Seeds

[keepitgreen]

I would like to start keeping the seeds from veg rather than buying new.

Is this recommended?

If so what is the best method tp prepare them for being stored over winter?

Thanks

[zazen999]

Hi

If you google 'seed saving' - you will get loads of info on different types of seed.

Best thing is to keep them cool and dry though.

[chengjing]

Well, I always collect seeds as long as it is not F1 varieties which will not come true from seeds.

Not sure if it is recommended by seed supplies, but I find the ones I keep usually do better than the shop bought seeds, and by doing so, you save a lot of money. The ones I keep are peas, runner beans and broad beans, lettuces, Chinese leaf vegetables, amaranths, chilli and almost all herbs and so on.

It is not hard to keep seeds over winter as long as you make sure they are tried out properly. I normally collect them in a paper towel, and leave them on a table in a fairly try room, once they are totally tried out (1-2 months), bag, seal and label them then put it in a metal tin. It is probably best to keep the tin in the fridge. But I leave some just in room, they are both doing fine.

[chengjing]

Chengjing how do you get seeds of lettuce because i understand how to get them of peas etc that is the first i heard of home saved seeds from lettuce.

There were not much tactics really, I just leave lettuce bolt and flower, they will grow very toll 1.5-2m with loads of tiny white flowers, you know seeds are ripe when they produce fluffy white hairs on the tip of flower pots. I remember it takes long time for seeds to ripe, I would say start them early if you want to try to collect seeds. I will try to see if I can find some pictures of that.

[Two_Sheds]

Chengjing how do you get seeds of lettuce

Like Chengjing says, you just leave the plant to produce seeds - it will throw up a big flower spike, with fluffy white bits like dandelion seed. I don't collect mine, I let them sow themselves and then I transplant the resulting seedlings

This is a photo of a bolted lettuce:

[Two_Sheds]

I would like to start keeping the seeds from veg rather than buying new. Is this recommended?

this is a super site for explaining what, how, when and so on : How To Save Seed

[Flummery]

I got lettuce this year from me compost! I chucked in a boltede lettuce late on in the winter and the seeds must have sown themselves. I spread it on the beds and up cam a lot of lettuce. I just transferred them to where I wanted them. Free. Price is right!

[Snadger]

Like Chengjing says, you just leave the plant to produce seeds - it will throw up a big flower spike, with fluffy white bits like dandelion seed. I don't collect mine, I let them sow themselves and then I transplant the resulting seedlings

This is a photo of a bolted lettuce:

My chooks would make short work of that!