Encouraged by the HSL I have started saving more and more of my own seed.
I saved a lot of french beans which are self fertile and so easy. I have also saved runner beans for a number of years which are rather more random since they require the bees to pollinate and so you do not necessarily know the father so what you get is a bit of a gamble.
One of my own saved marrows won the local biggest marrow competition. Again it is an outbreeder. Not very big by national standards but it amused me. I have also got some interesting saved seeds from the seed swap.
I should like to persuade more people to try some seed saving. I thought that this winter I might start a seed savers swap.
Good idea. I'm planning to save peas like mad, some beans, and some squashes. Maybe other things, depending how it goes. Beans are easy; just let the beans dry as far as possible on the plant. If you get really wet weather, you can cut the whole thing down, put it in someting breatheable like a hessian sack (available from eBay) and leave the whole lot to dry out. It'll use its last dying gasp to mature the seeds. Peas drop seeds the moment they're dry, so I always do this as the crop is coming to an end. I get a lot of shrivelled little seeds from pods which didn't mature properly, but I've been pleasantly surprised how many of these germinate.
Yes, it's got to be the way to go. Seed companies seem to be putting less and less seed in to packets now. I save a few things, but need to get better organised with drying and storing.
I've saved peas and beans with success, and toms which are also easy. I've just sown some parsnip seed that I saved last Autumn, so we shall see how it does (equivalent of 8 to 10 packets from one plant!).
I save Hungarian grazing rye for green manure every year (just leave a bit at the end of the bed when the rest is hoed off, plenty of grain by late Summer). In fact that is saved rye seed growing in the photo on the left.
Salsify has also worked for me, and French marigolds, and miners lettuce.
I am going to do my fast show impersonation of the man coming out of his garden shed.
ahemm.....right.....
"This year, I shall be saving, beans, both bush, pole and runner, squash, aubergine, tomato, chili, sweet pepper, cucumber. Will attempt lettuces, salad leaves and fennel.
takes a bow and walks back into shed
;D :D ;D
Hopefully, as i gain more confidance, i shall save more and more
n.b. update on the blue osu tomato's... 2 have germinated, so hopefully will have those for swaps at the end of the year.
with it only being my 2ND year? I've been given some parsnip seeds collected by a chap on site.he said "just leave 1 or 2 plants in to go to seed "? he also has beetroot , peas ,beans some others i think they were flowers.I've also read somewhere that if you save the seeds the plant/plants get more used to there local environment,conditions i think ;D , ???
I would love to be able to save seeds. I dont think I grow anything special as im new to this and just buy my seeds off the shelf but it would be good to know I was using seeds from things I grew the year before.
Only problem is I havnt got a clue ??? I did try to save some pods from my sweet peas last year but they just went mouldy and the same with the peas but I must have done it wrong.
I agree seed saving and sharing is very worth while all round. Last year I was again lucky enough to save a variety of different seeds, many I've already passed on either in pass the parcels or other swaps.
I'm taking part in a Seed Swap Circle (on another forum) which is based on http://www.realseeds.co.uk/seedcircle.htm. I think ,a really good way to save and share, not only seeds but information and tips.
I wonder if this is something you had in mind Digeroo, I'd be more than happy to take part in another one. Or if you are not interested I'd be willing to organise if others are interested.
Good idea :D
I'd be interested in a self-saved swap a la Digeroo or something more organised as in Jayb's Realseeds suggestion.
I already save a lot myself, but it tends to be obscure crops. What I'd like to do is have seed saving partners so that I didn't need to save everything myself every time - more of a rotation.
very interested but again like the poster above, as it's only my second year I only have the bog standards to swap so don't think peeps would be interested.
