HOW DO YOU SAVE YOUR VEG. SEEDS???

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I want to save my pepper seeds and Tomatoe seeds.. How do I do this? I want to have alot for next year and what is the best way? Hope someone can help me... JAMES

-- james (onemaur@olg.com), August 27, 2001

Answers

It's very simple, two methods. First is simply to remove the seeds, wash the gelatinous membrane off the seeds, spread them on a plate or some non-porous surface, let dry completely. Second method is the fermentation method which is supposed to help reduce disease from pathogen laden seeds; squeeze seeds into a cup, glass, bowl, whatever. Add roughly twice as much water and stir. Let this sit in an out of the way spot because it will stink. Stir it every day a time or two. A thick nasty looking foam will form on top after a day or two. Scoop that off and keep stirring and removing the foam for about three--four days. Seeds that float are duds and should be discarded. Seeds that sink are viable. Rinse seeds well and dry as above. Store in cool, dry, dark place in airtight containers.

-- HannahMariaHolly (hannahholly@hotmail.com), August 27, 2001.

Tomato seeds. Put them in a butter bowl or something like that. Let them ferment a few days and then put them in a tea strainer and wash them. Lay them out on waxed paper and let them dry a week or so. when they are completly dry you can put them in a sealed jar and put them in the freezer. When I am washing them I always put them back in the butter bowl with a lttle water and throw the ones that float away. They are no good. I don't freeze them but some say you should. I get about 90% germination.

-- Mel Kelly (melkelly@webtv.net), August 27, 2001.

Just re-read your post. The above technique is for tomato seeds. I save my pepper seeds simply by drying for several days, putting some into a glass and stirring well and skimming off the floaters/duds. Then I spread the viable seeds out and dry them again until they are very very dry. Same storage.

-- HannahMariaHolly (hannahholly@hotmail.com), August 27, 2001.

Hi James, It is very important to remove the gel sack around the tomato seed. It contains a chemical that prevents the seed from growing in the moist tomato. This is why letting it ferment is so good. The "white foamy scum" that grows on top of the seed/juice mix is breaking down the gel sacks. (Mine set three days...let them sit too long and they may sprout) Then rinse with water like everyone has stated and the seeds that sink are the ones to spread out on wax paper or what ever and let dry. (They will stick like glue, so paper towels wouldn't be a good choice) On other veggies, I just cut the peppers, freeze the meat and dry the seeds on wax paper. DRY FULLY so seeds will not mold when stored. My lettuce seeds were somewhat like dandylions. It bolted up and grew several little yellow flowers, then they turned into little white puffs. I brought the entire top in and broke open these little pods and have seed for next year. On pumpkin and melon, just rinse and put on wax paper to dry. (I let mine go a couple days if they are big seeds and stir them around every once and a while)I did cantalope this year, had a ton of seeds. Spinach bolts like lettuce, but one plant will be male and a different one female, so notice the flowers on them. Peas and beans you can let dry on the vine and be sure to get them before your wild animals do! :-) Onions need to go two years to grow a seed head. It is a big ball at the top of the onion spikes, it has several little flowers (mine were white) and then they dry out as well. You can take a sack and bend the onion head over and snip it off into the bag. HOPE THIS HELPS!! :o) ~Brenda~

-- Brenda (brenclark@alltel.net), August 28, 2001.

We've always had really good luck just laying the tomato seeds out on paper towell or an unfolded paper bag and letting them dry. We then roll them up and put them into glass jars and keep them in the basement. In the spring, we either peel the individual seeds off the towell or bag, or rip off a section with a seed or two on it and plant. I've never cleaned or washed seeds at all and we get pretty good germination. As for peppers, we lay them out on a sheet of paper towell and wait for them to dry, then brush them off the towell into baby food jars. Same thing, pretty good germination. The other convenient thing about this method is that you can write the type of seed right on the paper towell or paper bag, helps keep things straight in the spring. Same method is used here for squash, pumpkin and watermelon seeds. Haven't had to buy certain types of tomato seeds for years, we're on 5th-6th generation on some varieties we grow.

-- Rose Marie Wild (wintersongfarm@yahoo.com), August 29, 2001.


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