/r/seedsaving

Photograph via snooOG

A place to discuss seed saving techniques and heirloom seed history.

/r/seedsaving

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1

Frost before seed harvest?

Was planning to harvest turnip, leek and bean seed this week as they are all just coming ready. Had quite a hard frost tonight though. Will this affect viability?

1 Comment
2024/10/27
02:49 UTC

1

Advice on legalities and regulations for selling flower seeds

I live in Michigan and am looking into the idea of starting to sell flower seeds from seeds I’ve saved myself. I eventually want to offer curated “collections” or my own mixes of various flower seeds. I know there is a lot of regulation and laws around seeds and trademarked varieties, etc. and am having a hard time finding information that applies to what I’d want to ultimately do. I’m not looking at breeding new varieties or anything, I just want to offer different mixes than what’s typically available or curated “collections” of seeds that maybe include multiple sun requirements but fit a theme, color themes, medicinal themes, etc. Even though this would be small scale at first, I’d love to develop the idea into an actual livelihood and so even though I could probably sneak under the radar doing it on a small scale, I’d love to know the correct way things need to be done so no one sues me lol or I don’t end up with a dumb fine or something.

Any and all advice or links would be appreciated 😄

3 Comments
2024/10/25
20:07 UTC

35

Hopi Purple String Beans

Grown in zone 4a in Northern Wisconsin. Looking for trades for other heirloom beans

3 Comments
2024/10/22
15:17 UTC

4

Seed or poop?

Found about this many in a high traffic area of our home. Doesn’t quite look like mouse poop but definitely could be. What do you think?

6 Comments
2024/10/21
12:04 UTC

11

Are these pumpkin seeds ok or should I restart?

I saved these seeds from some pumpkins i grew and I must not have let them dry out enough cause the started to mold once I put them away. As soon as I noticed, I took them out and spread them out. Will thethey be able to germinate next year or should I just scrap them and collect new seeds?

7 Comments
2024/10/10
22:16 UTC

4

Need advice on Firework Gomphrena

How do you identify and save the seeds from Firework Gomphrena? I can't seem to find them. Or is this variety sterile?

0 Comments
2024/10/02
21:15 UTC

4

Test viability?

Is there a way I can test these to see if they’re viable to replant next year?

7 Comments
2024/10/02
17:45 UTC

2

How long do beans take to mature?

New to seed saving. I'm hoping to save some beans for seed this fall. I have some beans I've just finished picking and many are over ripe for eating. How long might I expect to wait before they are mature enough to harvest/dry for seed saving?

3 Comments
2024/10/01
19:10 UTC

0

Bronze beauty

0 Comments
2024/09/25
05:02 UTC

2

Don't ya dare forget'em!

Forget me nots O:) love these little sweeties

0 Comments
2024/09/21
15:02 UTC

2

seeds from hybrid cherry tomato "Cherry Baby"

Anybody have experience saving seeds from a hybrid cherry tomato? I got these plants called Cherry Baby at a charity nursery (UK). I grew them outdoors and they are loaded with fabulous tomatoes that don't split.

2 Comments
2024/09/19
14:48 UTC

44

Why don't more people save heirloom seeds?

I've talked with several farmers/gardeners at a small scale and it seems that many don't save seeds. Why don't many save seeds, particularly heirloom seeds? I know cross-pollination is an issue with heirlooms but how significant is that and what are some ways to prevent that? I'm doing a research project about seed saving for preserving biodiversity. Are there any gaps in process to save seeds that are frustrating or difficult i.e. extracting seeds from inside plants, from bolting plants, difficulties storing, etc. I'm looking to create engineering solutions for small-scale farmers to save heirloom seeds!

Thank you!

23 Comments
2024/09/18
15:42 UTC

9

Zinnia seeds

Are the ones on the left "over dried", or are they just a different variety than the right? Thanks!

2 Comments
2024/09/15
14:00 UTC

2

Zinnia seeds from cut flower

My friend gave me a vase of cut zinnias, is it possible to save seeds from cut flowers or do they need to go to seed on the plant?

1 Comment
2024/09/14
17:05 UTC

7

Storing and organizing seeds

I want to expand out on the types of seeds I collect from my flower garden, as we head into the fall months. I'm quickly finding out though that I'm not very organized and need a better storage solution.

What system or products do y'all recommend for storing seeds and keeping them organized?

1 Comment
2024/09/13
14:02 UTC

9

Harvesting cosmos seeds (update)

So I've been harvesting cosmos seeds by just plucking the heads after the petals has died and fallen off, but I've been curious about whether that is too early.

So as an experiment, I tried placing a bouquet of dead heads by the window in water. Sure enough, the heads opened up and the seeds dried out as they would if left on the plant. Except now I won't lose any seeds to the ground.

4 Comments
2024/09/06
14:09 UTC

4

Cosmo seeds?

Is it possible to save seeds from a closed head like this or is there something wrong with it?

3 Comments
2024/09/05
21:27 UTC

2

Does anyone know where to find information on saving swede seeds?

I plan to switch to heirloom seeds for all my veg crops next year so I'm finding out about saving the seeds for all the things I usually grow. I'm struggling to find any information on saving seeds from swedes. Does anyone know any good websites or books that would have this info please?

6 Comments
2024/09/01
12:23 UTC

5

Harvesting cosmos seeds

I love collecting cosmos seeds, but if I wait for them to be fully dried out, I often lose most of the seeds to the ground.

I know it's recommended to harvest seeds when they are all dried up and the dead head expands, but would the seeds still be viable if I cut the head before then?

5 Comments
2024/08/31
14:56 UTC

9

Double Flower Seed Saving

I would like to save the double flower zinnia seeds shown from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, but I read on r/gardening that double flowers won’t produce seeds. Is this true? It says on the seed packet that they are open pollinated.

1 Comment
2024/08/28
00:10 UTC

12

Saving carrot seeds: Seed screens?

I have been saving my own seeds for years, but have never invested in buying or making seed screens to filter them. I saved a half gallon of carrot seeds this year, but there is so much chaff and I’d really like to store them in a more cleaned up form, and they are so small, I can’t use my usual “bowl
& blow” method, without the seeds blowing away along with the waste.

TLDR: How do you clean up your carrot seeds for storage?

12 Comments
2024/08/18
15:45 UTC

32

Seeds are gifts from nature, says a major organic producer. So now it's going to give them away

Seeds are gifts from nature, says a major organic producer. So now it's going to give them away
https://candorium.com/news/20240814130022187/seeds-are-gifts-from-nature-says-a-major-organic-producer-so-now-its-going%20to-give-them-away

0 Comments
2024/08/14
23:02 UTC

9

Who is growing different corn varieties?

I've been looking into growing Zya Maize or 🌽. I've been trying to source some non-typical varieties. Right now I'm growing a flint variety called bronze beauty I was told it was cultivated by the Ho-Chunk in Wisconsin.

After I've spent some amount of time looking through seed catalogs I'm only really seeing a very small handful of other types of corn and varieties I'm curious to what the seed saving community has to say about what they grow and where they found it.

1 Comment
2024/08/09
02:11 UTC

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