HomeSeed Saving

Seed Saving Guide

Save money and preserve your favorite varieties by learning to collect and store seeds from your garden.

Why Save Seeds?

  • • Free Seeds: Never buy seeds for your favorites again
  • • Adapted Plants: Seeds adapt to your local conditions over time
  • • Preserve Varieties: Keep heirloom varieties alive
  • • Self-Reliance: Become more independent as a gardener

Tomatoes

Ferment seeds to remove gel coating for better storage

EasyWet Processing

Peppers

Simply dry seeds from mature peppers - no fermentation needed

EasyDry Processing

Beans & Peas

Let pods dry on the vine, then shell and store

EasyDry Processing

Lettuce

Wait for flowers to produce fluffy seed heads

ModerateDry Processing

Cucumbers

Let one cucumber over-ripen and ferment seeds

ModerateWet Processing

Basil

Let flowers dry on plant, then collect tiny seeds

ModerateDry Processing

Squash

Scoop seeds from mature squash and dry thoroughly

EasyWet Processing

Herbs

General seed saving techniques for culinary herbs

ModerateDry Processing

Peas

Let pods dry brown on the vine before harvesting

EasyDry Processing

Sunflowers

Harvest seed heads when back turns brown

EasyDry Processing

Seed Saving Basics

Wet Processing

For seeds in fleshy fruits (tomatoes, cucumbers, squash):

  1. Scoop seeds with pulp into a jar
  2. Add water and let ferment 2-4 days
  3. Rinse away pulp, dry seeds on paper

Dry Processing

For seeds in pods or dry seed heads (beans, herbs):

  1. Let seeds dry on the plant
  2. Harvest pods/heads when brown
  3. Shell or thresh to separate seeds

Storing Saved Seeds

Keep seeds cool, dark, and dry. Label with plant name and year. Most vegetable seeds stay viable 2-5 years when stored properly in airtight containers.

Learn to Start Seeds