Saving Seeds
You do not need to purchase seeds each year when you grow flowers and vegetables. You can save the seeds that you or your grandparents grew.
You do not need to purchase seeds each year when you grow flowers and vegetables. You can save the seeds that you or your grandparents grew. Heirloom garden seeds have been passed from generation to generation, some for hundreds of years, and are untouched by chemical or genetic modification. Perfect for saving seeds– they breed true – they yield classic, best-loved flowers and tastiest vegetables of the sort you won’t find in the supermarket. Many are condition-specific, disease resistant, and gourmet favorites. Start a family tradition.
Whether you’re new to seed saving or want to brush up on the practice, these seed saving basics are a smart place to start.
CFF Seed Saving Chat (PDF, 168 KB)
Our Seed Saving Chart is a great resource for beginner and experienced seed savers alike. This handy guide will help you read the chart and get started planning your garden for seed saving. Download the chart and consult this breakdown as a guide for using the chart.
01.
Parent Plant is a Hybrid or Open-pollinated Variet
Hybrids, which are created by crossing plants of two different varieties, generally do not produce offspring with the same traits as the parent plant. Seeds saved from open-pollinated varieties, on the other hand, will produce plants identical to the parent. Heirloom seeds, which Chai Family Foundation Exchange sells, are open-pollinated varieties with a history of being handed down from generation to generation.
02.
Plants’ Species Name
Cross-pollination is the transfer of pollen between plants. To save pure seed, you want to prevent cross-pollination between two different varieties in the same species. Planting just one variety in a species will help ensure you save pure seed.
If you know your plants’ scientific name, you will know which ones may cross-pollinate. For example, the squash commonly grown in your gardens could fall into one of three species: Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata, and C. pepo. These species won’t typically cross-pollinate. On the other hand, Brassica oleracea includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, and kohlrabi, all plants you might think wouldn’t cross-pollinate, but actually do. Read up on the cross-pollination habits of the plants you are saving seeds from to ensure you won’t run into issues.
03.
How Your Plants Pollinate
Understanding how garden plants are pollinated will help you prevent cross-pollination. Some plants will self-pollinate before the flowers are even open, making them less susceptible to cross-pollination. Examples of “selfers” are tomatoes, peas, and beans, On occasion, insects can cross-pollinate selfers. Plants that are insect-pollinated (squash or cucumbers) or wind pollinated (corn and spinach) are more likely to cross-pollinate.
04.
Fruit Maturity vs. Seed Maturity
Some fruits are market mature, or ready for eating, long before the seed is mature. Examples of this include cucumbers, eggplants, peas, beans, and cabbage. Take into consideration spacing and timing when planning your garden for seed saving. For example, imagine a carrot– you pull this sweet root out of the ground after about two months, and there is not much plant showing above ground. However, the seed is not mature for harvest at this point. The carrot plant must grow for a longer period so that the seed can reach the proper maturity. When you harvest the seed, a carrot plant can be up to four feet tall and one year old.
05.
Keep it Simple
Remember, some plants are easier to save seeds from than others. Saving seed from “selfers” is a good way to get started. There are ways to prevent cross-pollination, but if you’re just starting out, planting just one variety per species, can ensure your seed has not cross-pollinated.
