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?
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.
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.
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)
Tee Gee,
Does this method work for Marrows as well.
;D ;D ;D
QuoteDoes 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!
Not against the greenhouse glass I hope.
QuoteNot against the greenhouse glass I hope.
No not in this case ;D but now you know why I don't need greenhouse shading ;) ;D
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.
That's pretty much where I am, except that I don't have the freezer space.
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on April 25, 2010, 14:21:00
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.
Quote from: Tee Gee on April 24, 2010, 18:44:46
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
Quote from: amphibian on April 25, 2010, 21:35:22
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.