The Do’s and Don’ts of Seed Saving

Do’s

Look for open pollinated heirloom/heritage seed. If a packet has the name of the seed on it, for instance ‘ Mrs. Murphy’s best purple runner bean’ then it is likely that it won’t be a hybrid or genetically modified type of seed. Do also look for local and climatically appropriate seeds  from your area

Plant your seeds according to the seasons they are suited to the most. Keep seedlings watered and mulch the adult plants with leaves or dry grass.

Enjoy growing your plants and look for the healthiest most productive ones to choose for seed.

Do harvest seeds when the seeds are ready and on a warm dry day.

Sort through your seeds and discard any seeds that show insect damage, mould, cracks or other damage.

Put your seeds into very dry glass jars and then freeze for 3-5 days in your fridge.

Do NOT open the jar after removing from the freezer- leave for a day or two before opening.

Take the seeds and keep them in a cool dark cupboard

Label your seeds with the name and the date they were harvested.

Keep planting and sharing your seeds- the best seed bank is a living one!

Don’ts 

If you want to save seeds and need them to come out ‘true to type’ then don’t buy seed packets with a letter and a number on the title such as ‘F10 Wonder Corn’ This means that the seed is hybridized (two types are mixed together) and although they make great plants THEIR seeds are unstable and could be sterile or produce a weird variation of the two parent types. Not good for beginner seed saving.

Do not save seeds from weak/insect attacked plants. Their immune systems are not strong therefore their genetic material is not the best type to save.

Do not pick seeds on a damp or rainy day or too early in the morning or late in the evening. Moisture is the seeds downfall!

Don’t mix your seeds up or leave them in a bag/jar for longer than a few days without freezing them. Weevils and other insects can be present and will start to eat them.

If your seeds are waiting to be planted for more than two years rather give them to other gardeners to grow as their fertility will begin to wane.