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saving seeds

> From:    "Francine \"Allegra Brillante\" Rice"
> <allegra_brillante@MONTROSE.NET> Subject: Seed Harvest?
>
> When, how, and what kinds of seeds do you take if you want to plant
> from your own plants next year?  I've never tried this and would
> like to.  What kind of care do the seeds need?  How do you store
> them?  At what time do you take the seeds from the plant?

Although it focuses on vegetables and not perennials or annuals, this
book may help to give you a "bigger picture" of the various
techniques used for seed saving, some of the factors that need to be
considered (planting far away from each other to avoid
cross-pollination, etc.):  _Seed to Seed_, by Suzanne Ashworth.

Generally you wait until the plant has sprouted flowers and those
flowers are dried up.  The flowers are the plant's mechanism for
propagation, because they get pollinated and then the plant creates
seeds.  When the flower is dried up there is often a group of seeds
that can be found where the dried up, dead flower is located.  You
can collect the seeds and use them for sowing in the garden the
following year.  Make sure that your seeds are completely dried
before you store them in order to avoid mold, rot, and/or premature
germination inside your storage packet.  Lots of folks use one of
those silica gel packets inside their storage container to ensure
that there is no moisture.  Store your seeds in a cool, dark place to
prolong viability.

Be aware that I made some very general remarks above.  There are
various techniques for seed saving, but when you're just learning
about it you should observe the plants closely and learn a little
about their anatomy and how they propagate themselves.  In addition,
some seeds require scarification or stratification for most
successful germination, and some seeds are known to have a very short
viability compared to others.  Every plant is a bit different!

Hope this helps,
Joan

cmathew@airmail.net
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/8098/
USDA gardening zone 7b (just north of Dallas, TX)

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