Seed Saving: Why and How Janet Young, Karen Mills, CindyWalczak, Katie McIe, and Donna Starkweather 1 Please Silence Your Cell Phone Thank you!
Seed Saving - Outline History/Why save seeds? Types of seeds Pollination challenges Steps to harvest, clean, and store flower and vegetable seeds Longevity of saved seeds Resources, final thoughts 3 History - US 150 years ago - no seed saving companies! 1854 - farmer (or gardener) exchange, onfarm seed saving, and US PTO 1897-1924 under USDA management 1.1 B packets distributed each year 1866 first commercial seed produced, cabbage, Long Island NY 1945 hybrid techniques led to growth of regional seed companies Today company consolidations: 10 seed companies account for 67% of the global proprietary seed market. 4
Why Save Seeds? OR THESE! These? 5 Engage in the cycle of life 6
Preserve heirloom varieties Moon and Stars Watermelon almost lost! 7 Preserve heirloom varieties Cherokee Popcorn decorative and delicious 8
Preserve heirloom varieties Pretzel Bean - nutty flavor! 9 Preserve heirloom varieties from our Derwood Demo Garden Mouse Melon cucumber and fava bean taste 10
Preserve heirloom varieties All Heirloom Tomatoes! 11 Encourage genetic diversity The total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. Selective breeding monoculture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/file:wheat.gif Irish Potato Famine 1845 Entire crop cloned from one potato Lumper variety susceptible to Phytophthora infestans Almost entire crop destroyed; 1M people starved to death http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/file:famine_memorial_dublin.jpg 12
Develop new varieties 1. Selection - allow only plants that show desirable traits in your garden - to produce seeds. But - plant some seeds of the original variety in with your newly-selected seeds each season to maintain some genetic diversity. 2. Cross pollination allow two different hybrid varieties to grow together and to naturally cross. Allow to continue mixing, or separate into groups based on observed differences Consult resources for details!! 13 Save money! Perhaps the most attractive of all! 14
Types of Seeds : Can I save all seeds? Heirloom: Good for seed saving Open-pollinated seed varieties Over 50 years old Cherokee Purple Not the vegetables you usually see in grocery Some stores carry seeds & vegetables that are specifically labeled heirloom 15 Can I save all seeds? Hybrid: Not reliable for saving Better Boy Bred for specific characteristics by crossing two varieties Seeds germinate, but do not breed true to parents Seeds from hybrids may produce plants whose taste, color, size, etc., may not be desirable 16
Understanding Pollination Pollination impacts seed quantity and quality Optimum conditions for successful pollination are not the same for all plants Let s start with the basics.... 17 What is Pollination? The transfer of pollen from the anther (on stamen) to the stigma Anther: creates pollen Self pollination Cross pollination 18
Additional Pollination Terms Open (uncontrolled) pollination: Pollen transferred naturally by Wind, insects, birds, or Pollen transferred directly to stigma within the same flower (self pollination) Controlled pollination: Transfer of pollen from one variety to another while excluding all other pollen 19 Pollination Challenges Self pollinators easiest: tomatoes, beans, lettuce, peas Wind, bird, and insect pollinators harder: squash, cucumbers, okra, peppers, carrots, radishes 20
Pollination Control Techniques If your plant requires wind, insects, or birds for pollination you can use: Bagging & hand pollinating Cages to exclude bees & hand pollinating Physical distance separation Growing only one variety for saving & exchanging seeds with other seed savers 21 Saving Flower Seeds Calendula 22
Harvesting Flower Seeds Do not deadhead! Wait for petals to fall off Seed head or pod will be exposed 23 Harvesting Flower Seeds Cut flower several inches below seed head Dry seed head in paper bag Seeds will fall to the bottom Can take 1 to 4 weeks 24
Saving Vegetable Seeds Legume seeds 25 When to Harvest Veggie Seeds Ideal time to harvest varies from plant to plant Some seeds (e.g., melon) are ready to harvest when fruit is ready to eat Other seeds (e.g., squash and cukes) should be left on vine after you would normally eat them 26
Cleaning Vegetable Seeds Two types: dry seeds & wet seeds DRY Bean Broccoli Chilies Corn Eggplant Lettuce Pepper WET Berries Cucumber Malabar spinach Melon Pumpkin Squash Tomato 27 Cleaning Dry Vegetable Seeds Separate seed from chaff by: Using two screens of varying mesh size Winnowing in a gentle wind 28
Cleaning Wet Vegetable Seeds Most seeds: Place in mesh strainer and gently wash with water; pat underneath strainer with towel Some seeds: Must ferment first to remove germination-inhibiting substances, e.g., tomato, Malabar spinach. 29 Cleaning Tomato Seeds Put seeds & pulp in bowl, add water Let stand at room temp for 3-4 days; stir a few times a day 30
