basic advice with seeds

[helly]

Hi all, I am very very new to collecting seeds.
I have just opened one of my aubergines that I have grown this year and noticed a large amount of seeds in there and want to put them to good use next year. So I need some advice :
I need advice on collecting the seeds, storing them and when is the best time to start to grow from them.

cheers Helly

[Flummery]

I haven't saved my own aubergine seeds before helly but basic advice is to ensure they are well dried before you store them. I lie things on kitchen paper (on the dining room table -there are only 2 of us with an 8 seater table - we eat at one end and have to be careful not to sneeze - especially with poppy seeds!) and let them dry gradually at room temperature. When you're sure they are dry (so they don't go mouldy in storage) put them in an envelope - clearly marked or you WILL forget! and store in your usual way. Aubergines aren't hardy so don't start them off too soon - March/April is soon enough. I start them indoors and put them into my unheated greenhouse when there's no chance of night frosts.

Good luck with them.

[helly]

Thanks for your advice, stated to dry out already looking forward to March
cheers

[Cutecumber]

Be aware that if the aubergine is a hybrid (marked as F1 next to the name) you will not be able to reproduce exactly the same plant. It may be similar, but it is more likely to be different. It doesn't mean you can't save it, but you don't know what you'll get from it.

Look for "open pollinated" varieties of veg to save - they are are not hybrids and will come true from their seed.

What type was your aubergine?

[Cutecumber]

Oh, this leaflet might be useful - it mentions aubergines.

http://www.realseeds.co.uk/seedsavinginstructions.doc