Subject: saving seeds

From: [email-masked]
Date: 18 Oct 94 13:23:48 CST

Reprinted by permission from Coping with Turbulent Times newslet-
 ter, c/o III,  Box 4630 SFA Sta., Nacogdoches, TX  75962.  
 $5/four issues, $1 & SASE for sample.
 
 SAVING SEEDS:  THE GARDENER'S GUIDE TO GROWING & SAVING VEGETABLE 
 &  FLOWER  SEEDS (revision of '78 Growing & Saving  Veg.  seeds), 
 Marc  Rogers, '90, 185 pages 6x9 (wide margins), $10 + $2.75  p&h 
 in '92, Garden Way, 105 Schoolhouse Road, Pownal VT 05261.   800-
 827-8673.   Free  catalog of 250 +  titles:  gardening,  animals, 
 cooking, crafts, building.
 
      With petunia seed over $10,000 and tomato over $2,500 per 
 pound, Marc Rogers concluded that seeds aren't cheap.  Seed 
 saving can cut costs, and reduce dependence on seed companies.  
 And, by careful selection "you can produce plants best suited to 
 your climate and your growing conditions."  This book gives 
 directions for saving seeds of 48 vegetables and 61 flowing 
 ornamentals.
      
      "Watch your plants throughout the growing season....  It is 
 the whole plant, rather than an isolated fruit, that you should 
 consider...."  Save seed from early-bearing plants, to encourage 
 that trait.  Mark your seed producing plants with a ribbon, or 
 stake, so they're not accidentally harvested.
 
      Seeds picked before they're mature won't have enough stored 
 nourishment for a good start, or even to last the winter.  (Seeds 
 "carry on their basic life processes even while dormant, but at a 
 very low rate.")  Fruits, such as tomatoes, peppers, and 
 eggplant, should be allowed to get "a bit overripe, before seed 
 is collected."  Harvest melons for seed and eating at the same 
 time.
 
      Tomato and cucumber seeds separate from the pulp easier 
 after fermenting in a little water.  Stir a few times daily to 
 discourage mold.  The good seeds will sink to the bottom.  After 
 4-5 days rinse them and spread to dry,
 
      "Most seeds, in most climates will dry adequately for home 
 storage if spread on paper towels or newspapers in an airy place 
 for a week."  Turn seeds and replace paper several times if 
 necessary.  Larger seeds take longer.  If conditions are damp and 
 you use artificial heat, don't go over 100(better 90) F.
 
      Fungi are almost inactivated at 50 F, and bacteria at under 
 about 18% moisture, therefore, "keep your stored seeds dry and 
 cool.  ... Long-term storage in the refrigerator or freezer is 
 your best bet ..."
 
      Silica gel (at drug, camera, craft, or hardware stores) may 
 be used as a desiccant.  Most "is treated to turn color when it 
 has absorbed its maximum of moisture."  It may be repeatedly 
 oven-dried for reuse.

      "It's hard to go wrong growing peas or beans for seed", thus 
 they are perfect for beginning seed savers to start with, says 
 Marc.
      Scientific as well as common names are given for all plants.  
 Address and catalog price given for 50 seed companies, large and 
 small.  The U of MN's Source List of Plants is mentioned as 
 listing "over 20,000 varieties...commercially available in N 
 America."  For info about the Seed Savers Exchange, Marc says to 
 send a SASE to RR3 Box 239, Decorah, IA 52101.  Their 418 page 
 Garden Seed Inventory ($17 1/2 ppd) describes 5,000+ non-hybrid 
 veg. varieties from 240 catalogs.  County extension agents may 
 know of local/regional seed exchanges.
 
 Review by Julie Summers, who's also in DWELLING PORTABLY (sample 
 $1, POB 190-sr, Philomath, OR 97370);  SURVIVALIST SIG (sample $1 
 1/2, POB 20188-js, Cleveland, OH 44120); & COLTSFOOT (wild edible 
 plants, sample $2, RR1 Box 313A-js, Shipman, VA  22971).