Also, this won't save me from Newbie's Madness! Last week I just had to buy Chilli "Black Pearl" seeds as, get this, the plant and fruit are BLACK until the fruit ripens to red!! Got them home to find 5 seeds in a pack costing £2.49 :o
(Neophyte Newbies tend not to check basic info like that! ) :-[ :-[ :-[
oh well, if I save some of those I might have something interesting for the swap after all!! ;)
I am happy to join a seed saving circle, it sounds like fun :)
Don't anyone dare tell that newbie who likes black that there dozens of black tomatoes. ::) ::)XXn Jeannine
I also tried to save sweetpeas .they also went mouldy? I just wonder if they were not dry enough before storing ??? It would be intresting for suggestions why it happened ;)
I bought some black pepper seeds I think. They are black something anyway. I thought they looked good :) I havnt opened the packet yet though so ive probably only got a handful off those seeds too ::)
It is important to make sure that peas and beans are dry before taking them out of the pods. I had some beans which flowered very late and I dried some on the windowsill and some on the radiator. Both lots did well in germination tests. My suggestion is to leave them in the pods until you require them for sowing. It also seem to be necessary to remove them from the plant before the frost gets them. Spread them out well so the moisture does not get held in.
It is said to be better to pick the whole plant and dry the seeds still attached but I do not find this very user friendly and got bits of dried leaf all over the house.
If the pods bend then they are not dried enough. They should be dry enough to crack and break before taking the peas out. The pods seem to have some mechanism for stopping the rot
Most seeds have some indication of the quantities inside. /But I think that lots of people have been caught out Sometimes a few seeds can be a good idea one tends to nurture them eg putting them in separate pots and so the result can be worth the extra cost.
I don't think anyone needs to be ashamed because they've only got common varieties. you have to start somewhere after all! I'm growing lots of rare peas this year, and I'm going to have very limited quantities to swap. It makes no sense give them to people who only want to grow a crop to eat, so a seed savers' swap makes more sense the more I think about it. If you've only got common ones now, you could have picked up a lot of rarities by this time next year, and why not if you're going to save them and pass seed on?
I've deliberately given myself the job of saving cucumbers for the HSL this year, so I'll have to get it right, isolate the flowers I'm using, and hand pollinate. I haven't done this before so it's going to be interesting!
I agree about drying seed while it's still inside the pod, since as long as the plant has any life left at all it's still at work trying to mature the seed. If you bag up the whole lot in a big sack, then wait for a dry day and sort your seeds out outside, you won't mess the house up. I share a flat with a couple of extremely fussy women, and haven't got into trouble yet over this one.
I have tried hand pollinating courgettes but I have no idea of how to work out if you have been successful. I suppose you have to grow on and then rogue out. So it will be a year later before you can release them as true to type. It is much easier with beans the seeds tend to change colour or shape. A small white cucumber seeds well looks like a small white cucumber seed.
I am trying to grow a variety of beans this year (self polinating so starting easy) many from america and not readily available in this country, also some friends have sent me some beans they have saved from their HSL crops so should have those ready this year. I am also trying to save squash (by sealing the flowers with elastic bands and then polinating them) and I am trying to grow a wider variety of tomatos also not readily available as well as chilis, sweet peppers and cucumbers - well, i will attempt to keep them apart. Hopefully I shall have a good swapping selection as well as a seed circle selection (if we start one)
If I bag flowers before they open, hand pollinate, then keep the female ones bagged until they wilt, then if cucumbers form at all it's be hard for them to have crossed with anything! The HSL suggest using masking tape to keep flowers closed, but I'd feel more confident with bags.
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on March 24, 2010, 16:04:03
If I bag flowers before they open, hand pollinate, then keep the female ones bagged until they wilt, then if cucumbers form at all it's be hard for them to have crossed with anything! The HSL suggest using masking tape to keep flowers closed, but I'd feel more confident with bags.
Oh I can see i am going to have fun trying these with my cues.
Digeroo am also going too save some seeds this year
especially the giant marrow seeds i bought from medwyns 5 seeds for £5.50
and any thing else...........
digeroo have you got any pics of your big marrow attempt
and any tips..................thanks Jim :)
Those expensive seeds with only 5 in a packet are often F1 hybrids.
For those new to seed saving, F1s don't come true from seed.
