Seed drying

[Robert_Brenchley]

There's a good page on the Real Seeds site here: http://www.realseeds.co.uk/Drying.html

I hadn't thought about it, and I haven't had problems with seed dried at home, but anything which is likely to extend its life is more than welcome!

Dan, can we have a section for seed saving?

[Robert_Brenchley]

[landimad]

I do a similar system, but I use the perlite instead of rice. Seems to work for me and the perlite can be mixed in with compost after use.

[Robert_Brenchley]

For that matter you can eat the rice after use. I used to use rice, sugar or salt to keep my matches dry on camping trips. I could chuck in a damp box and it would be fine by the next morning.

[Tee Gee]

Too phaffy for me I'm afraid.

If they are relatively dry seed e.g. from pods I just dry them in the sun. I place them close to the glass in the greenhouse till bone dry. Then I put them in paper bags (printing paper)

If they are wet seeds e.g tomato I put these in clean water and give them a good shake. A few hours later or the following day I strain the water off.

If this process hasn't fully worked I do it again.

Once clean I dry them in the sun as I do the dry seeds.

Another method for tomato seeds (although a bit messy) is throw an overipe tomato at the greenhouse glass and allow it to splatter all over the glass.

When dry scrape off the seeds and place in a paper bag.

Whether you wash the glass then or wait until you spring clean the glass is up to you 8)

[landimad]

Tee Gee,
Does this method work for Marrows as well.
;D ;D ;D

[Tee Gee]

Does this method work for Marrows as well.

I haven't actually done it with marrows but I have done with pumpkin,squash & cucumber which are of the same family.

So see no reason why it shouldn't work on marrows!

[landimad]

Not against the greenhouse glass I hope.

[Tee Gee]

Not against the greenhouse glass I hope.

No not in this case  ;D but now you know why I don't need greenhouse shading  ;) ;D

[amphibian]

You can re-use the rice by simply baking it again.

It's a great method and will be getting plenty of use in this house. I have a large seed collection and can't grow out each variety for a seed increase as often as required, this method will allow seed to be frozen, allowing me to expand my seed collection.

[Robert_Brenchley]

That's pretty much where I am, except that I don't have the freezer space.

[amphibian]

That's pretty much where I am, except that I don't have the freezer space.

Nor do I, to be fair. But at least for tomatoes and peppers a lot of seed can be kept in a small space, like the ice cube draw.

[1066]

Another method for tomato seeds (although a bit messy) is throw an overipe tomato at the greenhouse glass and allow it to splatter all over the glass.

PRICELESS TeeGee  ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

Nor do I, to be fair. But at least for tomatoes and peppers a lot of seed can be kept in a small space, like the ice cube draw.

That's a thought, I've got an empty ice cube drawer.