Fall is seed season. Collecting, preserving, and planting seeds is an active and rewarding way to connect children with nature. Obtain seeds from plants and then plant them It allows you to teach little ones about the fundamental cycle of life and is also a sustainable practice that strengthens the garden season after season.
Benefits of saving seeds from your plants
Savings and autonomy: Saving your own seeds allows you to save money and rely less on recurring purchases. It is an ecological habit that reduces waste and promotes local biodiversity.
Keep your favorite varieties: Collecting seeds from the flowers you love most ensures that they remain in your garden without worrying about commercial availability.
Better adaptation: Seeds from plants that have already thrived in your environment often show vigor and resilience superior to climate, pests and diseases.
Note that Many commercial ornamental plants are hybrids and don't faithfully reproduce their traits; some even produce few seeds or are sterile. To preserve characteristics, prioritize seeds from traditional or open-pollinated varieties.
When and how to harvest according to the type of flower
Dry and sunny days: Seeds should be collected when humidity is low. Maturity is reached when they come off easily, the capsules or heads turn brown and sound dry to the touch.
Small seeds in the calyx (marigolds, sunflowers, cosmos): Let the flowers wither on the plant. Then cut the heads, tie them into small bunches, and hang them in a warm, well-ventilated place. Shake periodically so that they release the seeds onto a clean paper or tray.
Flowers with pods (poppies, wallflowers, sweet peas): Wait until the pods turn from green to straw-colored. To prevent them from splitting and shooting out, cover with a paper bag and cut the stem to finish drying indoors, shaking the bag upside down to collect them. You can also learn how to save tomato seeds..
fleshy fruits (rosehips, some ornamentals): the seed is usually ready before the fruit is completely soft. Extract, separates from the pulp and dry on paper in a ventilated place without direct sunlight.
Plant selection and crossbreeding control
Choose the best plants: vigour, good flowering, fruiting at the expected time, shape and size typical of the variety. To avoid unwanted crossings, it is advisable to sow a single variety of a species, staggered blooms (temporal isolation), increases distances between varieties or cover plants with mesh or paper bags. The manual pollination It is a suitable option for species that cross easily, such as certain composites. However, self-pollinating flowers such as tomatoes show less cross-pollination.
About F1 hybrids: Its first generation is very uniform, but the next generation tends to segregate traits and lose yield. If you're looking for stable seeds, prioritize open-pollinated varietiesYou may also be interested in learning how to collect flower seeds.
Extraction methods according to the plant group
- Washing and drying For dry or pulpy fruits with little mucilage: remove the seeds, rinse in water to remove any residue, drain and dry them on paper for several days until they harden. Useful for ornamental squash and zucchini.
- Drying in plant and threshing For legumes, flower heads, cabbages, lettuce, onions and ornamental peppers: leave dry as much as possible on the plantOn sunny days, harvest, shell by hand, or gently thresh on a tray, removing chaff and debris.
- Fermentación for seeds with mucilaginous gel (tomato, ornamental cucumber): extract the gelatinous mass and ferments for 2 to 3 days in a jar, at room temperature and out of direct light. Rinse until the clean seeds sink, and dry well.
After any of these methods, select healthy seeds, removes malformed or damaged items and labels by variety.
StratificationSome species require cold to activate germination. Layer seeds with a slightly moist, half-sand, half-peat substrate in a box outdoors for a few weeks, or in a sealed bag in the refrigerator for several weeks. As soon as shoots appear, goes to seedbed.
Scarification: If the cover is very hard, gently crack or sand it, or soak it briefly in warm water. scarified seeds They have a shorter storage life, so plant them early.
Seedling calendar: Sowing is usually done in spring. Planting can begin in mid-winter. covered seedbeds, near a sunny window or with gentle heat.
Drying, storage and viability testing
Pre-drying: After harvesting, spread it in a thin layer in a place dry, warm and ventilatedAvoid direct sunlight and stir daily until crispy.
Packaging: The paper envelopes They are ideal for avoiding condensation. Label with name, variety, and date. Store in a cool, dry, dark place such as a cupboard or pantry. For airtight jars, add a desiccant such as silica gel.
Feasibility testPlace 10 seeds between damp kitchen paper inside an open bag. If half germinate, adjust the planting density or repeat the test; this way you'll know if the batch is still useful.
Collecting and saving seeds from your favorite plants is a simple way to save, preserve varieties, and enjoy a more resilient garden. With practice and these methods, you'll turn every bloom into an opportunity to multiply beauty and life without sacrificing quality or time.