Seed Saving 101 presented by Jacqueline Bruhn, Strafford County - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Seed Saving 101 presented by Jacqueline Bruhn, Strafford County Master Gardener extension.unh.edu Become a Master Gardener ~ classes in the Seacoast

Seed Saving vs Seed Preparing • Seed preparation happens before planting to insure or improve germination • Seed saving happens after the plant has reproduced

Why save seeds? • genetic diversity • save money • expand planting of unique/heirloom varieties • connection to nature

What to Save & When • Hybrid vs Open Pollinated • Heirloom (open pollinated) • healthiest plants • not (always) ready when ripe for eating • bi-annual

Classification of Vegetable Crops by Pollination Method Self-pollinated Cross-pollinated Cross-pollinated plants pollinated by plants pollinated by Plants wind insects Legume Family : Grasses: corn Asparagus beans, peas Composite family : Chenopods: beets, Allium Family : onion, lettuce, endive, chicory, Swiss chard, spinach shallot, leek radicchio Solonacious : Tomato Umbel Family : carrot, (many heirlooms cross- celery, parsley, dill, pollinate at a high parsnips frequency) Brassica family: broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage Source: University of Maine Cooperative Publication Bulletin #2750

Allow vegetables to “flower” • salad greens • radishes • beets • carrots • turnips

Wet process Techniques • Simple process • Fermentation specifically for tomatoes

Simple germination test • up to 100 seeds (small seeds) • damp paper towels/warm location • baggie that is not closed • 7 days germination check

Dry Process or Winnowing • seeds dry on plants • “threshing” removes the seeds from coverings • cool, dry dark environment for storage • label date/variety inside and outside of containers

Other tips & tricks • Use silica gel or powdered milk wrapped in chess cloth as your desiccant. Powdered milk will last about 6 months • Ideal storage temp is 32 to 41 • Harvest pepper seeds by leaving peppers on plant until wrinkled • Label harvest date and variety

Dried seed samples • salad greens (from a mix) • common milkweed (Asclepias Syriaca) • Ablution indicum • Tithonia - Mexican sunflower • dried beans • carrots • morning glory

Thank you! Master Gardener Plant Sale - Durham Town Hall May 20 Visit us online at: extension.unh.edu