Sourcing and storing seeds

The final stage in the growing cycle for most plant varieties is the production of seeds. Seeds represent the beginning of new life and the diversity of genetic characteristics obtained through sexual reproduction. Throughout the year in any organic garden, you’ll see plants that have been allowed to go to seed. There are a number of reasons why, as an organic gardener, you should be more than happy to witness this natural phenomenon.

First, seeds play a vital role in your garden’s ecosystem. Apart from harnessing the potential for new life, they also provide food for birds, insects and ultimately – if left to die and decompose – the soil. Second, plants that have been allowed to go to seed provide an opportunity for you to save seeds. Saving seed is an important means of obtaining the genetic material from which to commence plant growth in subsequent seasons.

Buying seeds

When I was gardening professionally, I can’t recall an instance of ever having to purchase pre-packaged seeds. Over many seasons I managed to develop a fairly comprehensive seed bank that contained sufficient quantities of optimum genetic material. This seed bank enabled the gardens I worked in to be largely self-sufficient. While in the longer term I’d encourage you to do the same, if you’re just starting out, you may need to purchase some seeds to get you started.

Whenever you purchase seeds, it’s worthwhile seeking out organically produced seeds. This will ensure you start off on the correct footing. Unlike most commercially available seeds, certified organic seeds are not treated with synthetic materials, sanitizers or chemical conditioning agents. The chemical treatments applied to most commercial seeds are unnecessary and contribute to the gradual weakening of plant genetic material.

Be sure to purchase open-pollinated, as opposed to hybrid (F1, F2, and other) seeds. Open-pollinated seeds, also commonly referred to as “non-hybrid” seeds, are “true to type”. This simply means that if you save these seeds and replant them, they will produce the same variety. The flowers of open-pollinated seed varieties are pollinated primarily through insects, wind and water. In contrast, hybrid seeds represent offspring sourced from at least two distant and distinct parental lines of the same species. Hybrid seeds are frequently sterile. In those instances where they are not sterile, their offspring generally fail to breed true. That is, they neither incorporate nor express the desired traits of the parent.

Saving seeds

It’s a good idea to get into the habit of saving plant seeds from your own garden. While many newcomers to organic gardening prefer to use pre-packaged seeds each season, there are a number of good reasons why you might like to consider developing your own seed bank. These include the following:

To save money – saving seeds from your own garden will result in less frequent purchases of pre-packaged seeds. Depending on the size and scale of your garden, over a number of years this will likely save you more money than you realise.

To grow healthier plants – seeds from plants grown in your own garden represent genetic stock that has had the opportunity to adapt to your garden’s unique environment. Seeds from these plants generally have higher germination success rates and produce plants that are healthier and more robust.

To breed plants exhibiting desirable characteristics – by saving seeds from plants exhibiting specific characteristics you can, over time, breed in these desirable traits. Desirable traits might include pest and disease resistance, great taste, capacity to produce and/or duration and extent of fruiting season.

To support the goal of self-sufficiency – saving seeds moves your garden a step closer toward self sufficiency.

Collecting seeds

When selecting seeds to be saved, always choose seeds from strong and healthy plants, or from plants exhibiting the particular characteristics or traits you are seeking. If the seeds you wish to save are from wet fruits, wash the seeds until all of the flesh is removed. If the seeds are from dry seed heads, remove the seeds by hand. Before drying the seeds you’ve collected, make some diary notes in relation to the types of seeds you’ve collected and the date of harvest. These notes may come in handy later on.

Drying seeds

Before storing any seeds that you’ve collected from the garden, you need to ensure they are well dried out. This prevents mould, bacteria, pests and diseases from taking hold and ruining your seeds. Over the years, I’ve tried a number of different methods for drying seeds. My favoured approach now is as follows:

Place all seeds to be dried on ceramic tiles (dining plates from your kitchen will suffice if you don’t have access to surplus ceramic tiles)
Expose the seeds to the early morning and late afternoon sun. Turn the seeds periodically to ensure they dry evenly.
When the sun is high in the sky, place the seeds in a shady environment (an indoor environment, such as a garden shed, is ideal). By ensuring the seeds are not exposed to harsh sunlight, you will prevent them from burning and/or splitting.
Continue placing the seeds outside for about one week or until the seeds no longer feel damp and moist.

Storing seeds

The seeds you’ve collected should be stored in a cool, dry place away from light. Most garden sheds provide an ideal environment for seed storage. By storing them in airtight containers that afford protection from rodents, pests and disease, you’ll maximise the life of the seeds you’ve saved. To assist you in identifying the seeds in the future, it’s a good idea to place labels on the containers that identify the type of seed stored and the date of harvest.

Seed savers’ networks and clubs

Joining your local seed savers’ network (or other similar non-profit seed preservation society) is something that I thoroughly recommend, particularly for anyone who is relatively new to organic gardening. Apart from being able to provide you with advice on seed types suitable for your region, taking into account your region’s prevailing soil and climatic conditions, these networks will provide you with an opportunity to meet and share information with like-minded people.

Starting with good quality, organically produced seed is important. Even if initially it holds little interest for you, I think you’ll find that saving seeds and developing your own seed bank can be a rewarding and enriching experience. It won’t consume a great deal of your time, it’ll save you money, and it will provide you with optimal genetic material to render your garden self-sufficient. Why not give it a go?