want to start saving seeds

12 years ago

HI! i am new to the site , and gardening to some degree, my husband and i want to start saving seeds and I would love to know what some preferred methods are, especially for veggies seeds. Also what varieties you find save best and how to store them, how long you can save them for, what your garden plan is to avoid cross pollination, length of drying time ea variety, Also any information on veggie varieties you found worked well in zone 4. I live in northern VT and our growing season is SHORT and cool! we hope to have a greenhouse up by fall to lengthen our season some this year and get a head start for years to come. Any information would be greatly appreciated.Thank you!

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Comments (4)

remy_gw
12 years ago
Hi, I'm happy you are wanting to save seeds! Your request though of all that information, and I know you don't realize this, would be quite a lengthy amount of writing. Much of the info you are look for is available here on this forum.(Except for what is best for Northern Vermont, that might be best asked on the Vegetable Garden Forum or the New England Gardening Forum.) I don't want to seem like I don't want to help you, I do! But please search for veggies you are interested in saving. Each type of vegetable is different. Some are very easy to save seed from so it is is a bit complex. So you can see that would be a great undertaking to answer your question as it is right now. Then once you have a bit of info and need more info or clarification, ask questions. It will be much easier to help you : )
Remy
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
12 years ago
Great advice. Just wanted to add that if you pay at least weekly attention to your plants, you should find yourselves gathering many seeds when they are ripe. Getting the hang of what ripe seeds look and feel like comes easily to most with a bit of practice.

Your biggest challenge will be knowing what to do with each type once you have collected them.

The collection of and later propagation of seeds is mostly objective, so asking for subjective opinions is not the most enlightening way to approach it. The answers you get here may or may not come from individuals qualified to give advice, or they may not understand that their experience in a different climate probably does not apply to you. This is why Remy's advice is best.

You may also become interested in the winter sowing forum as such practices are especially useful to folks with such short growing seasons.
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remy_gw
12 years ago
Oops, I realized I messed up a sentence! "Some are very easy to save seed from so it is is a bit complex" should actually say "Some are very easy to save seed from and some are more difficult in one way or another so it is a bit complex."
Remy
NEKgardener
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks all! I will do a bit more research and come back. I can tell you guys know your stuff! thanks and happy gardening.