Collecting Seed

[mew]

Hi

Im having a go at collecting and saving seeds this year particularly for my broadies and peas. Never done it before. Do I just leave some on the plants until they die back and turn brown or do I pick them now and leave them to dry out?

Does this rule follow all veg (and non veg) plants?

Thanks all

MEW xxxx

[marshlander]

posted this before but it's relevant to your question

My seeds are all in a big plastic food box at the bottom of the fridge. I've sown many things, particularly tomatoes, from the same pack three years running and still had good germination. Stored well it should keep for 5 years + .

I've also sucessfully grown nigella & aquilegia from seed that I saved four years ago and calendula from a packet found in an old kitchen table drawer and dated 1973 which was 22 years old at the time!

Parsnips are notorious for poor gemination, even from fresh seed. Red's toilet roll method worked for me 100% this year!

If you are saving your own seed the most important thing is to make sure it is dry before you save it or it will just go mouldy. I have a kit from the rhs but it's basically silica gel and various pots and trays. You could also bake some uncooked rice to drive out any moisture and use this as a dessicant.

Tomato seeds need special treatment - they have to be fermented (left to go yukky in a jam jar of water) for several days to remove the pulp and any debris. The seed sinks and the debris rises so it can be easily poured away. The seeds can then be rinsed and dried. I have only done this once to save heritage seeds and the second generaton were even better than the first. Don't forget F1 varieties don't come true and those polinated by wind or insects prob' won't come true either.

Don't forget to lable what you've saved - you think you'll remember but it's like the freezer - too many times I've defrosted tomatoes thinking they were plums!

I save runner bean seed just be letting the plants go brown, hanging the pods til they rattle, then splitting them open and spreading out the seeds on a tray to dry in the sun.

[Green Aura]

The Real Seed Company do a really good info section on collecting/ saving/ preparing seeds.
Maggie