This is a good book about saving your own seeds. Back garden seed saving by Sue Stickland. I have it and it is easy to understand and practical. Covers lots of different veg you will find in the garden.
here at amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Back-Garden-Seed-Saving-Vegetable/dp/1899233156/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269462145&sr=1-1
and here at the book depository
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9781899233151/Back-Garden-Seed-Saving
CJB
Quote from: Ian Pearson on March 24, 2010, 18:27:27
Those expensive seeds with only 5 in a packet are often F1 hybrids.
For those new to seed saving, F1s don't come true from seed.
No, but if you save seed and keep selecting the best, you end up with your own, similar, variety.
Quote from: Ian Pearson on March 24, 2010, 18:27:27
Those expensive seeds with only 5 in a packet are often F1 hybrids.
For those new to seed saving, F1s don't come true from seed.
this is not true, a large percentage (up to 75%) will come true.
A lot of nonsense has been peddled about F1's, probably by seed companies which don't want people saving their seed. Seeds are sold as F1 which are nothing of the sort. They may or may not come true, but the results should be OK, and you just pick the ones you like to save the next generation of seed.
have a look here http://www.realseeds.co.uk/seedsavinginfo.html for techniques, and there's a handy download for all of you newbies!! ;)
OMG!!!!
my head is spinning!
Black Toms, Jeannine, ??? :) :) :)
( no wait I've grown Black Crim and got two (2) whole fruits from one plants LOL!)
so I may have a 75% cent chance of getting your guys hooked on Black chillis,
(you may have missed the point that the whole plant is BLACK, not just fruit, which is why I ridiculously paid ".49 for 5. That's like 50p a seed. OMGawd I'm a dope!)
Thanks for the Link Tonybloke cheers ;)
Quote from: Wilder on March 24, 2010, 21:37:52
(you may have missed the point that the whole plant is BLACK, not just fruit, which is why I ridiculously paid ".49 for 5. That's like 50p a seed. OMGawd I'm a dope!)
Never mind, save seed for next year!
I guess I'm a bit more 'addicted' to the seed saving process than most, as I save most varieties of what I grow, with Tomatoes and Chillies/Peppers at the top of the list.
Is there a cure, because I bag my blossom too. ::)
I have been developing my own strain of runner beans for some time now. I have a very dry situation being on gravel and find that plants are very short of actual beans. I started saving my own beans and within 3 years found that the product of saving the most product plants each year has produced beans that are better here. I was surprised how quickly it happened I expected it to take years.
They have a good flavour though are not the best. But what is the point in having 4 superb beans when I can have 50 good ones. I think that seed companies are directing us to what is good for them but not necessary what is good for me.
I am not worried about cross polination with these beans. What I want is long tender tasty beans. Once a plant shows it is producing them it gets labelled and then I leave several pods.
I would like to say it is cheaper but I have bought several other varieties this year. Some new ones.
Quote from: Jeannine on March 24, 2010, 13:14:03
Don't anyone dare tell that newbie who likes black that there dozens of black tomatoes. ::) ::)XXn Jeannine
I'm an ancient goth tell me about these black tomatoes, I like purple too :P
Have a look through the list at POD http://www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk/acatalog/A-Z_of_Vegetables_TOMATO.html . There are several black ones, including a collection. The only one I've tried is Black Seaman, which is a lovely tomato, but not really suited to outdoor cultivation in Britain. If you grow them, save them. It couldn't be easier.
Saving is not always that easy! Rocket and radish are good, let them go to seed, you will get loads in the pods! I grow some old tomato varieties and have saved seed from them, that works quite well.
Marigolds self seed all over the place! I now don't buy any more seeds of those, I just rearrange them around the place once they start to grow.
I also saved some beans last year, I will soon know if they have worked or not.
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on March 25, 2010, 11:09:35
Have a look through the list at POD http://www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk/acatalog/A-Z_of_Vegetables_TOMATO.html . There are several black ones, including a collection. The only one I've tried is Black Seaman, which is a lovely tomato, but not really suited to outdoor cultivation in Britain. If you grow them, save them. It couldn't be easier.
