Saving Seeds

Gardening from seeds is cheaper than buying seedlings, and you have a much wider variety from which to choose. It’s easy to save seeds from many vegetables you have grown, or even purchased them from the store. Make sure you save seeds from the best produce. Some seeds, such as peppers. are easy to save. Just remove, dry on a paper towel, put in a labeled and dated envelope, and store in a cool and dry place.

Seeds from tomatoes require a bit more preparation. Scoop the seeds and the pulp into a container. Add about a cup of water. You want the seeds to float. Cover loosely and set aside in a warm place. The good seeds will sink to the bottom. When there is mold on the top the seeds are ready to harvest. Remove the mold and anything that has floated to the top. Dump the rest of the contents into a mesh strainer and rinse the seeds well. Let the seeds dry in the strainer. Finally, spread the seeds out on a paper towel to dry completely. This can take a couple of weeks.  Date, label and store in a cool, dry place.