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Re: Collecting Vegetable Seeds

Carl-
    One of the better books on seed saving is "The New Seed Starters
Handbook"  by Nancy Bubel,  Rodale Press, 1988.
    For onions, you do not want to collect the seed of onions in the first
year.  Onions are biennials which means they set their seed in the second
growing season.  Store fall harvested bulbs in a cold, dry place and replant
in the spring.  If you live in an area where the ground does not freeze the
onions can be mulched and stored in the ground.  They will sprout in the
spring.
Keep different varieties of onions at least 100' apart or cross pollination
can occur (onions are pollinated by insects).
    For tomatoes, let the tomato ripen on the vineto just past the
desireable eating stage.  Not too long or sometinmes the seeds will sprout
inside the tomatoe.  Scrape the seeds into a plastic container and cover
them with water.
Set this in a place that is rodent proof and where you don't have to smell
this fermenting mess.  It will take about a week.  When there is a nice
layer of mold,
scrape this off and rinse the seeds under cool water in a seive till clean
and none of the gelatinous membrane remains. Dry on a piece of wax paper.
  As for storing seeds-the worst enemy beside rodents is moisture and heat.
Store completely dried seeds in a cool, dark, dry place.  Mine go in the
fridge
in small glass jars.  I also store seeds in small coin envelopes in mason
jars in the fridge.
   Hope this helps you.    Caron




Carl H. Gerstung wrote:

> I'm new (first time) at collecting seeds for next year vegetable garden,
> and I have a few questions. First I purchased heirloom non-hybrid seeds
> and planted them in the garden.
> 1) When do you harvest tomato, onion seeds?
> 2) What is the best method to collect them?
> 3) How do you dry them ?
> 4) What is the best method to store them for next year's garden?
>
> Thank you for your help.
>
> Carl
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