Thank you ;D some lovely varieties there, I will have to wait until next year to be a bit more adventurious on the tomato front I think, or I could buy another mini greenhouse...humm..
I like the idea of a seed saving circle ;D
Being relatively new to allotments and growing your own, I'm only just starting to learn about seed saving etc. Always have saved flower seeds, but hope to do some saving this year.
maybe we should use the Wikki part of this site for seed saving tips ?
1066
That's a thought; I was wondering where to put them. I can't make out why, when I'm logged in to the main site, I can't seem to log in to do anything to the Wiki though.
Thanks for the link Tonybloke, it makes very good reading and im going to give it another go this year and will hopefully be more successful.
A couple of varieties on the site I found interesting and would be good to try here. Does anyone grow Manitoba or John Baer at all. Oregon Spring which is listed is a nice tomato if anyone is after a compact plant, quite tasty too.
got some oregon spring tom's just germinated in the propagator :)
Oh, and welcome to the forum no-lottie. (we got a few members down under) ;)
Quote from: no-lottie on March 25, 2010, 02:29:53
I guess I'm a bit more 'addicted' to the seed saving process than most, as I save most varieties of what I grow, with Tomatoes and Chillies/Peppers at the top of the list.
Is there a cure, because I bag my blossom too. ::)
Me too, although I don't bag all my blossoms...yet!
Only cure is to grow even more ;D
I have decided to do a peas and beans only seed swap. Jayb has a huge variety of crops in her circle. Chriscross did the courgettes and squashes so I will do legumes particularly unusual varieties. So hopefully anyone with these varieties will grow some extras to share.
i'm going to try seed saving this time around too.
and as interesting as they look i dunno if i could eat a black tomato! just be too weird lol
I'm in on that. I'm growing masses, and I'm going to have limited quantities of a lot of varieties that I'll only be making available to people who are likely to save seed. I'm not sure how I'm going to work that yet, but there are other varieties which I'm growing a lot of, so I should have reasonable quantities of their seed to spread around.
Quote from: Digeroo on March 29, 2010, 09:58:42
I have decided to do a peas and beans only seed swap. Jayb has a huge variety of crops in her circle. Chriscross did the courgettes and squashes so I will do legumes particularly unusual varieties. So hopefully anyone with these varieties will grow some extras to share.
I shall be growing a variety of beans and will be in a position, hopefully, to be sharing/swapping seeds, but Like Robert, i will be prefering to share and swap with like minded people who will be saving seeds as some that have been given to me are not widely available in Britain and I would like to give as many people a chance to grow them and hopefully they will do the same
Kx
Sounds good Digeroo, I'm growing a few varieties as well, count me in
I may have a couple of varieties like that too, so be interested to see what ideas you have Robert
Yayyy Le-y is catching the saving bug. Black tomatoes are scrummy, imho ;D. If you would like a few seeds to try send me a pm :)
I will be seed saving too. :D
I have got various from HSL some my choices and some from seed swaps plus some I ordered from Canada and would rather swap these with a small group of enthusiasts rather than a general swap. The quantities I have available will of course depend on the crops though I did well on some varieties this year. Sent over a kg of one variety to HSL. I am also running out of space for separating them.
My conditions are rather dry so I am trying out various to find which ones do well here.
I thought I might do a swap like Chris and make a list of whats on offer and then try and sort it who wants what.
Some varieties such as Cherokee T of T do very well in seed swaps but I do not personally favour the bean. They are only ok as a green bean and much to small for a shelling bean. Far too much like hard work shelling them.
I know what you mean about separating varieties; I'm going to have problems myself.
I agree about Trail of Tears beans; they're too small for a dried bean, but it might be interesting to try crossing them and breeding a bigger black bean. If anyone wants Black Seaman toms, send me a PM.
that sounds like a great idea Digeroo. I need to have a think on how and where my beans will be going this year. And how much I'm prepared to save and not eat! Thank goodness (for newbies to seed saving like me) for the instructions on the RealSeeds website!!