are part of a global network
of people committed to preserving genetic diversity. We encourage
you to become part of this network.
Before Getting Started
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Save open-pollinated or non-hybrid varieties only.
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Only save seed from the healthiest plants.
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Do not save seeds from greens that bolt quickly.
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Separate varieties or only grow one variety of the same vegetable
in order to ensure genetic purity. For example, brandywine tomatoes
can cross with roma tomatoes and should not be grown together
if you pan to save the seed. The distance needed between varieties
of the same species is known as isolation distance. The isolation
distances for specific plants are indicated in the following
seed saving instructions.
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If you want to save seeds from two varieties that require
isolation, you can also use a barrier to ensure genetic purity.
Barriers are usually structures made of wood and screen that
are placed over the plant. When the flowers appear, you will
need to pollinate by hand, taking pollen from one flower to
another on the isolated plant.
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Because seeds are living, but in a dormant state, it is important
to keep them in a coo dry place, away from the light. If the
seed has been properly dried, it can be kept in the freezer
or refrigerator.
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It is important to keep good records of your seeds. Label
each seed package with the variety’s name, origin, date
of planting, days to maturity, disease resistance, yield and
special characteristics.
How to Save Seeds from Self-Pollinating Vegetables
If vegetable flowers contain both male and female parts, pollination
without the help of insects or wind is possible. This is called
self-pollination. Insects and wind, however, can cause cross-pollination
between different varieties of the same type of vegetable if they
are located close to each other in the garden.
Beans
Different kinds of beans will not cross with each other. For example,
runner beans will not cross with garbanzos and bush beans will not
cross with fava bean. But, different varieties of the same kind
of bean will cross with each other. In this case, isolation distances
become important. To harvest seeds, let the pods dry out and leaves
die down. Pull out the plants and put them in a cool dry place to
finish drying.
Isolation Distance: Different kinds of beans have different isolation
distances. Bush bean varieties must be separated by 20 feet.
Lettuce
Let your lettuce plant go to seed or bolt. As the seed matures it
will have a feathery appearance. Harvest seeds continuously over
a period of a month or so. Shake seeds into a paper bag and let
them dry in a cool dark place.
Isolation Distance: Separate varieties by 12-25 feet.
Peppers
Let pepper fruits ripen fully. When they are slightly over ripe,
and a little bit soft, harvest the fruit and remove the seeds. Let
the seeds fully dry. In dry climates, whole pepper fruits can be
dried and the seeds can be stored in the dried fruit.
Isolation Distance: Separate varieties by 500 feet or provide a
barrier.
Tomatoes
Let the tomato fruit over-ripen slightly on the vine. Cut the tomato
in half, scoop out the seeds and leave them for several days in
a warm place. A mould will begin to grow over the top of the seeds.
This fungus is beneficial since it eats the gelatinous coat surrounding
the seeds, destroying germination inhibitors and seed borne diseases.
After the seed has become mouldy, empty the container into a strainer
and rinse. The pulp should rinse off, and the seeds should become
clean. When seeds are clean, put them onto paper towel or newspaper
to dry.
Isolation Distance: 25 feet for modern varieties, 50-75 feet for
cherry and older varieties.
How to Save Seeds from Cross-Pollinating Vegetables
Cross-pollinating plants require insects, wind or humans to carry
pollen from one flower to another. In order for pollination to occur,
several plants of the same variety are necessary. TO keep one variety
from crossing with another, isolation or barriers are necessary.
Chinese Cabbage (Pac Choi, Pe Tsai, Oriental Mustards)
Isolate the variety that you want to save seed from, or only allow
one variety to go to flower. Let the flower head develop, and when
the seed pods have turned brown and dry, cut the plant and put in
a cool, dry place. When the seed pods have dried, put them in a
pillow case or plastic bad and beat them until the seeds are loose.
Cucurbits
Cucumbers, gourds, melons, squash and pumpkins easily cross-pollinate
within the same species. This makes seed saving tricky if more than
one variety within the same species is being grown. However, plants
from different species can be grown together, without risk of cross-pollination.
For example, you can grow one variety of cucumber, one variety of
squash and one variety of melon and save the seeds from all the
fruit. If you want to save seeds form varieties within the same
species, consult the seed saving resources mentioned below.
Seed Saving Resources Used To Prepare this Webpage
Seeds of Diversity Canada. How to save your own vegetable seeds.
1999
Available from Seeds of Diversity Canada, P.O. Box 36, Station Q,
Toronto, Ontario, M4T 2L7
Nancy Bubel. The seed saver’s handbook. Rodale Press, 1988.
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