How to Collect and Save Seeds from Your Own Garden
Grow more for free
Saving seeds from your own plants is free, rewarding, and lets you grow the varieties you love year after year. With a little care, it’s easy to do. Here’s how.
Choose the right plants
Save seeds from your healthiest, strongest plants — they pass on the best traits. Note that open-pollinated and heirloom varieties come back true to type, while hybrid (F1) seeds often don’t.
Let seeds mature fully
Seeds must ripen fully on the plant before collecting. Let pods dry on the plant, flowers fade and form seed heads, and fruit fully ripen. Immature seeds won’t germinate.
Harvest the seeds
- Dry seeds (beans, okra, flowers): let pods/heads dry on the plant, then collect and open them.
- Wet seeds (tomato, cucumber): scoop from ripe fruit, rinse off the pulp, and dry thoroughly.
Dry them properly
Spread seeds in a single layer in an airy, shaded spot until completely dry. This is essential — any moisture causes mould and rot in storage.
Clean and sort
Remove chaff, pulp, and debris so you store clean seed. Discard any damaged or undersized seeds.
Store correctly
Put fully dried seeds in labelled, airtight containers in a cool, dry, dark place, with a little silica gel to absorb moisture. Label each with the variety and date.
Use within the season or two
Home-saved seeds are freshest used soon. Plant them the next season for the best germination and to keep your favourite varieties going.
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