Heirloom gardens - how do you harvest and save the seeds?
 

Right now we have spinach and lettuce ready to harvest. The spinach is getting some flowers I think, so I imagine I collect the seeds from those?? How? Does anyone have some good advice or links on the subject?

Re: Heirloom gardens - how do you harvest and save the seeds?
 

I'm no expert, but except for fruits (which have the seeds in the vegetables) you wait for the seed pod to dry up, and then you gather them that way. You have to be careful, and take a bowl with you, because the seed pods will open very easily. If you get the "Future of Food" (about GMOs), they have a short video on there about how to gather heirloom seeds, it's pretty informative. :)

Re: Heirloom gardens - how do you harvest and save the seeds?
 

I've never done seed-saving before but I plan to this year with my onions. You might do a search at www.organicgardening.com and see what turns up.

Re: Heirloom gardens - how do you harvest and save the seeds?
 

From my Seed Savers spinach packet:

Harvest seeds when they are completely dry on the plant.

(short and to the point, I guess!)

the lettuce packet says to allow the plants to bolt and form seed heads, and that you may need to protect them from rain and bird damage while waiting for them to dry.

Re: Heirloom gardens - how do you harvest and save the seeds?
 

Wow, great information! :ty4

I think we'll go ahead and eat the rest of the spinach and save two flower heads so they can dry...that should be enough for next year shouldn't it? I'll try the same with the lettuce too!

Now just a few more weeks for everything else :tu

Re: Heirloom gardens - how do you harvest and save the seeds?
 

Also, you can select for different features if you want- save the seeds from the best tasting prettiest fruit, or from the earliest, or the most bug resistant, etc. That's how different varieties are formed. :)

Re: Heirloom gardens - how do you harvest and save the seeds?
 

Good food for thought, what a great idea! Definitely going to try that when the next foods come in. Ooh, we'll have fun with that! The girls will love that!!

Re: Heirloom gardens - how do you harvest and save the seeds?
 

I read that spinach is prickly so wear gloves when harvesting seed. I'm new to seed saving too, but Johnny's recommended two books: Seed to Seed, by Suzanne Ashworth, and The New Seed Starter's Handbook, by Nancy Bubel. I liked the Ashworth one better, but found both useful. Got both from the library.

Re: Heirloom gardens - how do you harvest and save the seeds?
 

Well we tried the lettuce today for dinner, it is by far the best salad I've had in years!! I'll get the names of the types (night and stormy right now.) I have been easily convinced that home grown lettuce is the best! Now, I just have to save some of it so it will go to seed :shifty

Re: Heirloom gardens - how do you harvest and save the seeds?
 

Anyone know how to save tomato seeds?

Re: Heirloom gardens - how do you harvest and save the seeds?
 

FYI: The admins received an email regarding this link:

Re: Heirloom gardens - how do you harvest and save the seeds?
 

If you want green to go to seed, this heat will do it! The leaves tend to get bitter after flowering.

When I'm saving seeds for the next year, I usually put them in a ziploc bag with a small piece of paper towel inside, just in case there is some moisture. Seeds that you buy are just in paper envelopes.

To save tomato seeds, you get the seeds out and get as much of the fleshy fruit off as possible, then let dry thoroughly.

I usually don't save tomato seeds, though, but I've done it a few times. Next year I am going to order blondkopfchen tomato seeds.