Cleaning Tomato Seeds Pour off pulp & any dead seeds that float Good seeds sink to bottom & can be washed in a strainer Pulp and dead seeds Washed seeds 31 Drying Wet Vegetable Seeds Pat bottom of strainer with cloth towel Spread seeds on plastic, glass or ceramic plate to dry (not paper or even waxed paper): use a non-sticking material Drying tomato seeds See the LABEL!! 32
Seed Drying Requirements Spread seeds only 1 or 2 thick Dry in an airy, dry location, such as an air-conditioned room Keep humidity between 20% to 40% Takes 2 weeks or more LABEL them! 33 Always LABEL Your Seeds Seed type and date collected Special characteristics (Autumn Gold) Seeds may look alike 34
Seed Storage: Dry or Moist Seeds are either tolerant or intolerant of desiccation (drying) If desiccation intolerant (cannot survive drying): Large-seeded plants: ex. mango, avocado Don t go dormant and need to breathe Must be stored moist Shorter shelf life (a few months) 35 Seed Storage: Dry or Moist Desiccation Tolerant (survive drying) Most plant seeds While ripening & drying, seeds prepare for dormancy by: Slowing physiological processes Converting sugars to fats and starches Can be safely stored for a longer time Most vegetable seeds 36
Seed Storage Containers Place seeds in individual paper envelopes, wax paper, or zip lock bags. Label with variety name, collection date, even picture of plant in bloom. 37 Seed Storage Containers Store seed packets in larger containers, such as zip lock bags, screw-top jars, or accordion folders by month to plant. Home Made Commercial Zip lock bag Ice Cream Jar Spaghetti jar 38
Storing Seeds in Origami Envelopes Envelopes don't need to be taped or glued. Remember to always LABEL them! http://www.carnivorousplants.org/seedbank/envelope.htm 39 Where to Store Seeds Good: Cool, dry, and dark place closet or cupboard Better: Airtight containers in refrigerator Best: Dry to 5 to 7% moisture content by weight; store several degrees below freezing (not many of us can be this precise!) 40
Problems With Stored Seeds 1 Temperature variations Moisture fluctuations If weather is humid when drying, put desiccant (silica gel packet) in container with seeds, remove after 7-8 days If after drying, see: Mold or mildew on seeds Moisture on inside of storage container Also use desiccant 41 Problems With Stored Seeds 2 Insects Freezing is safest Add diatomaceous earth (DE) Animal pests (use tightly closed containers) 42
How Long Will My Seeds Last? It depends Long lived (> 5 years - in general) : Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, melon, radish, rutabaga, spinach, squash, and turnip Medium lived (3-5 years - in general): Bean, beet, broccoli, carrot, leek, pea, pepper, pumpkin, and tomato Shorter lived (1-2 years - in general) : Corn, onion, parsley, parsnip 43 Germination Considerations Germination rates will always decline over time 44
How To Estimate Germination Rate Place 25 seeds on wet paper towel Check daily: 1 st count day 7 2 nd count day 14 Cover with wet paper towel, roll Place in plastic bag + holes 75 Count at day 6: 23/25 = 92% GR 45 Where to Find Heirloom Seeds Existing local seed swaps (e.g., Washington Gardener Magazine Seed Exchange; MGs) Your own seed circle of neighbors, friends Seed Savers Exchange lists sources for openpollinated and heirloom seeds Seeds Trust online store for heirloom seeds 46
Resources on Seed Saving Ashworth, Suzanne. Seed to Seed Bubel, Nancy. The New Seed Starter s Handbook Deppe, Carol. Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties Rogers, Marc. Saving Seeds Turner, Carole. Seed Sowing and Saving Rowe, Jack. http://howtosaveseeds.com - Vegetable Seed Saving Handbook 47 Some Final Thoughts: 1 Not all seeds breed true, or will look exactly like the parent look for heirloom varieties Consider starting out with a self pollinating plant Check references to see how your seeds should be saved 48
Some Final Thoughts: 2 Select seeds from healthy and multiple plants, from those producing the best vegetables and flowers Learn to recognize plant diseases since some can be transmitted in seeds Learn what mature seeds look like for the plant seeds you wish to harvest Remember to always LABEL your seed rows, drying plates, and seed containers 49 Seed Saving Has National and Global Importance National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation, USDA, Ft. Collins, CO maintains seed collections Svalbard Global Seed Vault - Norway 50
Benefits of Saving Seeds Engage in the cycle of life Preserve heirloom varieties Encourage genetic diversity Develop new varieties Save money 51 Seed Saving for the Home Gardener Montgomery County Fair MG Demo Garden August 2011 52
MG Seed Swap Again This Year!! When: March 7 after monthly MG meeting Where: Montgomery County Fairgrounds Kinds of Seeds: Your own saved seeds, or commercially purchased seeds More Details: March issue of The Seed, and email to List serve. Email Janet with questions. http://extension.illinois.edu 53 This program was brought to you by The Master Gardeners Program of Montgomery County University of Maryland Extension